Dr Samantha Miller

Internal Memberships

Academic Lead Postgraduate Research (IMS)

Deputy Lead IMS Health and Safety Co-ordinator

Research Overview

I am currently a senior lecturer in the Institute of Medical Sciences. I am a biochemist and molecular biologist working with bacteria in the Microbiology Programme of SMMSN. My research focusses on bacterial ion channels and transporters. These specialised membrane proteins help bacteria survive their environment. I investigate the molecular mechanisms of these proteins and how to use this knowledge to inhibit bacterial cell growth. 

Collaborations

Prof. I. R. Booth (Aberdeen), Dr T.Rasmussen (Aberdeen), Dr A. Moura (Aberdeen), Prof. J. Naismith (St. Andrews), Prof. S. Conway (Oxford), Prof. B. Poolman (Groningen), Prof. Z. Ignatova (Pottsdam),  Prof. C. Grebogi (Aberdeen), Prof. J. Banga (CSIC), Dr J. Yates (AstraZeneca), Dr. A.  Valleriani (MPIKG), Prof. R. Bovenberg (DSM)

Funding and Grants

Marie Curie Initial Training Networks (ITN) Call: FP7-PEOPLE-2011-ITN (awarded 2011) ‘NICHE’ Network for Integrated Cellular Homeostasis. This grant brings together 8 partners from 6 academic institutions across Europe and 3 industrial partners to create a training network that will fund 11 PhD students and 2 Postdoctoral workers.  My position on this proposal is Assistant Coordinator, also with responsibility for the training programme.   

Medical Research Scotland Vacation Scholarship (awarded 03/2011)  for Mr Vojtech Prazak (1^st year undergraduate University of Aberdeen), funding for 8 weeks summer project 2011. Structure-Function studies of critical gating residues in mechanosensitive channels   

Wellcome Trust Programme Grant Renewal (awarded 07/2010).  Principal Applicant Prof. Ian Booth.  Coapplicant (1) Prof. J.H. Naismith, (St. Andrews), Coapplicant (2) Dr S. Conway (Oxford), Coapplicant (3) Dr S. Miller, Coapplicant (4) Dr T. Rasmussen, Coapplicant (5) Dr M.D. Edwards.Molecular mechanisms of gating ion channels and transporters in bacterial homeostasis. 01.01.11-31.12.16  

BBSRC Research Grant (awarded 06/10) Principal Investigator 01.07.10-30.06.15 Conformational states of membrane proteins: Technology development for bioscience  

SFC (SULSA pool) Summer Studentship (with Morgiane Richard and A. Moura) for Aljosa Sarcevic from 31/05/10 for a 10 week project ‘Model of a Toxic metabolic Switch:  Production of Methylglyoxal by Gram-Negative Bacteria’

BBSRC (SysMo Initiative). Awarded March 2007.  Principal Investigator Professor I.R. Booth, Co-Investigators; Dr S.Miller, Professor C. Grebogi and Dr A. Moura (University of Aberdeen):   01.06.07-01.06.10 Ion and Solute Homeostasis in Enteric Bacteria (Kosmobac) 

Wellcome Trust Programme Grant Renewal (awarded 2005).  Principal Applicant Professor I.R. Booth, Coapplicant (1) Dr S. Miller, Coapplicant (2) Dr M.D. Edwards January 2006-December 2011.  Gating of bacterial transporters and ion channels in cellular homeostasis

Royal society Conference Award 2005 

MRC New Investigator Award (awarded 2004) July 2005-2008  Biogenesis and Structure-Function analysis of the MscS Mechanosensitive Channel in Escherichia coli.

Teaching Responsibilities

Course Co-ordinator MC3504 Molecular Microbiology