Welcome to the PhD students who joined the group in 2024. We are very excited to introduce Emily Fleming, Jen Munro and Alice Dubois-Veltman to the group and wish them every success for their 4-year PhD studies with us.
Emily was the first to join in April 2024, having completed her undergraduate degree in Biochemistry at the University of Southampton. During her third-year project, she studied the formation of DNA triple helices (triplexes) and became interested in alternative DNA structures. Emily carried out her Masters project in Keith Fox’s lab where she investigated sequence-selective DNA binding molecules. Since starting in the Balasubramanian lab, she has started to work on the interactions of G-quadruplex structures with proteins to gain a better understanding of the role of quadruplexes in biological processes. Although Emily is studying for a PhD in Chemistry and based in Chemistry, she splits her time between there and our lab at CRUK CI depending on the requirements of her project.
Emily says, “Since joining I have enjoyed the freedom I’ve had to explore my research interests and the opportunity to learn a range of techniques.”
Jen joined us in October 2024 and is also based at in Chemistry. She graduated from the University of Glasgow with an MSci in Chemistry in June 2024. During her time in Glasgow, she worked on various research projects, including a 10-month organic synthesis project at the University of Amsterdam and a summer project in Glasgow involving the design and synthesis of peptides. Jen’s final MSci project focused on robotics and automation of chemical reactions.
Jen says, “Since starting my PhD in the Balasubramanian lab, I have been synthesising G-quadruplex binding ligands for application in new genomic technologies and have enjoyed the creative freedom that comes with being a PhD student as well as getting to know the many lovely members of the group.”
Alice joined our group in CRUK CI after earning her MSci degree in Biology and Chemistry within the Natural Sciences programme at Durham University. In the summer following the third year of her degree, she undertook an internship at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, where she investigated the mechanism of a replisome protein. During her master’s project, Alice designed and evaluated novel E3 ligase ligands for a plant-based proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC). Since joining the group, Alice’s project has focused on elucidating the mechanisms behind G4 formation.
Alice says, “The group has been incredibly friendly and supportive. I’ve especially enjoyed how passionate everyone is about sharing ideas, engaging in discussions, and offering advice as I settle into my PhD”
We all wish Emily, Jen and Alice great success in their PhD studies in the group. We are excited to be part of the next stage of their scientific development and look forward to seeing the areas of research they choose for their doctoral studies.
