Simone Culurgioni
About Simone Culurgioni
Simone Culurgioni is the Director of Crystallography at Exscientia, a position he has held since 2021. He has extensive experience in crystallography, having previously worked at institutions such as Diamond Light Source and CNIO.
Current Role at Exscientia
Simone Culurgioni serves as the Director of Crystallography at Exscientia, a position held since 2021. In this role, she oversees crystallographic research and development efforts within the organization. Her leadership contributes to the advancement of drug discovery processes through structural biology techniques. Exscientia is known for its innovative approach to AI-driven drug development, and Culurgioni's expertise in crystallography plays a crucial role in this mission.
Previous Experience at Exscientia
Before becoming the Director of Crystallography, Simone Culurgioni worked at Exscientia in various capacities. She initially served as a Senior Research Scientist for five months in 2018, followed by her role as Head of Crystallography from 2019 to 2021. During her tenure, she contributed to significant projects that enhanced the company's capabilities in structural biology and crystallography.
Academic Background and Education
Simone Culurgioni holds a Master's degree in Biotechnology from Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, where she studied from 1998 to 2004. She further pursued her education at Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, earning a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Biochemistry from 2005 to 2010. Additionally, she studied Biophysics and Chemistry at Universidad Complutense de Madrid for one year in 2001-2002. This extensive academic background has provided her with a solid foundation in the life sciences.
Research Experience at Diamond Light Source
Culurgioni worked as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Diamond Light Source from 2013 to 2017. This role involved conducting advanced research utilizing synchrotron radiation for structural biology studies. Her work at Diamond Light Source contributed to the understanding of protein structures and their functions, which is essential for drug discovery and development.
Early Career and Predoctoral Research
Simone Culurgioni began her research career as a predoctoral student at various institutions. She worked at CNIO in Madrid from 2005 to 2007 and at CIC bioGUNE in Bilbao from 2008 to 2010. Additionally, she had a brief tenure at CERM in Florence for two months in 2005. These early experiences laid the groundwork for her future contributions to the field of crystallography and structural biology.