Olga Nev | Biosciences | University of Exeter

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

Nev OA, Duvenage L, Brown AJP, Dangarembizi R, Hoving JC (2024). Slicing through the challenge of maintaining Pneumocystis in the laboratory. mBio, 15(3). Abstract. Author URL.

Ames R, Brown AJP, Gudelj I, Nev OA (2023). Analysis of Pneumocystis Transcription Factor Evolution and Implications for Biology and Lifestyle. mBio, 14(1). Abstract. Author URL.

Pradhan A, Ma Q, de Assis LJ, Leaves I, Larcombe DE, Rodriguez Rondon AV, Nev OA, Brown AJP (2021). Anticipatory Stress Responses and Immune Evasion in Fungal Pathogens. Trends in Microbiology, 29(5), 416-427. Abstract.

Nev OA, Lindsay RJ, Jepson A, Butt L, Beardmore RE, Gudelj I (2021). Predicting microbial growth dynamics in response to nutrient availability. PLoS Comput Biol, 17(3). Abstract. Author URL.

Nev OA, Jepson A, Beardmore RE, Gudelj I (2020). Predicting community dynamics of antibiotic-sensitive and -resistant species in fluctuating environments. J R Soc Interface, 17(166). Abstract. Author URL.

Nev OA, van den Berg HA (2018). Holling Type I versus Holling Type II functional responses in Gram-negative bacteria. Transactions of Mathematics and its Applications, 2, 1-19.

Nev OA, van den Berg HA (2018). Microbial metabolism and growth under conditions of starvation modelled as the sliding mode of a differential inclusion. Dynamical Systems, 33(1), 93-112. Abstract.

Nev OA, van den Berg HA (2017). Erratum to: Variable-Internal-Stores models of microbial growth and metabolism with dynamic allocation of cellular resources (Journal of Mathematical Biology, (2017), 74, 1-2, (409-445), 10.1007/s00285-016-1030-4). Journal of Mathematical Biology, 74(1-2). Abstract.

Nev OA, van Den Berg HA (2017). Mathematical models of microbial growth and metabolism: a whole-organism perspective. Science Progress, 100(4), 343-362. Abstract.

Nev OA, Nev OA, van den Berg HA (2017). Optimal management of nutrient reserves in microorganisms under time-varying environmental conditions. Journal of Theoretical Biology, 429, 124-141. Abstract.

Nev OA, van den Berg HA (2017). Variable-Internal-Stores models of microbial growth and metabolism with dynamic allocation of cellular resources. Journal of Mathematical Biology, 74(1-2), 409-445. Abstract.

Krivulin NK, Nev OA (2014). Calculation of the asymptotic characteristics of a stochastic synchronized dynamic system. Vestnik St. Petersburg University: Mathematics, 47(4), 145-153. Abstract.

Teaching

2007 - 2008: Nizhniy Novgorod State University, faculty of Economics, department of Information Technologies

Leading 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

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