Current Personnel

Dr Mark Brickley

I obtained my bachelors degree in dental science from Bristol University in 1988 and then proceeded to obtain a research PhD from Cardiff in 1995. My research interests include algal bioenergetics and algal mitochondrial morphology. Biovital Research has been built over the last 7 years and entered a new exciting phase in its growth since our recent relocation to custom built laboratory facilities. My particular expertise lie in confocal microscopy including 3D reconstruction of live cell morphology and developing bio-assays based on fluorescent / proteomics methods. I currently live in Somerset with my wife Nicki and family.

Emily Lawrie

Having been interested in science for as long as I can remember, and being in the midst of completing an undergraduate degree in biology with the Open University; I naturally jumped at the chance to begin working at Biovital Research in September 2008. Since beginning work here I have been involved in several studies into mitochondrial function in Chlamydomonas sp. including the effect of herbicides and varying concentrations of CO₂ on mitochondrial potential.

Katie Sales

I studied for my undergraduate degree in Biosciences at the University of Exeter where I also had the opportunity to study at the University of Victoria, Canada for an additional year, I graduated from these with a 1^st class degree with Honours. Upon graduation I worked in the Molecular Fungal Biology laboratory of Professor Gero Steinberg at Exeter University where I had been investigating the effect of upregulation of a novel cancer related gene which shared significant homology between humans and Ustilago maydis but absent in the more commonly used models of S.cerevisiae and S.pombe. I then moved to work at Biovital Research at the beginning of September 2009 to help develop a high throughput toxicity test working with insect and algal cells.