Dr Rein Ulijn

After his MSc degree in Biotechnology at the University of Wageningen (NL) (thesis 1998), Prof Ulijn moved to the UK to pursue a PhD in Physical Chemistry at the University of Strathclyde (Thesis 2001). After two years as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Edinburgh. RVU joined the University of Manchester as a Lecturer in 2003, promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2006 and Reader in 2007. He is an EPSRC Advanced Research Fellow, holder of a five year Leverhulme Trust Leadership Award and was awarded the 2007 Macro Group UK Young Researchers Medal in recognition of his work on polymeric biomaterials. In Sept. 2008 Prof Dr Ulijn moved back to the University of Strathclyde to take up a WestCHEM Chair in Chemistry. He has authored 50 peer reviewed research articles, 6 patent applications, and given over 25 invited and keynote lectures at international conferences. Since 2004 he has generated a grant portfolio worth in excess of £3.2M with funding from EPSRC, BBSRC, the Leverhulme Trust, Human Frontiers Science Program and industry (Smith & Nephew, Johnson & Johnson, Synthetech, Ai2).

Biography:
2008- present: Professor of Chemistry, The University of Strathclyde.
2007- 2008: Reader, The University of Manchester
2006- 2007: Senior Lecturer, The University of Manchester
2003- 2006: Lecturer, School of Materials, The University of Manchester
2001- 2003: Postdoctoral Research Associate, School of Chemistry, The University of Edinburgh.
1998- 2001: PhD Physical Chemistry, The University of Strathclyde
1993- 1998: MSc Biotechnology, The University of Wageningen (NL)

Memberships:
Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
American Academy for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
American Chemical Society (ACS)
Materials Research Society (MRS)

Fellowships and Awards:
Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC) 2008
Macro Group UK Young Researchers Medal 2007
Leverhulme Trust Leadership Award 2007
EPSRC Advanced Research Fellowship 2006

Dr Louise Birchall

Louise graduated from UMIST with an MChem (Hons) in Chemistry after completing a project with Prof. R. A. Goodacre using MALDI-TOF spectrometry to distinguish between different strains of bacteria. Her PhD involved developing an LCD system to detect protease activity under Dr S. J. Webb and Dr Ulijn at the University of Manchester. She has now moved to the University of Strathclyde where she is developing immobilisation techniques to direct spacialy defined hydrogellation.

Dr Apurba Das

During his PhD Apurba studied the synthesis and characterization of various peptide based nanomaterials under the supervision of Dr. Arindam Banerjee at Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Kolkata, India. He has recently joined the Ulijn group and is engaged in characterising the different properties of peptide hydrogels through a range of techniques.

Dr Vineetha Jayawarna

Vineetha received her BSc in Chemistry from University of Pune, India and an MSc in Polymer Science and Technology from University of Sri Jayawardenapura, Sri Lanka. In the second year of her MSc she completed a research project on ‘Cross-linking of Elastomers’ at University of Salford. She has recently completed a PhD at the University of Manchester supervised by Dr R. Ulijn and Dr J. Gough. Subsequent to her PhD, Vineetha is currently working as a Post Doctoral Researcher, researching into self-assembled hydrogels of short peptide derivatives and their applications in cell culture.

Dr JunTae Kim

JunTae completed his PhD in chemical engineering under the supervision of Prof. Koo at Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea. During his PhD, he studied the synthesis and characterisation of precursors for MOCVD and ALD and preparation of semiconducting nanoparticles. After one and a half further years as a postdoctoral researcher at Hanyang University, he has joined the Ulijn group as a postdoctoral researcher and research technician investigating enzyme-assisted self-assembled nanomaterials for optoelectronic applications.

Dr Meenakshi Kumar

Meenakshi was awarded PhD in Chemistry from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, India for work on LC methods for separating pharmaceutically important compounds. Subsequently, she carried out postdoctoral research at the University of Kentucky, USA and Saarland University, Germany. A wide range of projects included toxicology studies of PCBs and involved the use of sophisticated LC-MS instruments. On her return to India in 2003, she worked as a lecturer in undergradute colleges in Chandigarh,India. She recently joined the Ulijn Group as a research fellow, collaberating with Prof Neil Hunt of the Physics department to explore the stability of amino acid gels using a combination of HPLC, fluoroscence, FTIR and 2-D IR techniques.

Dr Jan Sadownik

Jan graduated from Warsaw University where he obtained a degree in the Laboratory of Natural Products under Prof. Zbigniew Czarnocki. He went on to do a PhD with Prof. Douglas Philp at the University of St Andrews where he focused on evolving complex chemical networks from simple molecules utilizing dynamic combinatorial chemistry and synthetic self-replication. He joined the Ulijn Group at the University of Strathclyde as a research fellow and is interested in the development of peptide based dynamic systems and enzyme-assisted self-assembly.

