Zara Amanda Sands

ZARA AMANDA SANDS

Address:9 Stewart StreetPhone:+44 (0) 1865 453768 (home)

Oxford+44 (0) 1865 275273 (work)

OX1 4RHE-mail:

Date of Birth:29th March 1975Nationality:British

2003-PresentUniversity of Oxford

Post-DoctoralResearch Associate funded by the Wellcome Trust

The primary goal of my research project is to understand the processes that govern the gating of voltage-dependent ion channels. This is hoped to be achieved through the application of molecular modelling and molecular dynamics methods
Supervisor: Prof. M. S. P. Sansom

2000-2003 University of Nottingham

Ph.D. studies in Computational Chemistry

Title: In silico screening for gene targeting agents
Supervisors: Prof. D. E. Thurston and Dr. C. A. Laughton
Projects: Molecular Dynamic investigations probing the origins of DNA recognition by molecules ranging from small ligands (e.g. lexitropins) to large proteins (e.g. RecA); Detailed investigative studies evaluating the performance of the generalised Born continuum model as applied to MD simulations of DNA systems; Development and implementation of novel molecular descriptors to rapidly evaluate the isohelical and recognition attributes of large virtual compound libraries against gene targets; Design of compound libraries against selected DNA sequences.
I conceptualized and developed SeleXagent, a virtual high throughput screening method that is currently being filed for patent by the University of Nottingham
Awarded 1st place prize at the University of Nottingham 2002 postgraduate poster symposium
Received runners up prize for poster presented at the 2001 MGMS international meeting

1994-1997University of Manchester

B.Sc. (Hons) Chemistry, First Class

Specialist subjects: Synthetic organic chemistry, mechanistic organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry and inorganic chemistry

Glaxo prize for 'the best theoretical and practical organic chemist’ graduating in 1997
University of Manchester Scholarship for 2nd year examination performance
University of Manchester Scholarship for 1st year examination performance
Final year project entitled 'Herbicidin Glycoside Synthesis' (Dr. P. Quayle)

1986-1993St John Fisher RC High School, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire

PUBLICATIONS

Sands, Z. A., Laughton, C. A. In silico screening for gene targeting agents. (2003) Patent No. 0322700.6

Sands, Z. A., Laughton, C. A. Molecular Dynamics of DNA Using the Generalised Born Solvation Model. J. Phys. Chem. B. (2004) 108, 10113-10119
Harris, S. A., Sands, Z. A., Laughton, C. A. Theoretical evidence for the importance of entropy in determining the biomechanical properties of DNA. Biophys. J. Accepted for publication

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Consultation for the University of Nottingham

Prior to commencingmy current position, I was employed by the University of Nottingham to further develop SeleXagent technology for market release

Consultation for Spirogen Ltd

During the second and third year of my PhD, Spirogen Ltd sought my advice on the design and development of targeted libraries against selected genes. Due to a strong background in organic chemistry, my creative suggestions were not only considered by the medicinal chemists, but realized

Supervision of final year projects

Throughout my Ph.D. I was responsible for final year B.Sc. students. In each case this involved: assisting in project management, development and completion

Tutoring undergraduate general chemistry classes

Duties involved: group coordination and motivation; facilitating communication; simplification of complex theories and methods

Computational

Communication

Presented research findings at conferences and industrial meetings in written, poster and oral form.

INTERESTS

My hobbies include: mountaineering, canoeing, cycling, skiing and scuba-diving
I thoroughly enjoy travel and have toured the USA and Europe on several occasions