Eilidh Mackenzie

Eilidh joined Carpmaels & Ransford in 2024 as a trainee in the Life Sciences group. She graduated with a first-class Master’s in Biochemistry from the University of York before moving to Newcastle University to undertake her PhD. Her doctoral research investigated the 3D structure and function of a vital family of superoxide dismutase metalloenzymes using techniques including X-ray crystallography and UV-spectroscopy. This work provided insights into how structurally similar enzymes can exhibit a diversity of metal cofactor preferences, leading to publications in several Nature family journals and earning Eilidh the Newcastle Doctoral Thesis Prize.

Eilidh then took on the role of structural biologist in the Newcastle Drug Discovery Unit, collaborating with Astex Pharmaceuticals to develop innovative small molecule cancer therapies. Throughout two exciting years of lead development she characterised the binding and efficacy of hundreds of putative kinase inhibitors against a target cell-division protein, whilst gaining a commercial awareness of the pharmaceutical industry.

Outside of work, she is a keen long-distance runner and can often be found spending her weekends racing distances up to ultramarathons.