Kyle Morris Ph.D. B.Sc.
Structural Biology, Biochemistry & Biophysics
Research
Senior Investigator Scientist MRC-LMS Sep 2018 – current Postdoctoral Scholar Lab: Jim Hurley QB3, University of California Berkeley, USA Jun 2016 – Aug 2018 Structure determination by cryo-EM of macromolecular complexes involved in protein trafficking (AP-1:Arf1:HIV-Nef), metabolic sensing (Rag-Ragulator), nitric oxide sensing (soluble guanylyl cyclase) and protein phosphorylation (PI3K). Training and supervision of researchers at all levels in sample preparation, data acquisition and computational image processing for negative stain and high resolution cryo-electron microscopy. Postdoctoral Research Fellow Lab: Corinne Smith School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, UK
Mar 2013 – Apr 2016
Structure determination of clathrin cages by cryo-EM and implementation of novel image-processing routines for handling pseudo-symmetry. Disassembly of clathrin cages by the chaperone hsc70 and adaptor auxilin, research utilising single cysteine site-specific single molecule FRET in alternating-laser excitation (ALEX) confocal measurements. Direct supervision of PhD graduate students on their research projects. BBSRC Visiting Postdoctoral Scholar Lab: Yifan Cheng Macromolecular Structure Group, University of California San Francisco, USA Jan 2014 – Feb 2014 & Oct 2014 – Dec 2014 High-resolution cryo-EM studies of clathrin cage architecture using newly developed direct electron detection systems, motion correction and advanced image-processing methods. Postdoctoral Research Assistant Lab: Louise Serpell School of Life Sciences University of Sussex, UK
Jul 2012 – Feb 2013
Continued research and publication of research carried out during my Ph.D.
Ph.D. Biochemistry Lab: Louise Serpell School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, UK
Oct 2008 – Jun 2012
Structural biology and biophysical characterisation of self-assembling proteins including amyloid-like peptides, low-molecular weight gelators, silks and amyloids using X-ray fibre diffraction, circular and linear dichroism, transmission electron microscopy and molecular modelling. Direct supervision of final year undergraduate students on their research projects.
Placement Student (Bioanalytical Development), GlaxoSmithKline, UK
Sep 2006 – Sep 2007
During the course of this placement I worked on two projects developing methods required to support therapeutic monoclonal antibody development. I successfully transferred and developed a residual genomic DNA real time qPCR assay onto a new high throughput automated nucleic acid extraction platform. Further, I initiated the development of a real time reverse transcription qPCR assay for the detection of retrovirus like particles in CHO cell cultures.
Wellcome Scholarship Student Lab: Kathy and Martha Triantafilou School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, UK
Jul 2006 – Aug 2006
I conducted research into immunological cellular responses to HRV. This involved elucidating the expression levels of innate immune receptors by flow cytometry in response to in vitro infection. Further investigations were made using western blots, confocal microscopy and cytometic arrays.
Teaching experience 2017 Designing and running seminars for MCB postgraduates at the University of California Berkley, topics including: radiation damage in cryo-EM, localised reconstruction and sub-tomogram averaging. 2013 – 2016 Direct supervision of PhD graduate students and final year undergraduate research projects in the Smith lab at the University of Warwick 2008 – 2013 Direct supervision of final year undergraduate research projects in the Serpell lab at the University of Sussex 2008 – 2013 Instructor on various bioinformatics course at the University of Sussex 2008 – 2013 I delivered undergraduate material in a seminar format to tutees on courses including Biological Chemistry, Bioinformatics, Bioenergetics and Cell & Molecular Biology. Funding & Awards 2017 - First author poster prize winner @ CCPEM Spring Symposium 2017 2016 - Co-author and major contributor to the successful BBSRC award BB/N008391/1
2014 - Named researcher, co-author and major contributor to the successful BBSRC travel award Education
Ph.D. Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Sussex, UK
Oct 2008 – Jun 2012
During my Ph.D. my area of research was anisotropic self-assembly; in particular the structural and biophysical characterisation of short amyloidogenic peptides and low molecular weight gelators. By using these model systems I worked to elucidate key sequence and physiochemical characteristics that drive self-assembly and determine structure. I used a combination of X-ray fibre diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, circular and linear dichroism as well as computational methods in molecular modelling and diffraction simulation. By investigating a breadth of model systems I hope my work is relevant for both disease and bionanotechnology.
