Dr Olga Nev
NIHR BRC Exeter Translational Fellow
O.Nev@exeter.ac.uk
Geoffrey Pope
Geoffrey Pope Building, University of Exeter , Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK
Overview
I obtained a `specialist’ diploma with honours (comparable to MMath) in Applied Mathematics and Computer Science at Nizhniy Novgorod State University in 2006. I subsequently worked as a Teaching Fellow at the Nizhniy Novgorod State University and at the St. Petersburg University of Economics, and then as a Research Assistant on the project Asymptotic properties of stochastic dynamical systems at St. Petersburg State University from 2011 to 2014.
In 2017, I obtained a PhD degree in Analytical Sciences at Warwick University, where I worked on a project which overall objective was to characterize how bacterial cells respond to changing environmental conditions by adjusting the expression levels of the transport systems and enzymes supporting various metabolic pathways.
In 2018 I joined Prof Ivana Gudelj’s group at Exeter University as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow, where I used mathematical approaches to study the evolution of drug resistance in mixed-species microbial communities using Candida species as model organisms.
From April 2020 I have been working as an MRC Skills Development Fellow in Prof Al Brown's group at the MRC Medical Mycology Centre at Exeter University. The goal of my research project is to overcome the main obstacle in the study of a major fungal pathogen of humans – Pneumocystis. This pathogen kills hundreds of thousands of immunocompromised patients each year, and yet only a few groups are studying this pathogen because, currently, it is not possible to culture it in vitro independently of its host. My goal is to develop an in silico metabolic model of Pneumocystis growth and metabolism based on recently published new genomic data and to use this model to design in vitro growth conditions.
Qualifications
2015 - 2017: PhD in Mathematical Biology, University of Warwick
2010 - 2012: MSc in Mathematical Methods of Economic Analysis, St. Petersburg branch of High School of Economics
2004 - 2008: BSc in Enterprise Economics and Management, Nizhniy Novgorod State University
2001 - 2006: BSc in Applied Mathematics and Informatics, Nizhniy Novgorod State University
Career
2020 - current: MRC Skills Development Fellow, University of Exeter
2018 - 2020: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Exeter, Living Systems Institute
2011 - 2014: Research Assistant at the St. Petersburg State University, Mathematics and Mechanics
Research
Research interests
My immediate career focus is to develop and establish myself as an independent, interdisciplinary scientist, bringing non-trivial mathematical insights and techniques to Life and Medical Sciences. I am highly interested in applying my quantitative knowledge to a broad range of biomedical and clinical problems.
Research projects
From April 2020 I have been working as an MRC Skills Development Fellow in Prof Al Brown's group at the MRC Medical Mycology Centre at Exeter University. The goal of my research project is to overcome the main obstacle in the study of a major fungal pathogen of humans – Pneumocystis. This pathogen kills hundreds of thousands of immunocompromised patients each year, and yet only a few groups are studying this pathogen because, currently, it is not possible to culture it in vitro independently of its host. My goal is to release this major experimental bottleneck by developing an in silico metabolic model of Pneumocystis growth and metabolism based on recently published new genomic data and to use this model to design in vitro growth conditions.
Grants/Funding
2015 – 2017: FP7 Marie Curie Actions funded PhD student
2018 – 2020: ERC funded Postdoctoral Research Fellow
2020 – current: MRC Skills Development Fellow
Publications
Journal articles
Teaching
2007 - 2008: Nizhniy Novgorod State University, faculty of Economics, department of Information TechnologiesLeading workshops and lab classes for students (Advanced Mathematics, Methods of Optimization)
2012 - 2013: St. Petersburg University of Economics, faculty of Information Systems in Economics and Management, department of Advanced Mathematics
Leading workshops for students (Advanced Mathematics)
2015 – 2017: University of Warwick, Mathematics Institute
Undergraduate teaching support
2018: Postgraduate Award in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, University of Warwick