Meet the group
Professor Anthony Green
Following his PhD in synthetic organic chemistry (total synthesis) under the supervision of Professor E. J. Thomas, Dr Anthony Green began postdoctoral research with Professor Nicholas Turner and Professor Sabine Flitsch based in the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology (MIB), working in the field of industrial biocatalysis.
Professor Green worked as a postdoctoral research associate in the group of Professor Donald Hilvert at ETH (Zurich), before starting his independent research career in 2016 based in the MIB (Department of Chemistry) at the University of Manchester where he is a BBSRC David Phillips research fellow, a Professor in organic & biological chemistry and holder of an ERC Consolidator grant.
See Anthony’s academic tree here.
Visit Anthony’s department page here.
Jingming Zhao
Post-Doctoral Research Assistant
jingming.zhao@manchester.ac.uk
I did my PhD training at the University of Basel in Switzerland, under the supervision of Prof. Thomas R. Ward. My PhD thesis deals with artificial metalloenzymes, including the development of an artificial metathase and carbene transferase, and the genetic engineering of an artificial transfer hydrogenase.
In late 2018, I joined the Green group for a postdoctoral training on the mechanistic enzymology and biocatalysis. I am currently working on the capture and characterization of interesting enzyme intermediates, also exploring new catalytic functions of de novo designed proteins.
Rebecca Crawshaw
Research Fellow, specialising in Protein Engineering
rebecca.crawshaw@manchester.ac.uk
I began my PhD in January 2017 under the supervision of Anthony Green, focusing on the engineering of an enantioselective enzyme for the Morita–Baylis–Hillman reaction, a key transformation in organic chemistry. Following my PhD, my research has focused on expanding the catalytic capabilities of proteins by incorporating non-canonical amino acids into protein active sites. This includes engineering enzymes for new-to-nature transformations, such as thermally forbidden [2+2]-cycloadditions. I have also developed new synthetases to enable the incorporation of new amino acids into the genetic code. In September 2024, I joined the Research Training Program as a Senior Technical Specialist in Protein Engineering and Directed Evolution at the MIB, while continuing my work as a Postdoctoral Researcher in Anthony Green's group. When I’m not in the lab I’m probably walking my border collie Mabel, at the pub, or cooking for my friends.
Amy Crossley
Post Doctoral Research Associate
I joined Anthony Green’s Group in September 2018 as a BBSRC iCase PhD candidate in collaboration with GSK. Before this I studied a little ways down the road at the University of Manchester where I gained my MChem in Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry. Within the group I am working to create enzymes for the Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction through directed evolution and genetic code expansion.
When I’m not working I enjoy running and have been part of the Universities purple wave in the Great Manchester Run for the past 5 years. I also enjoy eating out with family and friends and relaxing in front of the TV with a binge-worthy series.
Oskar James Klein
Post Doctoral Research Associate
oskarjames.klein@manchester.ac.uk
I joined the Green group in mid-2024 as a research associate. Born in Vienna, Austria, I visited a chemistry focused high school (HBLVA17 Rosensteingasse) before serving in the Austrian military, where I worked as a laboratory assistant. I then spent a long time at the University of Cambridge, where I obtained an MSc in chemistry and went on to do a PhD supervised by Paul Barker, Sally Boss and Florian Hollfelder. During my PhD I worked on finding new ways to construct artificial metalloenzymes containing 4d and 5d transition metals, as well as ultra-high throughput methods for directed evolution.
In Manchester, I now work on rapidly evolving the translational machinery required to incorporate uncanonical amino acids into proteins, with the aim of enabling the use of such enzymes at scale and accessing new functionality previously inhibited by low incorporation efficiency.
