Professor Juliet Gerrard, School of Biological Sciences

juliet.gerrard@canterbury.ac.nz
More information on Professor Gerrard and her research

Project Topics

Is quaternary structure an evolutionary accident or an added level of structure-function relationship in proteins?

Building on our published work on the quaternary structure of TIM-barrel enzymes, we will explore this question using directed evolution in a highly collaborative project at the interface of protein biochemistry and molecular biology.

Dr Deborah Crittenden, Department of Chemistry

deborah.crittenden@canterbury.ac.nz
More information on Dr Crittenden and her research

Project Topics

Understanding proton-coupled electron transfer: the key to photosynthesis

Proton-coupled electron transfer reactions are the key step in photosynthesis, the mechanism by which light energy is harvested from the sun and converted into the chemical energy that is used to sustain life on earth. This makes them the most important in the biosphere, if not the world. However, to date, surprisingly little is known about the precise mechanism by which proton-coupled electron transfer reactions occur. This project will focus on developing and applying new quantum chemical methods that accurately model coupled nuclear and electronic motion, to better understand the process of photosynthesis.

Multi scale modeling for biomolecular simulations

Contained within the human genome is the blueprint for tens of thousands of proteins, molecular machines that are responsible for a diverse array of functions, from catalysing fundamental biochemical reactions (enzymes) to transporting essential compounds around the body (e.g. hemoglobin). These biomacromolecules function on a wide range of length scales, from the short-range interactions of chemical bonding (0.1 – 1 nm) all the way through to solution-phase diffusion (0.1 - 1 m). The aim of this project is to combine current technology for different length scales (e.g. quantum mechanics, molecular dynamics, coarse-grained MD, kinetic models) into a single integrated model in an intuitive and automatic way. This will open up the possibility of performing realistic in-silico experiments to parallel laboratory work.

Is proton tunneling critical for enzyme function?

It has been postulated in the scientific literature that the extraordinary catalytic ability of some biological enzymes is due to proton tunneling, which is thought to facilitate rearrangement of hydrogen atoms in the enzyme : substrate complex. In close collaboration with colleagues in the Department of Biological Sciences, this project will investigate the role that proton tunneling plays in the activity of dihydrodipicolinate synthase, a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of the amino acid lysine.

Associate Professor Antony Fairbanks, Department of Chemistry

antony.fairbanks@canterbury.ac.nz
More information on Dr Fairbanks and his research

Project Topics

Biocatalytic approaches to the production of defined homogeneous glycoproteins

The project centres on the further development of the synthetic potential of endohexosaminidase enzymes for the production of homogenous defined glycoconjugates, such as glycopeptides, glycoproteins, and monoclonal antibodies. This highly interdisciplinary project entails the chemical synthesis of N-glycan oligosaccharides, biocatalyst production, biocatalytic assays and studies enzyme kinetics, and the production of more effective and specific biocatalysts by molecular biology techniques, such as site-directed mutagenesis and directed evolution. The long-term project goal is the production of defined homogeneous glycoproteins for both therapeutic purposes and for biochemical study.

Development of small molecule carbohydrate mimics as new anti-tubercular agents

The project centres on the chemical synthesis and biological testing of arrays of small molecule carbohydrate derivatives that may display anti-mycobacterial activity by inhibition of the enzymes used by mycobacteria to assemble the portions of their cell wall that are made up from extended carbohydrate structures. The overall project goals are the development of lead compounds that display anti-mycobacterial and anti-tubercular activity which may be used as lead compounds for the development of a new generation of anti-tubercular agents.

Associate Professor Paul Kruger, Department of Chemistry

paul.kruger@canterbury.ac.nz
More information on Dr Kruger and his research

Project Topics

The supramolecular chemistry of anion binding and sensing

We are interested in the development of new paradigms for anion binding and sensing within the realm of supramolecular chemistry. Anions are ubiquitous throughout Nature, they are involved in myriad biological processes, are associated with numerous medical diseases, and are implicated in environmental pollution. Our work in this area is leading to paradigm shifts within anion coordination chemistry and sensing.