Dr Sangita Roy

Sangita completed her PhD in chemistry from Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science in Kolkata, India under the supervision of Dr. Prasanta Kumar Das. During her doctoral studies she designed and synthesized several peptide-based self-aggregating systems and soft matterials with potential biomedical applications. She joined the Ulijn Group at the University of Strathclyde as a research fellow where she is exploring the use of several different enzymes to drive supramolecular assembly of sugar-peptide systems.

Dr Simon Todd

After obtaining a BSc (Hons) degree in Biomedical Materials Science from the University of Nottingham, including a final year project under Prof. D. Grant on the functionalisation of diamond-like carbon with albumin, Simon took a year out to travel in North America. He has recently completed a PhD at the University of Manchester supervised by Dr Ulijn and Dr J. Gough and is currently researching advanced hydrogels for medical applications.

Dr Mischa Zelzer

Mischa obtained his first degree in Chemistry from the Technical University Graz for his project work contered on the synthesis of smart fluorescent dyes. He then moved to the University of Nottingham where he studied the interface of Material Science and Biochemistry for his PhD. The work entailed surface modification and characterisation using thin polymer films to develop biomaterial applications and study cell adhesion and protein adsorption phenomena. After his PhD, Mischa worked as a postdoctoral researcher on molecular photonics at the University of Newcastle before taking up his current position at the University of Strathclyde. Mischa’s research interests in Prof Ulijn’s group include the development of smart polymer surfaces for tailored applications in stem cell differentiation and peptide based self assembled nanostructures.

Rachael Ambury

Rachael graduated from the University of Manchester with an MEng (Hons) in Biomedical Material Science which included a year in industry at Smith & Nephew developing bioresorbable polymers. Rachael is now working towards a PhD under the supervision of Dr. Rein Ulijn and Dr. Cathy Merry looking at developing polymer hydrogels for use in evaluating and directing liver cell behaviour.

Nurguse Bibi

Nurguse graduated from UMIST with a BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry and an MSc in Bioanalytical and Biomedical Measurements. Currently, she is studying for a PhD under the supervision of Dr Ulijn and Dr J. E. Gough researching and designing an enzyme responsive hydrogel dressing for the management of chronic wounds.

Pier Francesco Caponi

Pier graduated from the University of Trieste (Italy) in Pharmacy, after completing a final year project under Prof. L. Gardossi on the study of stability of biocatalysts, using experimental and computational methods. Currently, he is working towards a PhD under the supervision of Prof. Ulijn and Prof. Halling on enzyme driven actuation on polymer hydrogels.

Meghan Hughes

Meghan graduated from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow with an MSci in Forensic and Analytical Chemistry, which incorporated a years industrial placement in the RSSL Pharma laboratory. She is currently working towards a PhD under the supervision of Rein Ulijn characterising self-assembled peptide nanomaterials.

Alison Patrick

Alison graduated from The University of Manchester with an MEng (Hons) in Biomedical Materials Science, incorporating an industrial placement at DePuy CMW analysing bone cement. After completing her final year project with Dr. B. Saunders developing a new polymer hydrogel for drug delivery, she is currently working towards a PhD with Dr Ulijn and Dr J. Aylott in looking at the use of polymer hydrogels for fluorescence based enzyme sensing.

Honglei Qu "Grace"

Grace graduated from Leeds University with a BSc (Hons) in Colour and Polymer Chemistry, then moved to Manchester to complete an MSc in Polymer Materials Science and Engineering. She is presently working towards a PhD with Dr Ulijn researching polymer hydrogel arrays for biomedical screening applications.

Claire Tang

Claire graduated from The University of Bordeaux 1 (France) with a BSc in Biochemistry and a MSc in Chemistry, including a final year project under Dr R. Oda on physico-chemical characterisation of lipopeptide gels. She then moved to The University of Manchester, where she is currently working toward a PhD in peptide gels used for 3D cell culture under the supervision of Dr R. Ulijn and Dr A. Saiani.

Kate Thornton

Kate graduated from the University of Manchester with an MEng (Hons) in Biomedical Material Science, incorporating an industrial placement at Johnson and Johnson Wound Management. She is currently working towards a PhD under the supervision of Dr. Ulijn and Dr. Merry into hydrogels for the culture of embryonic stem cells.

Mi Zhou

Mi is currently doing a PhD with Julie and Rein on reconstructing a full-thickness skin graft for chronic wound healing. With Rein group’s famous SAP Hydrogels (self-assembled peptide hydrogels), the aim of the study is to co-culture fibroblasts and keratinocytes in the ECM (extra cellular matrix)-resembling hydrogels, to let the cells interact happily with each other and to regenerate a complete skin structure of epidermis and dermis.

