Rebecca Beveridge is a Chancellor’s Fellow and UKRI Future Leaders Fellow who joined the University of Strathclyde in June 2020. She obtained a BSc in biochemistry and chemistry from the University of Leeds in 2011 and completed her PhD at the University of Manchester in 2015. Rebecca spent 4 years at the Institute for Molecular Pathology in Vienna, Austria as a postdoctoral researcher/ Lise Meitner Postdoctoral Fellow. Throughout her career, she has collected experience in a plethora of mass spectrometry methods to study protein structure such as native mass spectrometry, ion mobility, hydrogen-deuterium exchange, and crosslinking. Outside of work Rebecca goes fell running and cycling, and escapes to the hills whenever possible.
Cara Jackson is a third year PhD student, funded by an iCASE from Astra Zeneca to develop ion mobility mass spectrometry methods to investigate the potential of novel PROTACs. She gained an MChem in Forensic and Analytical Chemistry from the University of Strathclyde and completed her final year project in the group, working with Izaak to investigate the binding of polyamide minor groove binders to DNA. She completed an industrial placement at GSK where she performed forced degradation and structural elucidation experiments using LC-MS and ASAP-MS. In her free time, she likes to listen to Rammstein and play Crash Bandicoot.
Sarah McLees is completing her master's project in the group, investigating a series of phase separating proteins using native mass spectrometry and ion mobility mass spectrometry. Sarah is in her fifth and final year of an MChem degree in Forensic and Analytical Chemistry.
Immacolata Abate is a post-doctoral researcher who joined the group in November 2024. Imma is a post-doctoral researcher who joined the group in November 2024. She completed her PhD in Chemical Biology in the Burley group at the University of Strathclyde. Her PhD research focused on the development of synthetic transcription factors for the treatment of Friedreich’s Ataxia. Throughout this project, she used a variety of synthetic and biophysical techniques, including NMR and fluorescence-based methods. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Siena (Italy). Her final year project focused on the synthesis of potential inhibitors of enzymes involved in neurodegeneration. Outside the lab, Imma enjoys music, cooking and going to the gym.
Mxolisi Madoda is a second year PhD student who joined the group in October 2023. He recently earned his BSc in Biochemistry from the University of Glasgow where his final year project centered on homology-based modelling of Trypanosoma brucei and Trypanosoma cruzi proteasomes, with the aim of investigating the specificity of a proof-of-concept small molecule inhibitor designed to target the Plasmodium falciparum proteasome. In his PhD research, Mxolisi’s focus is on the study of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) using a combination of native mass spectrometry and ion mobility mass spectrometry. Specifically, his work aims to investigate the mechanisms through which IDPs drive liquid-liquid separation (LLPS). By studying these mechanisms, he aims to reveal key insights that may reveal crucial links between dysfunctional LLPS mechanisms and various disease states. Outside of academic pursuits, his hobbies include watching documentaries, PC building, and gaming.
Kirsten Douglas is completing her master's project in the group, investigating a series of histone related proteins. Kirsten is in her fifth and final year of an MChem degree in Forensic and Analytical Chemistry.
Christina Glen Robb is a third year PhD student who joined in October 2021, funded by EPSRC in collaboration with Waters. She completed her BSc in Chemistry with Drug Discovery at the University of Strathclyde, followed by an MSc in Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Glasgow where she did her project on cyclic peptide based HDAC inhibitors for inhibition of protein-protein interactions under the supervision of Dr Andrew Jamieson. Her PhD research is currently focused on intrinsically disordered proteins, using ion mobility-mass spectrometry to investigate IDPs known to liquid-liquid phase separate. Right now, she is investigating UBQLN2 and associated constructs to delineate the overall conformation ensemble for this protein to aid in the understanding of its phase separation mechanisms. In her free time, she likes to bake, watch musicals, and play fantasy RPGs.
Chloe Tayler is a third year industrial PhD student funded by GSK who joined the group in November 2022. Her research is focused on the use of mass spectrometry-based proteomics to elucidate the role of toll-like receptors in systemic lupus erythematosus. She received her Chemistry BSc from the Manchester Metropolitan University in the summer of 2022 after 5 years on the GSK apprenticeship scheme. She has been in the scientific industry for six years, gaining experience with an array of mass spectrometry instrumentation and techniques. Outside of science, Chloe enjoys weightlifting and is an avid reader.
Previous Members
Ikhlas Mohamed Mohamud Ahmed was a post-doctoral researcher in the group from July 2021 to November 2024. She completed a PhD in chemical sciences (University of Catania, 2020) co-funded by the COFUND scheme (Marie Skłodowska - Curie Actions), focusing on the study of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) including α-synuclein and amyloid beta using spectroscopic and spectrometric techniques. She has an MSc (2016) and BSc (2012) in biochemistry both from the University of Kuwait.
Her MSc project involved the purification of the disordered c-terminal of the receptor for advanced glycation end-product (RAGE) and subsequent investigation via fluorescence spectroscopy and HSQC-NMR. Ikhlas research interests are focused on IDPs as they are implicated in several disease including cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. Outside the laboratory, Ikhlas enjoys baking, travelling, and reading crime-fiction novels (Agatha Christie).
Her MSc project involved the purification of the disordered c-terminal of the receptor for advanced glycation end-product (RAGE) and subsequent investigation via fluorescence spectroscopy and HSQC-NMR. Ikhlas research interests are focused on IDPs as they are implicated in several disease including cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. Outside the laboratory, Ikhlas enjoys baking, travelling, and reading crime-fiction novels (Agatha Christie).
