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ESR10 Catherine Gilbert
ESR10 Catherine Gilbert
I moved to the Netherlands when I was 18 to study the Maastricht Science Programme (MSP) at Maastricht University. I chose to do this because I wanted the challenge and personal development from living in a different country and was very impressed with the Dutch attitude to education. At the MSP, I was given the opportunity to study Biology, Chemistry and Physics, and was able to participate in research in a variety of different fields. In the research projects I completed at MSP I was especially attracted to the projects with a focus on analytical chemistry, and so when the time came to apply for master’s programmes, the analytical chemistry master at the UvA/VU was the perfect choice for me. I enjoy working in analytical chemistry because of the problem-solving aspects of the field, and its applicability in many different research areas. In Amsterdam, I took part in the MSc+ talent programme, which connected me to many analytical chemistry researchers throughout the Netherlands, as well as with companies such as Shell, where I was able to perform my master’s thesis research on SFC-MS. Within the PUSHH network, I will be developing new mass spectrometry methods to analyse the proteins found in ancient materials. I’m excited to further expand my professional network and learn more about research areas that I haven’t worked in before!
My PhD Project
My PhD Project
The latest generation of high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry for palaeoproteomics can reliably and rapidly detect proteins in complex mixtures, even in the very limited quantities typical of ancient samples. Workflow miniaturization and simplification of sample preparation, by integrating into a single or few step(s) different chemical treatments, have already been proven to improve recovery in the most recalcitrant ancient samples. Such approaches are contributing to minimizing the amount of starting material needed for palaeoproteomics analysis. The possibility to combine the dissociative capabilities of complementary fragmentation methods (ETD, UVPD, HCD) maximises the ability to elucidate the full complexity of the protein material, in sequence, in polymorphism and in chemical and/or post-translational modifications with unprecedented depth and accuracy. Top-down methods, adding molecular details lost when proteoforms are hydrolyzed into proteolytic peptides in bottom-up proteomics, also benefit from the recent technological gains in mass spectrometry. I will develop new minimally invasive methods and miniaturized analytical workflow based on bottom-up and top-down approaches, to analyse trace level of proteins in palaeoanthropological and palaeontological materials and reach an exhaustive characterization of ancient material available. Digestion free top-down proteomics methods will also be investigated to remove many of the limitations hampering analysis of this category of samples. The methods will be used to identify proteins from samples with very limited amounts. Elucidation of protein polymorphism will also be studied with these minimally invasive methods in partnership with the PUSHH partners. Another application of these methods is the study protein degradation (e.g. chemical modifications, breakdown) such as the degradation of tooth enamel proteins in partnership with ESR14.
Secondments
Secondments
Secondment period of 4 months, during PhD year 1, at University of Copenhagen under Enrico Cappellini’s supervision to learn the sample preparation protocols developed by Enrico Cappellinie to extract ancient proteins from dental enamel, in collaboration with ESR6.
CV
CV
2018-2020
Master in Chemistry, Analytical Sciences track, joint degree with the Universiteit van Amsterdam and the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Research Thesis: "Challenging the Revival of Packed Column SFC"
Shell Technology Centre, Amsterdam
Literature Thesis: "Metal-based nanoparticles used in restoration in cultural heritage"
University of Amsterdam
2018-2020
Participant in the MSc+ talent program with TI-COAST (https://www.ti-coast.com/human-capital/msc.html)
2015-2018
Bachelor in Liberal Arts and Sciences, Maastricht Science Program, Maastricht University, The Netherlands
BSc Thesis: "Synthesis, characterisation, and polymerisation of multifunctional monomers from biobased sources"
Aachen Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials, Chemelot Campus, Geleen, The Netherlands
Publications
Publications
Gilbert, C., Krupicka, V., Galluzzi, F., Popowich, A., Bathany, K., Claverol, S., ... & Tokarski, C. (2024). Species identification of ivory and bone museum objects using minimally invasive proteomics. Science Advances, 10(4), eadi9028.
Gilbert, C., Bathany, K., Claverol, S., Scanvion, Q., Hedouin, V., Bertrand, B., & Tokarski, C. (2024). Successive Protein Extraction Using Hydroxylamine to Increase the Depth of Proteome Coverage in Fresh, Forensic, and Archaeological Bones. Analytical Chemistry, 96(8), 3247-3252.
Noordzij, G. J., van den Boomen, Y. J. G., Gilbert, C., van Elk, D. J. P., Roy, M., Wilsens, C. H. R. M., & Rastogi, S. (2019). The aza-Michael reaction: towards semi-crystalline polymers from renewable itaconic acid and diamines. Polymer Chemistry, 10(29), 4049-4058.
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