Prof David Whitworth BA (Oxon), PhD (Warwick), SFHEA

Dave is a Professor of Biochemistry at Aberystwyth and coordinates the Biochemistry degree scheme. He studied for a BA in Biochemistry at Balliol College, Oxford (1991-1995) before completing a PhD in bacterial genetics at the University of Warwick (1999). After two postdoctoral posts and a lectureship at Warwick, Dave moved to Aberystwyth in 2008. He has been a senior fellow of the Higher Education Academy since 2016 and served a term as member of Council for the Microbiology Society. Dave's research interests include bacterial genome evolution and functional genomics (particularly of predatory myxobacteria), and the pedagogy of skills and creativity.

Module Coordinator

• BR22920 - Practical Skills for Biochemists
• BR16820 - Skills for Biologists

Lecturer

• BR26620 - Proteins and Enzymes
• BR14310 - Evolution and the Diversity of Life
• BR23920 - Behavioural Ecology
• BR36020 - Molecular Biology of Development
• BRM4820 - Field and Laboratory Techniques
• BR17520 - Cell Biology

Grader

• BR36440 - Research Project
• BRM6420 - Research Methods in the Biosciences

Coordinator

• BR22920 - Practical Skills for Biochemists
• BR16820 - Skills for Biologists

Tutor

• BRM2860 - MBiol Research Project
• BRS0060 - Integrated Year in Industry
• BRM6160 - MRes Dissertation (B)

Moderator

• BR20620 - Applied Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics
• BR35520 - Biotechnology

My research focuses on the myxobacterial predator Myxococcus xanthus and how it preys upon other microbes. We are studying natural myxobacterial isolates using a variety of genomic, proteomic and phenotypic techniques to identify the genes conferring antimicrobial activity. Particular topics of interest include the predatory vesicles shed by myxobacteria, and myxobacterial genome evolution.