Fellowship success for four early career researchers

Rachel O’Dea, Shumei Wang, Alejandro Correa Saez and Alessandra Salerno had applications successfully evaluated by the European Commission during the recent Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowship call. The researchers’ funding will come from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), under the UK government’s Horizon Europe funding guarantee and become UKRI Guarantee Postdoctoral Fellows.  

Meet our new Fellows 

The Fellows will join research labs in the Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation (CeTPD), MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit (MRC-PPU) and the Division of Plant Sciences, within the School. 

Rachel O’Dea 

Rachel will join the lab of Professor Yogesh Kulathu in MRC-PPU. She will study the importance of a UFMylation, an understudied post-translational modification, at different sites in the cell and investigating the regulatory mechanisms at play.   

Rachel said, “I chose Dundee for my PostDoc as it is a real hub of ubiquitin research. The Kulathu lab shares my passion for understanding enigmatic ubiquitin signals and their science is continuously breaking new ground in this field. I am most looking forward to once again doing science by the ocean and in an environment full of ubiquitin enthusiasts.” 

Shumei Wang 

Shumei will join the lab of Professor Paul Birch in the Division of Plant Sciences based at the James Hutton Institute where she will study potato late blight, caused by Phytophthora infestans. 

Over 25% of crops are lost to destructive outbreaks such as potato late blight, posing a threat to global food security. It is critical to understand how such diseases are caused, informing new ways to safeguard food supplies. Shumei will look at understanding how P. infestans deploys virulence factors called effectors within host cells to destroy plants.  

Shumei said, “Dundee is the ideal host for this project, given the expertise of the Birch lab and the lab operating within the Division of Plant Sciences, situated at both the University of Dundee and the James Hutton Institute. The synergized resources, shared valuable infrastructure, and exchanging knowledge, provide a stimulating and nurturing environment. 

While in Dundee, I'm primarily looking forward to advancing my proposed project over the next two years. Building on the experience gained and the connections made during my time here, I hope to lay the groundwork for my academic journey beyond Dundee that will allow me to establish my own independent research group.” 

Alejandro Correa Saez 

Alejandro will join the laboratory of Professor Alessio Ciulli in the CeTPD. His project aims to establish the first guidelines of Molecular Glues degraders (MGs) “rational design” enabling the development of more diverse and more potent MGs. The project will achieve this by expanding the understanding of DCAF16, a promising E3 Ligase recently reported to be recruited by MGs, at a functional, structural, and biophysical level. Unveiling the mode of action of DCAF16 and its interacting proteins will spark further research into the development of novel MGs against disease-linked proteins, driving medical intervention.  

Alejandro said, “During my PhD, I had the opportunity to do a short stay at Ciulli's lab. I was highly impressed by the dynamic environment and the scientific excellence of the School of Life Science (SLS) at the University of Dundee. The interdisciplinary and camaraderie atmosphere across the SLS inspired me to pursue further research at the University of Dundee. This has continued with my postdoctoral position based within the Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation. 

While staying in Dundee, I would like to expand my scientific skills in areas such as Proteomics and Structural Biology. These areas are highly relevant to the development of my project and will lead my path to becoming an independent researcher. On a personal level, I love spending time in nature and hiking. Therefore, I believe that Scotland, in general, offers a great opportunity to cultivate this hobby.” 

Alessandra Salerno 

Alessandra will join the laboratory of Professor Alessio Ciulli in the CeTPD. She will investigate protein-protein interactions (PPIs) through their project, MapPEX (Small Molecule Assisted Protein-Protein Interaction Mapping via Peroxidase Activity). This project aims to specifically design biocompatible small molecules that can selectively label endogenous proteins to uncover PPIs. By doing so, they hope to advance the understanding of PPIs and ultimately aid in the rational design of new therapeutics and targeted protein degradation tools.  

Alessandra said, “During my PhD in 2022, I had the opportunity to spend six months conducting research in the Ciulli group, an experience that was immensely enriching and pushed me beyond the boundaries of my own expertise. Since then, I have been eager to return and last year I embraced the opportunity to join as a Postdoctoral Researcher Assistant while applying for the MSCA fellowship. 

The fellowship offers me an invaluable opportunity to advance my career through a well-structured training program, designed to cover diverse disciplines as well as work in the unique interdisciplinary and international environment of the Centre of Protein Targeted Degradation (CeTPD).  

My experience thus far has been incredibly fulfilling and I am certain that there will be many other exciting opportunities for my personal and professional growth here in Dundee and in this beautiful country.” 

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If you are interested in applying for the scheme with the University of Dundee, further information can be found here: https://www.dundee.ac.uk/research-support/funding/fellowships/marie-curie