Michael Schrader
I am a molecular cell biologist interested in the biogenesis and dynamics of cellular compartments (organelles) in mammalian cells. My research focuses on the molecular machinery and signalling pathways, which mediate and regulate the formation, dynamics and abundance of peroxisomes. Our goal is to understand the relation of organelle dynamics to organelle functionality and its impact on developmental and physiological processes. My teaching includes molecular cell biology and biomedical aspects.
Ruth Carmichael - Post-Doctoral Research Fellow
I gained my PhD in molecular neuroscience at the University of Bristol, and have subsequently completed post-docs in molecular cell biology at both Bristol and the University of the West of England. My previous research has focused on how post-translational modifications regulate organelle function and protein trafficking in healthy and diseased states. In particular, my work on the dysfunction of mitochondrial dynamics in Parkinson’s Disease led me to an interest in peroxisomes, because of the shared machinery between the two organelles. In the Schrader lab, I use a variety of techniques to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the control of peroxisome number, function and interactions. I am particularly interested in the mechanisms and regulation of peroxisome dynamics and peroxisome-mitochondria interactions in human cells, especially neurons, and how we can exploit these processes to improve cell performance.
Chenxing Jiang - PhD Student
I graduated with a master’s degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences in 2023, and BSc in Pharmaceutical Sciences in 2021 from the University of Tokyo, Japan. At Yukiko Gotoh lab, the University of Tokyo, I studied how mitochondria and peroxisomes, essential metabolic organelles, communicate and how their communication affects cellular homeostasis. Through the three years of studying, I gradually became interested in how peroxisomes contribute to the healthy development of our body. Before coming to UK, I also worked as a research assistant at Yusuke Hirabayashi lab, the University of Tokyo. I worked on DeepLearning-based volume Electron Micrograph approach to precisely visualize organelles in the cell.
My doctorate research aims to understand how peroxisome contribute to the general development through interacting with another organelle called endoplasmic reticulum. By combining techniques in molecular cell biology and multiple in vivo models such as zebrafish and fly, I strive to unravel the new functional roles of peroxisomes.
My doctorate research aims to understand how peroxisome contribute to the general development through interacting with another organelle called endoplasmic reticulum. By combining techniques in molecular cell biology and multiple in vivo models such as zebrafish and fly, I strive to unravel the new functional roles of peroxisomes.
Tang Xinyu - PhD Student
I have successfully completed my master's degree in Crop Genetics and Breeding at Huazhong Agricultural University in China. During my three-year tenure in the Zhang lab, my research was primarily focused on the elongation of unusual fatty acids in plants. This research experience equipped me with a solid foundation in lipid metabolism and proficiency in utilizing bioinformatics tools for data analysis, shaping my academic background around plant biology. However, my academic journey has fuelled a strong desire to broaden my expertise and explore the realms of mammalian cell biology and lipid metabolism. This fervent aspiration has driven me to express a keen interest in becoming a part of Professor Schrader's research project and research group, where I aim to delve into the study of lipid metabolism within peroxisomes and their interactions with other cellular organelles. For my doctoral research, I aspire to conduct an in-depth investigation into the intricate relationships between peroxisomes and lipid droplets, with the ultimate goal of elucidating their significant contributions to lipid droplet dynamics.
Tina Schrader - Senior Research Technician
I received my technical education and degree at the Ruprecht Karls University of Heidelberg, Germany, with particular focus on cell biology, anatomy and biochemistry. I obtained international experience at the Johns Hopkins University, USA and in Portugal. Besides academia, I also worked in a company with focus on drug development in cancer research. In 2012, I joined the University of Exeter and I am involved in several inter-disciplinary research projects to understand the dynamics and cooperation of subcellular compartments and their link to human disease. I have profound technical expertise in several research areas including molecular cell biology, biochemistry, tumour biology, and histology. Besides involvement in several research projects, I am managing the cell culture facility including our cell bank as well as general needs of the whole group.
Previous Members
Harley Worthy (Former Post-Doc) - Scientist, RSR Limited, Cardiff, UK
Rechal Kumar (Former PhD student) - Postdoctoral Researcher, Karen Steel Lab, King's College London, UK.
Beatriz Silva (Former PhD student) - Postdoctoral Researcher, Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (University of Luxembourg)
Suzan Kors (Former PhD Student) - Postdoctoral Fellow, joint between Anne Schlaitz Lab (University of Heidelberg), and Yannick Schwab Lab (EMBL), Heidelberg, Germany.
Maki Kamoshita (Former Post-Doc) - Postdoctoral Fellow, Ikawa Lab, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Japan.
Josiah Passmore (Former PhD Student) - Postdoctoral Fellow, Lukas Kapitein Lab, Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Biophysics, University of Utrecht, the Netherlands.
Joe Costello (Former Post-Doc) - Senior Lecturer in Biosciences and UKRI Future Leaders Fellow, University of Exeter.
Alexa Bishop (Former MbyRes Student) - PhD student in Molecular Cell Biology at St George's, University of London.
