Professor Athene M. Donald, FRS

I have been at the Cavendish since 1983, where I became a professor in 1998. My activity sits within the sector of Biological and Soft Systems, and focusses on using the ideas of soft matter physics to study a wide range of systems of both synthetic and biological origin. There is an emphasis on using different types of microscopy, and in particular environmental scanning electron microscopy, but these are by no means the only approaches used. We have recently been developing passive microrheological techniques for the study of a range of complex fluids, including the inside of cells; we are exploring cell adhesion, mitosis and spreading using optical approaches (including the effect of external physical cues such as topographical patterns); and we have a substantial effort directed at protein aggregation at intermediate lengthscales, predominantly using model protein systems including beta lactoglobulin and insulin but extending to A beta. The unifying theme is understanding structure-function-processing relationships. My group comes from a diverse range of backgrounds, as does my funding.

Sector of Biological & Soft Systems

Email: amd3@cam.ac.uk

Telephone: +44 (0) 1223 337382 (PA Sarah Adderley +44 (0) 1223 337423)

I am currently Deputy Head of the Department, with particular responsibility for finance and resources.
In addition, at the start of 2007 I took over as Director of WiSETI, the University's Women in Science, Engineering and Technology Initiative WiSETI
and I serve on a range of committees associated with Equality issues both within the University and outside.

I am a fellow of Robinson College.
I was awarded the L'Oreal UNESCO for Women in Science award for Europe for 2009 as described here . Further details on the 2009 laureates can be found at this site .

Research Interests

Brief Biography

Royal Society Bakerian Prize Lecture 2006 a podcast can be found through this link

Recent Publications pdf's of many of these can be found through the BSS publications database