ZARA AMANDA SANDS
PERSONAL DETAILS
Address:
9 Stewart Street
Oxford
UK
OX1 4RH
Date of Birth: 29th March 1975
Phone:
+44 (0) 1865 453768 (home)
+44 (0) 1865 275273 (work)
E-mail:
zara@biop.ox.ac.uk
Nationality:
British
ACADEMIC PURSUITS & ACHIEVEMENTS
2003-Present
University of Oxford
Post-Doctoral Research Associate funded by the Wellcome Trust
 The primary goal of my research project is to understand the processes that govern
the gating of voltage-dependent ion channels. This is hoped to be achieved through
the application of molecular modelling and molecular dynamics methods
 Supervisor: Prof. M. S. P. Sansom
2000-2003
University of Nottingham
Ph.D. studies in Computational Chemistry
 Title: In silico screening for gene targeting agents
 Supervisors: Prof. D. E. Thurston and Dr. C. A. Laughton
 Projects: Molecular Dynamic investigations probing the origins of DNA recognition
by molecules ranging from small ligands (e.g. lexitropins) to large proteins (e.g.
RecA); Detailed investigative studies evaluating the performance of the generalised
Born continuum model as applied to MD simulations of DNA systems; Development
and implementation of novel molecular descriptors to rapidly evaluate the isohelical
and recognition attributes of large virtual compound libraries against gene targets;
Design of compound libraries against selected DNA sequences.
 I conceptualized and developed SeleXagent, a virtual high throughput screening
method that is currently being filed for patent by the University of Nottingham
 Awarded 1st place prize at the University of Nottingham 2002 postgraduate poster
symposium
 Received runners up prize for poster presented at the 2001 MGMS international
meeting
1994-1997
University of Manchester
B.Sc. (Hons) Chemistry, First Class
 Specialist subjects: Synthetic organic chemistry, mechanistic organic chemistry,
medicinal chemistry and inorganic chemistry
 Glaxo prize for 'the best theoretical and practical organic chemist’ graduating in 1997
 University of Manchester Scholarship for 2nd year examination performance
 University of Manchester Scholarship for 1st year examination performance
 Final year project entitled 'Herbicidin Glycoside Synthesis' (Dr. P. Quayle)
1986-1993
St John Fisher RC High School, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire
 3 A-levels: Chemistry (A); Biology (A); Physics (B)

9 GCSE's: 6 Grade 'A'; 3 Grade 'C'
PUBLICATIONS



Sands, Z. A., Laughton, C. A. In silico screening for gene targeting agents. (2003)
Patent No. 0322700.6
Sands, Z. A., Laughton, C. A. Molecular Dynamics of DNA Using the Generalised
Born Solvation Model. J. Phys. Chem. B. (2004) 108, 10113-10119
Harris, S. A., Sands, Z. A., Laughton, C. A. Theoretical evidence for the importance
of entropy in determining the biomechanical properties of DNA. Biophys. J.
Accepted for publication
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Consultation for the University of Nottingham
 Prior to commencing my current position, I was employed by the University of
Nottingham to further develop SeleXagent technology for market release
Consultation for Spirogen Ltd
 During the second and third year of my PhD, Spirogen Ltd sought my advice on the
design and development of targeted libraries against selected genes. Due to a strong
background in organic chemistry, my creative suggestions were not only considered
by the medicinal chemists, but realized
Supervision of final year projects
 Throughout my Ph.D. I was responsible for final year B.Sc. students. In each case
this involved: assisting in project management, development and completion
Tutoring undergraduate general chemistry classes
 Duties involved: group coordination and motivation; facilitating communication;
simplification of complex theories and methods
KEY SKILLS
Computational
 Programming experience in C, Fortran, and HTML code
 Extensive use of AMBER and Gromacs modelling packages
 Modelling software: MOLDEN, ISIS Draw, ChemDraw, MIDAS, Insight and
WHATIF
 Familiarity with Gaussian 98 theoretical computational package
 Implementation and familiarity of Daylights chemoinformatic packages
 Extensive use of several UNIX, MS and Linux operating systems
 Web page design and development
Communication
 Presented research findings at conferences and industrial meetings in written, poster
and oral form.
INTERESTS


My hobbies include: mountaineering, canoeing, cycling, skiing and scuba-diving
I thoroughly enjoy travel and have toured the USA and Europe on several occasions
References available upon request