Biophysical Society Bulletin | July/August 2020

Biophysicist in Profile

Following her first postdoc, she thought about how she wanted her career in biophysics to proceed. She was enjoying her academic life, full of new ideas and working on her own project. On the other hand, she longed for some job security and missed teamwork. She applied for a variety of biophyisi- cist positions and in the end was faced with a choice be- tween a postdoc at Imperial College, London, or a long-term contract working in drug discovery at the Beatson Institute for Cancer Research in Scotland, UK. “I was not very familiar with the processes in drug discovery at the time. But as the profile fit right into my interests of studying protein-ligand interaction using biophysics (NMR, ITC, SPR), I decided to go for the position at Beatson as a senior biophysicist,” she says. “I discovered that biophysics is essential in early stage drug discovery and that its correct application is what makes or breaks projects. I also started a new workshop called ‘Know Your Method’ that was held at the Beatson Institute to talk about the right application of certain methods available in the Institute.” Gohlke now works as a senior biophysicist in early stage oncology drug discovery at AstraZeneca in Cambridge, United Kingdom. As is common within industry research, her projects are confidential, but range over a variety of oncology target classes. “In general, I am using quantitative biophysics (SPR, ITC, etc.) to study drug targets in oncology and their interac- tion with small molecules. This encompasses everything from exploring new drug targets and their mode of action, screen- ing for new initial small molecules, to working on lead series of drug molecules which then have the potential to be tested in the clinics. As I am working on several projects and target classes, each target exhibits its own challenges,” she shares. “I work in a very interdisciplinary environment, in direct con- tact with chemists, biochemists, and cell biologists. We are steadily consulting on how to proceed best with the projects, each of us bringing a different specialist point of view to the table which makes it very creative work. I am also getting more experience in project management and am supervis- ing students here at AstraZeneca which still lets me have a glimpse of the academic world.” In addition, she has recently been volunteering for three months at a COVID-19 screening facility as a data team lead helping to establish the facility and evaluating screening results. “ It has been an invaluable experience being on the forefront making a direct impact in patients’ lives,” she shares. When asked about some of the challenges she faced in her field, she shares, “Biophysics in drug discovery is sometimes seen as a straightforward approach making it look simple. But as with any method, it is important to familiarize yourself with the principles and limitations of each method thoroughly, as these are sometimes not accounted for when interpreting results. Through establishing a new workshop called ‘Biophysics in Drug Discovery – Not Just a Black Box’ I am trying to raise awareness and get users from industry and

academics talking about the technical implications when us- ing biophysical methods. Unfortunately, I had to cancel it due to the COVID-19 lockdown but hope to proceed with it again soon.”

Gohlke with her parents and uncle during a family visit to see her in Cambridge.

When she is not working, Gohlke enjoys traveling, exploring different cultures, enjoying good food with friends, and going swimming or taking a nice walk in the park with her husband. “I also very much enjoy music. I used to sing in a choir and play instruments, which I want to pick up again,” she shares. Going forward in her career, Gohlke hopes to use biophysics to advance drug discovery, and to contribute to developing novel methods exhibiting higher sensitivity, with the ability to measure in more physiological environments. “My advice to biophysicists just starting out in their careers would be that you should always ask for the things you want to achieve,” she says. “Do not wait for someone else to make these decisions for you. In addition, my advice would be to be proactive and honest, standing by your integrity and being respectful to others is essential for great science as much as it is in daily life.”

July/August 2020

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