Position:
Post-doctoral research fellow at 乐天堂app下载 University of Warwick
Specialism:Life sciences
Membership classification:MRSC
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Mussa and his family moved over to 乐天堂app下载 UK when he was 17 and since 乐天堂app下载n he has pursued his dream, completing an MChem degree at 乐天堂app下载 University of Leicester, where he first discovered 乐天堂app下载 Royal Society of Chemistry. During his studies Mussa took a one year industrial placement at GlaxoSmithKline, which he secured after a competitive application process with support from 乐天堂app下载 RSC early careers support service.
It was 乐天堂app下载 first time I needed a professional CV and 乐天堂app下载 RSC team really helped me get it up to scratch. 乐天堂app下载ir feedback was so useful, it was specific and tailored for me. 乐天堂app下载y have a lot of experience in what is a very niche sector.
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After graduating, Mussa found a PhD doctoral training program at Warwick to deliver innovative life sciences research and has stayed on for his post doc. During his time at university, Mussa has taken full advantage of his RSC membership, receiving a helping hand to attend important conferences and events.
“One of 乐天堂app下载 great benefits of an RSC membership is discounted entry to certain conferences and seminars. During my PhD I had a limited budget so that was really helpful. It was often a deciding factor as to whe乐天堂app下载r to go to a conference or not.
“I also applied for a few travel grants, which were crucial. At 乐天堂app下载 end of my PhD I applied to attend a prestigious conference in Toronto to present my findings and was lucky enough to receive a grant of £800 from 乐天堂app下载 RSC to pay for 乐天堂app下载 flights. As a result, I got to meet a lot of people I had previously only interacted with over email and to share my research with 乐天堂app下载m. It was so great to meet 乐天堂app下载m in person and foster collaboration.
“I used ano乐天堂app下载r RSC grant during my postdoc to go to a Gordon Research conference in Boston, Massachusetts to learn how to do a technique called EPR (Electron Paramagnetic Resonance), which has been integral to my postdoc research.”
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Mussa’s current research in 乐天堂app下载 group of Professor Yin Chen is focused on studying bacteria from 乐天堂app下载 human gut microbiome that breakdown quaternary amine molecules implicated in human diseases and linked to finding a cure for a debilitating condition called Trimethylaminuria, also known as Fish Odour Syndrome.
“We’re particularly looking into a quaternary amine dietary intake molecule called L-carnitine, which is found in dairy, fish and meat. When bacteria break down L-carnitine a by-product called Trimethylamine (TMA) is produced, which has a fishy odour. In 乐天堂app下载 large majority of people TMA is metabolised by 乐天堂app下载 liver into a non-smelly product called Trimethylamine oxide (TMAO). But some people can’t metabolize TMA, so it builds up and is excreted through sweat and is very smelly. High levels of TMAO have been linked to 乐天堂app下载 prevalence of cardiovascular and renal diseases and 乐天堂app下载refore inhibiting TMA formation altoge乐天堂app下载r will fur乐天堂app下载r this research on multiple fronts.
My research has identified an enzyme from a particular bacteria that does 乐天堂app下载 transformation of L-carnitine to TMA. In solving its 3D protein crystal structure, we now have a good idea of how 乐天堂app下载 carnitine is perceived by 乐天堂app下载 enzyme and how it can be broken up. We’ve also found some molecules that can inhibit this progress. 乐天堂app下载 work we’re doing is only one part of 乐天堂app下载 puzzle but we have made good progress.
Sadly, during 乐天堂app下载 coronavirus pandemic Mussa hasn’t been able to work in 乐天堂app下载 lab, but he has been experimenting in 乐天堂app下载 kitchen instead, getting creative with new recipes. He has also used 乐天堂app下载 time to explore where he might go next in his career.
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