PhD Candidate · The Sainsbury Laboratory · Norwich, UK

Angus
Bucknell

Using novel protein design and structural bioinformatics to decode effector function in the fungal plant pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae.

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About me

Decoding the mechanisms of fungal invaders

I'm a PhD candidate at The Sainsbury Laboratory (TSL), Norwich, UK. Supervised by Prof. Nick Talbot, my work focuses on the molecular biology of the blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae.

To infect plants, M. oryzae secretes effector proteins that suppress immunity and promote pathogenesis. I use novel protein design and computational, structural methods to probe how these effectors function.

Alongside my research, I care about science communication and making complex biology accessible, primarily through public engagement talks.

Current research

What I'm working on now

Novel protein design for effector characterisation

We're using novel protein design to generate bespoke binders against M. oryzae effector targets. In doing so, we hope to bypass the limitations of traditional methods to answer previously intractable biological questions.

High-throughput structural prediction of effectors

By using high-throughput structural modelling we can learn a little about a lot of effectors. Through this, we can prioritise targets and generate initial hypotheses to test in lab.

Analysis of Starships transposons

Starships are giant transposons capable of moving host beneficial genes, including virulence factors, between fungal species. By studying these elements, we hope to understand their role in driving the rapid emergence of new pathogenic traits.

Research experience

Where I've worked

Oct 2023 — present

Norwich, UK

PhD Researcher

The Sainsbury Laboratory

I'm currently completing doctoral research on effector function in Magnaporthe oryzae. My research is split between in silico analyses and a combination in vitro and in planta work. Supervised by Prof. Nick Talbot.

Molecular bio Protein design Bioinformatics

Jun — Aug 2025

Norwich, UK

PhD Intern

Sequence Analysis UK

As part of our doctoral training programme, all students must take a 3 month placement outside of their field of research. I joined Dr. Lisa Crossman, analysing metagenome-assembled genomes as part of the WISH Fiji project.

Metagenomics Julia Bioinformatics

Sep 2022 — May 2023

Birmingham, UK

MSci Researcher

University of Birmingham

I joined Dr. Megan McDonald's group for my Master's research project. Focusing on the Starship transposon Sanctuary and its horizontal gene transfer in fungal wheat pathogens.

Molecular bio

Jul — Aug 2022

Vienna, AT

VBC Summer School Student

Gregor Mendel Institute

As a Vienna BioCenter Summer School student, I investigated transposon silencing mechanisms in Duckweed within Dr. Arturo Marí-Ordóñez's lab.

Molecular bio Phylogenetics Bioinformatics

Education

Academic background

PhD, Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions

University of East Anglia

2023 – present

Doctoral research on effector biology and structural bioinformatics in Magnaporthe oryzae. Supervised by Prof. Nick Talbot. Funded by the NRPDTP (BBSRC grant BB/T008717/1).

MSci Biological Sciences

University of Birmingham

2019 – 2023

Master's research supervised by Dr. Megan McDonald, focusing on the Starship transposon Sanctuary and its role in horizontal gene transfer in fungal wheat pathogens.

Get in touch

Contact

I'm always happy to hear from collaborators, students, or anyone interested in fungal biology and effector function.

angus.bucknell@tsl.ac.uk