Diamond scientist awarded Royal Society of Biology Fellowship

Fellowship is the Society’s highest membership grade and is awarded to professionals who have made a prominent and sustained contribution to the advancement of the biological sciences, and those who hold positions of senior responsibility, leadership, or management.

This award is in recognition of David’s career evolution from membrane protein research into senior instrument science. His high-impact methodology development, specifically pioneering Lipidic Cubic Phase techniques for data collection and analysis, have been crucial for solving the structures of highly complex membrane proteins and important biological targets. David’s long-standing service to the crystallography community has also been acknowledged, including seven years on the Executive Board of the Society of Crystallography in Australia and New Zealand, where he guided strategy and supported researchers across the region.

David’s expertise has been honed through an international career spanning five countries. He began his studies in Portugal, completed his PhD in France, relocated to Ireland for a Marie Curie fellowship and spent eight years working at the Australian Synchrotron, before joining Diamond in 2019.  

Since joining Diamond, David has played a pivotal role in supporting high-impact structural biology. He began his time at the facility as a designated key worker during the COVID-19 pandemic, working on the I04 beamline to support the international COVID Moonshot initiative.  

In 2024, David was also named a Fellow of the British Crystallographic Association, in recognition of his extensive dedication to the crystallographic community across Europe and Oceania.

Speaking of the award, David said: “I am so pleased to receive this honour from the Royal Society of Biology. It represents not only many years dedicated to structural biology, but also the importance of building bridges between fundamental biology and large scientific infrastructures like Diamond.” 

Diamond warmly congratulates David on this achievement of receiving the highest accolade bestowed by the society.