Professor Greg Challis

Supervisor Details

Contact Details

Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick

Scientific Background

Research Interests

My research focuses on the chemistry and biology of microbial natural products. This encompasses natural product discovery, elucidation of biosynthetic pathways, creation of natural product analogues and novel molecular scaffolds via synthetic biology, and the mechanism of action and biological function of natural products.

Our approach is highly interdisciplinary and employs numerous complementary techniques, including chemical synthesis and analysis, molecular genetic manipulation, enzymology, protein mass spectrometry, structural biology (X-ray crystallography, protein NMR spectroscopy and single particle cryo-electron microscopy), bioinformatics, molecular modelling, and bioactivity assays.

Research Groups

Challis Group

Warwick Integrative Synthetic Biology Centre

Warwick Antimicrobial Interdisciplinary Centre

Supervision Style

In a few words or phrases: I recognise every PhD student is different and tailor my supervision style to individual student’s needs.

Provision of training

Training will be provided by all members of the lab, including a senior research fellow, several experienced postdoctoral research fellows and PhD students, and the supervisor, according to the needs of the student.

Progression monitoring and management

I recognise every PhD student is different and tailor progression monitoring and management arrangements to individual student’s needs.

Communication

I recognise every PhD student is different and tailor my communication strategy according to individual student’s needs.

PhD Students can expect scheduled meetings with me:

In a group meeting

At least once per week

In year 1 of PhD study

At least once per month*

In year 2 of PhD study

At least once per month*

In year 3 of PhD study

At least once per month*

*I recognise every PhD student is different and tailor my 1:1 meeting schedule according to individual student’s needs.

These meetings will be a mixture of face to face, via video chat or telephone. I am usually contactable for an instant response on every working day.

Working Pattern

Certain tasks in my lab occur at set times, and students need to be able to commit to a rota/timetable shared with other members of the team.

Notice Period for Feedback

I generally need at least 1 week’s notice to provide feedback on written work of up to 5000 words.

MIBTP Project Details

Current Projects (2025-26)

Co-supervisor on a project with Dr Alex Mullins.

Previous Projects (2024-25)

Primary supervisor for:

Elucidating and exploiting molecular mechanisms of bacterial natural product biosynthesis

Co-supervisor on projects with Professor Phill Stansfeld, Dr Matthew Jenner, Dr Alex Mullins, and Dr Lona Alkhalaf.

Previous Projects (2023-24)

Primary supervisor for:

Elucidating and exploiting molecular mechanisms of bacterial natural product biosynthesis