Fei Zhao
Post Doctoral Research Associate
I was born in Sichuan Province, the hometown of panda, mahjong and Sichuan cuisine. I got my PhD in Drug Design at Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in 2015. Then I was appointed as an associate professor in School of Pharmacy at Chengdu University, where I mainly worked on metal-catalyzed C−H activation. In 2019, I was awarded with KC Wong Fellowship and joined the group of Prof. Daniele Castagnolo at King’s College London (KCL). In 2021, I was sponsored by the Marie Curie Fellowship and moved to University College London (UCL). My research at KCL and UCL was focused on the biocatalytic and chemoenzymatic synthesis of chiral sulfur-containing compounds. In June 2023, I joined the Green group at Manchester Institute of Biotechnology as a PDRA. I am currently developing novel enzymes by protein engineering for the manufacturing of active pharmaceutical ingredients and key intermediates thereof.
George Roberts
Post Doctoral Research Associate
george.roberts-4@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk
I grew up in Shrewsbury in Shropshire (birthplace of Charles Darwin). Following a biochemistry degree at Cardiff I moved to Manchester and completed a PhD in David Leys’ lab, engineering new functions in (de)carboxylase enzymes. I moved a couple of floors up to join the Green Group in 2023 and have been working on the evolution of de novo constructs for enantioselective C-C and C-X bond formation.
Outside the lab I enjoy playing squash, climbing and looking after the giant monstera that is slowly taking over my flat.
Lewis Caiger
Post Doctoral Research Associate
After growing up in a small town in north Oxfordshire, I moved to the much more vibrant city of Bristol for my MSci in Chemistry with Industrial Experience. I spent my 4th year working in Prof. John Bower's group, where I worked on my thesis, developing palladium catalysed aza-Heck cascades.
I moved to The North in 2019 to begin my PhD at the University of Manchester as a member of the 1st iCAT cohort. I joined the Leonori group, working on the development of halogen atom transfer (XAT) methodologies for the majority of my PhD. This included moving to Aachen, Germany for a year after our group left UoM, and a three-month placement at AZ, Macclesfield.
After deciding I wanted to explore more than just organic chemistry, I moved back to Manchester at the end of 2024 to join Anthony's group in the MIB as a PDRA. I plan to utilise my skills in photochemistry in the development of novel photoenzymes.
When i'm not at work I can often be found doing a variety of sports including climbing, cycling, squash and running. Otherwise i'll be in my kitchen, poring over a cookbook.
Jordan Berreur
Post Doctoral Research Associate
jordan.berreur@manchester.ac.uk
I received my MSci from the Université de Haute-Alsace in Mulhouse, France, along with a chemical engineering degree from the École Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Mulhouse (ENSCMu) in 2017. I then moved to Strasbourg to pursue a PhD at the Laboratoire d’Innovation Moléculaire et Applications (CNRS/University of Strasbourg), under the supervision of Dr Frédéric Leroux and Dr Armen Panossian, working on the development of chiral metal-free Lewis acids and their application in asymmetric catalysis. In 2021, I joined the University of Bristol as a PDRA to work with Dr Beatrice Collins and Professor Jonathan Clayden on a redox-powered biocatalytically driven autonomous molecular motor. In 2024, I moved to Manchester to work with Anthony Green and Sam Hay, studying quantum-mechanical tunneling along enzyme evolution trajectories and exploring new reactivities for the Morita-Baylis-Hillman enzymes developed previously in our group.
Alessia Andrews
Post Doctoral Research Associate
alessia.andrews@manchester.ac.uk
I grew up in North London before moving to Manchester to pursue my BSc and MSc degrees in Biochemistry. I completed my PhD under the supervision of Prof. Andrew Munro and Prof. David Leys, focusing on the characterization of Cytochrome P450 peroxygenase enzymes for applications in the fuel industry. In 2023, I joined Prof. Anthony Green's group as a Research Associate, where I have been working on de novo CO₂ reductase enzymes incorporating a cobalt-containing protoporphyrin IX (CoPPIX) cofactor - continuing my interest in working with fun-colored enzymes!
Outside the lab, I love traveling to far-off places and preparing elaborate meals with friends.
Christopher Taylor
Post Doctoral Research Associate
christopher.taylor-6@manchester.ac.uk
I grew up in Knaresborough, a small town in North Yorkshire, before moving to Manchester to study for an MChem in Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry. During my undergraduate degree, I undertook summer studentships with Nick Turner (Manchester) and Angela Russell (Oxford). My Masters project was based within the Green group, developing a mass spectrometry-based assay for lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases.
