Staff in the School of Natural Sciences
If you have a query about studying with us, our research activities, accessing support during your studies or require further information about the School of Natural Sciences, please contact us.
Head of School
Academic staff
- Dr Tracey Barrett, Reader in Structural Biology
- Professor Sanjib Bhakta, Professor of Molecular Microbiology and Biochemistry
- Professor John Christodoulou, Professor of Biological NMR Spectroscopy (based at UCL), Christodoulou Group.
- Dr Tristan Cragnolini, Lecturer
- Professor Ian Crawford, Professor of Planetary Science and Astrobiology
- Dr Steven Dodsworth, Lecturer
- Professor Hilary Downes, Professor of Geochemistry
- Professor Franca Fraternali, Director of ISMB and Professor in Integrative Computational Biology
- Professor James Hammond, Professor of Geophysics
- Dr Keyron Hickman-Lewis, Lecturer
- Steve Hirons, University Teacher and Researcher
- Dr Brian Ho, Lecturer in Bacteriology
- Dr Philip Hopley, Senior Lecturer in Palaeoclimatology
- Dr Eleanor Jennings, Senior Lecturer
- Dr Paul King, Lecturer
- Dr Philip Lowden, Lecturer in Chemistry
- Professor Amandine Marechal, Professor of Biochemistry and Bioenergetics
- Professor Neil McDonald, Professor of Structural Biology
- Professor Carolyn Moores, Professor of Structural Biology
- Dr Irilenia Nobeli, Senior Lecturer in Bioinformatics/Computational Biology
- Dr Marianne Odlyha, Senior Lecturer
- Dr Andrew Osborne, Lecturer in Microbial Molecular Systems (based at UCL)
- Dr Dick Rayne, Lecturer
- Professor Gerald Roberts, Professor of Earthquake Geology
- Dr Andrew Rushby, Lecturer in Astrobiology
- Professor Helen Saibil, Bernal Professor of Structural Biology
- Dr Clare Sansom, Senior Associate Lecturer
- Professor Konstantinos Thalassinos, Professor of Mass Spectrometry (based at UCL)
- Professor Katherine Thompson, Professor of Biophysical Chemistry, Head of School
- Professor Charlie Underwood, Professor of Palaeobiology
- Professor Gabriel Waksman, Professor of Structural Molecular Biology
- Dr Mark Williams, Senior Lecturer in Biophysics
- Professor Giulia Zanetti, Professor of Structural Biology
IT Support Staff
- Yanni Goudetsidis, Research and Teaching IT Assistant
- Dr David Houldershaw, Senior Research and Teaching IT Specialist
Laboratory Staff
- Dr Claire Bagnéris, Senior Research Laboratory Manager
- Veronika Bera-Frank, Teaching Laboratory Assistant
- Dr Shu Chen, Electron Microscopy Facility Integrative Imaging Specialist and Training Coordinator
- Dr Sandra Codlin, Teaching Laboratories Services Manager
- Dr Rajith Dissanayake, Laboratory Assistant and Demonstrator
- Dr Nikos Pinotsis, X-Ray and Biophysics Facility Coordinator
- Gayathri Sritharan, Microbiology Laboratory Assistant
- Dr Tien-Chye Tan, Senior Research Laboratory Manager
- Dr Debbie Woods, Senior Research Laboratory Manager
- Anna Zebrowska, Teaching Laboratory Assistant
Research staff
- Dr Natalie Al-Otaibi, The Waksman Lab, Professor Gabriel Waksman
- Dr Bouchra Attia, Moores Lab, Professor Carolyn Moores
- Dr Magnus Borup Bloch, Moores Lab, Professor Carolyn Moores
- Dr Alana Cowell, Moores Lab, Professor Carolyn Moores
- Dr Yitong Duan, Moores Lab, Professor Carolyn Moores
- Dr Leticia Matilla Cuenca, The Waksman Lab, Professor Gabriel Waksman
- Dr Katie Downes, Zanetti Lab, Professor Giulia Zanetti
- Dr Dave Hollingworth, Wallace Lab, Professor Bonnie Wallace
- Dr Julien Kowalewski, The Waksman Lab, Professor Gabriel Waksman
- Dr Tianyang Liu, Moores Lab, Professor Carolyn Moores
- Dr Varun Ramaswamy, Moores Lab, Professor Carolyn Moores
- Dr Manoj Saxena, The Waksman Lab, Professor Gabriel Waksman
- Dr Claudia Sgambato, research group led by Professor Gerald Roberts
- Dr Sunanda Williams, The Waksman Lab, Professor Gabriel Waksman
Teaching staff
- Graham Driver, Associate Lecturer
- Dr Yvette Levray-Szabados, Associate Lecturer
- Dr Ros McKendry, Associate Lecturer
- Dr Gwen Nneji, Associate Lecturer
- Dr Jenni Robertson, Associate Lecturer
- Dr Thomas Vandyk, Associate Lecturer
- Dr Angus Westgarth-Smith, Associate Lecturer
- Dr Patricia Zunszain, Associate Lecturer
Visiting Staff
- Dr Andrew Beard, Honorary Research Fellow
- Dr John Cunningham, Honorary Research Fellow
- Dr Joel Davis, Honorary Research Fellow
- Jane De Rennes, Honorary Research Fellow
- Christopher Dulson, Associate Research Fellow
- Dr Mohamed Ramy El-Maarry, Honorary Research Fellow
- Dr Jerome Gouge, Honorary Research Fellow
- Robert William Janes, Honorary Research Fellow
- Dr Susan Little, Honorary Research Fellow
- Professor Elena Orlova, Honorary Research Fellow
- Dr Philip Robinson, Honorary Research Fellow
- Dr Renos Savva, Honorary Research Fellow
- Hank Sombroek, Honorary Research Fellow
- Professor Maya Topf, Honorary Research Fellow, Visiting Professor
- Dr Andrew Turnball, Honorary Research Fellow
- David Wilson, Honorary Research Fellow
- Debbie Woods, Associate Research Fellow
EMERITUS STAFF
- Professor Paul Barnes, Emeritus Professor of Applied Crystallography. Visit Professor Paul Barnes' Fellowship page or email Professor Paul Barnes.
