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School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences

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Beyond labels: A new framework for neurodiversity and mental health
24 September 2024

A new article introduces a dimensional approach to understanding the mental health needs of neurodivergent people.

Student Spotlight: Meet Nanthana Gunathilagan, second year, Pharmacology and Innovative Therapeutics student
24 September 2024

We caught up with Nanthana, a second year Pharmacology and Innovative Therapeutics student who shared with us why she chose to embark on her chosen degree, what she's been up to and the highlights of her time so far at Queen Mary.

Non-cognitive skills: the hidden key to academic success
28 August 2024

New research reveals the growing importance of emotional intelligence in shaping educational outcomes.

Scientists assess how large dinosaurs could really get
6 August 2024

The maximum size of T. rex is estimated to be 70% larger than current values.

Degraded rainforests still hold significant value, new study shows
23 July 2024

A massive new study of 127 surveys across 11 years, published in Nature and carried out by an international team of researchers, sheds light on the true value of degraded tropical rainforests.

Student Spotlight: Meet Ka Young Choi, second year, Psychology student
23 July 2024

We caught up with Ka Yong, a second year Psychology with Year Abroad Student who shared with us why she chose to embark on her chosen degree, what she's been up to and the highlights of her time so far at Queen Mary.

Student Spotlight: Meet Ahana, second year, Biomedical Science student
27 May 2024

Meet Ahana, a second-year biomedical science student at the School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences at Queen Mary University of London.

Ahana has thrived in an environment that nurtures her passion for the immune system. From hands-on anatomy lab experiences to active involvement in student societies, Ahana’s journey is marked by curiosity and engagement. 

The origin and long-distance travels of upside down trees
23 May 2024

Scientists have solved the mystery behind the origin, evolution and dispersal around the world of iconic baobabs.

SBBS Student wins first prize at Royal Entomological Society Student Event
9 April 2024

Meet Karmannye Chaudhary, a second-year Biology student at Queen Mary University of London. But Karmannye's interests go beyond the ordinary – they're particularly drawn to entomology, the study of insects.

 

Chicks prove vision and touch linked at birth
4 April 2024

Queen Mary study reveals that newly hatched chicks can instantly recognise objects with their vision, even if they've only ever experienced them by touch.

Queen Mary University of London Postdoctoral Fellow recognised for work on butterfly development
25 March 2024

Dr Océane Seudre, a postdoctoral research fellow at Queen Mary University of London, is among the winners of the 2024 L'Oréal UNESCO For Women In Science Rising Talents Awards.

Professor Julia Hörnle,Dr Janelle Jones, Rita Kenkwanzi and Elizabeth Quinn have released research shows financial institutions can make a crucial difference to individuals affected by gambling-related harms.
21 February 2024

Professor Julia Hörnle,Dr Janelle Jones, Rita Kenkwanzi and Elizabeth Quinn have released research shows financial institutions can make a crucial difference to individuals affected by gambling-related harms.

Student Spotlight: Meet Mithsuka, third year, Biochemistry student
1 February 2024

We caught up with Mithsuka a third year Biochemistry Student who shared with us why he chose to embark on his BSc Biochemistry degree at Queen Mary, the highlights of his course so far and his role as a Clinical Skills Lab Technician and an Events Officer for the Sri Lankan Society. 

Matteo Fumagalli, has recently published a paper about the genomic footprint of social stratification in admixing American populations.
16 January 2024

Senior Lecturer in Genetics, Matteo Fumagalli, has recently published a paper about the genomic footprint of social stratification in admixing American populations.

Biotech Breakthroughs: How the UK is leading the way for global innovation and excellence
15 November 2023

Industrial biotechnology is the application of the biosciences to solving a broad range of challenges ranging from medicine and healthcare to agriculture and environmental science.  But did you know the United Kingdom is one of Europe’s leading biotech hub in breakthrough life-sciences start-ups! 

We caught up with Dr Simon Moore (SM) and Dr Ruth Rose (RR) to learn more about Biotech hubs and what we can expect as the biotech sector continues to grow…

Harris Federation Outreach Event
9 November 2023

Yesterday, we welcomed over 700 students from Harris Federation Academies across London. The Outreach event was filled with subject talks, lab demonstrations, campus tours and student life sessions.

Society Spotlight: QMUL Biomedical Society
24 October 2023

We caught up with Co-presidents of the QMUL Biomedical Society, Ahana and Kajetha, to learn more about the benefit of joining the society as well as the events they have planned for this academic year.

ADHD ADHD Awareness Month
16 October 2023

To celebrate ADHD Awareness month, we wanted to highlight the important work of Dr Jessica Agnew-Blais, who recently won a UKRI grant to help provide a more comprehensive understanding of ADHD, particularly in how it presents in girls and women. 

South African Adventure
10 October 2023

In September, our third-year students embarked on a trip to South Africa as part of the Savannah Ecology module. We caught up with Mia a third-year biology student who reflected on her experience and time out in the field.

Woman pipetting liquid wearing white lab coat Dr Pavel Kratina, Senior Lecturer in Ecology, publishes new research into tropical ecosystems
9 October 2023

Tropical ecosystems are more reliant on emerging aquatic insects, making them more vulnerable to disruptions in the links between land and water, according to a new study by researchers from Queen Mary University of London and the University of Campinas in Brazil. 

Field Trip to Croatia
19 July 2023

In May, our second year Biology and Zoology students spent a week out in Croatia to complete a field course in Ecology, delivered in partnership with the University of Zagreb. Throughout the trip, students learnt how to integrate theory with empirical observations and data collection while soaking up the Croatian culture and testing out its unique cuisine. 

 

 

Peer Leader - Tyler Christian
23 June 2023

We caught up with Tyler Christian to find out about his time as a Peer Leader in the School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences. 

World Sea Turtle Day: Wild Live Streaming
16 June 2023

To kick off Sea Turtle Week, the Wild-Live Streaming (WLS) initiative made a visit to Richmond Park Academy, as part of its efforts to raise awareness about wildlife conservation amongst young people.

Celebrating SBBS' Women in Science
1 June 2023

The 11th February marks UN International Day of Women and Girls in Science (IDWGIS), which aims to recognise women’s contributions in science, smash stereotypes and defeat discrimination against women and girls in the sciences.  

This year the focus was on the role women and girls in science have in meeting Sustainable Development Goals, namely clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, industry innovation, and infrastructure, sustainable cities and communities and means of implementation. 

Here in the School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, we have many female role models who are helping to further scientific understanding and encouraging more women and girls to consider careers in science.  

Peer Leader - Gurleen Gill
12 May 2023

We caught up with Gurleen Gill to find out about her Biochemistry degree and time as a Peer Leader. 

Student Success: Shaun Bernadet
12 May 2023

Shaun won a the best mentor award recently so we caught up with to him to understand his work, motivations and what he has gained from this experience.

 

Science and Engineering Underrepresented Groups in Research Internships 2022/23
9 May 2023

The Faculty of Science and Engineering invites applications for Undergraduate Research Studentships from UK candidates from Underrepresented Groups in Research with priority this round to Black, Black British, Caribbean, or African candidates. The competition is part of wider set of measures to address the systemic underrepresentation of certain groups conducting research at QMUL. The internships will offer a broad understanding of research skills and methods as well as industry or non-academic career paths that are available to those with research skills.

British scientist describes rare discovery of a dinosaur eating a mammal
21 December 2022

The small, feathered dinosaur Microraptor is preserved with the foot of a small mammal inside its ribcage.

bumblebee by pink flower Insects may feel pain, says growing evidence – here’s what this means for animal welfare laws
14 December 2022

Professor Lars Chittka and Matilda Gibbons have co-written for the Conversation on insects' ability to feel pain.