Afsoon Sadeghi-Azadi (Former PhD Student) - IPOL (In Pursuit Of Life) Startup company.
Paula Breuer (Trainee Research Technician) - Institute for Physiology and Pathophysiology, University of Heidelberg, Germany.
Inês Castro (Former PhD Student) - Postdoctoral Fellow, Maya Schuldiner Lab, Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel.
Rechal Kumar (Former PhD student) - Postdoctoral Researcher, Karen Steel Lab, King's College London, UK.
Beatriz Silva (Former PhD student) - Postdoctoral Researcher, Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (University of Luxembourg)
Suzan Kors (Former PhD Student) - Postdoctoral Fellow, joint between Anne Schlaitz Lab (University of Heidelberg), and Yannick Schwab Lab (EMBL), Heidelberg, Germany.
Maki Kamoshita (Former Post-Doc) - Postdoctoral Fellow, Ikawa Lab, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Japan.
Josiah Passmore (Former PhD Student) - Postdoctoral Fellow, Lukas Kapitein Lab, Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Biophysics, University of Utrecht, the Netherlands.
Joe Costello (Former Post-Doc) - Senior Lecturer in Biosciences and UKRI Future Leaders Fellow, University of Exeter.
Alexa Bishop (Former MbyRes Student) - PhD student in Molecular Cell Biology at St George's, University of London.
Afsoon Sadeghi-Azadi (Former PhD Student) - IPOL (In Pursuit Of Life) Startup company.
Paula Breuer (Trainee Research Technician) - Institute for Physiology and Pathophysiology, University of Heidelberg, Germany.
Inês Castro (Former PhD Student) - Postdoctoral Fellow, Maya Schuldiner Lab, Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel.
Project students
Laila Shafiee - 2023 - MSci Biochemistry
Sophie Sandercock - Work experience placement October 2023
Paula Schrader - Work experience placement March 2023
Harold Guan - Work experience placement March 2023
Josephine Cox - 2021 - BSc; 2022/2023 - MSci Biological and Medicinal Chemistry
Rahul Patel - 2022/2023 - MSci Biosciences
Isabelle Gray - 2021 - Internship
Sophie Brixton - 2021 - Internship
Jonathan Flatt - 2021 - BSc Biosciences
Jasmin Hopkins - 2019/2020 - BSc Biosciences
Nicola Foster - 2018/2019 - BSc Biosciences
Helene Stabell - 2018 - Internship
Emily Kitchener - 2017/2018 - BSc Biochemistry
Alexa Bishop - 2017 - Internship
Riddhi Mane - 2017 - Internship
Georgia Bullen - 2016/2017 - BSc Biosciences
Jack Taylor - 2016/2017 - BSc Biosciences
Charlotte Davies - 2015/2016 - BSc Biosciences
Bryony Bowman - 2015/2016 - BSc Biosciences
Sam Cope - 2014/2015 - BSc Medical Sciences
Harry Woolgrove - 2014 - BSc Biosciences
Peter Metcalfe - 2014 - BSc Biosciences
Ukshay Venkataswami - 2014 - MSc Biotechnology and Enterprise
Georgina Mortimer - 2013/2014 - BSc Medical Sciences
Amelia Townley - 2013 - BSc Biosciences
Ehiaghe Okieimen - 2013 - MSc Biotechnology and Enterprise
Sarah Becker - 2013 - ERASMUS student
Sophie Sandercock - Work experience placement October 2023
Paula Schrader - Work experience placement March 2023
Harold Guan - Work experience placement March 2023
Josephine Cox - 2021 - BSc; 2022/2023 - MSci Biological and Medicinal Chemistry
Rahul Patel - 2022/2023 - MSci Biosciences
Isabelle Gray - 2021 - Internship
Sophie Brixton - 2021 - Internship
Jonathan Flatt - 2021 - BSc Biosciences
Jasmin Hopkins - 2019/2020 - BSc Biosciences
Nicola Foster - 2018/2019 - BSc Biosciences
Helene Stabell - 2018 - Internship
Emily Kitchener - 2017/2018 - BSc Biochemistry
Alexa Bishop - 2017 - Internship
Riddhi Mane - 2017 - Internship
Georgia Bullen - 2016/2017 - BSc Biosciences
Jack Taylor - 2016/2017 - BSc Biosciences
Charlotte Davies - 2015/2016 - BSc Biosciences
Bryony Bowman - 2015/2016 - BSc Biosciences
Sam Cope - 2014/2015 - BSc Medical Sciences
Harry Woolgrove - 2014 - BSc Biosciences
Peter Metcalfe - 2014 - BSc Biosciences
Ukshay Venkataswami - 2014 - MSc Biotechnology and Enterprise
Georgina Mortimer - 2013/2014 - BSc Medical Sciences
Amelia Townley - 2013 - BSc Biosciences
Ehiaghe Okieimen - 2013 - MSc Biotechnology and Enterprise
Sarah Becker - 2013 - ERASMUS student