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Hire Dr. Mark T.

United Kingdom

USD 70 /hr

Experienced Scientific Writer & Editor | Journal Manuscripts, Technical Scientific Content and UK Grant Applications

Profile Summary

I’m a professional scientific writer and editor leveraging two decades of postdoctoral research experience to support a range of clients in both academia and industry. Over the past four years as a freelancer, I’ve built a proven track record of producing strategically targeted, scientifically robust journal manuscripts, grant applications and online content. My primary areas of expertise include organic/medicinal chemistry, preclinical drug discovery, biochemistry, molecular biology and enzymology (especially screening assay design). In the majority of projects, I help clients successfully navigate the publication process, develop competitive grant applications, or realise technical yet accessible literature-based content for B2B blogs or newsletters, targeted towards scientific audiences. I’ve helped several clients achieve publication through ghostwriting or editing of peer-reviewed journal manuscripts, collaborating closely with strategic planning from initial concept all the way to final acceptance, if required. With a track record of 33 peer-reviewed papers (including 16 as first or last author) and over 1,000 citations, I understand the expectations of journal editors and reviewers, and am familiar with writing up complex multidisciplinary studies for top-ranked journals. I’ve also developed competitive Innovate UK grant applications, including multiple bids for the Smart Grants and Biomedical Catalyst competitions, and contributed to many academic grants as both a postdoctoral researcher and a freelancer (e.g., BBSRC, EPSRC, MRC, CRUK and Wellcome Trust in the UK; NIH/NIA in the US). This experience has included several successes, giving me valuable insights into funding body expectations that can enhance prospects for clients. Other services include tailored B2B technical content for scientific companies, designed to highlight product relevance and scientific credibility. For example, I’ve written literature review newsletters for a well-known life sciences company, as well as long-form blog articles for a scientific instruments supplier, showcasing use of their products in pharmaceutical industry applications. I always aim for a collaborative approach with close attention to detail, aiming to maintain scientific accuracy yet ensure clear, impactful and authoritative communication to the relevant audience. I’m keen to work with life sciences/biotech SMEs, academic research groups and scientific publishers looking for professional editing or ghostwriting support, whether for journal publications, funding applications, or other content such as newsletters, technical reports, scientific blog articles and white papers.

Subject Matter Expertise

• ★ Medicinal Chemistry
• ★ Manuscript & Journal Article Writing
• ★ Scientific Proofreading & Editing
• ☆ Analytical Chemistry
• ☆ Separation & Purification
• ☆ Biochemistry
• ☆ Biochemical Assays
• ☆ Enzyme Activity Assays
• ☆ Molecular Biology
• ☆ PCR
• ☆ Biotechnology & Bioengineering
• ☆ Recombinant Protein Expression
• ☆ Chemical Biology
• ☆ Structure-Activity Relationship (SAR) Studies
• ☆ Drug Development
• ☆ Preclinical Research
• ☆ Peer Review
• ☆ Literature Search
• ☆ Medical Writing
• ☆ Research Summaries & Abstracts
• ☆ Technical & Scientific Writing
• ☆ Journal Selection
• ☆ Experimental Protocols
• ☆ Literature Review
• ☆ Traditional/Narrative Literature Review
• ☆ Grant Writing

Services

• Writing
• Research
• Consulting

Writing Technical Writing, General Proofreading & Editing

Research Gray Literature Search, Scientific and Technical Research, Secondary Data Collection

Consulting Scientific and Technical Consulting

Work Experience

Postdoctoral Research Associate, Medical School

University of Sheffield

January 2019 - July 2020

Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Chemistry

University of Sheffield

March 2013 - January 2019

Synthetic Chemist

QuantuMDx Group

August 2012 - January 2013

Postdoctoral Fellow, Departments of Chemistry/Neuroscience

University of Sheffield

October 2011 - May 2012

Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Chemistry

University of Sheffield

February 2007 - September 2011

Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Chemistry

University of Sheffield

April 2005 - November 2006

Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Chemistry

University of Sheffield

October 1998 - December 2002

Education

Ph.D., Chemistry

University of Sheffield

October 1994 - September 1997

B.Sc. (Hons), Chemistry

University of Sheffield

September 1991 - June 1994

Certifications

• Certification details not provided.

Publications

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Mehul V. Makwana, Cleide dos Santos Souza, Barry T. Pickup, Mark J. Thompson, Santosh K. Lomada, Yuxi Feng, Thomas Wieland, Richard F. W. Jackson, Richmond Muimo (2023). Chemical tools for studying phosphohistidine: generation of selective τ‐phosphohistidine and π‐phosphohistidine antibodies . ChemBioChem.

