Experience and Scientific Philosophy

• Independent and self-directed researcher

• Strongly self-motivated and disciplined in long-term project execution

• Experienced in laboratory management, protocol development, and mentoring

• Emphasis on organisation, reproducibility, and clarity of method

As the only full-time researcher in the laboratory besides my principal investigator, I assumed combined responsibilities of researcher, mentor, and laboratory manager. I established and optimised experimental protocols, trained undergraduate and Master’s students, and maintained the laboratory’s daily operation. This experience taught me to view the laboratory as a system with many moving parts, in which organisation and communication directly determine the quality and reliability of research.

My scientific approach is grounded in a detailed understanding of fundamental processes. I prioritise extensive experimental controls and aim to ensure that assumptions about molecular experiments are supported by evidence. I consider persistence and continuity of thought essential in scientific work. Each experiment contributes incrementally toward broader objectives and offers an opportunity to improve precision and reproducibility. I consider troubleshooting, laboratory organisation, and mentoring essential, as a well-structured research environment is fundamental to producing reliable and reproducible results.

My objective is to maintain a lifelong career in academic research. I believe that the growing complexity of biological questions demands long-term commitment and sustained focus. My aim is to build the depth of experience necessary to address problems that may appear unsolvable today.

Technical Skills

Molecular and Cellular Biology

• PCR, qPCR (Stratagene Mx3000P system)

• CRISPR/Cas9 knockout and shRNA knockdown (lentiviral delivery)

• Cloning and fusion construct design (e.g. BioID2-Sestrin2, FLAG-TbSESN)

• Mammalian cell culture (HEK293T, A549, H460); stable line generation and maintenance

• Lentiviral packaging, transduction, and FACS-based clone selection

Protein and Imaging Work

• Western blotting (300+ experiments, quantitative analysis)

• Immunoprecipitation, Subcellular fractionation, Proximity Labelling

• Light and confocal microscopy (Olympus IX81, Leica SP8)

• Image processing and analysis (Fiji/ImageJ, LC3B-mCherry-GFP assay)

Flow Cytometry

• BD FACSCanto II, Accuri C6, FACSAria Fusion, LSRFortessa

• Apoptosis, viability, and GFP-based sorting assays

Computational and Analytical Tools

• Clustal Omega, JalView, PyMOL, GraphPad Prism, Excel (published review with these tools)

• RStudio and Linux terminal (basic familiarity)

• Adobe Photoshop (figures), MAGIX VEGAS and Audition (video and audio editing)

I have broad, hands-on experience in molecular and cell biology techniques, including CRISPR/shRNA gene manipulation, plasmid cloning, qPCR, and Western blotting. My cell culture work involves the maintenance and manipulation of mammalian cell lines, lentiviral transduction, and the generation of stable knockouts. I routinely use flow cytometry for cell sorting and quantitative assays, and have complementary experience in microscopy-based analyses.

I complement experimental work with computational analysis, employing tools such as JalView and PyMOL for sequence and structural evaluation. I apply open-source bioinformatics tools for sequence alignment, motif analysis, and interpretation of gene expression data. I have a particular interest in the visual communication of science and regularly use Adobe Photoshop and MAGIX Vegas for figure design and video production.

I place strong emphasis on experimental design, control strategy, reproducibility, and iterative optimisation, particularly when adapting protocols or establishing new systems from first principles.

• Hiking and running

• Photography

• Passion for computer video games

• Enjoyment of science fiction and fantasy literature

Outside the laboratory, I find balance and reflection through long walks and running, averaging about ten kilometres of travel a day. Physical activity gives me time to think, reset, and reflect on ongoing work.

In my personal time, I play video games, and I often use them to stay connected with friends and family. I enjoy strategy and role-playing games that focus on systems, design, and problem-solving. I also enjoy reading science fiction and fantasy, which provide a lighter and more imaginative contrast to the structure of scientific work.

I enjoy taking photographs, and I hope this website has showcased some of the places and scenes I have captured.

I believe that sustaining a lifelong research career requires balance and endurance across the physical, intellectual, and emotional aspects of life. I see these activities as essential for maintaining stability and longevity in scientific work.

I spent a month volunteering at an archaeological site, where the structure behind me is believed to be an enclosure surrounding a communal area dating to the Iron Age (approximately 1200-550 BC).