Cryo-EM scientist with over 10 years of experience in structural biology, combining deep technical expertise with a passion for scientific communication and education. Experienced across the full cryo-EM workflow from sample preparation through to model building and publication, with extensive hands-on experience using CryoSPARC in both academic facility and pharmaceutical industry settings. Regular instructor on national cryo-EM training courses at Diamond Light Source. Recently developed CryomaskR, an open-source tool that addresses a common pain point in cryo-EM processing, with an accompanying video demonstration that reached over 17,000 cryo-EM professionals on LinkedIn. Committed to helping researchers get the most out of cryo-EM through clear communication, practical training, and tools that solve real problems.
Identified a widespread workflow bottleneck in cryo-EM mask generation and developed CryomaskR, an open-source tool that reduces mask creation time from 30-60 minutes to approximately 5 minutes through an intuitive 2D-to-3D projection interface.
This project demonstrates the full cycle of identifying user needs, building solutions, and communicating their value to the scientific community.
Member of the planning committee for the 5-day advanced EM model building and refinement course
Promoted eBIC capabilities and services to the cryo-EM community
Returned to the national cryo-EM facility, bringing pharmaceutical industry perspective to user support. Providing expert guidance on data processing workflows and automation. Teaching and training scientists in advanced cryo-EM techniques through formal courses and beamtime support.
Led cryo-EM operations at an AI-driven drug discovery company (promoted from Structural Biologist; role ended due to company restructuring).
Thesis: Structural and functional characterisation of enzymes in natural product biosynthesis
Dreyer FA, Schneider C, Kovaltsuk A, Cutting D, Byrne MJ, et al. (2025). Computational design of therapeutic antibodies with improved developability. mAbs 17(1).
Koziej L, Fatehi F, Aleksejczuk M, Byrne MJ, et al. (2025). Dynamic assembly of pentamer-based protein nanotubes. ACS Nano.
Passchier TC, White JBR, Maskell DP, Byrne MJ, et al. (2024). The cryoEM structure of the Hendra henipavirus nucleoprotein reveals insights into paramyxoviral nucleocapsid architectures. Scientific Reports.
Vergara-Cruces A, et al., Byrne MJ, et al. (2024). Structure of the plant plastid-encoded RNA polymerase. Cell 187(5).
Chase O, Javed A, Byrne MJ, et al. (2023). CryoEM and stability analysis of virus-like particles of potyvirus and ipomovirus infecting a common host. Communications Biology.
Byrne MJ, Iadanza MG, et al. (2021). Cryo-EM structures of an insecticidal Bt toxin reveal its mechanism of action on the membrane. Nature Communications 12(1).
Byrne MJ, Kashyap A, Esquirol L, Ranson N, Sainsbury F. (2021). The structure of a plant-specific partitivirus capsid reveals a unique coat protein domain architecture. Communications Biology.
Thuenemann EC, Byrne MJ, et al. (2021). A replicating viral vector greatly enhances accumulation of helical virus-like particles in plants. Viruses.
Byrne MJ, Nasir N, et al. (2020). Nek7 conformational flexibility and inhibitor binding probed through protein engineering. Biochemical Journal 477(8).
Nair AV, Robson A, Ackrill TD, Till M, Byrne MJ, et al. (2020). Structure and mechanism of a dehydratase/decarboxylase enzyme couple involved in polyketide β-methyl branch incorporation. Scientific Reports.
Byrne MJ, Steele JFC, et al. (2019). Combining transient expression and cryo-EM to obtain high-resolution structures of luteovirid particles. Structure.
Marsh CO, Lees NR, Han LC, Byrne MJ, et al. (2019). A Natural Diels-Alder Biocatalyst Enables Efficient [4+2] Cycloaddition Under Harsh Reaction Conditions. ChemCatChem.
Lees NR, Han LC, Byrne MJ, et al. (2019). An Esterase-like Lyase Catalyzes Acetate Elimination in Spirotetronate/Spirotetramate Biosynthesis. Angewandte Chemie.
Hesketh EL, Tiede C, Adamson H, Adams TL, Byrne MJ, et al. (2019). Affimer reagents as tools in diagnosing plant virus diseases. Scientific Reports.
Byrne MJ, Lees NR, et al. (2016). The catalytic mechanism of a natural Diels–Alderase revealed in molecular detail. JACS 138(19).
Till M, Robson A, Byrne MJ, et al. (2013). Improving the success rate of protein crystallization by random microseed matrix screening. JoVE.
Available upon request