Claire Dutson, Esther Allen, Mark J. Thompson, Joseph H. Hedley, Heather E. Murton, David M. Williams (2021). Synthesis of polyanionic C5-modified 2′-deoxyuridine and 2′-deoxycytidine-5′-triphosphates and their properties as substrates for DNA polymerases . Molecules.

Mark J Thompson, Victoria J B Gotham, Barbara Ciani, Jane A Grasby (2018). A conserved loop–wedge motif moderates reaction site search and recognition by FEN1 . Nucleic Acids Research.

Ian A Bennet, L David Finger, Nicola J Baxter, Benjamin Ambrose, Andrea M Hounslow, Mark J Thompson, Jack C Exell, Nur Nazihah B Md Shahari, Timothy D Craggs, Jonathan P Waltho, et al. (2018). Regional conformational flexibility couples substrate specificity and scissile phosphate diester selectivity in human flap endonuclease 1 . Nucleic Acids Research.

Susan E. Tsutakawa, Mark J. Thompson, Andrew S. Arvai, Alexander J. Neil, Steven J. Shaw, Sana I. Algasaier, Jane C. Kim, L. David Finger, Emma Jardine, Victoria J.B. Gotham, et al. (2017). Phosphate steering by flap endonuclease 1 promotes 5′-flap specificity and incision to prevent genome instability . Nature Communications.

Jack C Exell, Mark J Thompson, L David Finger, Steven J Shaw, Judit Debreczeni, Thomas A Ward, Claire McWhirter, Catrine L B Siöberg, Daniel Martinez Molina, W Mark Abbott, et al. (2016). Cellularly active N-hydroxyurea FEN1 inhibitors block substrate entry to the active site . Nature Chemical Biology.

Sana I. Algasaier, Jack C. Exell, Ian A. Bennet, Mark J. Thompson, Victoria J.B. Gotham, Steven J. Shaw, Timothy D. Craggs, L. David Finger, Jane A. Grasby (2016). DNA and protein requirements for substrate conformational changes necessary for human flap endonuclease-1-catalyzed reaction . Journal of Biological Chemistry.

Helen E. Colley, Munitta Muthana, Sarah J. Danson, Lucinda V. Jackson, Matthew L. Brett, Joanne Harrison, Sean F. Coole, Daniel P. Mason, Luke R. Jennings, Melanie Wong, et al. (2015). An orally bioavailable, indole-3-glyoxylamide based series of tubulin polymerization inhibitors showing tumor growth inhibition in a mouse xenograft model of head and neck cancer . Journal of Medicinal Chemistry.

Matthew Lilley, Bezaleel Mambwe, Mark J. Thompson, Richard F. W. Jackson, Richmond Muimo (2015). 4-Phosphopyrazol-2-yl alanine: a non-hydrolysable analogue of phosphohistidine . Chemical Communications.

Ashlie J. E. Butler, Mark J. Thompson, Patrick J. Maydom, James A. Newby, Kai Guo, Harry Adams, Beining Chen (2014). Regioselective synthesis of 3-aminoimidazo[1,2-a]-pyrimidines under continuous flow conditions . The Journal of Organic Chemistry.

Sindhu T. Mohanty, Claire J. Cairney, Andrew D. Chantry, Sanjeev Madan, James A. Fernandes, Steven J. Howe, Harry D. Moore, Mark J. Thompson, Beining Chen, Adrian Thrasher, et al. (2012). A small molecule modulator of prion protein increases human mesenchymal stem cell lifespan, ex vivo expansion, and engraftment to bone marrow in NOD/SCID mice . Stem Cells.

Mark J. Thompson, Jennifer C. Louth, Susan M. Little, Matthew P. Jackson, Yohan Boursereau, Beining Chen, Iain Coldham (2012). Synthesis and evaluation of 1‐amino‐6‐halo‐β‐carbolines as antimalarial and antiprion agents . ChemMedChem.

Mark J. Thompson, Jennifer C. Louth, Steven Ferrara, Matthew P. Jackson, Fiona J. Sorrell, Edward J. Cochrane, Joel Gever, Sarah Baxendale, B. Michael Silber, Henry H. Roehl, et al. (2011). Discovery of 6-substituted indole-3-glyoxylamides as lead antiprion agents with enhanced cell line activity, improved microsomal stability and low toxicity . European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry.

Mark J. Thompson, Jennifer C. Louth, Susan M. Little, Beining Chen, Iain Coldham (2011). 2,4-Diarylthiazole antiprion compounds as a novel structural class of antimalarial leads . Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters.

Mark J. Thompson, Jennifer C. Louth, Steven Ferrara, Fiona J. Sorrell, Benjamin J. Irving, Edward J. Cochrane, Anthony J. H. M. Meijer, Beining Chen (2011). Structure–activity relationship refinement and further assessment of indole‐3‐glyoxylamides as a lead series against prion disease . ChemMedChem.

