Senior Lecturer
Dr Scott Berry
- 2016 Ph.D. Plant Science and Microbiology. John Innes Centre, Norwich, U.K.
- 2010 B.Sc. (Hons.) Theoretical Physics, The University of Western Australia.
- 2007 B.Sc. Theoretical Physics and Biochemistry, The University of Adelaide.
Medicine & Health
School of Medical Sciences
I lead a research group investigating quantitative control of gene expression at the single-cell level – ranging from epigenetic memory and cellular decision-making to global RNA metabolism in the context of cellular physiology.
Proper control of gene expression underpins the normal development of organisms, and is dysregulated in diseases such as cancer. We seek to better understand which components of a cell are involved in this control, and how they work together. Our fundamental discoveries regarding the normal operation of cells underpin the identification of new disease mechanisms and possible therapeutic targets. We also contribute to the development of new research methodologies and analysis methods for use in drug discovery and diagnostics applications.
We make extensive use of high-throughput microscopy, including highly multiplexed immunofluorescence and RNA fluorescence in situ hybridisation, as well as live-cell imaging and automated image analysis. Together, these approaches enable detailed measurement of quantitative cellular phenotypes (for example, the abundance and localisations of specific proteins or RNAs) across large cell populations. We analyse resulting datasets using data science methods and interpret and explore hypotheses through the development of minimal mathematical models. We complement these image-based experimental approaches with functional genomics experiments (based on next-generation sequencing) and we use perturbation experiments including genome and epigenome-editing to test specific hypotheses.
Phone
+61-2-9385 0790
E-mail
Location
Single Molecule Science - EMBL Australia
Lowy Cancer Research Centre - Level 3
- Publications
- Awards
- Research Activities
- Grants
- Engagement
- 2019 Early-career researcher award (Lorne genome conference, Australia)
- 2017-2021 HFSP Long Term Fellowship (University of Zurich, Switzerland)
- 2017-2019 EMBO Long Term Fellowship (University of Zurich, Switzerland)
- 2016 John Innes Foundation prize for excellence in scientific research – annual Ph.D. thesis prize (Norwich, U.K.)
- 2014 EMBO Short Term Fellowship (FMI, Basel, Switzerland)
- 2011-2015 John Innes Foundation Rotation PhD Scholarship
- 2010 Maslen Physics Prize (University of Western Australia)
- 2010 John and Patricia Farrant Scholarship
- 2007 Silver Bragg Medal (Australian Institute of Physics)
- 2007 R.K. Morton Scholarship (University of Adelaide – Biochemistry)
- 2007 Angus Hurst Prize (University of Adelaide – Physics)
Quantitative regulation of gene expression in single cells
We are interested in the mechanisms used by cells to regulate gene-specific and global RNA abundance – ranging from epigenetic memory and cellular decision-making to global RNA metabolism in the context of cellular physiology. We seek to generate a quantitative understanding of these processes.
Our research methodology is a combination of ‘top-down’ (data-driven) and ‘bottom-up’ (hypothesis-driven) approaches. We make extensive use of high-throughput microscopy and automated image analysis, which enables detailed measurement of quantitative cellular phenotypes (for example, the abundance and localisations of specific proteins or RNAs) across large cell populations. Resulting datasets are then analysed using a variety of methods from data science. We complement these image-based approaches with functional genomics experiments, based on next-generation sequencing – providing exquisite genomic resolution, and use perturbation experiments including genome and epigenome-editing to test specific hypotheses.
- Human Frontiers Science Programme (HFSP): Long-term Fellowship 2017-2021
- European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO): Long-term Fellowship 2017-2019
- 2022-current: Co-Chair - UNSW RNA special interest group
- 2022-current: Conference Organisation Committee - Australian Epigenetics (AusEpi22)
- 2022-current: Scientific Program Committee - 26th Congress of the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (IUBMB).