Meet the Team

Rebecca Bounds
Senior Co-ordinator

I joined the team in 2011 following several years in biomedical related research initially as an undergraduate at the University of Leeds, followed by a PhD and postdoctoral position at the University of Dundee. My main role is to co-ordinate our drive to contact all GOOS patients for new DNA samples and permission for new genetic tests including whole exome sequencing. I also work on a number of our databases where we collate information from various studies. Outside of work I like to travel and bake.
Rebecca Bounds

Senior Co-ordinator

Emma Walker
Research Assistant

I joined the GOOS team as a Research Assistant in April 2018. I hold an MSci in Natural Sciences, during which time I developed my interest in obesity and related complications. After graduating, I began working in the social housing sector, but I soon realised that I wanted to move back towards science. This motivated me to get a job working as a Trials Assistant in early phase oncology trials. Currently, my role involves enrolling patients onto the GOOS database and coordinating their samples before processing. As my role develops, I will also contribute in the lab and help to coordinate the new OSTRICH study. Outside of work, I enjoy looking after my marine fish, growing fruit and veg and car mechanics.
Emma Walker

Research Assistant

Miriam Smith
Research Co-ordinator

I joined the team in March 2018 as a Research Co-ordinator and my duties include monitoring the GOOS database and checking DNA sequencing results. Prior to this I was a laboratory based scientist for 10 years, including working on DNA sequencing at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute. As an undergraduate I studied Biomedicine at the University of East Anglia and also obtained a PhD. in Oncology from the University of Cambridge. Away from the office I like to spend time with my children, swim and go walking.
Miriam Smith

Research Co-ordinator

Naomi Clark
Personal Assistant

I joined the team in 2011 as a Secretary, and have worked for the University of Cambridge since 2007. Prior to this I worked for Cambridgeshire Constabulary after completing my degree in English Literature at John Moore’s, Liverpool. In my spare time I’m a writer of speculative fiction (I have published five books), freelance editor, and snake-keeper.
Naomi Clark

Personal Assistant

Jacqui Brocker
Study Administrator

I joined the team in September 2015 as an Administrative Assistant before changing roles and have been Study Administrator since June 2018. Before then I'd worked in university administration at the University of Sydney in Australia (my alma mater and where I'm from originally) and at the University of Cambridge. I am also an English language teacher, and currently have private students in the afternoons. In my spare time I write, read, and teach/do Scottish Country Dancing.
Jacqui Brocker

Study Administrator

Lynne Stanley
Project Co-ordinator

I joined the team as Project Co-ordinator in July 2018. Previously I worked for the Clinical Research Network (Eastern) supporting commercial clinical studies throughout the Eastern region across a wide range of specialities in both adults and children. Prior to the development of the CRN I was the Project Manager for a local Site Management organisation, again primarily supporting local investigators and industry partners. My original introduction to clinical research was when I joined a major pharmaceutical company at their Belgian subsidiary for a number of years, before relocating back to the UK to join their training and QC Department. In my spare time I enjoy free expressive dance, walking and listening to audiobooks and radio comedies.
Lynne Stanley

Project Co-ordinator

Katherine Lawler
Postdoctoral Research Associate

I joined the team in Oct 2016 as a Post Doctoral Research Associate in Computational Genomics. After a Mathematics degree and Masters, I completed my PhD in the Functional Genomics group at EMBL-European Bioinformatics Institute. I took a post-doctoral position in cancer research at King's College London with a particular interest in disease progression. As a GOOS team member, I work on the genomics of obesity/thinness and rare diseases. An over-arching aim of this work is to uncover new hypotheses which can be followed up and characterized by the GOOS lab team. Outside of work I enjoy playing the piano or taking a walk.
Katherine Lawler

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Edson Mendes de Oliveira
Post Doctoral Research Associate

I joined the lab team in July 2015 as a Post Doctoral Research Associate. After a Pharmacy degree obtained in 2008 I chose to pursue an academic career, heading for a Master and a PhD in Clinical Biochemistry at the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, revealing new insights into the role of the inflammatory protein serum amyloid A (SAA) in obesity and insulin resistance. As a GOOS team member I am currently working on a number of projects related to the functional characterization of novel variants in obesity-associated genes. In my spare time my interests are playing volleyball, watching movies and spending time with friends and family.
Edson Mendes
de Oliveira

Post Doctoral
Research Associate

Aliki Perdikari
Post Doctoral Research Associate

I joined the group in September 2017 as a Post Doctoral Research Associate. After completing my Master's degree in Cell Biology at ETH Zurich and in 2012, I joined the Laboratory of Translational Nutrition Biology at ETH Zurich where I obtained my PhD in 2016, studying the molecular signature and function of brown adipose tissue in mammals and humans. As a GOOS team member, I am involved in the functional characterization of mutations in obesity-associated genes and in the characterization of thinness-associated loci. Outside work I like reading, shopping, watching movies and baking.
Aliki Perdikari

Post Doctoral
Research Associate

Natalia Wasiluk
Senior Research Assistant

I joined the team in January 2017 as a Senior Research Assistant. Here, I work on the identification of mutations related to obesity and the characterisation of novel variants associated with weight gain. Previously I worked at TwistDX on the development of molecular diagnostic tests for infectious diseases. Before that, I obtained an MSc in Biotechnology at the West Pomeranian University of Technology. Outside of work I like to stay active by practicing fencing, go mountain climbing and, when the weather is bad, caving. I also enjoy painting and photography.
Natalia Wasiluk

Senior Research
Assistant

Vikram Ayinampudi
Research Assistant

I joined the team in June 2016 as a Research Assistant in the lab. I will be supporting the work of the Post Docs in the team, focusing on the signalling pathways of genes of particular interest. After graduating from the University of Edinburgh, I have worked in various labs, working on protein biochemistry and structural biology. Outside of work I like cricket, running, fiction, watching movies, and volunteering.
Vikram Ayinampudi

Research Assistant

Hannah Thomas
Senior Research Lab Technician

I joined the team in May 2014 as a Senior Research Laboratory Technician. Previously I worked in the private sector as a Lab Technician at Fisher BioServices, mainly doing high-throughput DNA and RNA extractions and sub-aliquoting. My current role involves technical support for the smooth running of the lab in co-operation with other members of the team. My hobbies are collecting fluffy microbes, Scouting, walking, horse-riding, reading, and knitting.
Hannah Thomas

Senior Research
Lab Technician

David Clarke
Research Assistant

After studying for a BSc(Hons) at the University of Warwick I was employed as an NHS medical laboratory assistant within blood sciences. While working here I realised that my calling lay within genetic disease research. I left my job to study a masters' degree in molecular genetics and diagnostics at the University of Nottingham, graduating in 2017. I then joined the GOOS team as a research assistant where I work on the identification of protein coding variants within patient cohorts relating to obesity, and supporting the work of senior scientists in the lab. In my spare time I like to play video/board games, watch motorsport, bake, watch quiz shows, and go to the gym.
David Clarke

Research Assistant