Angharad Smith
Thesis title: Developing Tools to Study In Situ Crystallisation
Primary Theme: Correlated Imaging and Structural Biology
Franklin supervisors: Dr Marcus Gallagher-Jones and Dr Maud Dumoux
University: University of Leeds
University supervisor: Dr Sean Collins
Angharad’s project focuses on developing cryo-electron microscopy tools and techniques to study crystallisation mechanisms in situ. Angharad is working on an interdisciplinary project with Dr Jacques-Philippe Colletier’s group at the Institut de Biologie (IBS), Grenoble, to study the intracellular processes involved in protein crystallisation within the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). She is utilising high-resolution imaging techniques, such as cryo-electron microscopy, and combine these results with cryogenic soft X-ray tomography data collected at B24, Diamond Light Source.
Angharad graduated from Imperial College London with an MSci in Chemistry and Medicinal Chemistry. She carried out her final year project at the Francis Crick Institute investigating the activation of PADI4 proteins. During her degree she also completed a placement year at GSK Consumer Healthcare (Haleon) working in New Product Development.
Angharad took part in the UKRI Science Policy Internship scheme during her PhD project working in the CSA Office at DESNZ for three months.
Large Volume Tomography
High resolution large volume tomography with electron microscopy has the potential to transform our understanding of life, by linking the atomic and molecular structure of protein complexes in their biological context – the cell.
Electron Microscopy
We are developing the next generation of electron microscopes, working in partnership with JEOL. We currently have two JEOL electron microscopes in house, with a third arriving in May.
Electron Diffraction
MicroED is an emerging technology that exploits the strong interaction of electrons to reveal the structures of molecules from vanishingly small crystals.