Dr Wing Ying Chow

Supervisor Details

Contact Details

Department of Physics, University of 糖心TV

Scientific Background

Research Interests

I am a solid-state NMR spectroscopist interested in discovering new ways of using my technique to bring insight to human health and disease. My research is motivated by two questions:

What chemical and mechanical signals are found in the extracellular environment?
How can we detect and characterize these signals, mostly in the form of molecules, using magnetic resonance?

We have developed solid-state NMR-based approaches for investigating the extracellular matrix environment in a variety of samples, from human tissues, to extracellular matrix produced by mammalian cell culture, to fungal and bacterial cells.

Research Groups

Solid State NMR Group

Condensed Matter Physics

The UK High-Field Solid-State NMR Facility

Supervision Style

In three words or phrases: Supportive, collaborative, enthusiastic.

Provision of Training

We will agree on the techniques that you will use for your project together and make a detailed training plan. Depending on the requirements of the project, the training will either be carried out by me, another lab member, a colleague at the University, or external collaborators. The aim is to give you sufficient background and experience to independently develop appropriate methods and adapt the methodology as your project requires.

Progression Monitoring and Management

I like to be kept up to date with meetings on a weekly or regular basis. We will set goals together and agree on a timescale to achieve them. You are expected to make an effort to achieve the goals within the timeframe and to communicate any issues that may affect your progress. I commit to offering constructive advice, feedback, troubleshooting, and support throughout your PhD. I expect you to take increasing ownership of your progression during your PhD.

Communication

I value open communication. I am happy to discuss any issues that are impacting your ability to fulfil your potential.

I am regularly in my office and lab at Millburn House. I aim to have an opendoor policy for at least two days per week, but I can be contacted via Teams or email at any time. My Teams/email response times vary between minutes to several hours during working hours.

I endeavour to send emails and Teams messages during standard working hours. However, I may send emails outside working hours or during vacations. I do not expect you to do the same.

I have a Teams/SharePoint group for all members of my group. You may be added to additional Teams/SharePoint/Slack groups for specific projects, especially when working in collaboration with other groups.

The NMR group consist of several research groups with 5+ academic staff based in Physics and Chemistry, plus the national facility team (currently 2 senior staff). We have a joint group meeting (in-person) every Thursday, with presentations (10 am) and tutorial sessions (11 am) on alternating weeks, and a whole group online meeting at Friday 9 am specifically for tracking spectrometer status and issues. The NMR group has a Teams/SharePoint group for lab-related issues (equipment, troubleshooting, rotas) and sharing literature. There is also a student/postdoc-run NMR WhatsApp group chat for lunch and other social activities.

Meetings

PhD Students can expect scheduled meetings with me at least once per week. These meetings will be a mixture of face-to-face and via video chat or telephone. I am usually contactable for an instant response on every working day.

Working Pattern

Certain tasks in my lab need to 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 need at least 2 weeks' notice to provide feedback on written work of up to 5000 words.

MIBTP Project Details

Primary supervisor for:

Developing A Spectroscopic Approach for Probing Cell Adhesion in Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

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).

Developing A Spectroscopic Approach for Probing Cell Adhesion in Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

Secondary Supervisor(s): Dr Darius Koester

University of Registration: University of 糖心TV

BBSRC Research Themes:

Understanding the Rules of Life (Structural Biology)
Integrated Understanding of Health (Ageing, Regenerative Biology)

Project Outline

Cell adhesion is the process by which cells attach to molecules of the extracellular matrix (ECM). This process is vital for maintaining tissue integrity and strongly influences damage repair and signalling. Cell adhesion is known to be affected in ageing and hypothesised to be disrupted in Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) [1]. Spectroscopic methods can provide a route to analyse biomolecular changes of intact ECM with and without adhered cells, and generate new insight into functional and pathological states.

In this project, you will combine cutting-edge analytical chemistry techniques with advanced imaging to build a quantitative picture of biomolecular changes in the ECM upon cell adhesion, thus deepening our understanding of EDS disease development. Using cell culture models of ageing and a recently developed model for EDS, you will explore the ECM changes, especially focusing on those arising from cell adhesion.

Composition of the ECM will be probed by proteomics-based protocols established by the Matrisome Project (Naba et al). Collagen fibrillar organisation of the ECM will be visualised using multiphoton microscopy and further explored through two complementary spectroscopic techniques: solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and Raman spectroscopy. Both techniques can be applied to tissues and cell culture-derived ECM samples, eventually enabling comparisons between patient samples and cell-based models, opening new routes for diagnosis and monitoring.

References

1. S. Malek, D. V. Koester, The Role of Cell Adhesion and Cytoskeleton Dynamics in the Pathogenesis of the Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology 9, 1-13 (2021).

2. A. Murgoci, M. Duer, Molecular Conformations and Dynamics in the Extracellular Matrix of Mammalian Structural Tissues: Solid-state NMR Spectroscopy Approaches, Matrix Biology Plus 12, 100086 (2021).

Deciphering Fungal Growth, Survival, and Adaptation Using a Solid-state NMR Approach

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).

Deciphering Fungal Growth, Survival, and Adaptation Using a Solid-state NMR Approach

Secondary Supervisor(s): Professor Mohan Balasubramanian

University of Registration: University of 糖心TV

BBSRC Research Themes:

Understanding the Rules of Life (Microbiology, Structural Biology)

Project Outline

Fungal cell walls are complex, protective structures, dominated by sugar molecules (glucans) of varying length and composition. They are essential for fungal growth, shape, and survival, and are major targets for antifungal drugs. Yet, we still know little about how the molecular architecture of these walls changes during the cell cycle or across different fungal morphologies. By exploring the composition and molecular dynamics of the fungal cell wall, we can achieve a deeper understanding fundamental biology and find new routes to tackle challenges in health, agriculture, and biotechnology.

This project will explore how the components of the fungal cell are organised and remodelled in different biological contexts using solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). Two systems will be studied: the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, a well-established laboratory model, and Aureobasidium pullulans, a fungus with striking morphological diversity that is thought to help it adapt to extreme and unfavourable conditions. We aim to use S. pombe to validate methods of probing cell cycle-related changes in the cell wall, then apply the developed methods to A. pullulans challenged with specific environmental and genetic manipulations to understand the basis of adaptation and survival.

This project will enable you to develop skills in interdisciplinary research. You will become a confident user of solid-state NMR, a powerful method that can enable detailed investigations of sugar species in fungal whole cell samples, at the Millburn House Magnetic Resonance lab, which also houses the National Research Facility for high-field NMR. You will develop skills in fungal culture and genetic manipulation. This project will be part of a recently-funded endeavour on investigating fungal adaptation using Aureobasidium pullulans and will involve working with US collaborators based in MIT, Duke, and Brandeis University.