Man wading in river surrounded by Ranunculus plants Research reveals the benefits of a classic chalk river plant, the water crowfoot (Ranunculus)
8 December 2022

A PhD research project conducted by Queen Mary’s Dr Jessica Marsh in conjunction with the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust has revealed the importance of water crowfoot – an aquatic plant found commonly in lowland rivers – in the conservation of young Atlantic salmon.

a lemur New research by Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Queen Mary researchers prompts urgent call from scientists to protect Madagascar’s unique biodiversity, before it’s too late
2 December 2022

In two new papers published in Science, researchers from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Queen Mary University of London, and partners from over 50 global organisations have undertaken a major review of Madagascar’s extraordinary biodiversity.

a smiling woman in black winter coat In remembrance of Brenda Thake
1 December 2022

We report, with great regret, the death of Brenda Thake on 11 November in her 80th year. 

Loggerhead turtle Instagram can support sea turtle conservation
30 November 2022

Researchers have used Instagram to measure the pressures of tourism on loggerhead turtles in Zakynthos, Greece.

Lady smiling holding dog From Student to Staff - Meet the Lecturer, Dr Sally Faulkner
17 November 2022

We spoke to Director of Teaching and Learning in Biology and Programme Lead for Zoology, Medical Genetics and Biology, Dr Sally Faulkner. She touches on her journey to becoming a lecturer from studying BSc Zoology at Queen Mary, as well as an innovative new Peer-Led Team Learning (PLTL) initiative she has been championing. 

bumblebee by pink flower First-ever study shows bumble bees ‘play’
27 October 2022

Bumble bees play, according to new research led by Queen Mary University of London published in Animal Behaviour. It is the first time that object play behaviour has been shown in an insect, adding to mounting evidence that bees may experience positive ‘feelings’. 

Man holding a starfish Obituary: Michael C. Thorndyke (1946–2022)
6 October 2022

Maurice R. Elphick and Sam Dupont

orange starfish on pebbles Starfish reveal evolutionary history of puberty hormone
31 August 2022

Research from academics at Queen Mary University of London School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, published in BMC Biology, has revealed the evolutionary history of a hormone that controls sexual maturation in humans.

brazilian-wetlands-640 Large-scale study of Brazilian wetlands ramps up evidence that biodiversity loss undermines ecosystem functioning
23 August 2022

A new study analyses human impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in 72 lakes distributed across four large neotropical wetlands of Brazil – Amazon, Araguaia, Pantanal and Paraná. The research spans a 3.7million km gradient of human activities in Brazil.

Children in a refugee camp Only 1 in 5 Syrian children in refugee camps show resilience to mental health problems
12 August 2022

Many more Syrian children living in refugee camps appear to be living with mental health problems than previously thought, according to new in-the-field research led by Queen Mary.  

A bumblebee visiting a pink flower Queen Mary research is changing the way we think about bees
5 August 2022

Hot on the heels of his new book ‘The Mind of a Bee’, Professor Lars Chittka’s lab shows that bumblebees appear to feel pain 

Macro Photography of Bee on a Plant The Mind of a Bee review: Can a bee have a form of consciousness?
14 July 2022

A radical new book from Professor Lars Chittka argues that a bee may have a mind of its own, awareness of the world, basic emotions and intelligence. It is a bold and brave claim – but is it true?

Colourful envelopes with crafts inside Entelechy Arts and Queen Mary University of London share new report on the impact of remote creative programmes on older adults.
14 July 2022

Identifying the art of well-being’ is the second and final report in this research partnership providing insights into the effects of remote creative programmes on older adults during the Covid-19 pandemic. Remote creative programmes were shown to have long-term benefits for older adults' social connection and well-being.

a dead cockroach on a kitchen floor Insects May Be Able to Feel Pain, Study Suggests
8 July 2022

While flies are often seen as pests, a new study may make you think twice about killing them.

Small puppy bearing fangs Genomic analysis shows 18,000-year-old-puppy Dogor is a wolf
1 July 2022

When Dogor was found in frozen mud in Siberia, scientists couldn't tell if he was a wolf or an early dog.

fossilised psittacosaurus' legs (Credit- Wikimedia Commons_ Ghedoghedo) The strange search for dinosaur genitals
30 June 2022

The sordid details of how dinosaurs had sex have long eluded scientists. Now there's a new idea emerging – could their most eccentric features tell us how they did it?

Chick Domestic chicks can master the abstract concept of “absence”
7 June 2022

New experimental findings, published in eLife by an international research group involving Szabó from Central European University, Dr Elisabetta Versace from Queen Mary and researchers at the University of Trieste and the University of Trento shows that young domestic chicks are able to master the idea of the absence of an object. In a nutshell, chicks care about “nothing”.

male and female student in lab coats stood by machinery in lab SBBS Undergraduate Research Internships 2023
27 May 2022

The School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences invites applications for 2 Undergraduate Research Internships designed to enhance the career prospects, the professional development and the retention in education and research of students from traditionally under-represented backgrounds, by improving their skills, CVs and competitiveness. 

Overview of the Internships 

The SBBS Undergraduate Internships will provide research experience to two undergraduates with research potential and encourage them to consider a career in scientific research. Interns will be paid at the London Living Wage rate (approx. £382/week) for six 30-hour working weeks between Monday 22nd of June and Friday 30th of July 2023. 

The internships will be awarded on the basis of the excellence and feasibility of the project, and the level of support and mentorship from the project supervisor. The proposed research topic will be chosen by the applicants together with the lab head. 

Applications should be submitted via email to sbbs-head@qmul.ac.uk. Outcomes will be communicated to the applicants by Friday the 2nd of June. 

Student eligibility criteria  

To be considered, an applicant should be: 

  • registered undergraduate at Queen Mary for a programme part of the Biology, Biochemistry or Psychology department
  • in year 1 or 2 of a BSc programme, or years 1, 2 or 3 of a 4-year MSci programme
  • on a trajectory to achieve a 2:1 or a 1st class degree award
  • from a traditionally under-represented group in ethnicity, gender, access to higher education or other groups (see “How to apply” section for more details)
  • the student must not be in receipt of financial support from other sources for the same period of time

Students who applied for the S&E internships are not eligible to apply for the SBBS internship.

Project eligibility criteria are listed below: 

  • The project must be conducted under the Supervision of a member of staff in SBBS
  • The project must be empirical (secondary data analysis is allowed, not a literature review)
  • The results from this project cannot be used to acquire any credits towards the degree nor data to be used for the final year dissertation
  • The project should comply with the safety and ethical regulations of the School. If the project requires ethics approval, this must be already in place at the time of application

How to apply 

 - Applications should be submitted via email to sbbs-head@qmul.ac.uk 

 - Please use “SBBS UG internship application” as a subject title. 

- No CV or transcript is required, but the academic should confirm that the student is on track for a 2:1 or 1st class degree award. Please use 11pt Arial font with 2cm page margins. Both documents should be no more than 1 side of A4 each (for details see below).

 - Applications should be made jointly by the academic supervisor and the undergraduate student. Therefore, it is important you find an appropriate academic supervisor and work together on the application materials consisting of: 

  • a project statement outlining the science goals (which must be feasible with the 6-week timeframe), and the outcomes for the intern 
  • a training and mentorship statement detailing the support offered to the intern throughout the project which exceeds the standard offered to interns within the School. Mentorship may also extend beyond the 6-week programme. This should include a short paragraph describing why you consider yourself from a traditionally underrepresented group in ethnicity, gender, access to higher education and/or other.

Applications are considered on a case-by-case basis and decisions made by the Assessment Panel are final and there is no right of appeal. 

