Hassane El Mkami

Dr Hassane El Mkami is a Senior Research Fellow at the University of St Andrews, School of Physics and Astronomy. His research focuses on advanced spectroscopic techniques such as Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) and Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (DNP), with applications in structural biology, membrane protein dynamics, and biomolecular interactions. He leads projects investigating protein-lipid interactions, distance measurements in biological systems, and novel spin label design for structural studies.

Key research interests include:

• Development of EPR/DEER techniques for nanoscale structural analysis
• Membrane protein conformational dynamics
• Bioinorganic chemistry of metal-binding proteins
• Signal enhancement strategies in DNP

Recent work highlights include studies on bacterial outer membrane proteins, copper-based MRI contrast agents, and mechanosensitive ion channels. He collaborates with multidisciplinary teams across physics, chemistry, and biology to advance understanding of molecular mechanisms in biological systems.

Current projects include the HIPER Project (2008-2012), focusing on next-generation ESR technology, and multiple international collaborations in structural biology. His lab contributes to both methodological advancements and fundamental biological discoveries through innovative spectroscopic approaches.