Professor Andrew Jamieson
Andrew Jamieson was born in Glasgow and raised in Strathaven, Scotland.
In 2003, he completed a BSc Honours degree (1st Class) in Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Glasgow. He subsequently studied for a Ph.D. at the University of Glasgow under the supervision of Dr Andrew Sutherland. The aim of his Ph.D. was to investigate a new substrate directed, palladium-catalysed aza-Claisen rearrangement, and utilise this novel reaction for the synthesis of natural products.
In 2007, he took up a postdoctoral research fellowship with Professor William Lubell at the University of Montreal, Canada. During this time he developed a novel synthetic method with which to systematically scan peptides for secondary structure. His research emphasis was determining the bioactive conformation of the growth hormone secretagogue, GHRP-6, as well as the allosteric modulator of the IL-1 receptor, 101.10 (rytvela).
In 2008, he took up a postdoctoral position with Professor Andrew Hamilton FRS at Yale University, USA. While there he worked on the design and synthesis of a novel peptide beta-strand mimetic, before moving with Professor Hamilton in 2009 to the University of Oxford, UK.
In August 2010, he was appointed to a lectureship in the Centre for Chemical Biology in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Leicester, UK. He was then appointed as a senior lecturer in Chemical Biology at the University of Glasgow School of Chemistry in July 2016, and promoted to Reader in 2019 and Professor in August 2022.
In 2022 he co-founded with colleagues at the University of Glasgow the biotechnology company Keltic Pharma Therapeutics Ltd. The primary aim of the company is to deliver within 5 years a clinical candidate as a curative treatment and transmission blocking agent of the human malaria parasite, P. falciparum. Keltic are also developing a transformative discovery platform called PEPSMOL to drug previously “hard to target” GPCRs.
In 2023, he was awarded the RSC’s Chemical Biology and Bioorganic Group’s lectureship award to recognise the excellent contributions of mid-career scientists to both research and the UK community in chemical biology and bioorganic chemistry!
Andrew and his wife, Sarah, have three children (James, Finlay and Laura). Outside of chemical biology, Andrew spends his time coaching rugby and leading his local Explorer Scouts group.
Email: Andrew.Jamieson.2@glasgow.ac.uk LinkedIn: Andrew Jamieson
Postdocs
Dr Nicola Wade
Nicola grew up in nearby Paisley, and joined the Jamieson lab as a postdoc in March 2023.
She obtained her PhD in the field of Biological Chemistry working under the supervision of Professor Nathaniel Martin in Universiteit Leiden. Her research centred around developing a solution to perpetual problem of antibiotic resistance by designing and synthesising small molecules, followed by testing her compounds in microbiological and biophysical assays.
Nicola’s work in the Jamieson lab involves the use of the mRNA cyclic peptide display platform to develop and synthesise inhibitors against novel targets.
In her free time, Nicola enjoys reading and baking, and will often bring in some baked goods for her colleagues to enjoy!
Email: Nicola.Wade@glasgow.ac.uk LinkedIn: Nicola Wade
Dr Rochelle McGrory
Rochelle grew up just outside Glasgow, and has worked closely with the Jamieson Group for multiple years now.
She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Glasgow in Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry (MSci). During her fourth year, Rochelle carried out a work placement at Charles River Laboratories in Edinburgh, working in the environmental fate and metabolism department. Her masters project focused on the synthesis of bromodomain inhibitors utilising one-pot iron and copper catalysis in the Sutherland research group.
Rochelle remained in the Sutherland group to complete her PhD, focusing on the synthesis of novel fluorescent amino acids. This included both methodology projects as well as target-based synthesis, and generated fluorescent heterocyclic amino acids which were used to synthesise cell-penetrating peptides.
She has continued her research in the field of peptide chemistry by undertaking positions as a senior scientist at Keltic Pharma, and a PDRA within the Jamieson Group, developing novel peptide and peptidomimetic libraries for drug discovery.
Email: Rochelle.McGrory@glasgow.ac.uk LinkedIn: Rochelle McGrory
Dr Oscar Shepperson
Oscar grew up on the other side of the world in New Zealand, and joined the Jamieson Group in May 2024.
