Education

Jan 2001 to University of East Anglia / John Innes Centre Norwich, England

Present Candidate for PhD in Molecular Microbiology

Supervisors: Dr. Stephen Spiro and Prof. Ray Dixon, FRS

Project: Functional investigation of the novel, nitric oxide sensing, transcriptional regulator NorR of Escherichia coli. Significant experiments included purification of the NorR protein, isolation of the consensus DNA binding site of NorR using techniques such as DNAseI footprinting and methylation protection, identification of two integration host factor binding sites and transcript mapping of NorR target genes. Other skills gained include radioisotope expertise, typical molecular biology (PCR, cloning & transformation, phage transduction etc.) and biochemistry techniques (protein over-expression & purification, FPLC, limited proteolysis, dynamic light scattering etc.), scientific writing and confident presentation skills.

Sept 1999 to Imperial College London, England

Sept 2000 MSc in Human Molecular Genetics

Research project: Evaluation of adenoviral gene therapy vectors. Techniques learned include preparation and titration of Adenovirus gene therapy vectors, which relies on a good sterile technique and mammalian tissue culture techniques. I regularly used caesium chloride gradients in ultracentrifuges and a variety of adenovirus titration methods. These included an antibody based dot blot method new to the lab which I devised from a different method in the literature. I regularly used standard molecular biology techniques such as PCR, cloning, transformation and electrophoretic methods.

Sept 1996 to Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh, Scotland

June 1999 BSc (Hons) Biochemistry

Final Year project: Degenerate PCR to isolate a potentially novel maltotriose transporter gene in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Sept 1991 to Gresham’s School Holt, Norfolk, England

June1996 GCE A levels in Biology (Grade B), Physics and Chemistry

GCSE’s in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Geography, History, French, English Lit, English Lang, Drama, Des. & Tech. (average Grade B)

Employment and Work Experience

May 2000- Oct 2001 In Utero Gene Therapy Group – Imperial College, London

Production and evaluation of adenoviral gene therapy vectors for in utero animal experiments. Experience gained in virology, large/small scale tissue culture, molecular techniques including PCR and hybridisation as well as scientific computing skills (e.g. Pubmed / Genbank / Primer design).

Vacations during Cellar and Kitchen Store - Adnams Wine Retailing - Southwold, Suffolk

1997 to 1999 Selling wines and quality kitchen goods, organising wine tastings with customers,

cashier and stock work. Team working and customer care are imperative to the business

Summers 1995 St. Peter’s Brewery, Fuller’s Brewery, Adnam’s Brewery

to 1997 Brewery Assistant and work experience.

Technical and Computer skills

Effective literature searching of online databases such as Web of Science, PubMed and Science Direct.

Well practiced computer skills including Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. I have recently produced my own website with FrontPage and have a basic understanding of HTML. Good knowledge of Adobe Photoshop, which I have used for the preparation of figures for publication. Familiar with many bioinformatics procedures including nucleic acid and protein sequence alignments, BLAST, oligo design and sequence analysis etc.

I also have confident and professional presentation skills.

Posters, Presentations, and Publications

Nicholas Tucker, Benoit D’Autréaux, Stephen Spiro and Ray Dixon. DNA binding properties of the Escherichia coli nitric oxide sensor NorR: towards an understanding of the regulation of flavorubredoxin. Biochemical Society Transactions. 2004/5 – Submitted.

Nicholas P. Tucker, Benoît D’Autréaux, David J. Studholme, Stephen Spiro and Ray Dixon. DNA binding activity of the Escherichia coli nitric oxide sensor NorR suggests a conserved target sequence in diverse proteobacteria. Journal of Bacteriology. 2004 Oct; Vol. 186, No. 19, p6656-6660 tucker.pdf

Waddington SN, Buckley SM, Nivsarkar M, Jezzard S, Schneider H, Dahse T, Kemball-Cook G, Miah M, Tucker N, Dallman MJ, Themis M, Coutelle C. In utero gene transfer of human factor IX to fetal mice can induce postnatal tolerance of the exogenous clotting factor. Blood. 2003 Feb 15;101(4):1359-66. Epub 2002 Oct 03. waddington.pdf

Invited to speak at the 10^th European nitrogen cycle meeting as well as presenting a poster, Norwich UK 2004. “DNA binding of the Escherichia coli nitric oxide sensing transcription factor NorR and integration host factor at the norV promoter.”

Presented a poster at the 8^th European nitrogen cycle meeting, Newcastle UK, 2002, “Purification of the Escherichia coli nitric oxide sensing transcription factor NorR.”

Memberships

Biochemical Society, Costessey Cricket Club, North London Rifle club, West Suffolk Rifle club, BASC, RSPB, Ipswich Town Football Club.

Extra-Curricular at Imperial College London, Heriot-Watt University, and Gresham’s School

Target Rifle Shooting, Captain and President of HWU Rifle Club, Secretary of the University Brewing Society. Member of the University of London Rifle Team, winners of the UK inter Universities competition Combined Cadet Force member of the RAF section between September 1993 and July 1995, reached the rank of Non-commissioned Officer, some experience of flying Chipmunk aircraft with the RAF at Cambridge.

Referees

Prof. Ray Dixon FRS, Dr. Stephen Spiro,

Department of Molecular Microbiology, School of Biology,

John Innes Centre, Georgia Tech,

Norfolk. USA

Please e-mail me for full contact details of referees.

nick.tucker@bbsrc.ac.uk