SEB Annual Conference Florence 2026

Salma Akter

Research Fellow, University of Oxford

Dr Salma Akter’s research interest in the delicate balance between reactive oxygen species (ROS)–mediated cellular survival and cell death under oxidative stress began during her PhD studies. She became fascinated by the dynamic role of ROS as both a protective and destructive force within cells. This curiosity has shaped her research career, leading her to specialize in oxidative stress signalling in both plant and mammalian systems. Building on this expertise, her current research focuses on dissecting oxidative stress signalling networks in plants and developing strategies to enhance plant stress tolerance. In the long term, she aims to translate this knowledge into practical approaches to improve crop yield and help address the challenges posed by climate change and global food security.

Dr. Shane Austin

Lecturer in Biochemistry, The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus

Shane Austin is a lecturer in Biochemistry and Deputy Dean of Graduate Research and Outreach in the Faculty of Science and Technology at The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus. He completed his PhD studies at the Medical University of Vienna on a collaborative project with the Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences. Shane is a member of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, where he serves on the Maximizing Access Committee (MAC). The MAC seeks to improve opportunities for biochemistry and molecular biology scientists from marginalised backgrounds. Shane chairs the awards task force on that committee, which is responsible for awarding scholarships, travel awards and society prizes. Shane is also actively involved with the SEB Outreach Education and Diversity group, where he chairs the Awards nomination taskforce, an initiative to improve diversity in the SEB awards scheme. Shane supervises five research students on topics from snail metabolism to circular bioeconomies using anaerobic digestion. He also explores research topics of biochemical education and uterine fibroids in Afro-Caribbean women.