Peak Proteins Welcomes Shona Hepworth

Peak Proteins was delighted to welcome Shona Hepworth who joined us as part of her iCASE studentship partnership. Shona worked alongside Dr Steven Harborne our Head of Membrane Protein.

Starting Life as a Chemist

Shona studied at the University of East Anglia and graduated with a Degree of Master in Chemistry. During her degree Shona worked as a Laboratory Assistant at Gleadell Agriculture and had completed several internships at The John Innes Centre in Norwich, UK, including a Nuffield Placement. The John Innes Centre is an independent, international centre of excellence in plant science, genetics, and microbiology.

Shifting to Biochemistry

Shona commented, “Working at The John Innes Centre gave me an insight and experience in the more biological side of chemistry. I found my interest in biochemistry and decided to pursue that discipline rather than stay in chemistry.”

Shona started her Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) funded PhD in Autumn 2019 including an iCASE studentship with Peak Proteins. Industrial Cooperative Awards in Science & Technology (CASE) provide funding for doctoral studentships where businesses and related organisations take the lead in arranging projects with an academic partner of their choice.

Unfortunately, the COVID pandemic struck 6 months into her research project starting. The pandemic delayed her studentship with Peak Proteins. She joined us for a week this May but is hoping to join us again before her PhD submission deadline of October 2023.

Shona’s PhD title is “Understanding the conformational dynamics of the membrane transporter complexes GltTk and GltPh using Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopy”.

Working at Peak Proteins

Dr Steven Harborne commented, “Shona had been working to purify her target membrane protein GltTk in SMALPs, which she was successful in doing. She’s has taken that protein back to UEA and label it with a spin label in order to perform EPR spectroscopy. The aim of the work is to compare SMALP encapsulated GltTk against detergent, liposome or nanodisc encapsulated versions. Theoretically, the SMALP encapsulated protein should provide an environment that is more like native membrane than detergent micelles, and she hopes to see that in her experiments.”

Life Outside Work

Shona loves travelling.  “I’d much rather take a 5-hour flight and explore a different country than take a 5-hour train journey to the North of England!  My favourite country so far is Canada.  I’m looking forward to a big holiday after I’ve completed my PhD,” added Shona.

Shona also has two pedigree kittens, Ralph and Lilly, who do look gorgeous.