Winner: 2025 Analytical Science early career Prize: Joseph Black Prize
Dr Rebecca Beveridge
University of Strathclyde
Download celebratory graphic
2025 Joseph Black Prize: awarded for the application of mass spectrometry methods to the structural characterisation of dynamic protein...
Proteins are often recognised as an important macronutrient and a key component of muscle mass, but their roles extend far beyond this. Within cells, proteins act as 鈥榤olecular machines鈥�, with each protein performing a specific task that contributes towards cell vitality. The shape of a protein (also referred to as its conformation) dictates the job that it carries out, and they often also need to interact with other proteins to carry out their functions.
When proteins can鈥檛 fold into the correct conformation or interact properly with their partners, they can no longer perform their role efficiently and this can lead to disease. Therefore, elucidating protein shapes and interactions is an important area of research. Rebecca鈥檚 group uses a technique called ion mobility-mass spectrometry to interrogate protein shapes and assemblies. They are specifically interested in 鈥榠ntrinsically disordered proteins鈥�, which are challenging to characterise due to their dynamic nature, but are overrepresented as causes of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.
A better understanding into the behaviour of these types of proteins, and how they interact, will deepen understanding of how they contribute to proper cell vitality and how aberrant proteins lead to disease. Ultimately, this knowledge is important for the development of future therapies.
Biography
Rebecca grew up in North East England and obtained a BSc in biochemistry and chemistry at the University of Leeds. She completed her final-year research project in the lab of Professor Sheena Radford, and so began her interest in applying analytical methods to study protein structure and dynamics. Continuing along the interface between chemistry and biology, Rebecca then pursued a PhD at the University of Manchester under the supervision of Professor Perdita Barran.
During this time, she advanced mass spectrometry methods for the analysis of intrinsically disordered proteins, which are a group of proteins that are overrepresented in cancer but challenging to characterise due to their dynamic nature. Rebecca then spent four years at the Institute for Molecular Pathology in Vienna, Austria, first as a postdoctoral researcher and subsequently as a Lise Meitner Postdoctoral Fellow. Here, she gained experience in additional types of mass spectrometry for protein structure studies. She also applied mass spectrometry to interrogate the protein complexes that are formed by PROTAC molecules, which are a novel type of cancer therapy, whilst working with Professor Tim Clausen.
In 2020, Rebecca joined the department of pure and applied chemistry at the University of Strathclyde and was awarded a prestigious UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship to develop novel measurement capabilities to understand intrinsically disordered proteins. She has pioneered significant advances in developing structural MS methods for conformational studies of cancer-related proteins, and to support the development of novel PROTACs molecules.
Research requires such a high degree of creativity that people with diverse backgrounds and expertise can solve problems and drive projects in a way that鈥檚 impossible for one person to achieve alone.
Dr Rebecca Beveridge
Q&A with Dr Rebecca Beveridge
Tell us about somebody who has inspired or mentored you in your career.
My PhD supervisor, Perdita Barran, has been an excellent mentor. It has been her confidence in my scientific ability that has led me to pursue an academic career, and for that I鈥檓 extremely grateful because it turns out I鈥檓 actually quite good at it. I鈥檓 also thankful to Johannes Stadlmann and Tim Clausen for their support during my years as a postdoc.
Johannes dedicated a lot of time in training me in cross-linking methods which were brand new to me, and Tim provided guidance and support in achieving research independence. Tim was also extremely enthusiastic about me applying for independent positions, which was much needed during the times that I wasn鈥檛 sure that I was up to the task.
Since I joined Strathclyde, Nick Tomkinson and Yvonne Perrie have helped me navigate academic life and have provided wonderful advice during the early years of being a group leader. Overall, there鈥檚 been a lot of people that have taken time out of their busy schedule to help, and the support from the community has been massively important.
What has been a highlight for you (either personally or in your career)?
One thing that I鈥檝e really enjoyed during my career so far has been the different types of connections that I鈥檝e made. I鈥檝e really enjoyed travelling for conferences and meeting people from different places and embarking on collaborations to tackle new challenges. I love sharing new research that鈥檚 happening in the group and getting different perspectives on the results.
One example of this is the collaboration that I have with Carlos Castaneda at Syracuse University. We presented at the same online seminar (IDPseminars) in 2021, and we were really interested in each other鈥檚 work. Since then, we鈥檝e published together and collaborating with Carlos has allowed us to apply our methods to really fascinating biological systems.
What has been a challenge for you (either personally or in your career)?
The biggest challenges that I face are actually in my 鈥榦ther career鈥� which is fell running. I鈥檓 always entering the hardest races that I can find even though I always finish at the back of the pack! It鈥檚 a lot of fun though, and the community that I have around this sport is fantastic, and it鈥檚 an excellent distraction from work and definitely helps me to maintain a balance. In my career, a big challenge was setting up the lab and starting my research group. It was an intimidating process, and I struggled a lot with imposter syndrome. Once people actually joined the group it became a lot easier and more enjoyable, and I鈥檒l always be thankful for the first people that took a chance on a 鈥榥ew PI鈥� and moved to Glasgow to get things rolling.
Why do you think collaboration and teamwork are important in science?
Different perspectives are so important when it comes to addressing complex challenges. Research requires such a high degree of creativity that people with diverse backgrounds and expertise can solve problems and drive projects in a way that鈥檚 impossible for one person to achieve alone. Also, doing science with others is way more rewarding and fun.
How can scientists try to improve the environmental sustainability of research? Can you give us any examples from your own experience or context?
As a group we鈥檙e quite conscious of managing the environmental impact of our research. One aspect that is pertinent to us is to explore the possibilities of acquiring refurbished equipment rather than buying something new. All of our mass spectrometers are second hand, so we鈥檙e housing instruments that would otherwise be discarded as waste, as well as being more financially sustainable than new ones. We鈥檙e also mindful of minimising our plastic waste, wherever possible.
What is your favourite element?
Carbon