Rate My Professor Jennifer McManus

As a soft-matter scientist, Professor McManus investigates the self-assembly of biological macromolecules, particularly how intermolecular protein interactions govern the formation of crystals, gels, and demixed liquids. Her work utilizes protein phase diagrams to measure and understand these assembly processes, with a focus on anisotropic protein-protein interactions. Key research areas include liquid-liquid phase separation of proteins, membrane protein crystallization, peptide assembly, rational design of protein-based materials, mechanical properties of protein gels and tissues, and protein formulation and stability. Her research group is part of the Quantum & Soft Matter group in the School of Physics. She has authored numerous publications, including "Assembling membraneless organelles from de novo designed proteins" in Nature Chemistry (2024), "The physics of protein self-assembly" in Current Opinion in Colloid & Interface Science (2016, cited 327 times), "Altered phase diagram due to a single point mutation in human γD-crystallin" in PNAS (2007, cited 132 times), and "Cavitation rheology of the vitreous: mechanical properties of biological tissue" in Soft Matter (2010). As Principal Investigator, she led the BBSRC International Institutional Award (2022–2023) and the RAMP Marie Curie Innovative Training Network (2020–2021).