Research
Welcome to the website of Andrew Holding. I am a research scientist who is currently employed by the Medical Research Council (MRC) in the Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge. My research involves the study of protein-protein binding by way of using small isotopically-labelled linker molecules. These linker molecules bind between residues that are within range of each other and then the cross-linked protein complex is digested and analysed by mass spectrometry. The interactions we investigate are important for understanding and developing new cures for a wide range of diseases including cancer.
For more information about my current and previous work, please go to the Research section of this site.
Outreach
I've worked on many Science outreach projects including founding and organising Skeptics in the Pub in Cambridge, which holds monthly talks by various speakers with the aim of highlighting the application of critical thinking and scientific method. Notable speakers include Simon Singh, David Speigelhalter and Nick Pope.
In 2010, I was nominated for a Society of Biology Science Communication award by the MRC and was successful in my application for a Catalyst award from UnLtd and the HEFCE for Social Entrepreneurship. The Catalyst award was used for the funding of ThinkOutreach's first event 'ThinkCon', and other related projects.
I have been a guest on the The Naked Scientists Q&A radio show as Dr Andy, answering the public's questions on science, and have spoken at several outreach events both around Cambridge and nationwide. I produce and host my own radio show on CamFM every Sunday that covers the science behind movies, books and TV shows with a selection of music that relates to the dicussion. In addition, I have written for The Guardian's 'Comment is Free' section and BlueSci magazine.
Other Activities
Artistic
In my spare time, I have written and acted in several performances put on by the Cambridge University Light Enterainment Society and Two Shades of Blue. One of the most prominent of these was "The Matrix: The Pantomime", which was taken to the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh in 2007 and became a sell-out show. Feel free to download the scripts of either The Matrix: The Pantomime or Treasure Island. I still continue to part in such events; for example, in 2010 I acted in the annual Christmas skit at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology and have participated in Bright Club in London and Festival of the Spoken Nerd, the latter two of which focus on the comunication of science throught comedy.
Community
Co-founder, part-time administrator and sometime contributor of The Open Guide to Cambridge. The guide is a wiki-based project and allows anyone who visits or knows about the city to contribute information about and their opinions on various places of interest to the site.
I volunteer with the Cambridgeshire branch of the British Science Association, trying to help promote science around the county, speaking at events and designing experiments for the public.
I am qualified first-aider at work and am a volunteer at Addenbrooke's Hospital for one evening a week.
Social Networking
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Contact
If you wish to contact me, please feel free to do so with the following address: A....@evath.net. Simply click on the missing part of the e-mail address and follow the instructions to reveal it.