Rebecca Jane Miriam Goss is a professor of organic chemistry at the

University of St. Andrews (Aien aristeuein) , motto_lang = grc , mottoeng = Ever to ExcelorEver to be the Best , established = , type = Public research university Ancient university , endowment ...

who won the 2006

Royal Society of Chemistry The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) is a learned society (professional association) in the United Kingdom with the goal of "advancing the chemistry, chemical sciences". It was formed in 1980 from the amalgamation of the Chemical Society, the Ro ...

Meldola Medal The Meldola Medal and Prize was awarded annually from 1921 to 1979 by the Chemical Society and from 1980 to 2008 by the Royal Society of Chemistry to a British chemist who was under 32 years of age for promising original investigations in chemistr ...

. She is known for combining synthetic biology and chemistry for medicinal purposes.

Early life and education

Goss completed her undergraduate studies in Chemistry at the

University of Durham , mottoeng = Her foundations are upon the holy hills ( Psalm 87:1) , established = (university status) , type = Public , academic_staff = 1,830 (2020) , administrative_staff = 2,640 (2018/19) , chancellor = Sir Thomas Allen , vice_ch ...

in 1997. Under the supervision of Prof. David O'Hagan, Goss completed her Ph.D. studying the biosynthesis of various natural products including the

stereochemistry Stereochemistry, a subdiscipline of chemistry, involves the study of the relative spatial arrangement of atoms that form the structure of molecules and their manipulation. The study of stereochemistry focuses on the relationships between stereo ...

of enzymatic

fluorination In chemistry, halogenation is a chemical reaction that entails the introduction of one or more halogens into a compound. Halide-containing compounds are pervasive, making this type of transformation important, e.g. in the production of polymers, ...

fluoroacetate Fluoroacetate may refer to: * Fluoroacetic acid * Sodium fluoroacetate Sodium fluoroacetate is an organofluorine chemical compound with the formula FCH2CO2Na. This colourless salt has a taste similar to that of sodium chloride and is used as a ...

biosynthesis.

Research

Goss specialises in the biosynthesis of natural products at the chemical and genetic level. Goss joined the

University of Cambridge , mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts. Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge. , established = , other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...

in 2000 to study the chemistry and molecular biology of polyketide biosynthesis in the research group of Professors Jim Staunton (FRS) and Peter Leadlay (FRS). She held a one-year teaching fellowship at the School of Chemistry,

University of Nottingham The University of Nottingham is a public university, public research university in Nottingham, United Kingdom. It was founded as University College Nottingham in 1881, and was granted a royal charter in 1948. The University of Nottingham belongs t ...

between 2002 and 2003 before obtaining a lectureship at the School of Biological and Chemical Science,

University of Exeter , mottoeng = "We Follow the Light" , established = 1838 - St Luke's College1855 - Exeter School of Art1863 - Exeter School of Science 1955 - University of Exeter (received royal charter) , type = Public , ...

in 2003. Between 2005 and 2010 Goss held a lectureship at the

University of East Anglia The University of East Anglia (UEA) is a public research university in Norwich, England. Established in 1963 on a campus west of the city centre, the university has four faculties and 26 schools of study. The annual income of the institution f ...

before being promoted to senior lecturer in 2010 and then reader in organic chemistry in 2012. Goss moved to the

University of St. Andrews (Aien aristeuein) , motto_lang = grc , mottoeng = Ever to ExcelorEver to be the Best , established = , type = Public research university Ancient university , endowment ...

in 2012 to become a reader in biomolecular and organic chemistry. In 2018 she became the first woman to be appointed professor of organic chemistry in St Andrews' 600-year history. She was awarded the

Meldola prize for her work to understand the interface of organic chemistry and molecular biology. In 2013 she was awarded the

Natural Product Report Emerging Researcher Lectureship for her pioneering approach to 'Genochemetics', which combines synthetic biology and chemistry for medicinal purposes. In 2014 she was awarded an ERC consolidator grant. Goss is on the advisory board for the peer-reviewed journals

Chemical Communications ''ChemComm'' (or ''Chemical Communications''), formerly known as ''Journal of the Chemical Society D: Chemical Communications'' (1969–1971), ''Journal of the Chemical Society, Chemical Communications'' (1972–1995), is a peer-reviewed scientific ...

and

Natural Product Reports ''Natural Product Reports'' is a monthly peer-reviewed scientific journal published by the Royal Society of Chemistry. It publishes reviews commissioned by the editorial board on all areas of natural products research. The Executive Editor is Richa ...

Awards

* 2013

Natural Product Report Lectureship Award * 2011 UK's under 40 Organic Chemistry delegate for EuCheM’s Young Investigators Workshop * 2011 Thieme Chemistry Journal Award * 2006

- Meldola prize

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Goss, Rebecca Jane Miriam Living people British women chemists British chemists Organic chemists Year of birth missing (living people) Place of birth missing (living people) Academics of the University of St Andrews Alumni of Hatfield College, Durham Academics of the University of Nottingham Academics of the University of Exeter Academics of the University of East Anglia