Role at ANSTO
Dr Annmaree Warrender is a beamline scientist for the BioSAXS beamline. In this role, she assists and collaborates with visiting scientists, oversees effective day-to-day operation of the beamline, and actively contributes to the development and refinement of beamline capabilities and sample environments to facilitate high quality solution scattering experiments.
The foundation of Dr Warrender's research expertise lies in the field of protein biochemistry and structural biology. She completed her PhD in 2023 at the University of Waikato, Aotearoa NZ, where she focused on characterizing the structural dynamics of human antibodies. Employing an innovative fluorescent technique (red edge excitation shift spectroscopy) and small angle x-ray scattering (SAXS), she uncovered novel insights into the behaviour of these essential immune system molecules. Prior to her doctoral studies, she gained experience working with proteins from infectious pathogens. This research involved the exploration of structural and functional aspects of a range of proteins using a wide array of techniques. This experience instilled a deep appreciation for the importance of understanding the link between molecular structure and biological function.
As a member of the Scattering team, Dr Warrender values the opportunity to actively engage in a range of scientific experiments on the BioSAXS beamline and contribute to the ongoing enhancement of the beamline quality and capabilities.
Expertise
Small-angle x-ray scattering, structural biology, biochemistry, protein science, antibodies
Qualifications & Achievements
- Visiting Researcher at Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH, Basel, Switzerland (2022)
- PhD in Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Waikato, New Zealand (2020-2024)