Dr Mairi Kilkenny

Dr Mairi Kilkenny, BSc & MSc in Chemistry (University of Cape Town), PhD in Biochemistry (University of Cambridge). Official Fellow, College Teaching Officer, Director of Studies in Biological Natural Sciences.

College

As Director of Studies, I am responsible for arranging the teaching for undergraduates in Biological Natural Sciences (NST-B). I am Director of Studies for first year (Part IA) and second year (Part IB) NST-B students, as well as for third year (Part II) and fourth year (Part III/M.Sci) Biochemistry students. As a College Supervisor, I supervise first-year and second-year Biology courses. I am dedicated to enhancing student engagement and learning in creative and innovative ways, to support each individual student to thrive and reach their full potential. I am passionate about outreach and widening participation, and strongly support the principle that Cambridge should offer admission to applicants of the highest academic potential, irrespective of social, racial, religious and financial considerations.

In 2025, I was awarded a Pilkington Prize for Teaching Excellence (https://www.cctl.cam.ac.uk/pilkington-prize/2025), following the Cambridge University Press Technology Enabled Learning Prize for STEMM awarded in 2021 (https://www.cctl.cam.ac.uk/teaching-prizes/tel-prize/2021)

For applicants

It’s exciting that you’re thinking of studying Biological Natural Sciences with us here at Queens’! As a potential applicant for Biological Natural Sciences – read as widely as possible, following your own interests. There is more detailed advice and guidance here: https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/apply/before/improve-application. You can find more information about applying to Queens’ for Natural Sciences here: https://www.queens.cam.ac.uk/applying-here/subjects/natural-sciences/.

Research

I am a chemist-turned-biochemist, and most of my research has been in the field of Structural Biology. After completing my PhD, I worked for several years as a post-doctoral researcher at The Institute of Cancer Research (London). Here my research focused on the molecular mechanisms of DNA repair, and I investigated various pathways involved in the maintenance of genome stability. My subsequent research in the Department of Biochemistry here in Cambridge focused on elucidating the molecular mechanisms of DNA replication in human cells, using a multi-disciplinary approach including cryo-EM, x-ray crystallography, gene cloning, expression and protein purification, as well as myriad biophysical techniques. I have supervised and mentored numerous Part II, Part III, MPhil and PhD students.

Department

My current roles in the Department of Biochemistry include Senior Teaching Associate and Deputy Director of Teaching. I teach across a range of Natural Sciences and Medical/Veterinary Sciences courses. This includes both lecturing and running laboratory practicals. I contribute to strategic planning, organisation, delivery and review of teaching across the 5 courses that are administered by the Department of Biochemistry. I participate actively in curriculum reviews, and I support the implementation of progressive digital learning and assessment technologies across the School of Biological Sciences.

Recent publications

• AI is a viable alternative to high throughput screening: a 318-target study (DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-54655-z)
• Structural basis for the interaction of SARS-CoV-2 virulence factor nsp1 with DNA polymerase α-primase (DOI: 10.1002/pro.4220)
• CryoEM insights into RNA primer synthesis by the human primosome (DOI: 10.1111/febs.17082)
• The proteasome controls ESCRT-III-mediated cell division in an archaeon (DOI: 10.1126/science.aaz2532)
• Structural Basis for Inhibition of Human Primase by Arabinofuranosyl Nucleoside Analogues Fludarabine and Vidarabine (DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.9b00367)
• Timeless couples G-quadruplex detection with processing by DDX11 helicase during DNA replication (DOI: 10.15252/embj.2019104185)