Scientist wins scholarship to study in USA

Jul 1 2009 by Will Henshaw, Rutherglen Reformer

A RUTHERGLEN lad will be travelling stateside after being awarded a fellowship to study in America.

Former Stonelaw High pupil Michael Shaw, of Blairbeth Road, has won a Fulbright Commission Distinguished Scholar Postdoctoral Fellowship.

The award will allow him to carry out his research at the Scripps Research Institute in California, the world's largest independent non-profit biomedical research facility.

The 29-year-old graduated from Strathclyde University in 2004 with a first class Honours MSci degree in organic chemistry.

His Strathclyde studies included an ERASMUS placement at the University of Alicante, a year working with Millennium Pharmaceuticals in Cambridge and research with Professor John Murphy on the synthesis of novel electron-transfer reagents.

He then moved to the University of Bristol to undertake PhD work with Professor Varinder Aggarwal.

The molecules Michael will be working on are amongst the most potent anti-cancer agents ever discovered. It only takes a single one of these molecules to destroy an entire cancerous cell.

Unfortunately, these molecules have a very low natural abundance, with only five milligrams being isolated from over 250g of Japanese Sea Squirts.

As there are ethical and practical issues surrounding the harvesting of these molecules from their natural source, Mike seeks to develop a way to synthesise them in the laboratory. This will render them readily available for further biological testing - and eventually for clinical use.

Michael will be jetting off in September and can’t wait to get started on his studies.

He said: “I’m delighted to have been given this opportunity to undertake research at Scripps.

“There is no better place to conduct these investigations and I intend to make the most of this chance to further myself as a scientist.

“Moreover, I am especially proud to be representing the Fulbright Commission, an organisation which has a long and distinguished history of supporting important international collaborations.

“I will do all I can, while in America and on my return, to further the Commission’s aims of promoting international understanding and cultural awareness. “

Varinder Aggarwal, head of Mike’s research group and Professor of Synthetic Chemistry at the University of Bristol, said: "Mike is to be congratulated on being awarded the highly prestigious Fulbright Commission Distinguished Scholar Award.

“He is a highly gifted scientist, who has consistently demonstrated remarkable insight and creativity in chemistry.

“It is wonderful to see that these important talents have been recognised by the Fulbright Commission in their award to Mike. He will also be an excellent ambassador for the programme and for UK science."