Dr Christopher DuffyLecturer in Cellular and Molecular Biology and Director of AdmissionsEmail: c.duffy@qmul.ac.ukTelephone: +44 (0)20 7882 8006Room Number: Whitechapel, Room TBCTeachingResearchPublicationsSupervisionUndergraduate Teaching Practical Molecular and Cellular Biology (Tutorials) (BIO190) Practical Biochemistry (Tutorials) (BIO198) Biochemistry Communication (BIO301) Advanced Biochemical Research Methods (BIO491) Techniques in Biomedical Sciences (BMD219) Physical and Quantum Chemistry (CHE204A) Biomedical Sciences Investigative Project (BMD601) Membrane Proteins (BIO361) ResearchResearch Interests:Christopher Duffy’s research focuses on the molecular processes that govern efficient, yet adaptable light-harvesting in photosynthetic organisms. Particular focus is given to the carotenoid pigments that form a central part of the photosynthetic light-harvesting antenna proteins. These pigments play a central role in energy management within individual light-harvesting proteins and the photosynthetic membrane as a whole. The approach of the lab is theoretical and computational, attempting to understand complex molecular basis of effective natural light-harvesting. The role of the carotenoid pigments within this process is difficult to understand both experimentally, due to their optically ‘forbidden’ nature, and theoretically due to the ‘strongly correlated’ nature of their biologically-relevant electronic states. Dr Duffy seeks to understand the biological importance of the extreme variety of carotenoid structure in nature and the intrinsic and environmental factors that determine their specific biological function. Recently advances of Dr Duffy’s research include developing a theoretical approach to carotenoid research, providing a molecular picture of the role of lutein in the photoprotective regulation of light-harvesting in higher plants and the varied functions of different carotenoids in the photosynthetic membrane. Find out more on the Duffy laboratory website Research department Biochemistry Publications Browse a list of publications by Christopher Duffy See Christopher Duffy's Google Scholar Citations SupervisionCurrent PhD opportunity The contradictory functions of carotenoid-based light-harvesters: Understanding energy harvesting and dissipation in the Fucoxanthin-Chlorophyll Protein (FCP) PhD Supervision Samir Chitnavis