Timothy D. Craggs

Dr Timothy D. Craggs is a Senior Lecturer in Biological Chemistry at the University of Sheffield's School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences. He holds a MSci from the University of Cambridge (2002) and a PhD from Cambridge (2007). His career includes a Lindemann Fellowship at Yale University (2010), followed by senior postdoc roles at Oxford and Bristol. He joined Sheffield in 2016 as a Lecturer in Chemical Biology.

His research focuses on single-molecule spectroscopy, particularly using FRET techniques to study biomolecular processes. Key areas include DNA replication/repair mechanisms, protein dynamics, and structural biology. The Craggs Lab develops innovative tools like the open-source smfBox platform, enhancing precision in distance measurements (sub-3 nm) and enabling FRET-driven structural studies.

Teaching activities span undergraduate and postgraduate levels, including modules on biopolymers, biomaterials, and interdisciplinary biology-chemistry topics. His work bridges fundamental research with applied challenges such as diagnostic methods for infectious diseases (e.g., Buruli ulcer detection) and structural studies of aberrant DNA diseases.

Collaborative efforts include multi-laboratory benchmarking of FRET accuracy and contributions to open-source scientific instrumentation. Current projects emphasize real-time observation of biomolecular interactions and the development of advanced microscopy techniques.