• PhD in Plant Cell Biology (2009)
• BSc (Hons) in Biological Science with Study In Continental Europe (2005)

Natalie undertook her undergraduate studies at the University of Birmingham obtaining a BSc. in ‘Biological Sciences with Study in Continental Europe’. She spent her year abroad at the Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France where she completed modules in genetics, molecular cell biology and plant biotechnology. Natalie’s PhD was in plant cell biology, investigating the role the cytoskeleton plays in the self-incompatibility response of poppy, under the supervision of Professor Noni Franklin-Tong at the University of Birmingham. Natalie’s post-doctoral research has seen her move from plants to mammalian cells where she has studied processes such as cell migration and endocytosis with Dr. Josh Rappoport. Her current position, as a BHF funded Research Fellow in the Birmingham Platelet Group, is centred on platelet surface receptors, their signalling and the cytoskeleton. The unifying theme throughout Natalie’s work has been the use of cutting-edge microscopy to study cell biology, which is something she thoroughly enjoys. 

• Lecturer on the 2^nd year Biosciences Module BIO268: Cell and Developmental Biology 
• Supervisor for final year undergraduate laboratory projects
• Personal Mentor for MBChB students

Dr Poulter currently supervises 3 PhD students who are working on various aspects of the use of dSTORM super resolution microscopy to investigate platelet signalling.

Dr Poulter currently has openings for self-funded PhD students in the area of:

• Investigating platelet surface receptor signalling using advanced microscopy.

If you are interested in studying in this area, please contact Dr Poulter on the contact details above, or for any general doctoral research enquiries, please email: dr@contacts.bham.ac.uk or call +44(0)121 414 5005.

Natalie’s main research interest is how the spatial organisation of receptors on the platelet surface relates to platelet signalling and activation, particularly in spread platelets. Her current work is related to (hem)ITAM receptors but this is being extended into non-ITAM related receptors. This work uses super resolution microscopy (particularly dSTORM) to look quantitatively at receptor clustering under different conditions (e.g. spreading on different ligands or in the presence/absence of secondary mediators), localising other signalling molecules within the spread platelet and investigating the downstream signalling pathways via biochemical approaches. The main goal is to understand how the extent of receptor clustering can influence platelet activation and whether interfering with this clustering presents a novel target for anti-platelet therapies in the future. Her other research interest is how the platelet actin cytoskeleton, in particular a structure called the actin nodule, is involved in platelet adhesion and spreading.

• Reviewer for Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis and PLoS One
• Co-organiser of the internal ICVS seminar series
• Member of The Biochemical Society
• Member of British Society for Cell Biology