Profile

I was always fascinated by the oceans, and got the opportunity to snorkel and see coral reefs when I was 14. I got my diving qualification at 15, in Exmouth. At school, I loved science and had some inspirational teachers from middle school on, who encouraged independent experimentation. I was fortunate that my school did a lot of practical work, which was the best way for me to learn. At University I did everything (rowing, music, parties, work etc). I did a PhD after that, and was lucky to move to the US (California) to combine my love of the oceans with chemistry and worked in a group discovering anti-cancer compounds from marine sponges. I have continued that work to this day.

Our lab is the Marine Biodiscovery Centre and we are a very international research group. Our work is based around discovering new molecules from nature that might be used to treat human diseases (Cancer, infection, inflammation, parasitic diseases, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s). In particular we look at deep sea, polar and desert environments. We take some material from these and grow microorganisms which often contain the coolest molecules. In the last few years we have discovered a molecule from a marine fungus that has promise against epilepsy and a molecule from a sponge that might be used to treat Alzheimer’s. We work with micro and molecular biologists as well as disease specialists, but we are experts in extracting and identifying these cool molecules. For that we use techniques such as chromatography, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectrometry.

This is a short movie of our lab and the work we do

I also use my knowledge to advise lawyers and policy makers (UK/EU and UN) to develop a new law to save the oceans – this has been very rewarding but a lot of work. I have been privileged to meet some amazing people doing this.

When I am teaching, I will prepare my teaching materials long in advance, and check it on the day I give the lecture. I will then go to my lecture – often with models, ready to discuss the subject with students and encourage them to ask questions and help solve problems on the board. The rest of the day I will check in with research students and discuss recent results with them – this often means a later meeting to discuss the results in detail in my office. My favourite type of teaching is one-to-one with a student who is going through data and then makes a key discovery – this is the magic of research – to be the first to know something new.

I may also talk to the technical staff that run the big instruments (see the movie link above) to ensure everything is working. the rest of may day is spent writing, organising research etc. I write papers for publication and reports for the United Nations etc.