Melissa is fascinated by protein structure and function. Following completion of her PhD at the University of Auckland, New Zealand (2018), Melissa took up a postdoc position in the UK under the supervision of Prof. Colin Kleanthous. Within the Kleanthous group her research has combined classical protein biochemistry with cryo-electron microscopy to understand how protein toxins cross the cell envelope of Gram-negative bacteria.
Her current research is centred around fundamental questions relating to how outer membrane proteins of Gram-negative bacteria are organised and how force is transduced across the cell envelope through the bacterial Ton-system.
Outside of work Melissa is often outdoors playing football and ultimate frisbee or travelling.