How your application will be assessed 

Your application will be assessed by a School selection panel including an SBBS Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee member. The panel will evaluate applications using the following criteria with equal weighting: 

  • Quality of project statement; the feasibility of achieving the stated scientific goals within the internship period; and the benefits and outcomes for the interns. 
  • Excellence of the training, support and mentorship offered by the academic supervisor which exceeds the standard expected within the School. 

Conditions of the Award and the Final Report Requirements 

 Following a positive outcome of the application, both student and Supervisor will be required to sign a document accepting the award. 

The student, prior to starting the research, will need to undertake all necessary inductions and health and safety training. 

 The Bursary must only be used by the Applicant for work on the proposed project as detailed in the application and may not be used for any other purpose. 

 Following the end of the internship, the student is required to submit a final report, highlighting the research outcome and the personal development/training achieved. 

 The students is also required to participate in outreach activities related to the project. 

 In the event that the Applicant wishes to withdraw their application due to a change of circumstances or if they receive funding from another sources, the Applicant must inform the Internship committee immediately by email. The committee reserves the right to reallocate the funds and resources accordingly. 

Group of staff and students chatting around posters Psychology department hosts successful workshop on Current Trends and Future Directions in Social Interaction
23 May 2022

The EPS-Funded Workshop on Current Trends and Future Directions in Social Interaction was held successfully on 4 May 2022 at the Graduate Centre at Queen Mary University of London. The event saw an excellent line-up of 8 speakers, 25 poster presentations and 60 attendees.

Turtle swimming by reef Biological Sciences climbs 15 places for research impact in the Research Excellence Framework 2021
12 May 2022

The School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences has excelled in their REF results released today, which have shown a great improvement in their overall score, consolidating their position in the UK.

Couple speaking to therapist Relationship help programmes may be more successful for people who have ‘sensitivity’ genes
22 March 2022

Professor Michael Pluess from Queen Mary's School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences has co-written for The Conversation on how genetics impacts therapy and similar relationship courses.

Fire ants over image of genetic sequence Scientists find new colony structure of fire ants evolved in one species before spreading to others
11 March 2022

Scientists from Queen Mary University of London have discovered that a new form of ant society spread across species. They found that after the new form of society evolved in one species, a “social supergene” carrying the instruction-set for the new social form spread into other species. This spread occurred through hybridisation, i.e., breeding between ants of different species. This unlikely event provides an alternate way of life, making the ants more successful than if they only had the original social form.

Queen Mary scientist takes his research to Parliament
4 March 2022

Liam Dickson, 33, a PhD student in the School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences at Queen Mary University of London, hailing from Toronto, is attending Parliament to present his biosciences research to a range of politicians and a panel of expert judges, as part of STEM for BRITAIN on Monday 7th March.

Lionfish swimming Animals have evolved to avoid overexploiting their resources – can humans do the same?
3 March 2022

Dr Axel Rossberg, Reader in Theoretical Ecology at Queen Mary University of London has written for The Conversation on why predators don't overexploit their prey, based on research published in Ecology Letters.

Peston Lecture Theatre 25 strategic Lectureships/Senior Lectureships available in the Faculty of Science and Engineering
22 February 2022

The School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences (SBBS) is seeking candidates for several new academic positions to enhance its research in three strategic areas: Digital Environment, Biosciences, and Green Energy and Sustainability. The Faculty of Science and Engineering has 25 lectureships and senior lectureships (Teaching and Research) to offer, and it is expected that 7 of these will be placed in SBBS.

Starfish laying over each other Starfish hold the key to understanding neurohormone evolution
10 February 2022

Research from academics at Queen Mary University of London School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, published today in PNAS, has revealed a new perspective on the evolutionary origin of a neurohormone that regulates growth in humans.

Bumblebee on yellow flower New study pinpoints bumblebee genes that help them adapt to environmental changes
9 February 2022

Researchers from Queen Mary University of London and Imperial College London have identified genes that could help bumblebees overcome environmental challenges such as climate change.

Couple speaking to therapist Genetic study suggests more sensitive people respond better to couple’s therapy
2 February 2022

How well someone responds to couple’s therapy could be determined by their genes, according to a new study led by Queen Mary University of London and the University of Denver.

Girl standing in the sun in graduation gown and cap Student Spotlight - Shreya, BSc Medical Genetics to Medicine
27 January 2022

Shreya studied BSc Medical Genetics with us and stayed on to study Medicine. We spoke to her about how she found her course and what she enjoyed about studying at Queen Mary. She also told us about her different volunteering opportunities and what societies she has taken part in. 

Elizabeth Clare crouching down to sample air DNA from air could revolutionize the way we measure animal biodiversity, say scientists
5 January 2022

Two independent research groups have detected the presence of animals by collecting DNA from air

smiling girl standing by wall with flowers Student Spotlight - Jumana, BSc Biomedical Sciences
4 January 2022

We spoke to Jumana, who comes from Palestine about how she has found studying Biomedical Sciences at Queen Mary. She tells us about the exciting societies and volunteering she has been involved with her future plans to study medicine. 

circular mammal tree of life Study offers new insights into the timeline of mammal evolution
22 December 2021

A new study, published today in the journal Nature, has provided the most detailed timeline of mammal evolution to date.

Shazia Jaufarally Student Spotlight - Shazia, BSc Psychology
17 December 2021

We spoke to Shazia to find out what she enjoys about studying BSc Psychology at Queen Mary and how she has found mixed-mode education 

Tanks of starfish Student Spotlight - Amanah, BSc Biochemistry
17 December 2021

We spoke to Amanah to find out what she enjoys about studying Biochemistry at Queen Mary 

Tyler Christian Student Spotlight - Tyler, BSc Biology
17 December 2021

We spoke to Tyler to find out what he is enjoying about studying BSc Biology at Queen Mary 

Gemini Medley Student Spotlight - Gemini, BSc Neuroscience
16 December 2021

We spoke to Gemini to find out how she finds studying Neuroscience at Queen Mary

juvenile salmon in fish tank High levels of aquatic plant cover benefits the abundance, growth and feeding of juvenile Atlantic salmon during summer
13 December 2021

In response to three decades of declining Atlantic salmon in most of their native range, scientists at Queen Mary and the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) are looking at how the management of juvenile habitat can maximise the numbers and quality of seaward-migrating salmon smolts to increase survival at sea and the number of returning spawners.

Student Spotlight - Ugne, BSc Pharmacology and Innovative Therapeutics
13 December 2021

We spoke to Ugne, from Lithuania to find out how she finds studying Pharmacology and Innovative Therapeutics at Queen Mary

A group on brown coloured fire ants Larger societies of fire ants contain more viruses
10 December 2021

Scientists have found that fire ants from colonies with multiple queens have more viruses than fire ants from colonies with just one queen.

A female student in lab coat Student Spotlight - Jannath's Summer Biochemistry Internship
7 December 2021

We spoke to MSci Biochemistry Student, Jannath Akhtar who undertook a summer internship at Queen Mary, which was an initiative from the SBBS Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee to boost the employability and research skills of students from underrepresented backgrounds.

Bee on yellow artificial flower Scientists discover gut bacteria that improve memory in bees
25 November 2021

An international research team have discovered a specific type of gut bacteria in bees that can improve memory.

Lars Chittka Queen Mary Professor elected to Germany’s National Academy of Sciences
8 November 2021

Professor Lars Chittka from Queen Mary University of London has been elected to the prestigious German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina.

Ecologist holding plastic from water sample Project unites experts and citizen scientists in the fight against plastic pollution
4 November 2021

A new short film shows how the Preventing Plastic Pollution (PPP) project is bringing research and community action together to map and truly understand the sources and movement of plastic pollution from source to sea.  