I successfully supervised three undergraduates and one postgraduate M.Sc. student through their dissertation research projects. Furthermore, in addition to my own research, I maintained collaborative relationships that have lead to a number of peer-reviewed publications.
B.Sc.
Molecular Medicine (2:1), University of Sussex, UK Oct 2004 – Jun 2008
Skills
Cryo-Electron Microscopy Molecular Modelling Shell, Python, Java, Matlab, Visual Basic programming Presentation and Science Communication Biochemistry
X-ray Fibre Diffraction
Circular and Linear Dichroism
Spectroscopy
Project Management
Selected conferences and public speaking
2019 Apr - Selected oral presentation - eBic Users Meeting CCPEM, Nottingham, UK Presentation title: AP-1 trimerisation and conformation switching. 2018 Apr - Seminar speaker - UC Berkeley Electron Microscopy super group, UCB, US 2018 Mar - Invited oral presentation - Structural Biology Related to HIV/AIDS, NIH Bethesda, USA Presentation title: HIV-1 Nefs are cargo-sensitive AP-1 trimerisation switches in tetherin downregulation. 2017 Mar - Contributed presentation - Bay Area Cryo-EM meeting, UCSC, USA Presentation title: Breaking reconstruction barriers using localized refinement and Volta phase plate data. 2016 Jul - Seminar speaker - UC Berkeley Electron Microscopy super group, UCB, USA 2016 Mar - Invited seminar speaker - UCSF Electron Microscopy sub group, UCSF, USA Presentation title: Clathrin cage architecture and stabilization. 2015 Sep - Poster presentation - EMBO cryo-EM image processing workshop, Birkbeck, UK 2015 May - Invited oral presentation - Endocytosis and Clathrin Club, Warwick, UK 2015 Apr - Contributed presentation - CCPEM workshop, Oxfordshire, UK 2015 Mar - Presentation - Cheng Lab, Macromolecular Structure Group, UCSF, USA 2014 Jul - Invited oral presentation - British Biophysical Society Meeting, Warwick, UK
Presentation title: The Structure of Cross-ß Tapes and Tubes.
2012 Sep - Selected oral presentation - Polymeric and Self-Assembled Hydrogels, London, UK
Presentation title: Self-sorting gelator networks - A new method.
2012 May - Poster presentation - SCN-Directed Assembly Network Meeting, Bath, UK
2011 Dec - Selected oral presentation - SCN Annual Conference, Bristol, UK
Presentation title: How to design self-assembled hydrogelating fibres - A biophysical and structural characterisation.
2011 Nov - Invited oral presentation - CD & LD of Fibrillar Proteins, Royal Society London, UK
Presentation title: The peaks and troughs of fibrillar characterisation.
2011 Aug - Poster presentation - Harden Conference: Synthetic Biology, Keele, UK
2010 Aug - Selected oral presentation - ACA '10 Conference, Chicago USA
Presentation title: Insights into amyloid structure from short-assembling peptides.
2010 Jun - Contributed presentation - Directed Assembly Network Meeting, Oxfordshire, UK
2010 Feb - Invited seminar speaker - NTNU, Trondheim, Norway
Presentation title: Short peptide amyloid like systems - From understanding disease to making materials.
2009 Sep - Poster presentation - SCN Annual Conference, Oxford, UK
2009 Aug - Poster presentation - Benzon Symposium, Copenhagen, Denmark
2007 Jul - Internal seminar - GSK Biopharm CEDD, Beckenham, UK
Presentation title: Developing processes in real time qPCR.
Public engagement
2019 Jul - Mentoring: Biochemical research career insight - MRC LMS, London Community engagement with A-Level students from Ark Burlington Danes Academy. 2011 Dec - Outreach: Meet the Expert Public Engagement - @Bristol Centre, Bristol
Public engagement training affiliated with Bristol University. Over two days seminars, interactive workshops and role plays culminating in a day spent working at the @Bristol centre to refine public engagement skills.
2011 Sep - Interview: The Revival of Science Popularity - BBC Sussex and Surrey Radio
Invited interview to discuss the resurgence in the popularity of science subjects at schools in the wake of popular science personalities and large experiments such as CERN.
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