Postdoctoral scientist
Degree(s)
MChem (Hons) with Industrial Placement Year, Newcastle University (2015 – 2019)
PhD in Medicinal Chemistry, Newcastle University (2019 – 2023)
Staff email
Profile
Alex is originally from Sheffield (UK) and obtained his MChem degree from Newcastle University (Newcastle upon Tyne, UK) in 2019, during which he undertook his Master’s research project on the asymmetric synthesis of helically-chiral BODIPY dyes. During his undergraduate studies, Alex undertook an industrial placement year as a Medicinal Chemist at GSK (Stevenage, UK) during which he worked on the synthesis of novel bromodomain inhibitors.
Inspired by his year at GSK, Alex decided to pursue a PhD in Medicinal Chemistry where he joined the Northern Institute for Cancer Research (NICR) based at Newcastle University (Newcastle upon Tyne, UK). Under the supervision of Dr Celine Cano, Prof. Mike Waring and Prof. Loranne Agius. Alex’s PhD project centred on the synthesis and evaluation of Proteolysis Targeting Chimeras (PROTACs) to target the metabolic enzyme, Glucokinase. Alex was also in the inaugural cohort of the EPSRC-funded Molecular Sciences for Medicine (MoSMed) CDT programme between Newcastle University and Durham University.
In October 2023, Alex took up a position with Prof. Alessio Ciulli at the Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation (University of Dundee, UK) as part of the ongoing EUbOPEN project. In January 2025, Alex joined the newly formed LITE team at CeTPD, funded by the Michael J Fox Foundation (MJFF), to accelerate the development of novel Parkinson’s Disease therapeutics.
Outside of work, Alex is a keen foodie, a runner, and a (not so) secret Taylor Swift fan.