Janet Thornton

Janet Thornton is a distinguished academic and scientific leader, currently serving as Director of the European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), part of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL). She has held prominent roles including Bernal Chair at Birkbeck College and Professor of Biomolecular Structure at University College London. Her expertise spans molecular biology, structural biology, and bioinformatics, with a focus on protein structure, enzyme function, and computational biology.

Her research contributions include pioneering work on catalytic site identification (Catalytic Site Atlas) and functional prediction tools like ProFunc. She has also explored protein promiscuity and aging mechanisms, bridging structural biology with biotechnological applications.

• Awards:
  • Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (2012)
  • Fellow of the Royal Society (1999)
  • Foreign Associate, National Academy of Sciences, USA (2003)

Her leadership roles include directing the BBSRC Centre for Structural Biology and the Joint Research School in Biomolecular Sciences. She has advised on national science strategies and contributed to major infrastructure projects in bioinformatics.