Keith Gull facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Keith Gull
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| Born | 29 May 1948 |
| Nationality | British |
| Alma mater | King's College London (BSc, PhD) |
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Professor Keith Gull (born on May 29, 1948) is a British scientist. He is known for his work in molecular biology, which is the study of how living things work at a very tiny level. He is a professor at the University of Oxford. He also used to be the head of St Edmund Hall, Oxford, which is one of the colleges at Oxford University.
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Early Life and Education
Keith Gull went to school at Eston Grammar School. After that, he studied at King's College London. In 1969, he earned a first-class degree in science. He then continued his studies and received his PhD degree in 1973. A PhD is a very high university degree that shows you are an expert in your field.
His Work and Research
After finishing his PhD, Keith Gull started working at the University of Kent. He later became a professor there. In the 1990s, he moved to the University of Manchester. There, he helped develop the School of Biological Sciences. He was also the head of biochemistry and a research dean.
In 2002, he moved to the University of Oxford. He was the head of St Edmund Hall, Oxford for nine years, from 2009 until 2018.
Studying Tiny Organisms
Professor Gull's research mainly focuses on very small living things called eukaryotic microbes. These include fungi, slime moulds, and tiny parasites called trypanosomes.
He has done important work on parasites like Trypanosoma brucei and Trypanosoma cruzi. These parasites can cause serious diseases in people and animals. More recently, his lab has been studying another parasite called Leishmania. His research helps us understand how these tiny organisms live and how they cause illness. This knowledge can lead to new ways to fight these diseases.
Understanding Cell Structures
Keith Gull's work has also helped us understand how cells build their internal structures. He studied something called the cytoskeleton. This is like the "skeleton" of a cell, which helps it keep its shape and move. He looked at how cells make and change their cytoskeleton. His discoveries have given us important insights into how cells work.
Awards and Recognition
Keith Gull has received many awards for his important scientific work.
- In 1996, he won the Marjory Stephenson Prize from the Society for General Microbiology.
- In 1999, he was chosen as a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences.
- In 2003, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS). This is a very high honor for scientists in the United Kingdom.
- In 2004, he was made a CBE. This award is given by the Queen for important contributions to science.
- He also has an honorary Doctor of Science degree from the University of Kent.
- In 2010, he was elected a member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO).
His election to the Royal Society recognized his contributions to understanding the cell and molecular biology of microbes. This includes how cells build their internal structures and how parasites like trypanosomes divide and cause diseases.