- Professor Charlie Bristow, Emeritus Professor of Sedimentology
- Professor Andrew Carter: Emeritus Professor of Earth Sciences. Professor Carter is a specialist in thermochronology and geochronology, methods used to define rock formation ages, sediment provenance and rock uplift history. He was awarded the International Dodson prize in 2018. His research covers understanding Asian tectonics in relation to the formation of the Himalayas and Tibet, the glaciation history of Antarctica, and opening of the Scotia Sea. This research sheds light on the key changes in the Earth's climate over the last 50 million years. Email Professor Andrew Carter.
- Dr Geoff Coast: Emeritus Reader in Comparative Endocrinology. Dr Coast's research focuses on insect neuroendocrinology, particularly the endocrine control of excretory processes. Investigations study the effect of diuretic hormones at the cellular level (receptor binding, second messenger and ion transport studies), on the secretion of primary urine by isolated Malpighian tubules, and on fluid excretion in the intact insect. His research also covers the release of peptide hormones from neurohaemal organs and their degradation in the circulation. Email Dr Geoff Coast.
- Professor Graham Goldsworthy: Emeritus Professor of Biology. In 1986 Graham Goldwsorthy was appointed Professor of Biology and head of the department at Birkbeck. While at Birkbeck, his interests in insect neuropeptides have included structure/activity relationships; molecular modelling; structure prediction including CD analysis; the synthesis and design of novel analogues; studies of their actions in the insect; and characterisation and identification of their second messenger systems and receptors. Email Professor Graham Goldsworthy.
- Professor Elizabeth Hounsell: Emerita Professor of Biological Chemistry. Professor Hounsell's research covers projects looking at macromolecular interactions involved in growth control, immune surveillance and neuropathology. These areas lead on to cancer studies, autoimmunity, allergy, AIDS and infection. A major aim of her lab's research is to understand the role of protein glycosylation in cell regulation and to learn how to manipulate protein and oligosaccharide structure in rational drug design. Email Professor Elizabeth Hounsell.
- Professor Nicholas Keep, Emeritus Professor of Biomolecular Science. View Professor Nicholas Keep's Fellowship page.
- Professor Alan Mackay, FRS, View Professor Alan Mackay's Fellowship page.
- Dr Andrew Milner: Emeritus Reader in Vertebrate Palaeontology. Dr Milner's principal research programmes are concerned with the structure, biogeography and evolution of amphibians, ancient and modern. Research on early amphibians, especially those of the order temnospondyli, includes investigations on their morphology, evolution, biogeography, palaeobiology and circumstances of their death and preservation. Research on modern amphibian groups looks at their origin and early diversification, historically a problem area for biologists because of an apparently poor fossil record. Email Dr Andrew Milner.
- Professor David Moss, Emeritus Professor of Biomolecular Structure. Visit Professor David Moss' Fellowship page. Visit Professor David Moss' research website. Email Professor David Moss.
- Dr Rex Palmer: Emeritus Reader in Structural Crystallography. Dr Palmer's research interests focus on the structure and function of biologically active molecules in general with particular reference to: ribonuclease structure and function; mistletoe lectin, sambucus niger lectin, RIP toxins and other lectin protein structures; drug design and small molecule crystallography; cyclosporin structures; sodium channel binding drugs; and molecular modelling and dynamics. Email Dr Rex Palmer.
- Professor Christine Slingsby: Emerita Professor of Structural Biology. Professor Slingsby's research interests include: the origin of the vertebrate eye lens; interactions of crystallins, refractive index and transparency; the structure of alpha-crystallin and related small heat shock proteins; changes to eye lens crystallins in cataract; the role of small heat shock proteins in neuromuscular systems; and small heat shock proteins in aging and disease. Email Professor Christine Slingsby.
- Professor Michael Thompson: Emeritus Professor of Analytical Chemistry. Professor Thompson's research interests include statistical aspects of calibration and data quality in analytical chemistry, food safety, chemometrics, metrology, sampling quality, and geochemistry and environmental chemistry. He is the recipient of several awards including Honorary Life Membership of the International Association of Geoanalysts, the Harvey Wiley Award, the L S Theobald Lectureship and the SAC Gold Medal. Email Professor Michael Thompson.