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Expert has a strong track record at internationally competitive level in plant cell molecular biology and biochemistry, mass spectrometry and proteomics, gene discovery and post-genomic systems biology and development of analytical techniques, achieved over 16 years of leading projects in the academic sector in the UK. She is an author of over 30 peer-reviewed research papers, reviews and book chapters and an invited speaker and experienced lecturer at international and national-level conferences in plant biology and analytical method developments for single-cell analysis. Her work included pioneering of single-cell biochemical and proteomic analysis; carbohydrate metabolism and resource allocation at cellular level in plant leaves; discovery and characterization of glucosinolate-accumulating S-cells in Arabidopsis; revelation of nuclear protein dynamics in response to hypoxia. Exploiting post-genomic approaches, she characterized genes encoding important cell cycle regulators and developed a protocol for high-throughput protein expression and localization in plant cell cultures using transient expression of GFP-ORF fusions; developed a system for expression of selected constructs under ethanol-inducible promoter, to confirm protein function by analysis of cell cycle and growth of synchronized transgenic cell cultures. She supervised PhD, MSc and final-year project students, was a member of departmental interview panels and line manager of research staff. She is a member of scientific societies: Society for Experimental Biology, British Society for Cell Biology, and British Society for Mass Spectrometry. A number of her successful grant applications for personal and collaborative research projects led to leading and/or management of academic and industrial programs funded by The Royal Society, British Mass Spectrometry Society, British Heart Foundation, and EU FP7.
Her technical expertise portfolio includes: molecular biology techniques (gene cloning, genetic engineering, transgenic plants, expression analysis, RNAi screening), recombinant protein expression and purification by a variety of approaches, (SDS/LDS PAGE, DIGE), affinity purification of proteins by FPLC; knowledge of protein chemistry and structure and bioinformatics tools; protein characterization by mass spectrometry and proteomic analysis of complex samples by LC-MS/MS and MALDI-TOF MS; mass spectrometry and MALDI MS imaging; imaging by electron microscopy, confocal microscopy, fluorescence microscopy; carbohydrate chemistry and analytical techniques, enzymatic assays; cell biology (animal and plant cell cultures, flow cytometry), and microbiological techniques.
From 2011, she has taken the challenge of developing new technologies for bio-fuel production in the industrial biotechnology in an industrial environment, which recently resulted in a successful patent application for a novel biomass extraction process. Her current scope of research includes bio-energy and bio-fuels sector, ranging from Generation 1 bio-fuels (corn ethanol plants in the US), to Generation 2 (Anaerobic Digestion for biogas production) and to Generation 3 (algae-derived bio-fuels and valuable products). In parallel, she co-supervises an academic bio-medical research project in one of the leading universities in the UK; continues to be a member of the UK Research Councils Referee Panel, reviewing grant applications; and is a peer reviewer for international journals including PLoS ONE, Plant Journal, New Phytologist, Mol. Biol. Cell, AjPP.


Peer review of grant applications for BBSRCPeer review of grant application for EPSRCPeer review of research articles for for international journals including PLoS ONE, Plant Journal, New Phytologist, Mol. Biol. Cell, AjPP.