The Machesky Lab is led by Professor Laura Machesky and formed by members across the disciplines of cellular biology and biophysics. This team mainly includes post-doctoral researchers and PhD candidates, but also part-time and masters placement students.
Lab Members
Laura Machesky
Principal Investigator
Laura is currently the Sir William Dunn Professor of Biochemistry, having recently moved to Cambridge from Glasgow. Her group uses cell biology and cancer models to study actin dynamics, adhesion and membrane trafficking and how these fundamental cell processes guide migration, cancer invasion and metastasis. Her group is interested in how cells sense physical parameters of their environment and adapt their signaling and metabolic flux in response to environmental stimuli. She collaborates with bioengineers and physicists to develop reproducible and tuneable tools for modelling normal and cancerous cell and tissue function. She is currently president of the British Society for Cell Biology, a member of the European Molecular Biology Organisation and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the Academy of Medical Sciences. She is a co-chair of the EngBio Interdisciplinary Research Centre in Cambridge and co-lead of the Cell and Molecular Biology theme of the CRUK Cambridge Cancer Centre.
Roberta Palmulli
Post-doctoral Research Associate
From Bari (Italy), I moved in 2014 to the Institut Curie to obtain my PhD in Cellular Biology from the University of Paris. In 2020, I joined the Department of Pathology at the University of Cambridge to pursue a postdoc, until July 2023 when I joined the Machesky Lab. I have previously studied endosomal trafficking and extracellular vesicles, currently focusing on cellular mechanosensing and nutrient deprivation on macropinocytosis. In my free time, I enjoy going to concerts, travelling and sharing a good meal with friends!
Lisa Dobson
Post-doctoral Research Associate
I joined the Machesky Lab in March 2023, following the completion of my PhD in Developmental Cell Biology from King’s College London. My research interest is centered on better understanding the regulation of actin-based protrusions and focal adhesion dynamics, and their relative contribution to mesenchymal migration. Having studied these processes in the context of neural crest migration in the embryo, I am now excited to apply these principles to investigate how phosphorylation-mediated regulation of the creatine-phosphagen shuttle may shape actin- and focal adhesion dynamics during invasive PDAC cell migration. In my free time, I enjoy trying out the many coffee shops of Cambridge and going for walks by the river.
Shatruhan Singh Rajput
Post-doctoral Research Associate
My background is in Physics, with a focus on biomechanics. I completed my PhD at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Pune, India. Following that, I undertook my first postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA. Currently, I am actively involved in exploring the role of cell and tissue mechanics in cancer metastasis.
Sayantika Ghosh
Post-doctoral Research Associate
I completed my Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Biomedical Science at the University of Warwick, where I developed a hybrid cell lipid-bilayer system at the Koester Lab. This enabled me to study cell adhesion and dynamics during cancer metastasis. Here, my focus lies in understanding cancer cell invasion and migration. Specifically, I am interested in CYRI, a pivotal protein in regulating actin- based protrusions, during pancreatic cancer invasion. Beyond the laboratory, I enjoy reading, travelling, and doing outreach education. My culinary experiments result in interesting new cuisines, sparking either delight or critique, but always igniting curiosity
Wei Du
PhD student
I’m a 1st year PhD student in the Machesky Lab. Originally from Macao, I completed my undergraduate studies in the University of Toronto and my master’s studies in Imperial College London. My main research interests lie within the discipline of cancer biology. I’m interested in how cancer cells tune their metabolism and behaviour in response to the hostile tumour microenvironment, and how does this metabolic rewiring support their migration and invasion in the context of cancer metastasis
Li Ma
PhD student
I am currently a first-year PhD student in Professor Machesky’s Lab, where I am dedicated to exploring the mechanisms underlying melanoma metastasis. Originally from Hefei, China, I completed both my undergraduate and master’s studies at Anhui Medical University, where I developed a robust foundation in scientific research and clinical practice. My background is in Plastic Surgery, with a specialised focus on skin cutaneous melanoma research. During my master’s, I cultivated a profound interest in oncology, particularly in understanding the processes of melanoma migration, invasion, and metastasis. During my PhD studies, I aim to uncover the intrinsic reasons behind malignant melanoma cell metastasis.
Osian Jones
PhD student
I’m originally from North Wales and previously studied and worked in conservation architecture before returning to academia to pursue the biological sciences. I am a PhD student at the Machesky Lab investigating the role of mechanosensing, cytoskeletal control, and mitochondrial dynamics on invasive migration in PDAC.
Aven Spencer
Research Assistant
After completing a Master’s in Molecular Biosciences at the University of Bath, I joined the Machesky Lab as a Research Assistant in May 2024. I am fascinated by the dynamic processes that take place in cells, with topics of previous projects ranging from membrane trafficking to mechanotransduction. I am excited to continue exploring the cytoskeleton here, investigating its emerging role in cancer invasion and metastasis. Outside work, I enjoy listening to music, working out and making sand sculptures!tside of the lab, I enjoy ballet and surfing!
George Ma
Summer Intern Student 2025
Following my first year of the Natural Sciences Tripos at the University of Cambridge, I joined the Machesky lab for an 11-week summer research project. My work focuses on developing Rac1 sensors to monitor cytoskeletal dynamics in cancer cells. This project integrates my interests in cell biology, molecular biology, and mathematics. I am keen to apply interdisciplinary approaches to investigate fundamental biological questions. Outside of the lab, I enjoy coding and flying.
Past Members
Samantha Hodder
PhD student
I am a 4th year PhD student on the Cambridge Cancer Centre MRes + PhD program. My research focuses on characterising the effect of ACK-induced phosphorylation on the PI3-Kinase regulatory subunits. Outside of the lab, I enjoy ballet and surf
Eugenia Herrero Barros
Integrated Masters Placement 2023/2024 (Website Creator)
Originally from Northern Spain, I moved to the University of Glasgow to complete my undergraduate in Molecular and Cellular Biology. As part of my Integrated Masters placement year, here I study macropinocytosis events across KRAS mutations in PDAC cancer. In my free time I play volleyball.
Yuexuan Zhang
Third Year (Part II) Project Student 2024
I joined the Machesky lab as a Biochemistry Part II student, and I completed an 8-week undergraduate research project investigating the effect of the oncoprotein Src on cancer cell migration. My background is Natural Sciences, and I am very interested in using multidisciplinary tools to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that drive highly dynamic activities in cells and during cancer metastasis. I am a big fan of microscopy, the cytoskeleton, mechanosensing and anything fun. Outside of the lab, I enjoy rowing, skateboarding and reading.
Emily Brown
MPhil Student
I joined the Machesky lab as an MPhil student after completing my bachelor’s in Natural Sciences here in Cambridge. I am fascinated by the tumour microenvironment and the complexities of cancer beyond the individual cell. My research focuses on understanding the process of macropinocytosis and in particular, the role of CYRI proteins in this process. In my free time I like to spend time with my family and friends and experience new things!
Our Funding Bodies:
The Machesky Lab 