Spinosauruds which are brown scaly dinosaurs on two legs Two new species of large predatory dinosaur discovered on Isle of Wight
28 September 2021

A new study, involving Queen Mary University of London, suggests that bones found on the Isle of Wight belong to two new species of spinosaurid, a group of predatory theropod dinosaurs closely related to the African giant Spinosaurus.

molecular structures of molecules involved Insight into power generation in photosynthesis may lead to more resilient crops
10 September 2021

A study into the energy-making process in plants could help engineer crops more resistant to stress or bacteria that produce pharmaceuticals.

Two starfish side by side Scientists discover chemical signals in starfish that stop them eating
7 September 2021

Like humans, starfish produce chemicals that tell them they’re full and to stop eating, according to a new study published today in the journal eLife.

Woman holding plastic water bottle after workout Preventing Plastic Pollution project helps Team GB athletes to kick plastics out of sport
5 August 2021

Queen Mary University of London is working in partnership with 18 organisations from across France and England to reduce the impact of plastic pollution on the marine environment. As part of the project, Team GB athletes have been invited to make a pledge to tackle plastic pollution.

New evidence links insect population collapse to dams
17 June 2021

In this article for the Conversation, Queen Mary PhD researcher Liam Nash shares the findings of a recent study that sheds new light on insect population declines in tropical regions. 

group of people holding the earth next to a wind turbine World Environment Day – How Queen Mary research is helping to protect the planet
3 June 2021

For World Environment Day (5 June), we take a look at some of the groundbreaking research from across Queen Mary's Faculty of Science and Engineering that is helping to improve global understanding of environmental challenges, restore ecosystems and support sustainable development.

man scratching his head in front of large white question mark To what extent are we ruled by unconscious forces?
28 May 2021

Dr Magda Osman, Reader in Experimental Psychology at Queen Mary University of London, provides her perspective on this question in an article for the Conversation's new series, Life’s Big Questions, co-published with BBC Future. 

Bee with radar tracking device on back Radar tracking uncovers mystery of where honeybee drones have sex
20 May 2021

Scientists from Queen Mary University of London and Rothamsted Research have used radar technology to track male honeybees, called drones, and reveal the secrets of their mating behaviours.  

Mental Health Awareness Week 2021, nature #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek: Improving our understanding of mental health, resilience and well-being
13 May 2021

For Mental Health Awareness Week, we’re taking a closer look at how researchers at Queen Mary University of London are undertaking to better understand mental health and potentially find new ways to treat mental health conditions.

turtle 3D animation Queen Mary researchers win prestigious design award for innovative sea turtle behaviour simulator
6 May 2021

Atlantis, a sea turtle simulator co-created by Queen Mary researchers and designers at Wolf in Motion, has won the IF award for User Experience design.

 

double stranded DNA Study Provides First Evidence of DNA Collection From Air
31 March 2021

Researchers from Queen Mary University of London have shown for the first time that animal DNA shed within the environment can be collected from the air.

Fungi in petri dishes How We Discovered a Hidden World of Fungi Inside the World’s Biggest Seed Bank
22 March 2021

Rowena Hill, a PhD student at Queen Mary University of London and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, has written a piece for the Conversation about a newly-discovered hidden world of fungi inside the world's biggest seed bank. 

Pile of fruit and vegetables Subsidies most effective way to encourage sustainable food choices, study shows
17 March 2021

Subsidising low carbon emission meals could encourage more people to choose them, according to new research. 

India-UK-ISCC logo Queen Mary Supports New UK-India Consortium to Address Global Sustainability Challenges
16 March 2021

Scientists from the UK and India have set up multi-disciplinary virtual platform for international collaboration on global sustainability challenges, such as carbon reduction and environmental remediation.

plant shoot in the sun Scientists’ discovery ends long-standing photosynthesis controversy
9 March 2021

New findings overturn conventional thinking about the location of a key plant enzyme involved in photosynthesis.

several small ponds with measuring devices inside Global warming poses threat to food chains
1 March 2021

Rising temperatures could reduce the efficiency of food chains and threaten the survival of larger animals, new research shows.

three female scientists Celebrating the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences' Women in Science
11 February 2021

Today is UN International Day of Women and Girls in Science, which aims to recognise women’s contributions in science, smash stereotypes and defeat discrimination against women and girls in science.

A large spotted dinosaur with spiny back and a long neck Study sheds new light on the behaviour of the giant carnivorous dinosaur Spinosaurus as a monstrous heron
26 January 2021

New research from Queen Mary University of London and the University of Maryland, has reignited the debate around the behaviour of the giant dinosaur Spinosaurus.

wolf snarling in forest Ancient DNA from extinct dire wolves reveals their unique evolutionary history
13 January 2021

Extinct dire wolves split off from other wolves nearly six million years ago and were only a distant relative of today’s wolves, according to new research.

pink wristband on woman's arm with rather stylish matching nail polish Could a wristband or certificate allow you out of lockdown after a negative coronavirus test?
6 January 2021

Dr Magda Osman, Reader in Experimental Psychology at Queen Mary University of London has written an opinion piece for The Conversation exploring whether freedom passes based on negative test results could offer a way to avoid placing restrictions on everyone.

female ballerina stretching New project will explore use of digital technologies to support remote learning in performing arts
8 December 2020

A new research collaboration, led by Queen Mary University of London, will investigate how digital technologies could be used to support learning in performing arts during the Covid-19 pandemic.

researchers sitting around table Charity founded by Queen Mary academic holds first online conference to help fight inequality in science
9 November 2020

DrosAfrica, a grassroots biomedical charity, has held its first online workshop to help establish a highly skilled community of Drosophila African scientists and further biomedical research.

Mistletoe Researchers shed light on evolution of giant plant genomes
5 November 2020

New research from scientists at Queen Mary University London, the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and Biology Centre CAS, Czech Republic has discovered how ‘giant’ plant genomes evolve.

lightbulb Nudges fail more often than is reported, experts warn
28 October 2020

Research led by Queen Mary University of London has shown that despite the widespread use of behavioural interventions across society, failed interventions are surprisingly common.

Chromosol logo Queen Mary spinout Chromosol wins Royal Society of Chemistry competition
30 September 2020

Chromosol, a spinout company from Queen Mary University of London has been announced as a winner of the Royal Society of Chemistry Emerging Technologies Competition.

Nishma Thakor Meet the Placement student - Nishma Thakor, BSc Chemistry with a Year in Industry
15 September 2020

We spoke to Nishma, who reflected on her time as a placement student at GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceutical Supply Chain at Ware in the Incoming Materials Quality Control Laboratory.

Tortoise hatchling looking at face like shape Tortoise hatchlings are attracted to faces from birth
14 September 2020

Tortoises are born with a natural preference for faces, according to new research from scientists at Queen Mary University of London, the University of Trento and the Fondazione Museo Civico Rovereto. 

Alexandre de Mendoza Soler SBCS researcher receives prestigious early-career award
3 September 2020

Dr Alex de Mendoza has been awarded a highly competitive European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant to support ground-breaking scientific research.

Workers of the red fire ant on a sequencing chip New study shows evolutionary breakdown of ‘social’ chromosome in ants
25 August 2020

Scientists from Queen Mary University of London have found that harmful mutations accumulating in the fire ant social chromosome are causing its breakdown.

Lewis Batkin Meet the undergraduate - Lewis Batkin, BSc Genetics
19 August 2020

Lewis had recently completed his undergraduate degree in Genetics and has been awarded a full scholarship and stipend on behalf of HDRUK to study MSc Precision Medicine: Genomics and Analytics at the University of Leeds. We spoke to him about his time at Queen Mary and the healthcare community project and internship he took part in.

Dr Robert Keers A tribute to Dr Robert Keers
19 August 2020

Here are a few memories of a very special scientist, colleague and friend, Dr Robert Keers. 

