Elizabeth Thwaites
- Lancaster University
My name is Elizabeth, a PhD student based at Lancaster University and the University of Glasgow. I graduated from Lancaster University with an MSci in Biochemistry. During my studies I developed a keen interest in molecular cell biology, an interest which I continue to pursue in my current research. Outside of work I enjoy hiking and scuba diving. I also enjoy being curled up at home reading a book, playing games on my switch, and going to the cinema.
I have always enjoyed learning about the complex mechanisms underlying the cell cycle, an area which I developed in my undergraduate project and summer internship in cancer research labs. My current research is in molecular parasitology focusing on characterising the cell cycle of the unicellular parasite, leishmania. These organisms have unique gene organisation, with groups of unrelated genes being expressed in polycistronic units. This means gene regulation is almost entirely controlled post-transcriptionally. Under the supervision of Michael Urbaniak (LU), Richard Burchmore (UoG), and Richard McCulloch (UoG), the overall aim of my research is to determine how leishmania regulate their cell cycle in the absence of transcriptional control.