Sam obtained a Masters in Bioinformatics from Sastra University, followed by a PhD in biochemistry from Yeungnam University (2016). His PhD work focused on the enzymatic synthesis of chiral amine and unnatural amino acids using transaminases under the supervision of Prof. Yun.

Sam then joined Prof. Fraaije’s group at the Unversity of Groningen (2016-2018) and worked on the synthesis of chiral compounds using Flavin dependent enzymes. Subsequently Sam worked as a postdoc fellow with Prof. Rueping at Kaust and worked on developing (chemo)-enzymatic cascades for chiral amine synthesis. Since 2021 Sam has been a research member within the Campopiano group and now works on the biocatalytic synthesis of industrially relevant lipids

Rhona grew up in the southside of Glasgow. She completed her BSc(Hons) in Biochemistry and Pharmacology in 2017 at the University of Strathclyde. She then went onto obtain her MSc in Pharmaceutical Analysis which included time at Shimadzu UK (Milton Keynes) under the supervision of Prof. Mel Euerby and Dr. Jennifer Field. Her dissertation from her time at Shimadzu UK focused on HPLC method development. Rhona joined the Campopiano group in September 2019. Her PhD is in collaboration with CelluComp to investigate if enzymes are useful in adapting their products. Out of the lab, Rhona enjoys hiking, photography and reading.

Kimberley grew up in Falkirk and obtained her MChem from the University of Edinburgh. She carried out her final year project in the Campopiano group exploring thermostable transaminase biocatalysts and then conducted a short summer project developing biocatalytic routes to industrially relevant compounds. Kimberley is undertaking her PhD studies in the field of transaminase biocatalysts with our industrial partner Johnson Matthey, under the joint supervision of Prof. Lawrence and Prof. Campopiano. Outside of her studies, Kimberley is a competitive bowler who is part of the ladies and junior ladies Scotland International team.

Mariyah grew up in Manchester and obtained her MChem from the University of Leicester. She completed a year-long placement at Sygnature Discovery, synthesising organic compounds for use in screening libraries to offer high-throughput screening capability to clients. She then joined the Campopiano research group and is currently developing combined bio- and chemo-catalytic cascades for the preparation of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). Outside of Chemistry, Mariyah enjoys hiking and reading.

Gustavo grew up in the north of Puebla, Mexico, and obtained his bachelors in Pharmaceutical Chemistry at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. He then travelled to the UK to obtain his MRes in Postgenomic Biology from The University of York (2013). After 3 years working in Mexico, he went back to the UK to obtain his PhD in Chemical Biology under the supervision of Dr Sarah Barry at King’s College London. His PhD focussed on the study of cytochrome P450 enzymes from the biosynthetic pathway of cyclic peptide antibiotics. Gustavo then joined the Barry group now as a postdoc and worked understanding the role of cytochrome P450s and nitric oxide synthases in biosynthetic nitration. In 2021 he joined the Campopiano group where he uses his experience exploring the biosynthesis of bacterial sphingolipids.

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I am undertaking BBSCRC funded PhD via the EastBio doctoral training partnership. My project focuses on creating an enzyme cascade to convert fatty acids into long chain alky-amines. Initially I will concentrate on characterising the kinetics and producing a substrate bound crystal structure of the transaminase FumI. With the information gained I will perform directed evolution to optimise FumI for industrial substrates.

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Prior to my PhD, I achieved an MSci in Natural Sciences, from the University of Bath. During which I undertook a placement at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, France, where I gained molecular biology experience, cloning, expressing and purifying a recombinant kinase using a bacterial expression system. In Bath my Masters project built on this experience as I expanded to working in a yeast expression system focusing on a protein implicated in ageing.

Originally from Hungary, Peter travelled to the land of Down under to obtain his bachelor’s in chemistry at James Cook University. He then joined the group of Prof. Michael Oelgemoeller in 2018, where he investigated the photochemical synthesis of aristolactams. Peter then returned to Europe for his MSc in Medicinal and Biological Chemistry at the University of Edinburgh, where he completed a 3 month summer research project with Prof. Campopiano, and was tasked with the characterisation of an unknown enzyme for industrial applications. Planning his future in biocatalysis Peter secured an IBioIC/BBSRC-funded studentship with Prof. Campopiano, Dr. Jenni Garden and Prof. Louise Horsfall in 2021. With his industrial partner, INDInature, he will develop a sustainable process to turn plant biomass into polymeric material for the construction industry using bio-, and chemocatalytic pathways. In his free time Peter enjoys hiking and practicing cardistry/juggling.

Lisa completed her BSc in Medicinal Chemistry & Chemical Biology at University College Dublin, graduating in 2022. During her final year in UCD, she carried out a 9-month research project under the supervision of Dr. Elaine O’Reilly focusing on a transaminase triggered aza-Michael reaction for the formation of substituted pyrrolidines. Lisa also gained industry experience during her placement with Takeda Ireland in 2021 where she worked as part of the Process Development Team.

Lisa is undertaking a PhD in association with IBioIC and EaSI-CAT where she will work towards establishing a biocatalytic cascade for the synthesis of resorcinol molecules