At the Department of Biology, our research tackles some of the world’s most pressing challenges across three connected themes: improving Human Health and controlling Disease Vectors; protecting Ecosystems and Biodiversity; and developing Sustainable Ways to produce Food and Energy for the future.
Within each theme, we have developed work streams that span local, regional, national, and global scales, ensuring our impact reaches from communities close to home to challenges worldwide.
Human Health & Disease Vectors
Cancer biology and neuro-oncology
Reproductive health, pregnancy outcomes, and placental biology
Rare genetic and skin diseases; personalised medicine
Mosquito biology, insecticide resistance, and vector-borne diseases (malaria, dengue, etc.)
We offer both PhD and MRes (Masters by Research) opportunities across these research themes. Please direct initial enquiries about proposed projects to the lead supervisor or to research contacts for Biology.
Synthesis of small molecule therapeutics for snake envenoming
Venom lethality and drug rescue studies in the Galleria mellonella model: Brazilian yellow scorpion (Tityus serrulatus), yellow fat-tailed scorpion (Androctonus australis), Australian box jellyfish (Chironex fleckeri), the black widow spider (Latrodectus hasselti) and Stephens’s banded snake (Hoplocephalus stephensii).
Dr Amanda Thomaz
Uncovering Key Players in Glioblastoma: Harnessing Centrosome Amplification for Enhanced Therapy Efficacy
Implications of treating different animal skins with water and amphoteric solutions following acid attacks and other chemical burns. (This project is co-supervised by Professor Kayvan Shokrollahi who is Consultant in Burns, Plastic & Laser Surgeon at Whiston Hospital).
Investigating anticancer properties of vitamins and phytochemicals with particular interest in vitamins C, D & B12 and the phytochemical curcumin.
Analysing water pollution and its impact: measuring pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, Na, K, phosphate, and various forms of nitrogen using chemical methods.