Simranjeet Duhra Meet the Undergraduate - Simranjeet Duhra, MSci Chemistry
12 August 2020

Simranjeet is going into her final year of her MSci Chemistry degree and in this blog reflects on her time so far, including the impact of the pandemic on studying.

Naeem Ahmed Student blog- How to survive uni life, Naeem Ahmed
11 August 2020

Naeem is just going into his final year of studying BSc Chemistry and in this blog shares his tips and tricks for new students

Tayibb Ahmed Saddique Meet the Undergraduate - Tayyib Ahmed Saddique, MSci Chemistry
11 August 2020

Tayyib has recently graduated from his MSci Chemistry degree and in this blog he explains what studying the subject at Queen Mary has been like 

Meet the Undergraduate - Aisha Sharif, BSc Chemistry
11 August 2020

Aisha has just finished her first year studying chemistry and in this blog tells us how she has found studying at Queen Mary so far

Jyoti Singh Meet the Undergraduate - Jyoti Singh, MSci Pharmaceutical Chemistry
6 August 2020

Fourth year MSci Pharmaceutical Chemistry student, Jyoti Singh reflects on her time studying at Queen Mary

Greg Alvey Student Blog- Getting the most out of your Chemistry degree
6 August 2020

Third year Pharmaceutical Chemistry student Greg Alvey offers his tips and tricks to make the most of the course

Sule Serife Ali Meet the Undergraduate - Sule Serife Ali, BSc Pharmaceutical Chemistry
6 August 2020

In this blog, third year BSc Pharmaceutical Chemistry student and student ambassador, Sule writes about her experience studying at Queen Mary 

Starfish Starfish provide missing link in evolution of key brain messenger molecules
13 July 2020

Scientists have revealed that neurochemicals in the fly brain and the human brain evolved from a common ancestral molecule, despite having very different structures. 

Lake with mountains Global warming will cause ecosystems to produce more methane than first predicted
30 June 2020

New research suggests that as the Earth warms natural ecosystems such as freshwaters will release more methane than expected from predictions based on temperature increases alone.

Nurse holds swab for coronavirus test. Coronavirus: Queen Mary study suggests more people have had it than previously estimated
26 June 2020

Queen Mary researchers Professor Norman Fenton, Professor Martin Neil and Dr Scott Mclachlan from the School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science, and Dr Magda Osman, from the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, co-wrote an opinion piece for The Conversation on over-confidence in the reporting of Covid-19 statistics. 

Person typing Researchers launch new website for people to test their sensitivity
25 June 2020

Studies have shown that some people seem more sensitive than others. Now researchers have developed a free online questionnaire that allows you to test exactly how sensitive you are.

Laboratories at the Blizard Institute before lockdown Queen Mary starts up research laboratories as campus facilities begin to reopen
19 June 2020

Queen Mary University of London has reopened the majority of its laboratories to enable academics to carry out their world-leading research and to continue the phased reopening of more campus facilities for the new academic year. 

DNA Study in twins finds our sensitivity is partly in our genes
3 June 2020

Some people are more sensitive than others – and around half of these differences can be attributed to our genes, new research has found.

thumbs up People more likely to accept nudges if they know how they work and how effective they are
1 June 2020

The more people know about when and why behavioural interventions are being used and their effectiveness, the more likely they are to accept their use to change their behaviour, according to recent research from Queen Mary University of London and the University of Oxford.

ash trees Scientists find genes to save ash trees from deadly beetle
25 May 2020

An international team of scientists have identified candidate resistance genes that could protect ash trees from the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), a deadly pest that is expected to kill billions of trees worldwide.

International Day for Biological Diversity: How Queen Mary research is helping to conserve species worldwide
22 May 2020

Biodiversity is used to describe the wide variety of plants, animals and microorganisms found in the world, and the interactions between them.

Image of aphid next to image of its internal anatomy Aphids evolve dependence on microbes in a predictable manner
22 May 2020

A new study by researchers at the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences is the first to show that the process of evolving dependence on bacteria for nutrients occurs in a series of predictable steps.

Skulls of a male (top) and female (bottom) gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) On Dinosaur Day, Friday 15 May, we're delving deeper into new research led by Queen Mary, which has reopened the debate on whether we can identify male and female dinosaur fossils.
12 May 2020

On Dinosaur Day, Friday 15 May, we're delving deeper into new research led by Queen Mary, which has reopened the debate on whether we can identify male and female dinosaur fossils. 

boy using phone Psychologists from Queen Mary University of London have created a free online resource for mental health services now looking to deliver psychological therapy to children remotely due to the coronavirus pandemic.
21 April 2020

Psychologists from Queen Mary University of London have created a free online resource for mental health services now looking to deliver psychological therapy to children remotely due to the coronavirus pandemic.

fruit fly Genes and social environment affect individual but not population preferences for right or left sided behaviour: lessons/insights from fruit flies
3 April 2020

Being alone or with a partner strongly affects the behaviour of fruit flies Drosophila melanogaster. The presence of a partner changes the front-back position in a pair and induces more extreme biases towards the right or the left side. However, the presence of a partner does not increase the alignment of the whole population on a specific side, a new study has found.

Heat-map of coronavirus in the UK Coronavirus: country comparisons are pointless unless we account for these biases in testing
2 April 2020

Dr Magda Osman, Reader in Experimental Psychology, with the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, and Professor Norman Fenton, Professor of Computer Science, Professor Martin Neil, Professor of Computer Science and Statistics, and Mr Scott Mclachlan, Postdoctoral Research Assistant, with the School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science, co-wrote an opinion piece for The Conversation, about the flaws in comparing countries on coronavirus.

A lit cigarette Screening of zebrafish identifies gene involved in human nicotine addiction
30 March 2020

Researchers at Queen Mary University of London have shown that zebrafish can provide genetic clues to smoking, a complex human behaviour 

Students sitting exams Don’t worry about cancelled exams – research shows we should switch to teacher assessment permanently
27 March 2020

Dr Margherita Malanchini, Lecturer in Psychology, with the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, co-wrote an opinion piece for The Conversation, about the positive evidence supporting a switch from exams to teacher assessments permanently.

Dr Rosemary Clyne, Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences at Queen Mary University of London Queen Mary academic wins teaching excellence award
24 March 2020

Dr Rosemary Clyne, Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences at Queen Mary University of London, has received the prestigious 2021 Teaching Excellence Award from the Biochemical Society.

Three spined stickleback Are epigenetics really the silver bullet against climate change?
23 March 2020

Species use ‘natural’, epigenetic mechanisms to adapt to their environments but these responses may not be enough to help them cope with climate change, according to new research involving scientists from Queen Mary University of London.

An illustration of people wearing face masks to avoid viral transmission Coronavirus: sequencing the DNA of patients screened for coronavirus might save lives
17 March 2020

Professor Richard Buggs, Professor of Evolutionary Genomics, and Professor Richard Nichols, Professor of Genetics, both with the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, co-wrote an opinion piece for The Conversation about sequencing the DNA of patients screened for coronavirus to help save lives.

Tractor spraying pesticides on a field Using medicine-based approaches to protect pollinators
5 March 2020

Molecular medicine approaches could improve the efficiency and sensitivity of pesticide research and evaluation, according to researchers from Queen Mary University of London. 

bee, bumblebee, psychology, research, university, study, experiment Bumblebees can experience an object using one sense and later recognise it using another
2 March 2020

How are we able to find things in the dark? And how can we imagine how something feels just by looking at it?

