Professor Paul Taylor, University of Leeds - 'Insights into human health through studies of molecular evolution'
1:00pm - 2:00pm /
Thursday 25th September 2025
/ Venue: Physiology seminar room Nuffield Wing
Type: Seminar /
Category: Research
/ Series: Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology
- ISMIB Seminar Team
- Admission: Free, no registration required.
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Professor Paul Taylor is from Holmfirth, West Yorkshire. Paul studied for a BSc and PhD in Chemistry at the University of Durham (1983-89), gaining a strong interest in organosulfur chemistry under the supervision of Prof Martin Bryce. Paul then spent two years as a postdoc at the University of Geneva researching antimalarial therapies and learning to ski!
In 1991 Paul started as a Lecturer in Chemistry at the University of Warwick exploring many aspects of synthetic organic chemistry, with a central theme emerging from his PhD studies of reactive intermediates. This led later to the commercialisation of the Magic Tag immobilisation platform for drug reprofiling and eventually to the experimental cancer treatment VAL401.
Around 2008 Paul’s career changed direction to focus on educational leadership and innovation, starting as Director for the HEFCE-funded Reinvention Centre for Undergraduate Research and continuing for 15 years, including a move to the University of Leeds, where he later became a Dean for Student Education. Paul was awarded a National Teaching Fellowship in 2020 recognising work on inclusive education, partnership with students and his continued interest in Undergraduate Research. Paul is Chair of the annual British Conference of Undergraduate Research.
Paul never ceased science research, and this is now a major focus again, with exciting new interdisciplinary research programmes in ‘Molecular Nutrition’ and ‘Molecular Evolution’, with an obsessive curiosity about the evolutionary origins of animals and their nervous system. Paul is currently Head of the Pedagogy & Scholarship of Chemistry section in the School of Chemistry, Programme Leader for ‘Natural Sciences’, a University Academic Lead for Belonging & Decolonisation and a member of the interdisciplinary Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology.
In 1991 Paul started as a Lecturer in Chemistry at the University of Warwick exploring many aspects of synthetic organic chemistry, with a central theme emerging from his PhD studies of reactive intermediates. This led later to the commercialisation of the Magic Tag immobilisation platform for drug reprofiling and eventually to the experimental cancer treatment VAL401.
Around 2008 Paul’s career changed direction to focus on educational leadership and innovation, starting as Director for the HEFCE-funded Reinvention Centre for Undergraduate Research and continuing for 15 years, including a move to the University of Leeds, where he later became a Dean for Student Education. Paul was awarded a National Teaching Fellowship in 2020 recognising work on inclusive education, partnership with students and his continued interest in Undergraduate Research. Paul is Chair of the annual British Conference of Undergraduate Research.
Paul never ceased science research, and this is now a major focus again, with exciting new interdisciplinary research programmes in ‘Molecular Nutrition’ and ‘Molecular Evolution’, with an obsessive curiosity about the evolutionary origins of animals and their nervous system. Paul is currently Head of the Pedagogy & Scholarship of Chemistry section in the School of Chemistry, Programme Leader for ‘Natural Sciences’, a University Academic Lead for Belonging & Decolonisation and a member of the interdisciplinary Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology.