World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!
Award Badge
Best Female Scientists
2025
Award Badge
Molecular Biology
UK
2026

D-Index & Metrics

Best Female Scientists

D-Index
153
Citations
145791
World Ranking
137
National Ranking
11

Molecular Biology

D-Index
156
Citations
149473
World Ranking
71
National Ranking
5

Research.com Recognitions

  • 2026 - Research.com Molecular Biology in United Kingdom Leader Award
  • 2025 - Research.com Best Female Scientists Award
  • 2025 - Research.com Molecular Biology in United Kingdom Leader Award
  • 2024 - Research.com Genetics and Molecular Biology in United Kingdom Leader Award
  • 2023 - Research.com Molecular Biology in United Kingdom Leader Award
  • 2014 - Member of Academia Europaea
  • 2009 - Fellow of the International Society for Computational Biology
  • 2003 - Member of the National Academy of Sciences
  • 1999 - Fellow of the Royal Society, United Kingdom
  • Member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO)
  • Member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO)
  • Member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO)

Overview

Janet M. Thornton is affiliated with the European Bioinformatics Institute in the United Kingdom. Their research spans primarily within the field of Biochemistry, Genetics, and Molecular Biology, with a particular focus on Molecular Biology.

The scientist's work covers several subfields including Molecular Biology, Materials Chemistry, Computational Theory and Mathematics, Aging, and Genetics. Main topics of research include Protein Structure and Dynamics, Enzyme Structure and Function, Microbial Metabolic Engineering and Bioproduction, Computational Drug Discovery Methods, Enzyme Catalysis and Immobilization, Bioinformatics and Genomic Networks, and Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms.

Frequent coauthors of Janet M. Thornton are:

  • Neera Borkakoti
  • António J. M. Ribeiro
  • Ioannis G. Riziotis
  • Linda Partridge
  • Roman A. Laskowski

Common venues in which the scientist has published include:

  • bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
  • Scientific Reports
  • FEBS Journal
  • Journal of Molecular Biology
  • Nature Methods

Selected recent papers authored or coauthored by Janet M. Thornton include:

  • AlphaFold heralds a data-driven revolution in biology and medicine, 2021, Nature Medicine
  • A structural biology community assessment of AlphaFold2 applications, 2022, Nature Structural & Molecular Biology
  • Common genetic associations between age-related diseases, 2021, Nature Aging
  • The impact of AlphaFold2 one year on, 2022, Nature Methods
  • A structural biology community assessment of AlphaFold 2 applications, 2021, bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)

Janet M. Thornton has been recognized with several honors, including membership in the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO), the Royal Society Fellowship in the United Kingdom awarded in 1999, membership in the National Academy of Sciences in 2003, Fellowship of the International Society for Computational Biology in 2009, and membership in Academia Europaea in 2014.

Best Publications

  • PROCHECK: a program to check the stereochemical quality of protein structures

    R. A. Laskowski;M. W. MacArthur;D. S. Moss;J. M. Thornton

  • The rapid generation of mutation data matrices from protein sequences

    David T. Jones;William R. Taylor;Janet M. Thornton

  • AQUA and PROCHECK-NMR: programs for checking the quality of protein structures solved by NMR

    R A Laskowski;J A Rullmannn;M W MacArthur;R Kaptein

  • LIGPLOT: a program to generate schematic diagrams of protein-ligand interactions

    Andrew C. Wallace;Roman A. Laskowski;Janet M. Thornton

  • Principles of protein-protein interactions

    Susan Jones;Janet M. Thornton

  • CATH – a hierarchic classification of protein domain structures

    CA Orengo;AD Michie;S Jones;DT Jones

  • Satisfying hydrogen bonding potential in proteins.

    Ian K. McDonald;Janet M. Thornton

  • Stereochemical quality of protein structure coordinates.

    A L Morris;M W Macarthur;M W Macarthur;E G Hutchinson;J M Thornton

  • Antibody-antigen Interactions: Contact Analysis and Binding Site Topography

    Robert M. MacCallum;Andrew C.R. Martin;Andrew C.R. Martin;Janet M. Thornton;Janet M. Thornton

  • A new approach to protein fold recognition.

    DT Jones;WR Taylor;JM Thornton

  • Main-chain bond lengths and bond angles in protein structures.

    Roman A. Laskowski;David S. Moss;Janet M. Thornton

  • Influence of proline residues on protein conformation

    Malcolm W. MacArthur;Janet M. Thornton

  • Helix geometry in proteins.

    D.J. Barlow;J.M. Thornton

  • PROMOTIF--a program to identify and analyze structural motifs in proteins.

    E G Hutchinson;J M Thornton

  • Metal ions in biological catalysis: from enzyme databases to general principles

    Claudia Andreini;Ivano Bertini;Gabriele Cavallaro;Gemma L. Holliday

  • Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinase 1 Signaling Regulates Mammalian Life Span

    Colin Selman;Jennifer M A Tullet;Daniela Wieser;Elaine Elizabeth Irvine

  • PDBsum: Structural summaries of PDB entries

    Roman A. Laskowski;Jagoda Jabłońska;Lukáš Pravda;Radka Svobodová Vařeková

  • A revised set of potentials for β‐turn formation in proteins

    E. Gail Hutchinson;Janet M. Thornton

  • Analysis and prediction of the different types of β-turn in proteins

    C.M. Wilmot;J.M. Thornton

  • Diversity of protein–protein interactions

    Irene M.A. Nooren;Janet M. Thornton

Frequent Co-Authors

Christine A. Orengo
Christine A. Orengo University College London
Roman A. Laskowski
Roman A. Laskowski European Bioinformatics Institute
Linda Partridge
Linda Partridge Max Planck Society
David T. Jones
David T. Jones University College London
Ian Sillitoe
Ian Sillitoe University College London
William R. Taylor
William R. Taylor The Francis Crick Institute
Michael J.E. Sternberg
Michael J.E. Sternberg Imperial College London
Andrew J. Martin
Andrew J. Martin University of New South Wales
Aled M. Edwards
Aled M. Edwards Structural Genomics Consortium
David Gems
David Gems University College London

If you think any of the details on this page are incorrect, let us know.

Report an issue

We appreciate your kind effort to assist us to improve this page, it would be helpful providing us with as much detail as possible in the text box below:

Related Online Degrees & Career Pathways

Exploring molecular biology often intersects with a variety of fields and career options. For those considering a change, making a career change for teachers into roles like speech pathology can combine science with education and communication skills.

The rise of remote learning has also made it easier to pursue science-aligned programs online. For instance, individuals interested in design and problem-solving may explore the architecture degree online or the online degree mathematics. Both paths offer flexibility for working professionals or those aiming to switch disciplines.

If your passion leans toward creativity and digital media, a graphic design degree online can open doors to dynamic roles in biotech marketing or scientific visualization. Exploring these related degrees and pathways ensures you find a career that fits your interests and the evolving demands of science-based sectors.

Best Scientists Citing Janet M. Thornton

Trending Scientists