Groundbreaking research in the department of Life Sciences is making a difference around the world. Below are some of our REF 2021 case studies, showcasing how our research has already translated into real-world impact.

Impact case studies 1

Protecting biodiversity in Brazil and beyond

Brazil’s Atlantic Forest – one of the most biodiverse areas in the world – has suffered great losses in habitat since the arrival of European settlers. Dr Cristina Banks-Leite has researched the best way to restore this fragile forest ecosystem.

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Zooming in on the tree of life

Evolution researchers often produce phylogenetic trees that demonstrate the relationships between species, with the first complete phylogenetic tree containing over two million species published in 2015. But how could we view these large trees after building them?

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Impact case studies 2

Phyre: Powering protein structure pharmaceutical knowledge

Proteins are large molecules, made up of strings or ‘sequences’ of amino acids that twist and fold into complex three-dimensional shapes. These shapes determine how they bind to other molecules in our bodies, affecting a whole host of vital biological functions such as immune responses or the development of genetic diseases.

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Monitoring for biodiversity using environmental DNA

Environmental DNA (eDNA) is trace amounts of genetic material that all living things leave behind in our surroundings. Found in the air, water and soil, research teams led by Professor Vincent Savolainen and Professor Alfried Vogler have used eDNA techniques to transform ecological monitoring.

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Postgraduate research

Interested in studying a PhD at the Department of Life Sciences? Find out more about postgraduate research opportunties.

Useful links for researchers