Dr. Anna Akinshina
School of Science, Engineering and Environment
Current positions
Lecturer in Physical Chemistry
Biography
I am an enthusiastic molecular modeller and have over 10 years of academic and industrial experience in molecular modelling and simulation applied to problems in life sciences. I study the interactions between the molecules, preferably bio-molecules. I have worked in the fields of food colloids, liquid crystals, protein interactions and bio membranes. My current research interests are in the area of topical drug delivery: how do molecules permeate into and through skin?
Nowadays I mainly use molecular dynamics (atomistic and coarse-grained) for my research but previously I’ve used Monte Carlo and Self-Consistent Field methods.
I graduated as a biophysicist from St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia. After that I obtained a PhD degree in Physical Chemistry at the Division of Physical Chemistry, Lund University, Sweden where I study interactions between polyelectrolytes and charged nanoparticles. I have moved to England in 2006 and prior joining the University of Salford in December 2016, I have worked at the School of Food Science & Nutrition, University of Leeds, Unilever R&D Port Sunlight, the School of Chemical Engineering & Analytical Sciences, University of Manchester and The Institute of Skin Integrity and Infection Prevention, School of Human and Health Sciences, University of Huddersfield.
Areas of research
Computational Chemistry, Molecular Modelling, Skin Structure and Properties, Permeation of Bio Membranes, Self Assembly Phenomena
- Introduction to Physical Chemistry
- Core Physical Chemistry
- Advanced Topics in Physical Chemistry
- Skin structure and properties
- Interactions of drugs and small molecules with bio-membranes
- Molecular interactions within complex biosystems
- How do different skin penetration enhancers work?
- Antiseptics and antimicrobials and their interactions with skin lipids
Qualifications
- 1996: BSc in Physics, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia
- 1999: MSc in Physics, Department of Molecular Biophysics, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia
- 2005: PhD in Physical Chemistry, Lund University, Sweden
Memberships
- Member of CCP5 (Collaborative Computational Project for simulations of condensed phases (since 2015)
- Applied for RSC membership