Post-it notes of goals Psychologists discover secret to achieving goals
24 February 2020

Research led by scientists at Queen Mary University of London has provided new insights into why people often make unrealistic plans that are doomed to fail

Queen Mary lead European project to tackle plastic pollution
10 February 2020

A €14m joint project involving key partners across England and France has launched this week in a bid to prevent plastic hotspots in the Channel

Pinpointing rare disease mutations
3 February 2020

A new study from Queen Mary University of London and EMBL’s European Bioinformatics Institute has uncovered the genes essential for supporting life, which could help researchers to identify mutations responsible for rare childhood diseases.

Solitary female bee selecting their nest Smart single mother bees learn from their neighbours
31 January 2020

Solitary female bees inspect other nests for signs of danger before making decisions on where to build their own, a new London-based study suggests.

Gwyneth Paltrow's alternative 'health treatments' exposed in new music video by Queen Mary Biologist
23 January 2020

SBCS's Rock n roll biologist Professor Lars Chittka has released a new music video which takes aim at the alternative ‘health treatments’ of Gwyneth Paltrow. 

Scientists discover molecular ‘lock’ that prevents genetic mistakes when cells divide
13 January 2020

Research from Queen Mary University of London has provided new insight into how dividing cells control the separation of their DNA. 

Study sheds new light on how cells interact with their surroundings
9 January 2020

Researchers from Queen Mary University of London identify novel pathway behind how cells sense and respond to their environment.

Attendees at NCFR 2019 Student Blog - Rebecca Oldroyd
19 December 2019

Rebecca Oldroyd recently presented at the National Council on Family Relations in Fortworth, Texas, after winning their competitive international travel section award. The 2nd year Psychology PhD student discussed some of her research findings on how transitions in family structure effect the health of children, her future research plans and the positive impact of her supportive supervisor.

Jimi Hendri Parakeet Parakeet ‘crime map’ busts Bogart and Hendrix myths
16 December 2019

Queen Mary researchers have used geographic profiling to uncover the truth behind how the non-native birds arrived and spread in Britain.

Natural preferences behind early social interactions in newborns are timed
12 December 2019

 

Early predispositions that drive new-born animals to approach and learn from other living beings are not permanent, new research suggests.

Visit by Queen Mary Heads of Schools strengthens ties with institutions and female academics in Mexico
9 December 2019

Professors Boris Khoruzhenko, Head of the School for Mathematical Sciences, and Richard Pickersgill, Head of School for Biological and Chemical Sciences, have visited Mexico with Professor Teresa Alonso, Queen Mary’s Dean for International in the Faculty of Science and Engineering, to support and strengthen a number of Queen Mary University of London initiatives in the country

Scientists uncover resistance genes for deadly ash tree disease
19 November 2019

New research has identified the genetic basis of resistance to ash dieback in UK trees, opening up new avenues for conservation.

Meet the Undergraduate – Alvis Kalarikkan
11 November 2019

In this Meet the Undergraduate blog, we spoke to final year Neuroscience student Alvis Kalarikkan, who joined Queen Mary University of London in 2017. He talks about his passion for neuroscience, his internship at the University of Trento in collaboration with the Comparative Cognition lab of Dr Elisabetta Versace at Queen Mary and his plans for the future.

£20m investment in future bioscience researchers
4 November 2019

The London Interdisciplinary Doctoral Training Partnership, known as LIDo, has received a further five years' funding from the UKRI Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).

Chicks born with ability to distinguish and avoid different dangers
29 October 2019

Chicks are born with the knowledge to flee from predators rather than learning it from experience, according to a study by University of Trento and Queen Mary University of London.

Queen Mary’s ‘rock and roll’ professor nominated for $100,000 research award
25 October 2019

Professor Lars Chittka’s research on the cognitive ability of insects has been nominated for the prestigious Frontiers Spotlight Award worth $100,000.

Two SBCS students were highly commended ‘Volunteer Heroes‘ at this year’s St John Ambulance Everyday Heroes Awards
22 October 2019

Two students from Queen Mary University of London's School of Biological and Chemical Sciences (SBCS) were highly commended in the ‘Volunteer Hero’ category at the 2019 St John Ambulance Everyday Heroes Awards, after giving CPR to a stranger on their way home from a night out last December.

A tribute to Dr Steve Le Comber
1 October 2019

Here are a few memories of a very special scientist, colleague and friend, Dr Steve Le Comber. If you would like to make your own written tribute to Steve, there is a memorial book in the G.E Fogg Building foyer on the Mile End campus.

SBCS PhD student wins best talk prize at LIDo BBSRC DTP retreat
26 September 2019

PhD student Polina Reichert from Queen Mary University of London’s School of Biological and Chemical Sciences (SBCS) won the best talk prize at the LIDo BBSRC DTP’s annual retreat in September.

Meet the Lecturer – Dunja Aksentijevic
12 September 2019

In this Meet the Lecturer blog, we spoke to School of Biological and Chemical Sciences (SBCS) Lecturer in Physiology and Biochemistry Dr Dunja Aksentijevic. She discusses her passion for teaching, the Aurora Leadership Programme and her research into a new drug to target heart metabolism in type II diabetes and obesity.

New reptile species was one of largest ever flying animals
10 September 2019

A newly identified species of pterosaur is among the largest ever flying animals, according to a study from Queen Mary University of London.

What to expect when you start university – Aleena Shahzad
2 September 2019

In this blog, we spoke to Queen Mary University of London student Aleena Shahzad. Aleena is entering her second year studying Psychology at the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences (SBCS). She discusses what students should expect in their first few weeks at the University and offers some pieces of advice.

Tips for Psychology study – Maisha Khan
2 September 2019

In this blog, Psychology student Maisha Khan offers her top tips for studying Psychology at Queen Mary University of London’s School of Biological and Chemical Sciences.

First year chemistry study tips – Tahmina Ali
2 September 2019

In this blog, Chemistry student Tahmina Ali offers her advice for studying Chemistry at Queen Mary University of London’s School of Biological and Chemical Sciences.

What happens during Welcome Week
21 August 2019

In this blog, we spoke to Neuroscience alumni Tim Loong about some of the useful activities taking place during Welcome Week at Queen Mary University of London.

Moving to university - Top tips for how to prepare
21 August 2019

In this blog, we spoke to Queen Mary University of London Medical Genetics alumna Atalanta Hersey. She offers her advice on how to prepare for university life.

Ancient pigs endured a complete genomic turnover after they arrived in Europe
15 August 2019

New research led by Queen Mary University of London and Oxford University has resolved a pig paradox.

Meet the Student Entrepreneur – Rebecca Rickwood
12 August 2019

In this blog post we spoke to Queen Mary University of London alumna and entrepreneur Rebecca Rickwood, who graduated with a first class honours degree in Chemistry this summer. In October, Rebecca will be taking part in the finals of the Santander Universities Entrepreneurship Awards with her eco-friendly, geopolymer cement business Gement.

‘Love hormone’ has stomach-turning effect in starfish
6 August 2019

A hormone that is released in our brain when we fall in love also makes starfish turn their stomach inside out to feed, according to a new study from Queen Mary University of London.

Sexual competition helps horned beetles survive deforestation
30 July 2019

A study of how dung beetles survive deforestation in Borneo suggests that species with more competition among males for matings are less likely to go extinct, according to research led by scientists from Queen Mary University of London and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.

Loneliness affects long-term brain function, according to new study
29 July 2019

Being alone for just a day affects areas in the brain involved in thinking and perception, according to a new study from Queen Mary University of London.

Graduation Day 2019 celebrates achievements of SBCS students
25 July 2019

On 24 and 25 July, 700 students from the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences (SBCS) at Queen Mary University of London celebrated their graduation across four ceremonies.