I continued working within the Green group for my PhD project, focusing on genetic code expansion. Initially, my work involved engineering an orthogonal pair of translation components for functional histidine analogues. The latter half of my project involved engineering translation components for non-canonical hydrogen bond donors to enable photocatalytic transformations within evolved active sites.
My Postdoc work has been funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. This work has involved engineering P450 and transaminase variants to enantiospecifically deliver intermediates required in the synthesis of anti-tuberculosis and anti-HIV pharmaceuticals, respectively.
Outside of the lab, I enjoy playing sports, hiking and an occasional evening in the pub.
Ross Smithson
Post Doctoral Research Associate
ross.smithson@student.manchester.ac.uk
Having moved to Manchester to complete my undergraduate masters, I took on a project in my final year working on enzyme design and evolution. I joined Anthony’s group in 2019 as a PhD funded by both the IBioIC and Unilever and I’m currently investigating SynBio routes for next generation green bio-surfactants from sustainable feedstocks. I’m originally from Cambridge but have family connections in Manchester, living here allows me to regularly watch Manchester City play (the best team in the land and the world).
Mark Petchey
Post Doctoral Research Associate
I obtained my MChem in Chemistry at the University of York, where I carried out my final year project at Bayer CropScience in Frankfurt. Here I worked within the Small Molecule Research team developing novel compounds to be screened for herbicidal and safener activity. I then undertook a PhD in York under the supervision of Prof. Gideon Grogan and Prof. Ian Fairlamb, investigating Amide Bond Synthetases for the synthesis of amide pharmaceuticals. This was funded by the BBSRC and GSK and included a 3-month placement at GSK.
In 2021 I moved to Gothenburg to carry out an industrial Postdoc at AstraZeneca, in collaboration with Prof. Todd Hyster. Here I investigated repurposing oxidoreductases, with redox active co-factors, for new-to-nature chemistry. Having investigated native enzymes for photoenzymatic catalysis, I joined the Green group, in 2024, to explore de novo designed photoenzymes, containing non-canonical amino acids, for their application to asymmetric synthesis.
Zachary Price
Post Doctoral Research Associate
zachary.birch-price@manchester.ac.uk
I grew up in Warwickshire, attending Shakespeare's school in Stratford-Upon-Avon before studying Natural Sciences at Cambridge, where I worked in the groups of Paul Dupree and Bill Broadhurst. I completed my Masters in Ben Luisi's lab, characterising the structure and function of bacterial polynucleotide phosphorylase using cryo-EM and real-time NMR assays.
In 2020 I began my PhD in Anthony Green's lab, funded by the BBSRC Manchester DTP. I work on the discovery and development of novel synthetic activities of BH32-derived enzymes, utilising genetic code expansion technologies and directed evolution workflows to create improved biocatalysts. More recently I have been leading characterisations of unexplored catalytic activities in computationally designed enzymes.
Outside of work I enjoy performing, recording and producing music with my wife, cooking, badminton and cycling.
Thomas Lister
Post Doctoral Research Associate
thomas.lister@manchester.ac.uk
I grew up in Norwich before moving to the University of Bath to study for a Master's in Chemistry, graduating in 2020. During my undergraduate studies I completed a year-long industrial placement at GSK, Stevenage (medicinal chemistry) and a final year project under the supervision of Dr Alexander Cresswell performing research in the area of photoredox catalysis.
In 2020 I joined the EPSRC-funded iCAT CDT at the University of Manchester, undertaking rotation projects in the groups of Professors Nick Turner and Michael Greaney. In July 2021 I commenced my PhD project under the supervision of Professors Igor Larrosa and Anthony Green, investigating new-to-Nature enzymatic reactions for asymmetric C–C bond formations.
Outside of the lab I enjoy cooking, running and climbing.