Professor Jack Heinemann, School of Biological Sciences

jack.heinemann@canterbury.ac.nz
More information on Professor Heinemann and his research

Project Topics

Direct to consumer marketing of nanotech and other antimicrobial agents

Anticipating health impacts of direct to consumer marketing of nanotech and other antimicrobial agents: do consumer products enriched with antimicrobial products drive evolution of community-acquired antibiotic resistance? 

Dr Mark Staiger, Department of Mechanical Engineering

mark.staiger@canterbury.ac.nz
More information on Dr Staiger and his research

Project Topics

Development of a combined quartz crystal microbalance-electrochemical test protocol for assessment of the biodegradation behaviour of orthopedic biomaterials

The aim of the project is to develop a novel method for studying in situ the influence of protein adsorption on the corrosion rate of various orthopedic biomaterials.

Associate Professor Richard Hartshorn, Department of Chemistry

richard.hartshorn@canterbury.ac.nz
More information on Dr Hartshorn and his research

Project Topics

Models for hydrolytic metalloenzymes

Metalloenzymes are used to hydrolyse esters and amides in biological systems. The role of the metal ion is to act as a Lewis acid catalyst (e.g. by coordinating the carbonyl oxygen atom), or to provide an active nucleophile (e.g. coordinated hydroxide) that can exist in high concentration at physiological pH. The aim of this project is to synthesise dinuclear complexes where the two metal ions are able to use both of these approaches at the same time. Designing different coordination environments for each metal may facilitate this.

Synthesis of polydentate amine ligands and their metal complexes #1

We want to make new amino acids that give more stable metal complexes, either to better study the reactions of amino acids when they are coordinated to metal ions, or to provide a means of incorporating metal binding sites into proteins. We will use intramolecular condensation reactions in these syntheses:

Synthesis of polydentate amine ligands and their metal complexes #2

We want to make new amino acids that give more stable metal complexes, either to better study the reactions of amino acids when they are coordinated to metal ions, or to provide a means of incorporating metal binding sites into proteins. Linking reagents and condensation reactions will be used to synthesise C-linked polydentate amino acids.

High strength protein biomaterials through photo-induced crosslinking

Utilising novel transition metal chemistry, we will induce targeted protein-protein crosslinking through irradiation.

Dr Raazesh Sainudiin, Department of Mathematics and Statistics

raazesh.sainudiin@canterbury.ac.nz
More information on Dr Sainudiin and his research

Project Topics

Computationally Intensive Statistical Simulation and Inference Methods in Genomics

The project will extend available inference methods to cope with massive amounts of genomic data from populations and closely related species.  Both computational and mathematical tools will be used to answer fundamental questions in genomic sciences of plant/animal breeding as well as human disease mapping.  The program will provide a sound preparation in biostatistics and bioinformatics towards a research career in academic, pharmaceutical, agricultural or public health sectors. 

Professor Mike Steel, Department of Mathematics and Statistics

mike.steel@canterbury.ac.nz
More information on Professor Steel and his research

Project Topics

Discrete random models in evolutionary biology

The last three decades have seen spectacular advances in our understanding of evolutionary biology, due largely to the wealth of molecular data (genes and genomes) being generated. Stochastic models are a fundamental tool to analyse this data, and the development of better models, and better methods of analysis requires a careful interplay of mathematics, algorithm development, statistics, and communication with biologists.

This project will aim to develop models and methods required to analyse new tpes of genomic data that are becoming available and to explore approaches that build a 'network of life' rather than a 'tree of life'. The precise project would depend on the skills and interests of the student, but any of the following backgrounds would be useful: probability theory and statistics, discrete mathematics, algorithms and computer science, programming, some background in modern molecular evolutionary biology.