Phone number: +44 (0)1223 267607
Email: kliu@mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk
Dr Kim Liu
Kim Liu is a chemist researching synthetic biology at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology. He teaches undergraduate chemistry at Jesus College.
Academic interests
Kim Liu's research interests span molecular, chemical and synthetic biology, with emphasis on flexible implementation of laboratory automation. Currently, topics of interest include:
- Flexible laboratory automation
- Synthetic genomics
- Next-generation DNA sequencing
- Genetic code expansion
- Directed evolution and genetic selection
- Cyclic peptide ligands/therapeutics.
Degrees obtained
- MA, Natural Sciences, Cantab.
- MSci Chemistry, Cantab.
- PhD Chemistry, Cantab.
Awards and prizes
- Roscoe Medal and Gold Award for Chemistry, STEM for Britain (2018).
- Embiricos Trust PhD Scholarship, Jesus College, (2015–19).
- Overall winner of ‘I’m a Scientist’, Medical Research Zone (2020).
Biography
Kim Liu has been at Jesus College, Cambridge since 2011. As an undergraduate, he studied chemistry and materials science through the physical natural sciences tripos. His PhD in chemistry with Sir Shankar Balasubramanian centred around investigating an alternative quadruple-stranded DNA and its existence and purpose in living cells. Since March 2020, Kim has worked at the MRC-LMB to further interests in synthetic biology and genetic code expansion.
Other interests
Climbing, piano, bachata, surfing, philosophy, martial arts, badminton, travelling, cooking.
Publications, links and resources
- R. Tian et al., “Establishing a synthetic orthogonal replication system enables accelerated evolution in E. coli”, Science 383 421–6 (2024).
- D.L. Dunkelmann et al., “Adding α,α-distributed and β-linked monomers to the genetic code of an organism”, Nature 625, 603–10 (2024).
- J.F. Zürcher et al., “Continuous synthesis of E. coli genome sections and Mb-scale human DNA assembly”, Nature 619, 555-62 (2023).
- M. Su et al., “Triplet-encoded prebiotic RNA aminoacylation”, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 145, 15971-80 (2023).
- W. Robertson et al., “Sense codon reassignment enables viral resistance and encoded polymer synthesis”, Science 372, 1057-62 (2021).
- K.C. Liu et al., “Affinity-selected bicyclic peptide G-quadruplex ligands mimic a protein-like binding mechanism”, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 142, 8367–73 (2020).
