Below is information about all the staff who currently work in DNA Sequencing & Services.

Dr Nicholas Helps (Head of Facility)

I was educated at Bristol and Leicester Universities where I obtained, respectively, BSc and PhD degrees in Biochemistry. After completing my PhD studies in 1992, I moved to Dundee to work in the Medical Research Council Protein Phosphorylation Unit. While working with Dr. Patricia Cohen in the MRC Unit, I used the yeast two hybrid system to identify a number of protein phosphatase one targeting subunits from Drosophila melanogaster and humans. After spending seven years in this post, I made a break from active laboratory research in 1999 to take up positions as head of DNA Sequencing & Services and Unit Safety Coordinator for the MRC Protein Phosphorylation Unit. I currently divide my time approximately equally between these two posts.

Mr Gary Hunter (Senior Technician)

Before joining DNA Sequencing & Services in 2002 as a replacement for Mairi Hunter (his wife) who was leaving us to go onto bigger and better things, Gary had accomplished many and varied feats and undertaken a variety of employment roles. Gary best describes this himself in his autobiography entitled "How to Get Ahead in Life by Bluffing", which you can read here.

Mrs Melanie Wightman (Technician)

Before joining the DNA Sequencing & Services in April 2005, I was employed as a technician at Morgan Academy in Dundee. My role at Morgan included setting up for science classes, preparing chemicals and kits. Since joining the facility, I have undertaken and achieved a HNC in Applied Sciences at Dundee College. I was also awarded the Scottish Institute of Biology prize for the best Applied Sciences student in Scotland for 2007. I am currently undertaking a part time HND in Biomedical Sciences at Dundee College.
My role within the facility is as a senior technician. I am involved in the day to day running of the lab and setting up of customer samples to run through our sequencers. Troubleshooting and administration work are also a big part of my job.

Mrs Dawn Rooney (Technician)