MaSH People

Coordinators and main contacts

Dr Angus Grey

MaSH Coordinator

Dr Elizabeth McKenzie

Software and VM Coordinator

Dr Frederik Pruijn

Mr Martin Middleditch

Instrument Grant Coordinator

Dr George Guo

MaSH Research Fellow

Dr Nicholas Demarais

Travel Grant Coordinator

Gus is a Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Physiology, and the director of the Biomedical Imaging Research Unit. His research interests lie primarily in vision science, where as part of the New Zealand National Eye Centre he utilises imaging mass spectrometry to study the structure and function of the ocular lens. He also has research interests in neurodegeneration through a collaboration with the Centre for Brain Research.

Frederik is a Senior Research Fellow in the Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre where he has the oversight of the suite of bioanalytical instruments. His main research interest is in the co-development of novel anti-cancer drugs and predictive biomarkers, e.g. hypoxia-activated prodrugs and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). He uses mass spectrometry to measure small molecules (drugs & metabolites) and for characterisation of intact proteins (ADCs) and is highly supportive of the development of absolute quantitation of proteins through proteotypic peptide analysis (targeted proteomics) as a platform technology in the University of Auckland.

Nicholas is a Research Fellow in the School of Biological Sciences, and is the responsible for the operation of the Bruker SolariX XR 7T Fourier transform-ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer. His research interests stem from his passion for ion chemistry and mass spectrometry, and include advancing top-down mass spectrometry of macromolecular complexes for structural biology, interogating reaction intermediates through novel ionization sources, and characterizing surfaces and thin-layer materials.

Liz is a Research Fellow in the Liggins Institute. Her research interests lie in the use of volatile biomarkers as diagnostic and investigative tools (volatilomics), where she applies gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) coupled with solid phase microextraction/thermal desorption to study milk, plasma/serum, faeces, skin and urine. She has several volatilomic project collaborations internally, as well as with North Shore Hospital and Auckland University of Technology (AUT). Currently she is investigating the role of symbiotic fungi and yeast in the metabolism of fatty acids in the human gut, using both SPME GC-MS and imaging mass spectrometry (MALDI-ToF-MS). She also has an interest in optimisation of untargeted data extraction and curation for mass spectrometry-based metabolomics and has a collaboration with the Department of Statistics developing statistical methods for detection of metabolite dysregulation.

Martin is responsible for the operation of the School of Biological Sciences Mass Spectrometry Facility (3x LC-MS/MS instruments, 3x GC-MS instruments) housed in the Science Centre (Buildings 301 and 302). His main areas of interest and expertise lie in LC-MS/MS analysis of peptides, proteins, drugs, small molecules and lipids. Current areas of ongoing activity are the characterisation of modifications to specific proteins, global quantitative proteomics (SWATH), and the profiling of small molecules and secondary metabolites in complex samples.

George is a Research Fellow in the Department of Physiology. He is focusing on computer programing for quantitative proteomics/metabolomics research. He has adaptive computer scripting strategies to provide highly efficient, robust ‘omics data solutions. He is willing to share his ‘omics experience and provide data analysis support on behalf of the MaSH.