Contact
Biography
Julie is based in the nano and micro scale Research Centre, working as a research fellow within the school of Pharmacy. Her research interests include the development and optimisation of cryogenic sample preparation and associated imaging and spectroscopy / spectrometry, and correlation between techniques. Her expertise includes transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, light / fluorescence microscopy and hybrid SIMS. Other interests include biological sample preparation for imaging, in situ synthesis of novel hollow nano carbon structures and their characterisation, extracellular vesicles for diagnosis and drug delivery,and elucidating structural changes in kidney ultrastructure in diabetes. Previous experience includes in vivo magnetic resonance imaging, including functional MRI, in vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy, silver nanoparticle sysnthesis and analytical chemistry (IR, NMR, mass spectrometry, titration).
Expertise Summary
Sample preparation, including cryogenic sample preparation of biological and hydrated materials.
Transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy.
Confocal microscopy, Hybrid SIMS.
Correlative imaging and spectrometry under cryogenic conditions.
Teaching Summary
Training and teaching cryo sample preparation rechniques - including high pressure freezing, scanning electron microsopy, transmission electron microscopy.
Research Summary
Sample preparation for and analysis using transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, correlative light microscopy and hybrid ToF SIMS with OrbitrapTM experiments. Extracellular… read more
Selected Publications
AMIN, SHARAD, CAMERON, JAMIE M., WATTS, JULIE A., WALSH, DARREN A., SANS, VICTOR and NEWTON, GRAHAM N., 2019. Effects of chain length on the size, stability, and electronic structure of redox-active organic-inorganic hybrid polyoxometalate micelles MOLECULAR SYSTEMS DESIGN & ENGINEERING. 4(5), 995-999 WATTS, J.A., FAY, M.W., RANCE, G.A., BROWN, P.D. and KHLOBYSTOV, A.N., 2018. Formation of hollow carbon nanoshells from thiol stabilised silver nanoparticles via heat treatment Carbon. 139, 538-544 HAMPSON E, CAMERON JM, AMIN S, KYO J, WATTS JA, OSHIO H and NEWTON GN, 2019. Asymmetric Hybrid Polyoxometalates: A Platform for Multifunctional Redox-Active Nanomaterials. Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English). 58(50), 18281-18285
Current Research
Sample preparation for and analysis using transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, correlative light microscopy and hybrid ToF SIMS with OrbitrapTM experiments. Extracellular vesicles, liposomes and gelator systems for drug delivery and diagnosis.
Past Research
Use of Lanthanide shift reagents in nuclear magnetic resonance for isomeric separation and identification. Magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy to quantify gamma aminobutyric acid in vivo in the human brain. Synthesis and characterisation of silver nanoparticles and formation of novel hollow nano carbon structures in situ, inside a transmission electron microscope,