Prof. Ed (Edward) Emmott (PI)
Background: Ed joined the Centre for Proteome Research/Department of Biochemistry, Cell & Systems Biology at the University of Liverpool to start the Emmott lab in November 2019. He was promoted to Reader in 2024, and Professor of Virology & Proteomics in 2026.
Research Interests: Ed is interested in how +ssRNA viruses replicate through polyprotein-based mechanisms, and the role of specific polyprotein cleavage products/proteoforms or post-translational modifications and their regulation throughout the viral life cycle. He develops LC-MS/MS methods such as SCoPE2, and pSCoPE to apply to this research, and the lab also has an interest in clinical proteomics in the area of cystic fibrosis. Overall, the labs’ goal is both to perform fundamental characterisation of the underlying biology and translate these findings into novel diagnostics or drugs.
Service roles: Ed serves on the Scientific Advisory Board for EBI Pride, is Secretary for the British Society for Proteome Research, and is a member of Virus Division for the Microbiology Society.
Consultancy: Ed undertakes consultancy in the areas of virology (especially norovirus/coronavirus biology), LC-MS/MS-based proteomics, and single-cell proteomic methods.
Bluesky: edemmott.bsky.social ORCID: 0000-0002-3239-8178 CPR Page: (CPR) Staff Page: (Liverpool)
Email: e.emmott@liverpool.ac.uk
Dr Frazer Buchanan (PDRA)
Background: Frazer joined the lab in April 2024 as a PDRA investigating cellular substrates of viral proteases. He did his PhD research on Hep E virus in the Herod lab, University of Leeds.
Research Interests: RNA Virology, Viral Proteases.
Linkedin: Linkedin ORCID: 0000-0001-8791-1496
Email: f.j.t.buchanan@liverpool.ac.uk
Trinity Bakshi (PhD Student)
Background: Trinity is joining us for a studentship in Oct 2025 joint with Dr Sarah Keep at the Pirbright Institute, where she is primarily based. Trinity is interested in avian coronavirus (IBV) accessory proteins.
Research Interests: Coronaviruses, proteomics, accessory proteins.
Jessica Coomber (PhD Student)
Background: Jess joined the lab in Oct 2022 as part of a split-site PhD between Liverpool and the Pirbright Institute where she is supervised by Dr Trevor Sweeney.
Research Interests: Zika virus, virus replication/virus-host interactions.
Twitter: @coomber_jess Linkedin: Linkedin
Email: J.Coomber@liverpool.ac.uk
Charlotte Duncan (PhD Student)
Background: Charlie joined the lab in Jan 2023, as part of an industry-sponsored part-time PhD supported by Pro-lab diagnostics where she is Scientific Director, and in collaboration with Dr Anna Smielewska at Liverpool Clinical Labs and Dr Paul McNamara at Alder Hey Childrens Hospital. Charlies PhD is on developing LC-MS-based viral diagnostics.
Research Interests: (Viral) Diagnostics, Clinical Proteomics.
Linkedin: Linkedin Email: charlotte.duncan@liverpool.ac.uk
Dr Max Erdmann (PDRA)
Background: Max joined the lab in June 2024, applying his experience with coronavirus reverse genetics to study mechanisms of coronavirus replication. His PhD was with Prof. Andrew Davidson at the University of Bristol.
Research Interests: Coronaviruses, reverse genetics.
ORCID: 0000-0003-2084-9792
Email: Maximilian.Erdmann@liverpool.ac.uk
Markella Loi (PhD Student)
Background: Markella joined us for her MRes in 2024-25, and enjoyed it so much she decided to stay on for her PhD! Markella is interested in single-cell multi-omics and started her BBSRC NWDP CASE PhD working with us and industry partner Cellenion in October 2025.
Research Interests: Single cell mass spectrometry, multi-omics, imaging, cellenONE
LinkedIn: LinkedIn
Dr Rosie Maher (PDRA)
Background: Rosie first joined the lab in spring 2021, following her PhD in clinical proteomics with Prof. Rob Beynon. After a brief interlude working with the CPR-SRF, Rosi is back and leading the labs contribution to two CF/LifeArc hubs, supporting improved diagnostics and treatments for people with CF.
Research Interests: Clinical Proteomics, Lung disease, Cystic Fibrosis.
ORCID: 0000-0002-2137-6619
Email: R.E.Maher@liverpool.ac.uk
Dr Leandro Neves (PDRA)
Background: Leandro joined the lab in November 2022, to study substrates of viral proteases, and now is applying mass spectrometry to study coronavirus replication. His PhD and first postdoc were in Brazil.
