Jack Stubbs
Jack is a PhD student split between the XFEL Hub at Diamond Light Source and the University of Southampton, with an industry co-funded studentship as part of the South Coast Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership (SoCoBio DTP). The title of Jack’s PhD is Developing novel approaches for time-resolved structural biology. Jack recently graduated with an MSci in Biochemistry with a Year Abroad from the University of East Anglia. His research focuses on optimising the crystallisation of important protein targets, which allows for time-resolved experiments to be performed at both synchrotrons and XFELs, providing further insights into protein dynamics through molecular movies of enzymes in action. In addition, he focuses on unmet needs in sample preparation and sample delivery which are key to ensure a successful serial experiment. Research Complex provides Jack with the multidisciplinary environment and cutting-edge facilities necessary for success in the fast-moving area of crystallographic methods development.
Jack’s PhD supervisory team includes Allen Orville (XFEL-Hub at Diamond), Pierre Aller (XFEL-Hub at Diamond), Ivo Tews (University of Southampton), Jonathan West (University of Southampton), Mark Roe (University of Sussex) and Patrick Shaw Stewart (Douglas Instruments Ltd).
Research Interests
- Enzyme complexes involved in natural products biosynthesis such as the large PLP synthase complex which undergoes the biosynthesis of vitamin B6 via a complex cascade of over 20 catalytic steps
- Time-resolved mixing experiments allowing for the observation of ligand binding and structural transitions as proteins undergo their catalytic cycle
- Methods development including the use of micro seeding approaches for sample preparation as well as microfluidics for the generating homogenous microcrystal slurries
Jack's LinkedIn profile is available here.