Aswin Doekhie

I am a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Bath in the Sartbaeva group. We are using ensilication to thermally stabilise vaccines so that they can be distributed throughout the world without the need for refrigeration, which is currently essential for vaccine storage. Silica, the main constituent of sand, is used to encase proteins at a molecular level to prevent them from damage caused by heating or freezing.

I did my Chemistry PhD within the same group on the ensilication of a tetanus protein. This was to demonstrate a proof-of-concept for vaccine ensilication. Before my PhD at Bath I worked in industry for a few years in the field of vaccine development. One of these companies is now involved in the development of a COVID-19 vaccine. I have a background in biomedical sciences with focus on microbiology and infectious disease.