Research Interests: LC-MS/MS, proteomics, viral proteases.
Twitter: @leandroxneves ORCID: 0000-0002-6074-1025
Email: l.xavier-neves@liverpool.ac.uk
Dr Rebekah Penrice-Randal (PDRA)
Background: Rebee joined the lab in April 2024 to study coronavirus replication with a mix of nanopore-based sequencing and molecular virology/proteomics! Her PhD was on coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2/MERS) sequencing.
Research Interests: Coronaviruses, nanopore
Linkedin: Linkedin ORCID: 0000-0002-0653-2097 Website: Personal Website
Bluesky: http://@rebee.bsky.social Email: rebee@liverpool.ac.uk
Patchara Sittishevapark (PhD Student)
Background: Patchara (Poch) joined the lab in spring 2024 for the second year of his UoL-Chulalongkorn PhD with Dr Noppadon Kitana from Chulalongkorn, and Dr Mark Wilkinson at LSTM studying snake venom from snakes of medical interest in Thailand! Poch moved back to finish his studies at Chula at the end of April 2025!
Research Interests: Proteomics, snake venom.
Henry Steele-Childe (PhD Student)
Background:Henry joined the lab in October 2025 to start his DiMeN DTP PhD on norovirus replication. Henry joined us from Morgan Herod’s lab where he completed his masters studies focused on hepatitis E virus polyprotein processing.
Research Interests: Norovirus, proteolysis, virus replication
Undergraduate and Masters students:
This year we are also hosting James Copeland, Olivia Evans and Sam Otter for their BSc projects, and Yichen Lu for his MRes project.
Lab Mascots:
Eds Ragdoll cats, Cyril (top) and Charlie (bottom)
Old Lab Photos:
Lab Alumni
PDRAs:
Dr Rosie Maher – 2022-2023: Rosie worked on clinical proteomics of CF patients. She moved to the CPR-SRF as facility staff in Jan 2024, but has returned to us in 2025 to do more on CF!
Dr I’ah Donovan-Banfield – 2024-2025: I’ah worked on coronavirus replication, and also led on the ‘antiviral roller skating’ performance at the British Science Festival. I’ah moved to take up a Program Manager position with the Black Researcher Consortium!
PhD:
Dr Stephen Holmes – 2021-2026: Stephen joined the Emmott lab to start his PhD on single-cell proteomics & virology in October 2021. He passed his viva in February 2026, and having mastered the cellenONE during is PhD is now an Application Scientist for Scienion!
MRes:
Markella Loi – MRes – 2024-25: Markella studied single cell proteomics/multiomics. Markella has stayed on after her MRes to do a PhD with us!
Charlotte Chim – MRes – 2024-25: Charlotte studied RNA editing.
Shuxian Zhou – MRes – 2024-25: Shu studied norovirus polyprotein processing.
Dan Conlon – MRes – 2022-23: Dan studied norovirus post-translational modifications.
Sophie Morris – MRes – 2021-22 : Sophie worked on (different) norovirus post-translational modifications in 2021-2022 for her MRes.
MSc:
Connor Bosworth – MSc 2023-25: Connor studied viral proteases and their substrates
Athul Rajendran Nair – MSc 2023-24: Athul worked on CRISPR-modifying cells
Samruddhi Sanjay Pathak – MSc 2022-23: Samruddhi worked on norovirus post-translational modifications.
Georgia Brassington – MSc – 2021-22: Georgia worked on norovirus post-translational modifications in 2021-2022 for her MSc.
BSc:
Binglin Lu – BSc – 2024-2025: Binglin studied viral proteases and their substrates
Amy Dugdale – BSc – 2023-2024: Amy studied norovirus post-translational modifications.
Haruni Shekimweri – BSc – 2022-23: Haruni studied cellular substrates of viral proteases using HG2 human coronaviruses.
Kathy Pawluk – BSc – 2020-21: Kathy worked on QConCATs for quantification of viral proteins.
Visitors:
Dr Bianca Alves Pauletti (Visiting Researcher) – 2024 – Bianca visited the lab in summer 2024 to learn our approaches for single-cell proteomics, and is based at the Brazilian Biosciences National Lab.
Dr Armando Arias (Visiting Academic) – 2022 – Armando visited the lab to learn our methods for studying viral protein interactions in summer 2022, and is based at Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Spain.