Dr Molly McNae

Profile

I received an integrated Master’s degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Leeds in 2019 and completed my PhD in the Children's Cancer Research Group, also at the University of Leeds, in 2024. My doctoral research investigated targeting MYC-C in Ewing sarcoma through the inhibition of Aurora kinases.

During my PhD, I worked part-time as a Senior Research Technician within the Children's Cancer Research Group. In this role, I assessed the effects of radiation and WEE1 inhibition on the DNA damage response in Ewing sarcoma cells in collaboration with the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR).

I joined the School of Food Science & Nutrition as a Research Support Technician in 2025, where I provided laboratory and infrastructure support to researchers and laboratory users, while also contributing to research projects. My work included supporting cell culture studies and performing RNA extraction, RT-qPCR, protein extraction, and western blotting.

In July 2026, I progressed to the role of Senior Research Technician (Biological), with responsibility for the cell culture suites, human study facilities, and laboratories located within the Chemistry Building. I continue to support staff and students across the School and contribute to a fermentation project funded by the Bezos Earth Fund. In addition, I serve as the School's Technical HTA Lead and Biological Safety Officer, having completed both the Biosafety Practitioner Level One qualification and IOSH Managing Safely certification in 2026.

I am also a Staff Sustainability Architect and Technical Sustainability Lead. In my first year in this role, I successfully led a project that achieved LEAF Bronze accreditation across all research laboratories within the School.

Qualifications

• PhD Medicine (cancer biology)
• MBiol BSc Biological Sciences

Professional memberships

• British Association for Cancer Research
• American Association for Cancer Research