Mark J. Thompson, Jennifer C. Louth, Gemma K. Greenwood, Fiona J. Sorrell, Sandra G. Knight, Nathan B. P. Adams, Beining Chen (2010). Improved 2,4‐diarylthiazole‐based antiprion agents: switching the sense of the amide group at C5 leads to an increase in potency . ChemMedChem.

Mark J. Thompson, Vinciane Borsenberger, Jennifer C. Louth, Katie E. Judd, Beining Chen (2009). Design, synthesis, and structure−activity relationship of indole-3-glyoxylamide libraries possessing highly potent activity in a cell line model of prion disease . Journal of Medicinal Chemistry.

Kai Guo, Mark J. Thompson, Beining Chen (2009). Exploring catalyst and solvent effects in the multicomponent synthesis of pyridine-3,5-dicarbonitriles . The Journal of Organic Chemistry.

Mark J. Thompson, Beining Chen (2009). Ugi reactions with ammonia offer rapid access to a wide range of 5-aminothiazole and oxazole derivatives . The Journal of Organic Chemistry.

Mark J. Thompson, Harry Adams, Beining Chen (2009). Development of a diversity-oriented approach to oxazole-5-amide libraries . The Journal of Organic Chemistry.

Mark Thompson, Jenny Hurst, Beining Chen (2008). Regioselective, solvent-free synthesis of 3-aminoimidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidines under microwave irradiation promoted by zeolite HY . Synlett.

Mark J. Thompson, Beining Chen (2008). Versatile assembly of 5-aminothiazoles based on the Ugi four-component coupling . Tetrahedron Letters.

Kai Guo, Roger Mutter, William Heal, Tummala R.K. Reddy, Hannah Cope, Steven Pratt, Mark J. Thompson, Beining Chen (2008). Synthesis and evaluation of a focused library of pyridine dicarbonitriles against prion disease . European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry.

Kai Guo, Mark J. Thompson, Tummala R.K. Reddy, Roger Mutter, Beining Chen (2007). Mechanistic studies leading to a new procedure for rapid, microwave assisted generation of pyridine-3,5-dicarbonitrile libraries . Tetrahedron.

William Heal, Mark J. Thompson, Roger Mutter, Hannah Cope, Jenny C. Louth, Beining Chen (2007). Library synthesis and screening: 2,4-diphenylthiazoles and 2,4-diphenyloxazoles as potential novel prion disease therapeutics . Journal of Medicinal Chemistry.

Jean-François Couture, Glenn Hauk, Mark J. Thompson, G. Michael Blackburn, Raymond C. Trievel (2006). Catalytic roles for carbon–oxygen hydrogen bonding in SET domain lysine methyltransferases . Journal of Biological Chemistry.

Mark J. Thompson, William Heal, Beining Chen (2006). Synthesis of 5-aminothiazoles as building blocks for library synthesis . Tetrahedron Letters.

Andrzej Guranowski, Elżbieta Starzyńska, Małgorzata Pietrowska‐Borek, Jacek Jemielity, Joanna Kowalska, Edward Darzynkiewicz, Mark J. Thompson, G. Michael Blackburn (2006). Methylene analogues of adenosine 5′‐tetraphosphate . The FEBS Journal.

Mark J. Thompson, Edward J. Hutchinson, Thomas H. Stratford, Wayne B. Bowler, G.Michael Blackburn (2004). Sugar conjugates of fulvestrant (ICI 182,780): efficient general procedures for glycosylation of the fulvestrant core . Tetrahedron Letters.

Mark Thompson, Valeria Spelta, Abdelaziz Mekhalfia, Dominik Rejman, G Michael Blackburn, R Alan North (2003). ATP analogues with modified phosphate chains and their selectivity for rat P2X2 and P2X2/3 receptors . British Journal of Pharmacology.

Glen T. Hinckley, Frank J. Ruzicka, Mark J. Thompson, G.Michael Blackburn, Perry A. Frey (2003). Adenosyl coenzyme and pH dependence of the [4Fe–4S]2+/1+ transition in lysine 2,3-aminomutase . Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics.

Mark J. Thompson, Abdelaziz Mekhalfia, David P. Hornby, G. Michael Blackburn (1999). Synthesis of two stable nitrogen analogues of S-adenosyl-L-methionine . The Journal of Organic Chemistry.

Mark J. Thompson, Abdelaziz Mekhalfia, David L. Jakeman, Simon E. V. Phillips, Kathryn Phillips, Jonathan Porter, G. Michael Blackburn (1996). Homochiral synthesis of an aza analogue of S-adenosyl-L-methionine (AdoMet) and its binding to the E. coli methionine repressor protein (MetJ) . Chemical Communications.