Ph.D
Leigh Ann Jones
Oxford University Clinical Research Unit , Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Professional Experience
2017 – present
Chief Executive Officer, ImmunoTechniques, Singapore.
ImmunoTechniques provides training in biological science-based laboratory and clinical techniques. My role in the company spans strategic planning, business development, daily operations and personal delivery of training programmes.
2017 – present
Managing Director, SEAWAY Laboratories, Singapore.
My position at SEAWAY Laboratories, a life-science consultancy company, involves business development, marketing, client liaison and delivery of life science communications services.
2017 – present
Head of Training, Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Supervisor: Ms Sarah Barton
My position at OUCRU allows me to focus on my passion in scientific capacity building and training, with my key roles being coordination of the PhD programmes as well as pastoral care of all students. I am also responsible for organisation of staff and student training for specific scientific skills as well as transferable, “soft” skills such as scientific writing
2015 – 2017
Research Scientist, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), BMSI, A-STAR, Biopolis, Singapore.
Supervisor: Dr. John Connolly
I worked in a senior staff role in the Translational Immunology lab under the supervision of Dr John Connolly. Our lab focuses on providing a cross disciplinary platform to provide immunological expertise for collaborative projects with clinical and industrial partners. Therefore, my role required excellent organisational and communication skills to drive forward a number of diverse projects. My responsibilities included management and driving of many key projects in the laboratory setting as well as training/supervising junior members of the lab, advising on recruitment of staff and fostering relationships with new collaborators.
2010 – 2014
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), BMSI, A-STAR, Biopolis, Singapore.
Supervisor: Dr. Maria Lafaille
Principle project: The utilisation of a novel reporter mouse model (IL-21eGFP) to study the role of IL-21 in the mucosal immune response within Peyer’s Patches of the small intestine.
I was also involved in collaborative projects within SIgN leading to a number of publications and was a founding member of the departmental post doctoral and PhD society.
2009 – 2010
Associate Medical Writer, Complete Medical Communications, Glasgow
During this appointment I gained invaluable experience in the field of scientific writing. My principal brief was to aid large pharmaceutical companies in writing clinical papers for publication. In addition, I prepared materials for scientific communication in the form of posters, leaflets and power-point presentations. This job required a detailed understanding of complex medical subject areas, a strong grasp of written English and stringent quality control.
2006 – 2009
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, SAC, Edinburgh
Supervisor: Dr. Jos Houdijk
Principle project: The nutritional sensitivity of periparturient immune responses to helminth infection and the development of dietary interventions as a non-chemotherapeutic means of controlling worm burden.
Education
2003 – 2006
Doctor of Philosophy in Immunoparasitology, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
1999 – 2003
Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Immunology and Microbiology, 1st Class, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
Teaching and Management experience
During my postdoctoral appointments I have been instrumental in the supervision and teaching of a number of final year project and PhD students as well as junior members of staff. In addition, many of the projects I have worked on have required managing large projects with good team interactions essential to their success.
Lecturing Experience
Biomanufacturing Training Programme: Scientific English and Communications, Indonesia Institute for Life-Sciences, April 2015.
Master in Science Course: The biological and immunological basis of inflammation and pain, The University of Edinburgh, May 2009.
Other positions and Responsibilities
2015 – present Memberships Secretary, Singaporean Society for Immunology, Singapore
My main role is to promote the society to immunologists of all grades and ages to increase membership numbers and exposure, raise funds for events through company sponsorship and organize meetings/seminars.
2011 – 2012 President of SIgN Association of Post-Docs (SIgNAPs), SIgN, A*STAR, Singapore
My roles included organisation of an internal seminar series and journal club, coordination of outreach events to communicate immunological research to the public (e.g. Singapore National Science Week) and organising social events to aid networking within the postdoctoral community.
2007-2009 Treasurer of Edinburgh Immunology Group, SAC, Edinburgh
My roles included attracting/liaising with sponsoring companies for funding and administration of the Edinburgh Immunology Group website. In addition I was responsible for the association finances and had to complete an annual report for auditing.
2004 – 2006 President of Strathclyde Immunology Society, University of Strathclyde
My roles included organisation of a seminar programme and social events, attracting/liaising with sponsoring companies for funding and marketing the society to staff and students.
Selected First Author Publications
LEIGH A. JONES, Duane P. Harland, Bradley B. Jarrold, John E. Connolly, Michael G. Davies. (2017) The Walking Dead: sequential nuclear and organelle destruction during hair development. British Journal of Dermatology. Doi: 10.1111/bjd.16148.
LEIGH JONES, Wen Qi Ho, Sze Ying, Lakshmi Ramakrishna, Kandhadayar Srinivasan, Marina Yurieva, Wan Pei Ng, Sharrada Subramaniam, Nur Hamadee, Sabrina Joseph, Jayashree Dolpady, Koji Atarashi, Kenya Honda, Francesca Zolezzi., Michael Poidinger, Juan Lafaille, Maria Curotto de Lafaille. (2016) A subpopulation of high IL-21-producing CD4+ T cells in Peyer’s Patches is induced by the microbiota and regulates germinal centres. Scientific Reports. 6: 30784. Doi:10. 1038/srep30784.
LEIGH A. JONES, Panagiotis Sakkas, Jos G. M. Houdijk, David P. Knox, Ilias Kyriazakis. (2012) Amelioration of the periparturient relaxation of immunity to parasites through a reduction in mammalian reproductive effort. International Journal for Parasitology. 42: 1127-1134.
LEIGH A. JONES, Shrook Kreem, Muhannad Shweash, Andrew Paul, James Alexander and Craig W. Roberts. (2010) Differential modulation of TLR-3 and TLR-4 mediated dendritic cell maturation and function by progesterone. Journal of Immunology. 185: 4525-4534.
LEIGH A. JONES, Fiona Roberts, Mohammad B. Nickdel, Frank Brombacher, Andrew N.J. McKenzie, Fiona L. Henriquez, James Alexander and Craig W. Roberts. (2010). IL-33 receptor (T1/ST2) signalling is necessary to prevent the development of encephalitis in mice infected with Toxoplasma gondii. European Journal of Immunology. 40, 426-436.
LEIGH A. JONES, Jean-Paul Anthony, Russell E. Lyons, Mohammad B. Nickdel, Katherine C. Carter, Fiona L. Henriquez, James Alexander and Craig W. Roberts. (2008). TLR-4 mediated macrophage activation is differentially regulated by progesterone via the glucocorticoid and progesterone receptors. Immunology. 125, 59-69.
LEIGH A. JONES, James Alexander and Craig W. Roberts. (2006). Ocular toxoplasmosis: in the storm of the eye. Parasite Immunology., 28, 635-642.
References
Available on request