Mirella Vivoli Vega, PhD

Protein biochemist and biophysicist with 10 years of experience in protein expression, purification, structural biology, and drug discovery. Proficient in protein engineering, X-ray crystallography, Cryo-electron microscopy, and the development of biophysical and biochemical assays. Demonstrated success in project delivery, interdisciplinary collaboration, lecturing and mentoring researchers. Notable achievements include publications, patents, and international awards.

• Drug Discovery Expertise: Identified novel inhibitors of human prohormone convertases and microbial virulence factors, contributing to drug discovery pipelines.
• Technical Leadership: Developed robust protocols for protein purification and biophysical characterisation to support therapeutic and diagnostic advancements.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partnered with industry to engineer enzyme-based odour barriers and validate antiviral surface solutions.

Supervised over 20 undergraduate and postgraduate students., Delivered 15+ lectures on advanced biochemistry and structural biology topics., Organised international conferences, including the 2022 Structural Biology Conference (SWSBC22) and Chair for departmental Cryo-EM seminars. Biochemical Society Ambassador for University of Bristol.

• Publications: Authored/co-authored 30+ peer-reviewed articles in high-impact journals (e.g., Biochemical Journal, J Biol Chem, ACS Chemical Biology, NAR). Contributed to three book chapters.
• Grants & Fellowships: Secured MSCA Individual Fellowship (2021) and contributed to multiple successful grant applications.
• Awards: Recognised with Above & Beyond (University of Exeter, 2016), Best Oral Presentation (Crystal Year, 2015), including the Seal of Excellence from the European Commission (2020).
• Leadership Training: Completed Female Leadership initiative (FLi, 2023) and mentoring schemes.
• Teaching qualification: Associate fellow HEA fellowship (2024).
• Outreach: Active in public engagement and STEM outreach to promote science literacy.
• Crowdfunding campaign: DOI:10.18258/9606

• In vitro and in vivo generated antibodies elucidate thermostable ADDomer COVID-19 nasal nanoparticle vaccine design (Antibody Therapeutics, 2023)
• Structural insight into DNA recognition by the bacterial transcription factor PdxR (Nucleic Acid Research, 2023)
• No-nonsense: insights into the functional interplay of nonsense-mediated mRNA decay factors (Biochem J., 2022)
• Isolation and Characterization of soluble human full-length TDP-43 associated with neurodegeneration (FASEB J. 2019)
• Unravelling the B. pseudomallei heptokinase WcbL: from Structure to Drug Discovery (Chem Biol. 2015)
• Determination of protein-ligand interactions using differential scanning fluorimetry on a StepOne qPCR machine (J Vis Exp. 2014)