Haixia Xu

Haixia graduated from Harbin Institute of technology with MSc in Physics and Chemistry of Materials. In the second of MSc programme, she came to Advanced Carbon Division in Institute of metal research Chinese academy of sciences to complete a research project on ‘Effect of surface chemical structure on the electrochemical performance of carbon nanotubes’. She is currently studying for a PhD with the project about electricity properties of peptide nanotubes at the university of Manchester supervised by Dr Ulijn.

Dr Brian Cousins

Brian graduated in Biochemistry from the University of Liverpool and went on to obtain an MRES in the 'Physical analysis of biological interactions on surfaces'. He completed his PhD in 'The development of nanoparticulate coatings for biomaterials' at Liverpool. He undertook a post-doctoral position working on a discipline hopping award at the University of Liverpool. He moved to Newcastle University to investigate surface modification and biofunctionalisation of medical devices for 12 months. After working in the Ulijn group on nanostructures, peptides and enzyme responsive surfaces for biomaterials research, he is now working to establish is own imports company.

Dr Wilda Helen

Wilda graduated from The University of Manchester with a PhD in Biomedical Materials Science. Worked on the molecular design of new bio-interactive materials prepared by spontaneous assembly of short peptide amphiphiles and their application in 3D cell culture and tissue regeneration in the Ulijn group and is presently a PDRA with Adam Engler at UCSD

Dr Andrew Hirst

Andrew completed his PhD studies in the general areas of polymer solution chemistry and rheology from the University of Leeds. Following this, he undertook post-doctoral research at the University of York exploring the relationship between molecular self-assembly and macroscopic gelation of dendritic systems. In Spring 2008, he joined the Ulijn group and explored the molecular gelation pathways that control material properties of peptide-based hydrogels.

Dr Deepak Kalaskar

Deepak completed his B.Tech in chemical Technology from University Nagpur, India. Then he joined BASF coatings Pvt Ltd. and worked in R & D and technical support for a year. Deepak is recently completed work towards PhD on Engineered and chemically modified cellulose network for control cell adhesion supervised by Dr Ulijn, Dr S. Eichhorn, Dr W. Sampson and Dr J. Gough and is now a Research Associate at Liverpool University.

Dr Ho Kam (Ben) Lam

Ben received his Ph.D. (Organic Chemistry) form The University of Manchester under the supervision of Prof. Jonathan Clayden on a topic of Conformational Preference in Aromatic Dicarboxamides. Since that time he had gained experience as a Post Doctoral Research Associate with Prof. Pat Bailey at the University of Manchester. During the time with Prof. Pat Bailey, his research involved designing industrial scale synthesis for different thiopeptides, and their related prodrugs.

Dr Tom McDonald

Tom graduated from the University of Manchester with a BSc in Biomedical Materials Science. He then remained in Manchester and was awarded an MSc in Polymer Material Science and Engineering in 2005. Tom completed his research on the synthesis of PEGA polymer particles for use in biology and medicine and took a position at Unilever before returning to academia as a PDRA at Liverpool University.

Dr Paul Thornton

After completing his BSc (Hons) in Chemistry at the University of Leeds, Paul headed to the bright lights of Manchester. Shunning solid state chemistry he was awarded an MSc in Polymer Science in 2004. Paul then opted to continue his research into hydrogel particles for a PhD. Following the completion of his studies he took a position with a leading contact lens manufacturer before moving to Ireland as a PDRA.

Dr Robert Mart

Rob returned to liposome research with Dr Simon Webb preparing magnetic nanoparticle/vesicle aggregates for novel biomaterials. He is currently working on intracellular biophotonic nanoswitches for Prof. Allemann in Cardiff.

Dr Rachel Rawsterne

Rachel was appointed as a teaching fellow in the Materials Science department of the University of Manchester for a year and is now retraining as a teacher.

Dr Andrew Smith

Andrew studied for his PhD at Sussex University characterising and redesigning a peptide based nanofibre that had been initially designed by his supervisor Prof. D.N. Woolfson. After this he moved to Leeds University to use mass spectrometry to look at self-assembling non-covalent systems with Dr. A.E. Ashcroft in collaboration with Prof. S.E. Radford and Prof. P.G. Stockley. During his stay with the Ulijn group Andrew characterised peptide hydrogels utilising a range of techniques.

Dr Richard Williams

Richard studied for his Bachelors in Biotechnology at Reading, completing his project on the use of bacteriophage enzymes for the production of bioactive oligosaccharides. Upon graduating, he took a position at the Forensic Science Service performing various items of casework. He then moved to the Medical Research Council operating a genomic sequencing service for the Clinical Science Centre. Deciding work was too much like work, and DNA sequencing was overrated, he went back to school and completed a BBSRC funded Masters Degree in Biochemical Engineering, focusing on the use of enzymes as Temperature Time Indicators for industrial processes. After completing his work on enzymatically triggered self assembled hydrogels, Richard has taken up a position at CSIRO in Australia.