Dr. Mothersole is an organic and biochemist whose research focuses on the recombinant expression and characterisation of enzymes, with an interest in examining non-canonical reactions performed by enzymes. Enzymes are large macromolecules that coordinate the vast majority of metabolic reactions within living organisms. By isolating and characterising them we can improve our understanding of enzyme structure and mechanisms. Some enzymes have been discovered to catalyse reactions outside of their traditional biological niche. Taking advantage of this may lead to the development of novel methods to solve problems, such as new treatments for diseases or bioremediation of pollutants.

Most recently, he has been investigating a series of acyl-CoA synthetases that have been shown to catalyse reactions with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a group of chemical pollutants of increasing concern. This research may help determine metabolic pathways capable of removing these compounds from the environment.