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Martin Ulmschneider

Professor Martin Ulmschneider

Head of Department of Chemistry

  • Professor of Computational Chemistry

Research interests

  • Chemistry

Biography

Professor Martin Ulmschneider is the Head of the Department of Chemistry and a Professor of Computational Chemistry. Martin studied Physics at Oxford University, followed by a DPhil at the Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics working on membrane protein simulations. International fellowships from the Wellcome Trust, Human Frontiers (Short Term), and the EU (Marie Curie) allowed him to work on membrane protein folding and membrane active peptides at the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore, the University of Rome La Sapienza, Oxford University, Utrecht University, the University of California, Irvine, and Birkbeck College, London, before becoming an Assistant Professor at Johns Hopkins University working on biomaterials. He joined the Department of Chemistry at King’s in 2017 and is currently working on membrane active peptide design for diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

Research Interests

Membrane active peptides are ubiquitous in nature. These soluble amphiphilic peptides insert autonomously into biological membranes, carrying out a wealth of biological functions, many of which remain poorly characterised. This is chiefly due to a lack of technology that can resolve the transient functional structures that these peptides form in membranes. To address this we have developed a range of experimentally validated computational tools that allow atomic detail characterisation of the interactions of peptides with biological membranes, capturing the mechanisms of adsorption, folding, and functional assembly without bias. We apply these tools to reveal the functional structures and their dynamics as well as use the insights gained from these studies to design and optimise novel membrane active peptides for biomedical applications.

Teaching

  • Mathematics for Chemists
  • Thermodynamics
  • PhD supervision

Publications

    Research

    FEATURE Atoms
    Ulmschneider Group

    The Ulmschneider group studies how peptides and proteins interact with cellular membranes and carry out their biological functions.

    NMS hero banner multi
    Cross-Disciplinary Approaches to Non-Equilibrium Systems (CANES)

    The mission of CANES is to train future research leaders in the understanding, control and design of systems far from equilibrium, based on rigorous training in theoretical modelling, simulation and data-driven analysis, and a breadth of awareness of common themes across disciplines.

    OILRIG
    Lipids and Membranes Research Interest Group

    A Lipids and Membranes Research Interest Group

    News

    Interdisciplinary scientists revolutionise drug design through simulations

    Molecular level computer simulations could improve the delivery of existing drugs as well as the formulation of new ones.

    Chris Lorenz nanoparticle story (1)

    Department of Chemistry partners with start-up to unlock the power of quantum computing to tackle neurological disorders

    Danish firm Kvantify will provide industry support to academics and students alongside funding a PhD programme and internships

    quantum computers-780x440

    Drug treatment for triple negative breast cancer

    King's research into breast cancer treatment moves to in-licensing

    breast cancer pathology 780x

    Events

    17MayNMES ILS generic banner - 780x440

    Chemistry Inaugural Lecture: Professors Ismael Díez-Pérez and Martin Ulmschneider

    Join us to celebrate a special milestone for our new professors and hear about their inspiring career journeys.

    Please note: this event has passed.

      Research

      FEATURE Atoms
      Ulmschneider Group

      The Ulmschneider group studies how peptides and proteins interact with cellular membranes and carry out their biological functions.

      NMS hero banner multi
      Cross-Disciplinary Approaches to Non-Equilibrium Systems (CANES)

      The mission of CANES is to train future research leaders in the understanding, control and design of systems far from equilibrium, based on rigorous training in theoretical modelling, simulation and data-driven analysis, and a breadth of awareness of common themes across disciplines.

      OILRIG
      Lipids and Membranes Research Interest Group

      A Lipids and Membranes Research Interest Group

      News

      Interdisciplinary scientists revolutionise drug design through simulations

      Molecular level computer simulations could improve the delivery of existing drugs as well as the formulation of new ones.

      Chris Lorenz nanoparticle story (1)

      Department of Chemistry partners with start-up to unlock the power of quantum computing to tackle neurological disorders

      Danish firm Kvantify will provide industry support to academics and students alongside funding a PhD programme and internships

      quantum computers-780x440

      Drug treatment for triple negative breast cancer

      King's research into breast cancer treatment moves to in-licensing

      breast cancer pathology 780x

      Events

      17MayNMES ILS generic banner - 780x440

      Chemistry Inaugural Lecture: Professors Ismael Díez-Pérez and Martin Ulmschneider

      Join us to celebrate a special milestone for our new professors and hear about their inspiring career journeys.

      Please note: this event has passed.