He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Auckland, where he also completed his BSc(Hons) and PhD under the supervision of Distinguished Professor Dame Margaret Brimble, Assoc. Prof. Paul Harris and Dr. Alan Cameron. His previous experience lies in peptide synthesis, specifically with disulfide rich peptides with end-goal medicinal applications. Specific previous work of Oscar’s has focused on the synthesis of competitive inhibitors for Hepatitis B treatments, and the synthetic optimisations of novel antimicrobial peptides, specifically through the incorporation of novel intramolecular linkages.
Since joining the Jamieson Group, Oscar’s focus has been on the synthesis of α-conotoxins, specifically for their use in determining the specific binding mechanism of these conotoxins to the muscle type nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. He has been designing and employing novel on-resin orthogonal strategies to produce high quality compounds in a safe manner. Alongside the synthesis of the native conotoxins, Oscar has been producing tool compounds to develop our biological understanding of the conotoxins and visualise their mechanisms in a better light. Specific tool compounds he has designed and synthesised have included fluorescently labelled analogues, biotinylated analogues, and analogues containing thia-Michael functionalities.
Outside of the conotoxin work, Oscar has been developing on-resin triazole chemistries with model peptides, with the goal of optimising these reactions, and to facilitate further functionalisation of the triazole mimetic.
Outside of the lab, Oscar is an avid cricket player and plays locally in Glasgow. He enjoys electronic music and the outdoors, and is relishing the opportunities Scotland has for exploring.
Email: Oscar.Shepperson@glasgow.ac.uk LinkedIn: Oscar Shepperson
Dr Michael Capper
Mike is a senior postdoc in the Jamieson group and focuses on using structural biology to better understand the binding of therapeutics and toxins to their target.
He grew up just south of Liverpool, in the Wirral, and then moved to London to study for a BSc in Biochemistry at Imperial College London. He completed his PhD in the Molecular Biophysics Group at the University of Liverpool under the supervision of Dr. Svetlana Antonyuk and Professor Samar Hasnain, focused on overcoming antimalarial resistance to atovaquone.
He subsequently undertook a postdoc at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai with Dr Daniel Wacker, focused on structural pharmacology on both GPCR and SLC targets. He uses both cryo-EM and pharmacology to produce atomic models of the interactions present, and better understand the effects of rational modifications.
He is hoping to augment his foundation in structural biology with the latest developments in peptide chemistry within the Jamieson Group, with the aim of establishing his own academic group in the near future.
Email: Michael.Capper@glasgow.ac.uk LinkedIn: Michael Capper
PhD Students
Michael Malone
Michael is in the final year of his PhD in the Jamieson Group, having started in October 2022. He finished his undergraduate degree at the University of Glasgow in Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry (MSci).
As an undergraduate he completed his final year research project in the Miras group, working on the self-assembly of molybdenum selenoxide clusters. Michael also spent a year working in the Jamieson Lab as part of his integrated Master’s degree. His project focused on the solid phase synthesis of natural product Bottromycin A2 and it’s analogues.
Michael’s project for his PhD currently involves developing potential small molecule antagonists for GPR84, and developing on-resin chemistry for bifunctional peptidomimetics.
Outside of the lab, Michael mainly spends his time at the football, running, or testing out Glasgow's restaurants.
Email: 2318883M@student.gla.ac.uk LinkedIn: Michael Malone
Jacob Simms
Jacob grew up in West Yorkshire, and is now in the second year of his PhD.
He graduated with an MChem in Biological and Medicinal Chemistry from the University of York. During his final year, he completed his masters' project under the supervision of Professor Tony Wilkinson, aiming to characterise the the protein kinome of the
Jacob is part of the James McCune Smith PhD scholarship, working closely with GSK. His project focuses on expanding the triazole chemistry previously developed within the group, and exploring its wider applications.
In his spare time, Jacob enjoys watching sports, staying active, and is part of a local amateur football team.