SBCS student project awarded Cognition and Evolution poster award
19 July 2019

A project by MSc Ecology and Evolutionary Biology student Kiera Rose and PhD student Shuge Wang from Queen Mary University of London’s School of Biological and Chemical Sciences (SBCS) recently won a poster award at the renowned international workshop CogEvo 2019, co-organised by University of Trento and Harvard University.

Queen Mary Professor champions inclusion and diversity in chemical sciences
19 July 2019

Professor Marina Resmini from Queen Mary University of London has become a Trustee of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) and Chair of its Inclusion and Diversity committee.

School students attend Chemistry taster day at Queen Mary
11 July 2019

On 3 July, 90 students from schools in London, Kent and Hertfordshire attended a Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) sponsored taster day in chemistry at Queen Mary University of London.

Goats can distinguish emotions from the calls of other goats
10 July 2019

Goats can probably distinguish subtle emotional changes in the calls of other goats, according to a new study led by Queen Mary University of London.

SBCS PhD student receives prestigious Ernst Mayr award
9 July 2019

On 22 June, PhD student Sandra Álvarez-Carretero from Queen Mary University of London’s School of Biological and Chemical Sciences (SBCS) was awarded the Ernst Mayr award from the Society of Systematic Biologists (SSB) during their annual Evolution meeting in Providence, Rhode Island. 

Graduation Day for Queen Mary - Nanchang University students
4 July 2019

On 24 June, 215 BSc Biomedical Sciences students graduated as part of Queen Mary University of London's joint programme with Nanchang University in China.

Vivian Moses research prize winners announced
24 June 2019

The winners of the inaugural Vivian Moses Prize were announced at an event to celebrate the life of Vivian Moses on 22 May 2019. The Prize is awarded to members of the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences (SBCS) research community for significant advancement in biochemistry, molecular biology, microbiology or genetics.

Psychology Department celebrates ten years at Queen Mary
13 June 2019

On 13 June, the Psychology Department at Queen Mary University of London’s School of Biological and Chemical Sciences (SBCS) celebrated the ten-year anniversary of its founding with an event attended by current and former staff, students and guests.

Meet the Undergraduate – Daisy Umelo
13 June 2019

In this blog post, we spoke to BSc Pharmacology and Innovative Therapeutics student Daisy Umelo. Now coming to the end her final year at Queen Mary University of London’s School of Biological and Chemical Sciences (SBCS), Daisy reflects on her time at the School and her future studying Medicine at Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry.

SBCS student wins chemistry poster competition at Undergraduate Research Conference
10 June 2019

On 5 June, 70 undergraduate students from chemistry departments in London and further afield attended a half day Undergraduate Research Conference at London Metropolitan University (LMU) that featured talks and poster presentations by final year students on their respective projects.

Equality, diversity and inclusion with Co-Chair Dr Anna Pachol
30 May 2019

In this blog, we spoke to Co-Chair of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Committee at the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences (SBCS) Dr Anna Pachol. After joining Queen Mary University of London in 2016, Dr Pachol discusses the committee’s achievements and aspirations.

Meet the Undergraduate – Chloe Chapman
29 May 2019

In this Meet the Undergraduate blog post, we spoke to BSc Biology student Chloe Chapman, who joined the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences (SBCS) at Queen Mary University of London in 2017. She talks about her experience of the Biology programme, her upcoming research project in Greece and her plans for the future.

Climate change responsible for severe infectious disease in UK frogs
14 May 2019

Climate change has already increased the spread and severity of a fatal disease that infects common frogs in the UK, according to research led by Queen Mary University of London, Zoological Society of London (ZSL)’s Institute of Zoology and University College London (UCL).

Schools compete in Salters’ Festival of Chemistry at Queen Mary
14 May 2019

On 9 May, school students from across London, Middlesex, Hertfordshire, Essex and Kent competed in an exciting day of hands-on chemistry at Queen Mary University of London’s School of Biological and Chemical Sciences (SBCS).

Meet the Postgraduate – Harriet Judah
13 May 2019

In this blog, we spoke to MSc Chemical Research student Harriet Judah. Harriet joined the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences (SBCS) at Queen Mary University of London in 2015, graduating with a BSc in Chemistry before staying on to do a Masters degree.

Meet the Undergraduate – Lewis Batkin
9 May 2019

In this blog, we spoke to BSc Genetics student Lewis Batkin, who joined Queen Mary University of London’s School of Biological and Chemical Sciences (SBCS) in September 2017.

Meet the PhD Students – Sidonie Aubert and Tania Katsina
25 April 2019

In this blog, we spoke to chemistry PhD students Sidonie Aubert and Tania Katsina. Sidonie joined Queen Mary University of London in 2016 with Tania arriving in 2017. They are now both coming towards the end of their PhDs during which they have been working in Dr Stellios Arseniyadis’ research group.

Queen Mary academics take their research out of the lab and into the pub
23 April 2019

More than 25 academics from Queen Mary University of London are taking part in the 2019 Pint of Science Festival at several pubs across London from 20 - 22 May.

SBCS students excel in Telegraph STEM Awards
4 April 2019

Tean Choroszewska and Aphrodite Liddington from the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences at Queen Mary University of London reached the Telegraph STEM Awards Healthcare Challenge final on 21 March.

Equality and Diversity with PhD Student Christina Kousseff
3 April 2019

In this blog, we spoke to second year Chemistry PhD student Christina Kousseff about her role on the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences’ equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) committee.

Rabbits like to eat plants with lots of DNA
20 March 2019

Rabbits prefer to eat plants with plenty of DNA, according to a new study by Queen Mary University of London and Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Beware of sleeping queens underfoot this spring
20 March 2019

Scientists at Queen Mary University of London have discovered a never before reported behaviour of queen bumblebees.

People choose healthy and sustainable lunches if given the green light
20 March 2019

People are likely to choose healthier and more sustainable canteen meals if they are labelled with a traffic light system, according to research from Queen Mary University of London.

SBCS lecturer receives Suffrage Science Award
13 March 2019

Dr Isabel M Palacios of the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences (SBCS) at Queen Mary University of London was recognised at the Engineering and Physical Sciences Suffrage Science Awards on 8 March.

Improved regulation needed as pesticides found to affect genes in bees
11 March 2019

Scientists are urging for improved regulation on pesticides after finding that they affect genes in bumblebees, according to research led by Queen Mary University of London in collaboration with Imperial College London.

TIGER Blog - Making your Scholarship Count
7 March 2019

On 28 February, Professor Lu Mello from the University of Liverpool delivered a workshop as part of our TIGER group that focused on scholarship and pedagogical research.

Queen Mary Undergraduate to Postgraduate – Amelia-Rose McKenzie
5 March 2019

In this blog we spoke to MSc Ecology and Evolutionary Biology student Amelia-Rose McKenzie. Amelia joined Queen Mary in 2015, taking a BSc in Zoology before going on to do her Masters’ degree. She discusses her experience of Queen Mary University of London from undergraduate to postgraduate level and her plans for the future.

Meet the Alumna – Equality, Diversity and Inclusion with Jane Smith
28 February 2019

In this blog, we spoke to MSci Chemistry alumna Jane Smith, who talks about her time studying and working at Queen Mary University of London.

Queen Mary Chemistry Summer School – From Bench to Market
26 February 2019

In this blog, we spoke to Dr Giorgio Chianello and Dr Zoe Wilson about the Chemistry Summer School Queen Mary University of London will be hosting this July.

Meet the Undergraduate – Annika Ramos
14 February 2019

In this blog, we spoke to undergraduate student Annika Ramos who discusses her summer internship at PwC, experience at Queen Mary University of London and her plan to run for Vice President of Education at the University’s Student Union. 

