Project title
Identification of Novel Antibacterial Molecules by Molecular Modelling and Machine Learning
Supervisory Team
Principal Supervisor: Dr Neha Gandhi
Associate Supervisor: Professor Kathryn Fairfull-Smith
Project description
The aim of McKenna’s project it to identify, design, and synthesize novel oxazolidinone class of molecules that inhibit protein synthesis against Staphylococcus aureus & methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), the 50S ribosome being the cellular target for these molecules. Availability of 3D structures and target-based 50S Ribosome inhibitory data will enable the use of molecular modelling and various machine learning techniques to generate virtual screening models.
Short biography
McKenna is a Master of Philosophy student within the School of Chemistry and Physics, specialising in Computational Chemistry. This project allows McKenna to combine her two specialities, Chemistry and Information Technology, to develop machine learning and synthetic chemistry skills and work on a large research project relating to drug design and synthesis.
Education
2020 Bachelor of Science (Chemistry)/Bachelor of Information Technology (Information Systems), Queensland University of Technology