Leeds physicist awarded prestigious Young Investigator medal

Dr Lorna Dougan, of the Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology and School of Physics and Astronomy, has won the 2018 British Biophysical Society (BBS) Young Investigator Award.

The accolade celebrates an outstanding contribution in biophysics made by a young researcher in the UK and Ireland.

Dr Dougan was honoured for her research on the physics of living systems, including single molecule manipulation, life in extreme environments and the physics of cryopreservation – the process where cells and tissues are preserved by cooling to very low temperatures.

Dr Dougan, an Associate Professor of Biological Physics, said: “I am honoured to receive this prize from the BBS, and grateful to have been nominated by Professor Sheena Radford and the Astbury Centre.

“Leeds is a supportive, ambitious and vibrant research environment, where research is valued and collaborative opportunities thrive. I am extremely proud of the accomplishments of my students and post-doctoral researchers, both past and present. 

Leeds is a supportive, ambitious and vibrant research environment, where research is valued and collaborative opportunities thrive.

“My research has greatly benefited from the excellent inter-disciplinary science of the Astbury Centre, and I look forward to the exciting new opportunities the Bragg building will offer.”

Harry Laurent and Ben Hanson conducting an experiment using the NIMROD instrument at the ISIS neutron facility, with instrument scientist, Tristan Youngs

Professor Sheena Radford FMedSci FRS, Director of the Astbury Centre, said: “Lorna Dougan is a biophysicist with a strategic vision that is remarkable for her career stage, and with an exceptional talent to pose and resolve new and original scientific questions at the interface of physics, biology and chemistry.

“She has successfully built a dynamic team of young researchers and fostered collaborations whenever additional expertise is required, to push the boundaries of single molecule biophysics research. Critical to her successes is her astuteness and her remarkable skills to communicate and engage others.”

The BBS Young Investigator medal was presented to Dr Dougan after her award lecture at the BBS biennial meeting at the University of Southampton last month.