Dr. Julian Willis

Assistant Professor

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Biography

Dr. Julian Willis is an Assistant Professor of Chemical Biology at the Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, UK. He began his current position in 2023 after working as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in gene editing under Professor David Liu at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard from 2018 to 2023. Dr. Willis completed his PhD focused on genetic code expansion in the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK, from 2013 to 2018. His undergraduate studies were in Natural Sciences (Chemistry) at the University of Cambridge from 2009 to 2013. His research explores natural diversity to identify novel functions and properties of proteins, particularly studying unusual classes of viruses that utilize unique modes of protein-primed DNA replication to propagate linear DNA genomes. He investigates these understudied viruses for their potential in exciting biotechnological applications, focusing on repurposing viral replication proteins to create innovative gene editing tools aimed at treating human genetic diseases.

Research Interests

Experience

Assistant Professor of Chemical Biology

2023-01-01 — Present

Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge • Cambridge, UK

Current position focusing on exploring protein functions and properties.

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

2018-09-01 — 2023-01-01

Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard • Cambridge, MA, USA

Research in gene editing under Professor David Liu.

PhD Student

2013-09-01 — 2018-09-01

MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge • Cambridge, UK

Research on genetic code expansion.

Undergraduate Student

2009-09-01 — 2013-06-01

University of Cambridge • Cambridge, UK

Studied chemistry as part of Natural Sciences.

Requirements for University of Cambridge

Master Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3.7
IELTS
Listening
Required:7
Reading
Required:7
Writing
Required:7
Speaking
Required:7
Overall
Required:7.5
TOEFL
Listening
Required:25
Reading
Required:25
Writing
Required:25
Speaking
Required:25
Total
Required:110
Prerequisites
UK Bachelor's Degree with good Upper Second Class Honours or international equivalent Background in international relations, politics, law, economics, security or history is a definite asset
Application Checklist
  • Two academic references
  • Official transcripts
  • CV/Resume
  • Personal statement (approx 500 words)
  • Research proposal (1-2 pages/500 words)
  • Application fee (£50)
Specialization Notes

Standard postgraduate requirements for Department of Politics and International Studies (POLIS) and related humanities departments.