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Dr. Darren Greetham

Dr. Darren Greetham

  • Position: Teaching Fellow
  • Areas of expertise: Molecular biology; microbiology; protein expression; yeast; bacterial expression systems; analytical science; fermentations; protein purification; pathogenic yeast and bacteria
  • Email: D.Greetham@leeds.ac.uk
  • Location: 7.55 EC Stoner

Profile

A goal driven scientist with extensive experience in cell biology (yeast, mammalian, bacterial and nematodes), fermentation science with core molecular, microbiological, microscopy, downstream processes and analytical knowledge (HPLC, GC, LC/MS, MS/MS and NMR).  

I obtained a Ph.D from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth (now Aberystwyth University) in 2002 looking into the causations behind azole tolerance in hospital derived pathogenic Candida albicans. 

After this I worked as a postdoctoral research scientist on a wide-variety of topics and institutions looking into enzyme functionality in nemtaodes, mammalian systems before joining Professor Chris Grants lab at the University of Manchester in 2007 where I looked at oxidative stess responses in yeast. 

In 2009, I moved to the University of Nottingham where I worked as part of the LACE consortium looking into converting sugars present in the cell walls of plants into biofuels and other high value chemicals. It was at Nottingham I also lectured for a year as a teaching fellow and assistant professor on their food science degree and masters programmes.

After leaving Nottingham in 2016 I spent nearly 4 years looking at optimising yeast fermentations at the Univresity of Huddersfield, 2 years in industry as a laboratory manager and have just moved from a research position at the University of Sheffield where I have spent 2022 looking at pathogenic Clostridia difficile and Enterococcus peptidoglycan composition and antibiotic resistance. 

 

Responsibilities

  • Module lead for Nut and Food FOOD5242 and Biochem and Sens Prop FOOD2032

Research interests

Yeast tolerance to stresses inherent to a fermentation but with particular emphasis on those present in conversion of non-starch based feedstocks such as those derived from plant cell walls. I also have an interest in pathogenic yeast and bacteria and an interest in production of high value chemicals in a fermentation replacing the need for these chemicals to be derived from fossil fuels. 

<h4>Research projects</h4> <p>Some research projects I'm currently working on, or have worked on, will be listed below. Our list of all <a href="https://environment.leeds.ac.uk/dir/research-projects">research projects</a> allows you to view and search the full list of projects in the faculty.</p>

Qualifications

  • Ph.D University of Wales, Aberystwyth 2002
  • BSc University of Sunderland
  • HND Sheffield Hallam University

Student education

Currently lecturing on biochemistry for food science students at undergraduate and masters level. I am also module lead for a second year biochemistry module and a masters module aiming to cover the basic biochemistry of the components present in food such as proteins, carbohydrates, fats and enzymes. I also lecture on other biochemistry modules and am a project supervisor for Masters project students. I am also an assessor on student literature reviews, and am part of the exam verification panel in the school.