Professor Cait MacPhee CBE FRSE is Professor of Biological Physics at the University of Edinburgh. She is currently Co-Director of the National Biofilms Innovation Centre (NBIC), an innovation knowledge centre spanning the UK that links university research with industry partners and end users to accelerate the translation of innovative technologies.
Her research addresses fundamental questions at the interface of physics and biology. A central strand of her work has been decoding the mechanisms of protein aggregation and self-assembly, with implications for the treatment of conditions such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and adult-onset diabetes. Separately but relatedly, she investigates microbial biofilms: the complex, surface-associated communities formed by bacteria and the most common lifestyle adopted by microbes on Earth. Cait’s research explores how the proteins and other molecules they produce shape biofilm structure and behaviour. This research has practical significance across a wide range of sectors, from healthcare to industry, and has helped establish the UK's leadership in microbial biofilm research.
Cait has participated in a wide range of UK and international research consortia, and has made contributions to industrial, policy and learned society committees. She is currently Policy and Public Engagement Lead for NBIC, and she has served on international advisory boards across the US, Japan, Singapore and Australia.
Cait is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, a Fellow of the Institute of Physics, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology. She was awarded a CBE for services to women in physics.
Professor MacPhee joined the SSAC on 1 October 2026.