Fiona Smillie completed her master's project in the group, investigating the binding of a series of drug compounds to the protein phospholamban. Fiona was in the group during her fifth and final year of an MChem degree in Forensic and Analytical Chemistry, she has since graduated with a first class degree. Her fourth year consisted of an industrial placement at AstraZeneca where she carried out a project investigating the potential efficacy of fast mass spectrometry as an initial screening method for counterfeit pharmaceuticals. In her spare time Fiona enjoys crochet, music, and many cosy crime TV shows.
Zarah Butt was a GSK-sponsored PhD student, co-supervised by Rebecca Beveridge and Luke Chamberlain in SIPBS, who joined the university in October 2023. She completed her BSc Biochemistry in 2021 followed by her MSc in Precision Medicine and Pharmacological Innovation in 2022, both from the University of Glasgow. During her undergraduate degree, Zarah researched the structure of ion binding proteins using NMR spectroscopy for her Honours project where she developed an interest in understanding the relationship between protein structure and function. Outside of academia, Zarah worked a year in industry, working in Abbott Pharmaceuticals as a Quality officer for in-vitro diagnostic testing kits, as well as a research intern for pharmaceutical start-ups based in Scotland. Apart from work, Zarah loves outdoor activities that lead to camping in the hills of Scotland.
Chris Wells-Holland was a post-Doctoral Research Associate in the group from Oct 2023 to May 2024 focusing on intrinsically disordered proteins that exist in a wide range of different shapes, and complexes. These are challenging proteins to characterise with conventional high resolution biophysical methods. His current research is centred on studying several disease targets using ion mobility and native mass spectrometry e.g., transcriptional RNA processing ribonucleoproteins and protein degradation pathways (the behaviour of E3 ligases). These targets are pertinent to human disease, the early onset Parkinsonism and the rare limb-girdle muscular dystrophy. He is working on several innovative drug targeting molecules e.g., protein-degrading molecules such as molecular glues and PROTACs, that offer novel opportunities in deciphering and targeting these structurally complex and challenging disease targets.
Chris undergraduate degree was in Applied Chemistry and Biosciences (Robert Gordon University, 1998) and completed a PhD in Metabolic Engineering (University of Strathclyde, 2004). He is an interdisciplinary scientific researcher that has worked in drug discovery on several disease targets from HIV, COPD, cancer, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, motor neuron, cystinosis diseases and treatments for over the past 20 years between the industry academic interphase. He has been involved in several successful drug discovery projects e.g., Structural Genomics Consortium (University of Oxford) on one of the biggest open public data source drug discovery and structural biology projects, and development of several novel diagnostic technologies to market. He has a personal research area of interest in promoting engineering and synthetic biology principles for the standardization of experimental biology and critically evaluating bottlenecks and technology limitations that hinder this approach.
Throughout his career, he has collected subject specialism experience, particularly in drug delivery, structural biology, biophysics, fluorescence microscopy, assay development, high-throughput screening, enzymology and mechanistic characterization of enzymes / antibodies (SwitchSense, ITC and SPR), label-free technology, protein conjugation, mammalian cell culture, cellular pharmacology, bacteriology and hit-to-lead characterization/validation of the drug development triage pathway and an excellent grasp of the best practices for data responsibility and principles of assay development from proof of concept to late-stage clinical development.
Chris has experience in EDI, widening participation in higher education, open research and career development initiatives.
Chris undergraduate degree was in Applied Chemistry and Biosciences (Robert Gordon University, 1998) and completed a PhD in Metabolic Engineering (University of Strathclyde, 2004). He is an interdisciplinary scientific researcher that has worked in drug discovery on several disease targets from HIV, COPD, cancer, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, motor neuron, cystinosis diseases and treatments for over the past 20 years between the industry academic interphase. He has been involved in several successful drug discovery projects e.g., Structural Genomics Consortium (University of Oxford) on one of the biggest open public data source drug discovery and structural biology projects, and development of several novel diagnostic technologies to market. He has a personal research area of interest in promoting engineering and synthetic biology principles for the standardization of experimental biology and critically evaluating bottlenecks and technology limitations that hinder this approach.
Throughout his career, he has collected subject specialism experience, particularly in drug delivery, structural biology, biophysics, fluorescence microscopy, assay development, high-throughput screening, enzymology and mechanistic characterization of enzymes / antibodies (SwitchSense, ITC and SPR), label-free technology, protein conjugation, mammalian cell culture, cellular pharmacology, bacteriology and hit-to-lead characterization/validation of the drug development triage pathway and an excellent grasp of the best practices for data responsibility and principles of assay development from proof of concept to late-stage clinical development.
Chris has experience in EDI, widening participation in higher education, open research and career development initiatives.
Marije De Vries did a master's project in the group in 2022-2023, investigating the impact of phosphorylation on binding between c-Myc and Bin1 proteins.
Izaak Tyson-Hirst was an EPSRC funded PhD student who joined the group in January 2021 and successfully defended his thesis in January 2025. His research interests centre around the use of native and tandem mass spectrometry as well as ion mobility mass spectrometry to study the binding interactions of biomolecules, including nucleic acids and proteins with intrinsically disordered regions such as the SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid protein.
He received his BSc in Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry and an MSc by research in Chemistry, both from the University of Warwick. During his MSc he worked in the Barrow Group on a low temperature plasma ionisation source for applications to petroleomics using FT-ICR mass spectrometry. Izaak enjoys climbing and mountaineering in the Scottish Highlands and enjoys the theatre and musicals.
He received his BSc in Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry and an MSc by research in Chemistry, both from the University of Warwick. During his MSc he worked in the Barrow Group on a low temperature plasma ionisation source for applications to petroleomics using FT-ICR mass spectrometry. Izaak enjoys climbing and mountaineering in the Scottish Highlands and enjoys the theatre and musicals.
Adam Foulis did an undergraduate summer project in the group in 2021, investigating the binding of synthetic cofactors to myoglobin.