Professor Neil Ranson

Profile

After studying for a Biochemistry degree, I stayed on to do my PhD in Mechanistic Enzymology at the University of Bristol with Professor Tony Clarke, working to understand how the molecular chaperones GroEL and GroES assist the folding of other proteins in the crowded environment of the cell. I then cross-trained into structural biology, working with Professor Helen Saibil at Birbkeck College London. I came to Leeds as a University Research Fellow in 2002, and have been a Lecturer and Associate Professor en route to my current role.

Responsibilities

• Director, The Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology
• Director of Electron Microscopy, Astbury Biostructure Laboratory

Research interests

Fundamentally, I'm interested in the structure of macromolecules such as proteins and nucleic acids, and the dynamic, heterogeneous complexes they make, which drive biological function. A major interest of my lab is in structural virology and we are investigating all aspects of virus structure using cryo-electron microscopy, including virus structures, virus assembly and uncoating and virus-receptor interactions. We are currently working on a wide range of different viral pathogens that are important for food security and human health.

My lab also retains a strong interest in protein folding studies, and we are working to understand how proteins are folded into membranes, and how protein misfolding goes wrong to produce amyloidoses.

<h4>Research projects</h4> <p>Any research projects I'm currently working on will be listed below. Our list of all <a href="https://biologicalsciences.leeds.ac.uk/dir/research-projects">research projects</a> allows you to view and search the full list of projects in the faculty.</p>

• A community-based training programme for cryo-electron microscopy
• Breaking the Barrier: Mapping protein interactions in the bacterial outer membrane as targets for new antimicrobials
• Delivery and clearance of outer membrane proteins to the bacterial outer membrane
• Mass spectrometry infrastructure for in-cell structural biology
• State of the art electron detection for cyoEM at the Astbury Biostructure Laboratories
• Structural & Functional Investigations Of A Murderous Enzyme in a Native-like Context

Qualifications

• BSc, PhD 1997, Bristol

Student education

• Faculty Graduate School
• FindaPhD Project details:
  • Project 39243

 

<h4>Postgraduate research opportunities</h4> <p>We welcome enquiries from motivated and qualified applicants from all around the world who are interested in PhD study. Our <a href="https://phd.leeds.ac.uk">research opportunities</a> allow you to search for projects and scholarships.</p>

Funding

<li><a href="//phd.leeds.ac.uk/funding/357-4-year-cheney-scholarship-phd-programme-in-in-situ-structural-biology">4-Year Cheney Scholarship PhD Programme in In Situ Structural Biology</a></li>