MEET THE LAB

Stuart Wigby

 Principal Investigator – ORCID ID: 0000-0002-2260-2948

  • University of Liverpool – Senior Lecturer (2020 – present)
  • Technische Universität Dresden – Senior Fellow (2020 Feb-July)
  • University of Oxford – ​BBSRC David Phillips Research Fellow (2014–2019) / Lecturer, St John's College (2018-2019) / NERC Research Fellow (2013–2014) / Lecturer, Wadham College (2010–2013) / Wellcome VIP fellow (2010–2011) / Lloyd's Tercentary Research Fellow (2008–2010)
  • Cornell University – HFSP Short-Term Research Fellow (PI Mariana Wolfner) (2008)
  • University College London – ​Postdoc (PIs: Tracey Chapman & Linda Partridge) (2005–2008) / PhD (Supervisor: Tracey Chapman) (2001–2005)
  • ​Basingtoke Royal Mail – postman (2000 - 2001)
  • University of Sheffield – Research Assistant (PI: Jens Rolff) (2000-2001) /​ ​BSc Zoology (1997–2000)

Jolanta Tanianis-Hughes

BBSRC funded Technician 

I have joined The Wigby Lab as Senior Drosophila Laboratory Research Technician, working on BBSRC funded project to identify dietary optima for sperm and seminal fluid in males of different ages, that promote fertilisation success and delay male reproductive ageing. My aim is to provide a practical support backed by my growing enthusiasm for work with fruit flies and more than 20 years’ experience in advanced molecular and cell biology techniques including RNA, DNA and protein manipulations.  
  • DEEB, University of Liverpool - Research Technician (PI: Tom Price) (2019–2022). 
  • Dept of Molecular & Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool – Clinical Trials Technician in CLL Biobank (2014–2019)
  • Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool Research Core Technician (2013–2014)   
  •  Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research,  Manchester University - Research Technician (PIs C Streuli & A Gilmore)  (2007-2013)
  •  Stay-at-home mum to Gabriela & Nathaniel (2006–2007)  
  • Injury, Repair and Rehabilitation Group, University of Manchester - Research Technician (PI: G Warhurst)  (2001 – 2006)  
  • University of Wales, Bangor - research assistant (PI: M Doenhoff) (1999) 
  • University of Wales, Bangor - BSc Hon. in Biomolecular Sciences (1997 – 2001)

Mischa Emery

MRC DTP PhD Student

I’ve joined the Wigby lab at the University of Liverpool as a MRC DiMeN DTP PhD candidate. My project centres on investigating the effects of diet and ageing in relation to prostate cancer, using Drosophila as a model system. With a background in biochemistry, entomology and cell biology my favourite projects to work on are those that are interdisciplinary, aim to solve medically important issues whilst increasing our understanding of how biological systems function. Outside of science I am a collector of hobbies, current favourites being bouldering, reading and sewing.
  • ​Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine - Research Technician (2017 - 2021)
  • Rothamsted Research - Chemical ecologist/chemist (Oct 2015 - Mar 2016)
  • London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine - MSc Medical Parasitology (2014 - 2015)
  • Imperial College London - BSc Biochemistry (2011 - 2014)

Andy McCracken

BBSRC funded Postdoc
​– ORCID ID 0000-0001-8889-6275 

 I joined the lab in January as part of the BBSRC-funded project: dietary optimisation for male fertilisation success and healthy reproductive ageing.  My work will examine the impact of modifying dietary macronutrient content and amino acid ratios on male reproduction, reproductive senescence and longevity. Using Drosophila melanogaster, I aim to use a variety of methods, including nutritional geometry on various fitness components, and both in silico and empirical omics, to identify nutritional optima and tailor dietary amino acid ratios to the particular needs of the male. Further, I aim to investigate whether the regulation of these traits – like lifespan and reproduction – is decoupled in males.
I have a research background in using fruit fly demography to investigate several broad areas: the evolution of ageing (why do we age?), the phenomenon of dietary restriction, and the interplay between diet and longevity. I’m particularly interested in the role of genetic variance and life-history trade-offs in the expression of the ageing phenotype. 
  • University of Aberdeen – BSc Genetics (2014)
  • University of Glasgow – MRes Biomedical Sciences (Molecular Genetics) (2016)
  • University of Sheffield – PhD Evolutionary Biology of Ageing (supervisor: Mirre Simons) (2021)

LAB ALUMNI