People

I studied Biology at the University of Porto and finished my Masters in Oncology at the same university, investigating potential epigenetic biomarkers for prostate cancer focusing on differentially DNA methylation at gene promoters and its impact in gene transcription. This triggered my interest in the epigenetic and chromatin fields, which led me to move to Oxford to pursue my DPhil studies in Neil Brockdorff’s lab in the Department of Biochemistry. During my DPhil, I studied the mechanisms by how different Polycomb repressive complexes get recruited and enriched on the inactive X chromosome in mammalian females, identifying PCGF3/5-PRC1 as a crucial player in the initiation of the recruitment cascade to the inactive X chromosome. After a break, I rejoined Neil’s lab as a postdoc focusing on H3K9me3 modifying enzymes and their role in X chromosome inactivation and Xist RNA expression.  

Generally, I am interested in the role of chromatin modifiers and heterochromatin in transcriptional regulation. In the Berrens lab, I will use perturbations of these modifiers to understand the role of specific transposons expression in cellular differentiation and how disruption of TE silencing pathways affects the expression of other TEs and TE-neighbouring genes on a single locus single cell basis.  

I am a DPhil student in the Berrens Lab, focused on using direct RNA sequencing to study the precise sequence and RNA modifications of a key class of transposable elements, LINE1 (Long Interspersed Nuclear Element 1). 

My goal is to develop a target enrichment method by designing specific probes to capture and isolate LINE1 RNA. This project is in collaboration with Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT).

I recently completed an Integrated Masters (MBiochem) in the Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, and I am now a DPhil student on the BBSRC Interdisciplinary Bioscience Doctoral Training Programme.

My main research interests are non-coding elements and how they can regulate gene expression. Previously, I helped to develop sequencing-based tools to assess Xist-RNA localisation during X inactivation in the Brockdorff Lab, Department of Biochemistry. Currently, I am researching a potential role for transposable element expression in the regulation of gene expression in pluripotency. My project is a collaboration between the Berrens and Hughes labs at the WIMM.

Jonathan started out working for the MRC at the Clinical Sciences Centre, Hammersmith Campus carrying out embryo microinjections and gamete cryopreservation. Moving to Oxford 15 years ago joining the Dept of Biochemistry as transgenic manager

His current roles include microinjection and cryopreservation. 

I am a British Heart Foundation funded DPhil student in the Berrens Lab interested in transposable elements in cardiac development. My project revolves around deciphering the function of transposons within heart development using a mixture of in vitro mouse models and computational tools. To do this I am collaborating with the Stathopoulou and Smart Groups based in the Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine. Previously I worked in the Berrens lab as a Research Assistant where I worked on generating cell lines to help understand transposable element expression during cell fate decision. I hold an MBiochem Biochemistry degree from Oxford University, with my Master’s project focused on dissecting the mechanisms of X-chromosome inactivation.

I am a DPhil student in the Berrens group interested to understand how transposable elements shape the genome during pre-implantation development. Specifically, I am interested in developing new computational methods to better decipher the role of transposons in the genome. My project is also a collaboration with the Dendrou group at the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology. 

I am a DPhil student in Prof Jane McKeating’s group, co-supervised by Dr Berrens. My research interest is understanding host-pathogen interactions and how they influence viral tropism and disease pathogenesis. I have previously developed genomic-based techniques to investigate the population dynamics of rabies lyssavirus quasispecies during early infection and to evaluate the clinical utility of liquid biopsy for early detection of paediatric EBV-associated lymphomas. My current research focuses on understanding hepatocyte-intrinsic and extrinsic pathways that define host susceptibility to hepatitis B virus (HBV) and the molecular mechanisms that underpin viral replication and persistence in chronic liver disease.