Inaugural Lecture of Professor Eugenio Sanchez-Moran

Location
Alan Walters Lecture Theatre 2 (G11)
Dates
Thursday 6 February 2025 (16:00-18:00)
Contact

Contact c.e.mitchell.1@bham.ac.uk

Join Professor Eugenio Sanchez-Moran for his Inaugural Lecture, hosted at the University of Birmingham's Edgbaston Campus (Alan Walters Building, G11, Lecture Theatre 2) on Thursday 6 February 2025. 

This is a hybrid event: you can register for virtual access via Zoom here. 

A meiotic symphony of chromosomes dancing and recombining

Professor Eugenio Sanchez-Moran will present his research background in the study of meiosis. One of the first things his PhD supervisor told him was that meiosis is a very complex process, and since then, he has learned to appreciate this complexity. Meiosis and meiotic recombination are intrinsically involved in sexual reproduction, genetic variation, and evolution.

Professor Sanchez-Moran will discuss how meiotic cells differ from the moment of the first meiotic DNA replication, making them unique cells with distinct chromatin structures, chromosome movements, metabolism, and genetically controlled DNA breakage. This process allows maternal and paternal chromosomes to find each other and recombine, producing new, distinct chromosomes for the offspring.

Eugenio completed his PhD at the Universidad Complutense in Madrid under the supervision of Prof. Juan Luis Santos. As a PhD student, he was involved in teaching undergraduates, demonstrating practical sessions, and supervising lab projects. During this time, he had the opportunity to visit the University of Birmingham as a research visitor in 1999 for three months under the supervision of Dr. Gareth Jones. This collaboration resulted in one research publication and extended visits for the remainder of his PhD.

After successfully obtaining his PhD in December 2001, Eugenio began his Marie Curie Individual Fellowship in January 2002 at the School of Biosciences under the supervision of Prof. Chris Franklin, studying the meiotic proteome. He continued to support the School with teaching and demonstrating duties, as well as supervising student lab projects. He secured several postdoctoral positions with Professor Franklin, continuing his study of the meiotic chromosome axis and the synaptonemal complex. In 2008, Eugenio was awarded two prestigious fellowships: a Ramon y Cajal Fellowship (Spanish Ministry) and a David Phillips Fellowship (BBSRC). He chose the David Phillips Fellowship to continue working at the School of Biosciences, focusing on chromatin components and its changes.

He secured a Lecturer position in 2013 and has since been highly involved in teaching genetics and biotechnology at the School of Biosciences. Eugenio has been Co-director of Birmingham Advance Light Microscopy Facility, Final year (3rd - 4th) Academic Tutor, Academic Welfare Tutor, Imaging Suite Operations Committee member, and now he is the Programme Lead for MSc in Molecular Biotechnology and Outreach Lead for the School of Biosciences. Eugenio continues to study various aspects of meiosis in plants, not only in the model organism Arabidopsis but also in other crop species such as Brassicas and wheats. His goal is to apply the knowledge acquired in meiosis to these agricultural species. He believes this research will pave the way to control meiotic recombination and enable plant breeders to produce future crops that are more resilient and prepared for climate change and its consequences on food security.

Everyone is welcome to this event, and all are invited to join Eugenio after the lecture for refreshments in the Lapworth Museum.