Josephine Bunch is NPL’s Head of Science and an NPL Fellow in Biomolecular Analysis. Her research focuses on the development of reliable and reproducible methods for the analysis and imaging of complex biological systems. She is particularly committed to establishing the metrology needed to extend the application of these promising methods to broader challenges such as health screening, early diagnosis and population health.
Following her PhD in mass spectrometry at Sheffield Hallam University, Josephine was a postdoctoral researcher at The University of Sheffield and then a lecturer in chemistry in Birmingham where she established her first research group. She joined NPL as a senior scientist in 2013 and was promoted to principal scientist in 2014, and NPL Fellow in 2019. She has been HoS for the chemical and biological sciences department since 2024.
From 2017 to 2024 Josephine was principal investigator of a Cancer Research Grand Challenge ‘Rosetta’ programme, leading a multi-disciplinary team from NPL, Imperial College London, The CRUK Scotland Institute (formerly the CRUK Beatson Institute), The Francis Crick Institute, The University of Cambridge, Barts Cancer Institute, The Institute of Cancer Research, and Astra Zeneca. The consortium established a multi-scale spectroscopic imaging pipeline for visualising small and large molecules in tumours and cells. These methods were used to make several key discoveries which included identification of biomarkers associated with specific forms of breast cancer, new therapeutic targets in colorectal and pancreatic cancers, mechanistic insights into proliferation of colon cancer and visualisation of sub-forms of glioblastoma brain cancers. The research from Rosetta continues via other funded research projects and measurement services at NPL.
In 2019 Josephine was seconded to The Rosalind Franklin Institute for two years as science director where she supported the development of the biological MS research themes, assisted in the facilities design and transition into the new institute, supported recruitment of new staff in science and operations, and established and supported the institute’s doctoral training programme.
Josephine held the Chair of Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry at Imperial College London from 2017 to 2026. During her time at ICL she served as co-theme lead in the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre. Josephine stood down from her role at ICL in 2026 to serve as Head of Science at NPL.