MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology
One of the world's leading research institutes, our scientists are working to advance understanding of biological processes at the molecular level - providing the knowledge needed to solve key problems in human health.
Cyrus Chothia, former Group Leader and until recently emeritus scientist in the LMB’s Structural Studies Division, died on Tuesday 26th November 2019. Cyrus pioneered the use of computational methods to study the structure and function of proteins, and the evolution of genomes, which led to the birth of structural bioinformatics and computational genomics.
Jonida Tafilaku, a PhD student in Paula da Fonseca’s group in the LMB’s Structural Studies Division, completed a three-month internship with the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST), as part of UKRI’s Policy Internships Scheme for doctoral students funded by UKRI. Motivated by a desire to share her experience of this scheme, Jonida organised this seminar and invited her supervisor from the internship to talk about POST and its role in Parliament.
Once again, LMB’s cycling staff took the top spot in Cambridgeshire, and placed second in the UK, as part of a nationwide cycling challenge – Cycle September. For the category of 500-1,999 staff, the LMB slid into the top rank quite dramatically in a spectacular last minute overtake of the Royal Society of Chemistry team. LMB’s star cyclists for the 2019 challenge include Damian Sutcliffe, David Paul, Aaron Castell and Wayne Rednall all of whom clocked over 500 miles during the month.
Wanda Kukulski, Madeline Lancaster and Joe Yeeles have been elected into the EMBO Young Investigator Programme for a four-year tenure starting January 2020. During this time EMBO will provide financial and practical support as well as networking opportunities for the Young Investigators and their lab members.
Next in our series of Group Leader profiles written by science writer and LMB alumna, Kathy Weston, is a profile of Paula da Fonseca, a Group Leader in the LMB’s Structural Studies Division.
From fly connectomics to molecular and cellular mechanisms of cytoplasmic dynein, from genetic code fidelity to the molecular mechanism of trans-translation – the Max Perutz Student Prizes were awarded to a diverse range of PhD research.