Rachael Pirie

• Rachael Pirie (Cohort 1) completed her PhD at Newcastle University under the supervision of Dr Daniel Cole. She is now a Software Engineer at NextMove Software.

My PhD with Dr Daniel Cole and Dr Stuart Hall at Newcastle University (aligned with the MosMed CDT) focused on the development of novel 3D shape-based molecular similarity searching tools for use in drug discovery. The project applied the mathematical theory of Riemannian Geometry to the description of shape based on a molecule’s surface. The software development and coding skills gained during this project allowed me to transition from my background in Chemistry into Chemoinformatics Software Engineering.

After completing my PhD I took on a software engineering role at NextMove Software, based in Cambridge, UK. We provide innovative software solutions, predominantly for use within the Pharmaceutical industry, that target unmet needs as an alternative to in-house development. Our products cover five main areas: document mining, reaction informatics, biopolymer registration, chemical indexing and search, and chemical health and safety alerting. Day to day, my role involves enhancing and expanding these tools as well as contributing to open source projects.

The supportive community within the CDT has had a lasting impact on my career. Engaging with colleagues from a range of disciplines allowed me to participate in projects outwith the initial scope of my PhD, adding to my portfolio and encouraging me to think about problems from a different perspective. Additionally the opportunities provided by the CDT to regularly present my research allowed me to refine my communication skills and build confidence which helped massively when giving talks at external conferences, one of which led to the offer of my current role!

(Image: Dr Rachael Pirie centre, pictured with Dr Daniel Cole, left, and Dr Stuart Hall, right.)