Dr Alexis L. Sperling
- Postdoctoral Research Associate
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Alexis L. Sperling is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge.
Biography
I started off at the University of Victoria (Canada) in biochemistry and biology and then moved to KTH (Sweden) for my masters in bioreactors and protein engineering. I did my PhD at the University of Cambridge (UK) in the Department of Zoology on epithelial patterning in Drosophila eggs. My first postdoc was on centrosome migration in Drosophila eggs and my second postdoc was on the genetic basis of parthenogenesis in Drosophila. I am excited to take my knowledge in cell and developmental biology into my new research on the cell molecular biology of plant parasite interactions, specifically on effector biogenesis in nematodes. I am working towards building knowledge of the fundamental biology of pathogenic nematodes in order to gain insight into how we can prevent pathogenic nematode infections.
Previous Positions
2017 to 2023 - Research Associate - Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, England
2015 to 2017 - Research Associate - Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, England
Qualifications
2015 - PhD - University of Cambridge, England
2011 - MSc - Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Stockholm, Sweden
2009 - BSc - University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
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Committees
2019 to 2020 - Member - Cambridge Fly Club Committee
2016 to 2018 - Member - Genetics Seminar Series Committee
2015 to 2016 - Member - Department of Genetics Postdoc Committee
2013 to 2014 - Graduate Representative - Department of Zoology
2013 to 2014 - Member - Computing Committee
2011 to 2012 - Member - Gurdon Institute Environment Committee
Media & Press
2024 - 'Why it matters that scientists modified a ‘sexual’ fruit fly to be asexual' - The Hindu
2023 - 'Scientists discover secret of virgin birth and switch on the ability in female flies' - Cam Research News
2023 - 'No males? No problem! Scientists induce virgin births in fruit flies' - The Guardian
2023 - '‘Virgin birth’ genetically engineered into female animals for the first time' - Nature News
2023 - 'Scientists create first genetically modified animal that can have offspring asexually' - El Pais
Outreach & Public Engagement
2024 - Invited parthenogenesis expert - BBC Radio World Service’s Unexpected Elements
2023 - Media interviews for ‘Virgin Birth’ paper, including but not limited to: BBC Look East, CNN, National Geographic and The New York Post
2023 - Guest on the youtube channel/podcast Honest Discussions by Dr. Randen Patterson
2020 - Invited Speaker- Oxford Student Biological Society