Dr Rachael Wilkinson

I am currently a Senior Postdoctoral Research Associate and Protein Lead at the Becky Mayer Centre for Phage Research at the University of Leicester. I completed my undergraduate degree in Medical Microbiology and Virology at the University of Warwick, before undertaking a PhD in Chemical Biology at the University of Southampton, where my research focused on the characterisation of a novel antibacterial target in biowarfare agents. As a postdoctoral researcher, I have held positions at the University of Warwick, Swansea University, and the University of Oxford. My work has focused on protein crystallography of novel lignin-degrading enzymes, investigating the role of REST splice variants in cancer, and collaborating with SMEs to support the development of healthcare innovations in Wales. I am an active member of the UK structural biology community and have served as Secretary of the BCA Biological Structures Group since 2024. I have also contributed to the organisation of key community events, including the BCA Spring Meeting 2024 and the BSG Winter Meeting 2025. My research integrates microbiology, biochemistry, and structural biology to investigate the phage proteome, with the aim of uncovering the mechanisms phages use to exploit and manipulate their hosts throughout their lifecycle. I am particularly interested in characterizing the many ‘hypothetical’ proteins within the phage proteome and exploring the potential therapeutic applications of these proteins.