It is with the deepest regret that we announce the death of Dr Jonathan Spencer, age 47, Fellow of St John's College and Reader in Biological Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry. Joe, as he was known to friends and colleagues, was killed in a car accident near Cambridge on Sunday 6 April.

Professor Steven Ley BP Professor of Chemistry and Head of Organic Chemistry says: "This is a devastating blow to the University and to the international chemistry community.

“Joe was a much respected colleague, who was making pioneering advances in our understanding of how antibiotic molecules are created naturally in biological systems.

“His work was aimed at producing a new range of antibiotic molecules, including those with the potential to combat MRSA and other superbugs. In the last few years he had truly established a reputation as a world leader in his field.

“He will be greatly missed by all who knew him."

Joe graduated in 1984 with a BSc in Biochemistry and Chemistry at the University of Southampton.

He remained at Southampton for his PhD under the supervision of Professor Peter Jordan, moving with Professor Jordan to Queen Mary College London as a research fellow in 1990. In 1992 he was awarded a prestigious NATO Research Fellowship to work with Professor Ian Scott at Texas A&M University.

He was appointed to a Royal Society University Research Fellowship in Cambridge in 1994 and became a Fellow of St John’s College in 1995.

He was appointed University Lecturer in 1999, and promoted to Reader in 2004.

St John’s College President Dr Mark Nicholls said: “Joe was very much a college man. He joined the Fellowship in 1995 and became Director of Studies in Chemistry in 2000. As a tutor he was very much involved in the educational and pastoral role of the college. We will miss him greatly.”

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Licence. If you use this content on your site please link back to this page.