Email: 3046969S@student.gla.ac.uk LinkedIn: Jacob Simms
Jie Liu
Jie is from China, and joined the Jamieson Group as a PhD student in February 2025.
In 2014, he completed dual degrees: a BSc in Chemical Engineering at Changzhou University, China, and a BSc (Hons) degree in Chemistry at St. Francis Xavier University, Canada. In 2017, he completed an MSc degree in Chemistry at the University of Victoria, Canada, investigating Grubbs catalysts’ efficacy while forming different ring sizes, by using real-time monitoring ESI-PSI mass spectroscopy. In 2018, he returned to China to start building a career in the pharmaceutical industry.
Jie’s work in the group involves the design and synthesis of potent, stable and biased oxytocin peptidomimetics, to satisfy unmet medical needs.
In his free time, he enjoys hiking, road trips, and exploring nature in the UK.
Email: 2969163L@student.gla.ac.uk LinkedIn: Jie Liu
Sara Ahmed
Sara grew up in West London, and joined the Jamieson Group in October 2025.
She completed her MChem in Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry at the University of St Andrews. She carried out her masters' project under the supervision of Professor Allan J. B. Watson, where she worked on the synthesis of small-molecule activators of the DNA repair enzyme OGG1 using homogeneous catalysis.
Her research focuses on developing stapled peptides as antiviral peptidomimetics, using virtual reality molecular modelling software to guide design.
Sara spends most of her spare time lifting heavy things, shooting arrows at the archery range, or in search of good food.
Email: 2523252A@student.gla.ac.uk LinkedIn: Sara Ahmed
Sumaiya Khan
Sumaiya is from Bangladesh, and is a first-year PhD student in the Jamieson Group, joining in October 2025.
She completed both her undergraduate and graduate studies in Organic Chemistry at Jahangirnagar University (JU), Bangladesh. In her final year, she was awarded the prestigious Prime Minister Gold Medal for achieving the highest academic distinction in the Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, JU. Following graduation, she joined the Department of Chemistry at Jahangirnagar University as a lecturer.
Sumaiya was awarded a Commonwealth Scholarship to pursue her doctoral studies at the University of Glasgow, where she is part of the stapled helical peptidomimetics research team. Her project focuses on applying advanced stapling techniques to α-helical peptides, to investigate peptide–protein interactions and develop strategies to inhibit pathogen replication.
Outside the lab, she enjoys cooking, home decorating, and spending quality time with her family.
Email: 3060407K@student.gla.ac.uk LinkedIn: Sumaiya Khan
Andrew Reid
Andrew is from Glasgow, and is a first year PhD student in the Jamieson Group, having graduated from the University of Glasgow in 2025, with a BSc (Hons) in Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry.
As an undergraduate he completed his final year project in the Jamieson group, working on the use of triazoles as multifunctional, disulfide bridge mimetics in macrocyclic peptides.
Andrew’s PhD project, funded by the DiveIn CDT, focuses on creating a novel peptidomimetic hit discovery platform, utilising machine learning tools.
Outside of the lab, Andrew enjoys playing Gaelic Football, live music, and socialising with friends.
Email: 2553723R@student.gla.ac.uk LinkedIn: Andrew Reid
Alumni
Postdocs
Dr Boris Aillard - Schrodinger
Dr Astrid Knuhtsen - Novo Nordisk
Dr Andrew Fallows - Pharmaron
Dr Caitlin Mooney - CPI
Dr Fergus McWhinnie - TargoPep
Dr Amit Mahindra - Sygnature Discovery
Dr Danielle Morgan - Princeton University, Macmillan Group
Dr David Morgan - University of Cambridge
PhD Students
Dr Naomi Robertson - Sandy Secondary School
Dr Georgie Girt - Outfox Bio
Dr Laura McDougall - Almac
Dr Kopano Mapesa - Concept Life Sciences
Dr Sudha Shankar - Blavatnik Centre for Drug Discovery
Dr Caroline Morris - AstraZeneca
Dr Lewis Archibald - SOLASTA Bio
Dr Skye Brettell - Scripps Institue, Cravatt Group
Dr Kirsty Arnott