Christofer Björkelid
About Christofer Björkelid
Christofer Björkelid is an Industrial Liaison Scientist specializing in Macromolecular Crystallography at Diamond Light Source in Didcot, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom. He has extensive experience in biochemistry and structural biology, having worked at various academic and research institutions, including Uppsala University and Sobi.
Current Role at Diamond Light Source
Christofer Björkelid serves as an Industrial Liaison Scientist at Diamond Light Source, a position he has held since 2020. In this role, he focuses on facilitating collaborations between the facility and industrial partners. His expertise in macromolecular crystallography (MX) allows him to support research initiatives that require advanced structural analysis techniques. He is involved in promoting the use of synchrotron radiation for drug discovery and development.
Professional Experience in Biochemistry
Björkelid has extensive experience in the field of biochemistry. He worked at Uppsala University as an Undergraduate Researcher from 2000 to 2004, followed by a role as a Researcher from 2005 to 2014 in the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology. He also served as a Research Fellow at Nanyang Technological University from 2014 to 2016 in the Division of Structural Biology & Biochemistry. His work included supervising teams in biophysical and biochemical screening of target proteins.
Previous Positions in the Pharmaceutical Industry
Björkelid held a position as a Scientist at Sobi - Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB from 2016 to 2020, where he contributed to drug development processes. Prior to that, he worked as a Junior Scientist at GE Healthcare Life Sciences for five months in 2004-2005. His responsibilities included x-ray crystallography and structural analysis, particularly in the context of fragment-based drug design.
Educational Background in Biochemistry and Structural Biology
Björkelid earned a Master of Science (MSc) in Biochemistry from Uppsala University, completing his studies from 2000 to 2005. He further advanced his education at the same institution, obtaining a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Structural Biology from 2005 to 2012. His academic training provided a strong foundation for his subsequent research and professional roles in the field.
Research Contributions and Expertise
Björkelid's research contributions include performing fragment to lead design using molecular modeling to guide compound synthesis. His expertise in macromolecular crystallography has been instrumental in advancing structural biology techniques, particularly in drug discovery. His work has involved collaboration with organic chemists to develop new compounds based on structural insights.