Emily Radley
Final Year PhD Candidate
I grew up in Hampshire, before moving to York where I completed an Integrated Masters in Biochemistry at University of York. In my third year, I worked with Dr Michael Plevin, using rational design to optimise a DNA helicase. For my master's project, I was supervised by Dr Benjamin Lichman and characterised proteins involved in triterpene synthesis.
I joined the Green group in September 2021 where, in collaboration with BP and Johnson Matthey, I have been developing a selective and efficient enzyme for the reduction of CO2.
When not in the lab, I enjoy climbing, baking and pretending to know about Formula 1.
Chuanjie Sun
Final Year PhD Candidate
I received an M.Sc. in Chemistry from the University of Manchester in 2020. After a gap year, I am happy to be back in the Green group and beginning my PhD study. Now I am working on the design and engineering of enzymes with new functions using computational enzyme design, genetic code expansion and directed evolution.
Outside of the lab, I am a big gamer of sports, pc and card games. I am very keen on Taekwondo and have achieved black belt.
Henry Jones
2rd Year PhD Candidate
I grew up in rural Shropshire before moving to Nottingham to study for my Masters in Chemistry, completing my final year project with Michael George and Sir Martyn Poliakoff in the field of asymmetric photocatalysis. I then joined the University of Manchester as part of the iCAT CDT, where I completed rotation projects with Sihai Yang and Jesus Esteban-Serrano.
In July 2022 I started my PhD project under the supervision of Micheal Shaver and Anthony Green, working on re-engieering PET depolymerase enzymes for the selective depolymerisation of alternate plastic substrates.
Anna Kohn
2nd Year PhD Candidate
I grew up in a town called Maidenhead before moving to Manchester to study Chemistry. After completing my MChem in the Green group, I was offered a BBSRC PhD studentship in collaboration with GSK to stay in the group another four years. I am using genetic code expansion to generate energy transfer biocatalysts for photochemical reactions.
Outside of the lab I love dancing, practicing yoga and climbing. Living in Manchester is great because it allows me to indulge in all my hobbies and all of the tasty food on offer in town.
Qiutong Lin
1st Year PhD Candidate
Having completed my MRes degree at Imperial College London in 2023, I joined the Green Group in September 2024 as a PhD student funded by the CoEBio3 scholarship. I am currently working on directed evolution to discover enzymes with high enantioselectivity that can efficiently catalyse interesting reactions.
Yilin An
1st Year PhD Candidate
I grew up in Qingdao, a beautiful coastal city in China before doing my undergraduate and master's at UCL on Organic Chemistry: Durg Discovery. After a gap year in the industry, I started my PhD project in the Green group co-funded by the University of Manchester and Sygenta. I am now working on the characterisation and engineering of enzymes for new biocatalytic approaches towards reactions of industrial interest.
In my spare time, I enjoy cooking, travelling and playing sports, especially badminton.
Previous Group Members
Sarah Lovelock - Lecturer, University of Manchester
Sarah was an Innovation Fellow working in the Green Group from 2017-2020. Sarah started her own independent group at the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology in 2020 and her group’s research focuses on the development of biocatalytic approaches to therapeutic oligonucleotide synthesis. She continues to collaborate with the Green Group on enzyme design and evolution projects.
Dr. Amina Frese -
Dr. Florence Hardy - Flo completed her PhD in the Green group, working with non-heme iron enzymes before staying on with us for a postdoc. She then moved to David Baker’s group in Washington where she now computationally designs enzymes.
Dr. Elizabeth Bell - Izzy did her PhD in the Green group, evolving an efficient and thermostable plastic degrading enzyme. After one year with us as a postdoctoral research associate, she has recently moved for a PDRA role at the University of Colorado, working with Gregg Beckham.
Dr. Ashleigh Burke -
Local Collaborators
Sarah Lovelock – Lecturer, University of Manchester
Richard Obexer - Lecturer, University of Manchester
Derren Heyes - Senior Experimental Officer, MIB Biophysics Suite
Colin Levy - Senior Experimental Officer, Manchester Protein Structure Facility
Mark Dunstan - Senior Experimental Officer, MIB Automation