Dr Joshua Lawrence

Supervisor Details

Contact Details

Dr Joshua Lawrence

Scientific Background

Research Interests

Electron transport chains (ETCs) are highly efficient pathways which supply energy for most life on Earth. ETCs are highly complex, involving up to 100s of biomolecules driving vast networks of electron and ion transport reactions. Furthermore, beyond the well-studied ETCs of mitochondria and chloroplasts, the ETCs of microorganisms display a huge and underexplored diversity which act as major drivers of biogeochemical cycles, ecological interactions and disease progression. However, our ability to understand these ETCs, or engineer them for biotechnological applications, has been hindered when compared to other metabolic pathways.

Our lab is developing and utilising a multi-disciplinary toolbox for investigating and engineering ETCs. This research draws from across scientific disciplines, with a particular focus on electrochemistry, synthetic biology, biophysics and evolution.

Current work is focused on the following research objectives:

1) Using electrodes to map electron and ion transport pathways in native biological membranes.

2) Developing a laboratory evolution platform for investigating and engineering diverse electron transport chains.

3) Developing new electro-biotechnologies for the sustainable generation of foods, fuels and chemicals.

Scientific Inspiration

Barbara McClintock and Rudolph Marcus. One an experimentalist, the other a theorist, who through beautiful experimental design and mathematics made discoveries so ground-breaking it took decades to be validated by others.

Research Groups

Supervision Style

In three words or phrases: Curious, Collaborative, Empowering.

Provision of Training

You will receive hands-on training in all techniques central to the project, towards the aim of you performing the techniques independently and confidently. Training will be performed by myself or other senior lab members. Because our work is highly interdisciplinary, you will likely also receive training for external equipment from close collaborators or facility staff. Training will likely encompass techniques from microbial cell culture, electrochemistry, biochemical assays, spectroscopy and genetic engineering. Throughout the PhD you will have the opportunity to establish new methodologies in the group, towards your development as an independent scientist. Attendance of scientific workshops or the completion of research visits are also encouraged to learn new skills.

Progression Monitoring and Management

My management style is tailored to the needs of the student and is focused around a set of mutual expectations. I maintain an open-door policy and find it helpful to discuss and troubleshoot experiments as they happen. However, I can instead organise weekly meetings for students who prefer a more regimented approach. All group members will have a monthly 1-1 meeting, which will focus on career development as much as current research. Progression to me is not about getting positive results but instead making clear effort towards addressing the current research objectives. My core aim is for you to be established as an independent scientist at the end of your PhD.

Communication

Online communication between lab members is done through slack, and I expect responses within 1 working day. You may receive messages from lab members outside of core hours due to flexible working arrangements, but you are not expected to read/respond to them outside of core hours to maintain healthy work-life balance. Lab members should maintain records and databases on the group file server to facilitate collaboration.

Meetings

PhD Students can expect scheduled meetings with me at least once per fortnight. These meetings will be face-to-face. I am usually contactable for an instant response (if required) on every working day.

Work Patterns

The timing of work in my lab is completely flexible, and (other than attending pre-arranged meetings) I expect students to manage their own time.

Notice Period for Feedback

I need at least 2 weeks' notice to provide feedback on written work of up to 5,000 words.

MIBTP Project Details

Primary supervisor for:

Project details will appear here when confirmed.

See the PhD Opportunities section to see if this project is currently open for applications via MIBTP.

Please Note: The main page lists projects via BBSRC Research Theme(s) quoted and then relevant Topic(s).

Project Title

Secondary Supervisor(s):

University of Registration:

BBSRC Research Themes:

Sustainable Agriculture and Food (Animal Health and Welfare, Microbial Food Safety, Plant and Crop Science)
Renewable Resources and Clean Growth (Bio-energy, Industrial Biotechnology)
Understanding the Rules of Life (Immunology, Microbiology, Neuroscience and Behaviour, Plant Science, Soil Science, Stem Cells, Structural Biology, Systems Biology)
Integrated Understanding of Health (Ageing, Diet and Health, Pharmaceuticals, Regenerative Biology)

Project Outline

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Proin mattis sagittis eros nec egestas. Aenean dapibus iaculis porttitor. Proin egestas tellus eget efficitur lacinia. Aliquam feugiat porttitor nisl, id vehicula mauris semper eu. Praesent vulputate arcu lectus, eget laoreet orci tempor sit amet. Ut volutpat blandit lectus, id tincidunt lorem posuere sed. Orci varius natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. In iaculis, erat venenatis iaculis auctor, dolor lacus dictum metus, eu semper mi nisi eu felis. Nullam sapien est, ornare nec condimentum at, luctus ac nisi. Vestibulum laoreet gravida pellentesque. Etiam erat massa, pulvinar sed nisl eget, cursus finibus enim. Donec blandit tristique finibus. Maecenas non arcu erat. Fusce malesuada tortor eu augue sodales ullamcorper. Sed mi justo, placerat eu augue vel, convallis aliquam justo. Proin viverra erat ut blandit euismod.

Sed ornare efficitur tortor, rhoncus pharetra diam feugiat eu. Etiam egestas mi sem, sit amet dignissim magna interdum eu. Donec sollicitudin volutpat ex id pharetra. Etiam non ipsum eu urna tempor feugiat in sit amet nunc. Vestibulum ut eros ante. Phasellus ultrices augue quis pellentesque laoreet. Duis viverra, metus ac venenatis placerat, lacus ipsum suscipit odio, non aliquam sapien sem in libero. Quisque maximus purus sit amet varius consequat. Sed ullamcorper nulla a lectus efficitur, eu elementum arcu semper. Nulla facilisi. Mauris fringilla erat neque, at fermentum ex sagittis ut. Suspendisse at tempor velit. Nullam tincidunt lectus ut magna volutpat tempus. Praesent tincidunt consectetur lacus ut lacinia. Pellentesque at sapien orci. Sed massa urna, semper nec leo vitae, bibendum maximus dui.

Curabitur luctus ex vitae diam aliquet dignissim. Curabitur lobortis sem volutpat leo iaculis, at ultrices nibh convallis. Phasellus non purus ante. Vivamus convallis semper dui vel dapibus. Nulla fringilla mattis metus sed porttitor. Curabitur efficitur nibh purus, quis egestas erat sodales congue. Fusce ultricies, nibh sit amet iaculis suscipit, justo mi placerat orci, ut dictum mi sem ut erat. Praesent non elit at arcu auctor laoreet. Mauris euismod dignissim nisl, non rhoncus quam scelerisque nec. Nullam pharetra orci sed lectus viverra ornare. In vitae convallis neque, nec dictum est. Maecenas rutrum tristique turpis sit amet imperdiet. Aliquam cursus consectetur urna, euismod ultricies quam venenatis ac. Aenean feugiat nulla vitae libero blandit, ut faucibus lectus elementum.

Co-supervisor on a project with