TIGER Blog - Engage, Contextualise, Share: Innovative Use of Social Media in Higher Education
6 February 2019

Dr Glenn Hurst from the University of York delivered a hugely interesting talk on 4th Feb as part of the TIGER seminar series titled Engage, Contextualise, Share: Innovative Use of Social Media in Higher Education.

SBCS students obtain industrial placements at GlaxoSmithKline
4 February 2019

In this blog, we spoke Queen Mary University of London undergraduate students Aneesah Mukadam and Nishma Thakor about their upcoming placement year at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). Aneesah and Nishma are studying Chemistry with a Year in Industry at Queen Mary’s School of Biological and Chemical Sciences (SBCS).

Meet the Lecturer – Isabelle Mareschal
25 January 2019

Dr Isabelle Mareschal joined the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences (SBCS) at Queen Mary University of London in 2013. She is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology in the Department of Psychology having previously been a long-term postdoctoral research assistant in Sydney, London and New York. We spoke to her about her role at Queen Mary and her research in emotion recognition.

International Student Life in London – Timothy Deng Hong Loong
15 January 2019

In this blog, we spoke to Queen Mary University of London undergraduate student Timothy Deng Hong Loong from Singapore. He talks about his experience of living in London since joining the University to study Neuroscience in the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences (SBCS).

Bees can count with just four nerve cells in their brains
14 January 2019

Bees can solve seemingly clever counting tasks with very small numbers of nerve cells in their brains, according to researchers at Queen Mary University of London.

Meet the Undergraduate - Mariam Hafidh Abbas
17 December 2018

In this blog, we spoke to Medical Genetics undergraduate student Mariam Hafidh Abbas from Iraq. Mariam is currently in her second year at the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences (SBCS) at Queen Mary University of London. She is the course representative of Genetics and Medical Genetics.

Brainwaves suppress obvious ideas to help us think more creatively
11 December 2018

The human brain needs to suppress obvious ideas in order to reach the most creative ones, according to scientists at Queen Mary University of London and Goldsmiths, University of London.

My Year in Industry at GSK – Zahra Arjomand Nia
5 December 2018

In this blog, we spoke to Chemistry with a Year in Industry/Research student Zahra Arjomand Nia. Zahra joined Queen Mary University of London in 2015 and spent her Year in Industry at pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). She is now in her final year at Queen Mary and will graduate in 2019.

Chemistry student Alina Zakrjevsky secures placement at Roche
21 November 2018

In this blog, we spoke to second-year undergraduate Chemistry student, Alina Zakrjevsky. Alina recently secured a placement in Medicinal Chemistry at Roche in Switzerland – one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world.

New 5.2m undergraduate Chemistry teaching laboratory opened at Queen Mary University of London
12 November 2018

On Friday 9 November, a new undergraduate Chemistry lab was officially opened at Queen Mary University of London by Head of Chemistry Professor Marina Resmini.

TIGER Blog - Calculating Feedback for the Masses
7 November 2018

In this blog, TIGER Chair Rachel O'Callaghan reviews the TIGER event on 'Calculating Feedback for the Masses', which was delivered by Lecturer in Biochemistry and Academic Lead for E-Learning Dr Mark Roberts.

Meet the Postgraduate – Phebian Odufuwa
25 October 2018

In this blog, we spoke to postgraduate student Phebian Odufuwa from Nigeria. Phebian is currently studying on the Plant and Fungal Taxonomy, Diversity and Conservation MSc, having completed her bachelor’s degree in Botany.

TIGER Blog - Forum on improving graduate outcomes
19 October 2018

The Teaching Interest Group and Educational Research (TIGER) held the second Education Research Forum on September 11th. Forum founder and TIGER member Jayne Dennis talks about the highlights of the event.

Meet the Postgraduate - Jacqueline Bond
9 October 2018

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology postgraduate student Jacqueline Bond began her study in the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences (SBCS) at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) in 2017. We spoke to Jacqueline to learn more about her experience of the course, her field work in Borneo and her research project on bees.

Meet the Student Ambassador – Candelaria Martinez Sosa
2 October 2018

In this blog, we spoke to third year Psychology student Candelaria from Argentina. She spoke about her experience as a student ambassador for the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences (SBCS).

Meet the PhD Student – David Hemprich-Bennett
12 September 2018

David Hemprich-Bennett started his PhD in the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) in 2014 after working a summer at Bristol University on their Bats in Churches project. We spoke to David to learn more about his PhD experience at the University.

SBCS Graduates Launch Nutrition-Tech Start-up
6 September 2018

In the summer of 2018, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences (SBCS) PhD graduates Zach, Fosca, Ari and Alistair launched a nutrition-tech start-up called Shoreditch-son in Okinawa, Japan. We spoke to Zach, CEO, to learn more about the start-up.

Epigenetic patterns determine if honeybee larvae become queens or workers
30 August 2018

Scientists at Queen Mary University of London and The Australian National University have unravelled how changes in nutrition in the early development of honeybees can result in vastly different adult characteristics.

What to expect when you start university - Foteini Bifsa
21 August 2018

In this blog, we spoke to Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) student Foteini Bifsa. Foteini, from Greece, is entering her second year studying Biochemistry at the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, a subject is which she is also course representative. She discusses what students should expect in their first few weeks at the University and offers some pieces of advice.

Opt-out organ donation register unlikely to increase number of donations
16 August 2018

An opt-out organ donation register is unlikely to increase the number of donations, according to a new study from Queen Mary University of London.

Genes drive ageing, making normal processes damaging
12 August 2018

Ageing in worms mainly results from the direct action of genes and not from random wear and tear or loss of function, and the same is likely to be true in humans, according to research by UCL, Lancaster University and Queen Mary University of London scientists.

Meet the Undergraduate – Carola Bigogno
2 August 2018

In this blog, we spoke to Italian student Carola Bigogno, who graduated in July 2018 with first class honours in Biomedical Sciences after joining the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences (SBCS) at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) in September 2015. She talks about her journey at QMUL, living and studying in London and her future at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry.

SBCS’ Dr Chema Martin receives prestigious ERC Starting Grant
27 July 2018

School of Biological and Chemical Sciences (SBCS) Lecturer in Organismal Biology Chema Martin has received a Starting Grant from the European Research Council (ERC) as part of the 'excellent science' pillar of the EU's current Research and Innovation programme, Horizon 2020.

Meet the Lecturer - Dr Lesley Howell
27 July 2018

In this blog, we spoke to Lesley Howell, Senior Lecturer in Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry at the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences (SBCS). Dr Howell explains how she became a lecturer and her passion for teaching.

Graduation Day celebrates achievements of SBCS students
26 July 2018

On Thursday 26 July, 600 students from the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences (SBCS) at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) celebrated their graduation across two ceremonies.

People trust scientific experts more than the government even when the evidence is outlandish
18 July 2018

Members of the public in the UK and US have far greater trust in scientific experts than the government, according to a new study by Queen Mary University of London.

Meet the Postgraduate - Ana Cecilia Híjar Islas
12 July 2018

In this 'Meet the Postgraduate' blog, we spoke to Ana Cecilia Híjar Islas. Ana, from Mexico is studying an MSc in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology in the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences (SBCS). She joined Queen Mary University of London in September 2017, on a scholarship from the Mexican National Council for Science and Technology (CONACYT).

Ancient American dogs almost completely wiped out by arrival of European breeds
6 July 2018

The arrival of Europeans to the Americas, beginning in the 15th century, all but wiped out the dogs that had lived alongside native people on the continent for thousands of years, according to new research led by Queen Mary University of London.

‘Lower status’ people more likely to share wealth than ‘higher status’ people
28 June 2018

When playing an economic game those that were assigned as ‘lower status’ were more likely to share their wealth than their ‘higher status’ counterparts, according to a new study at Queen Mary University of London.

Graduation Day for First Cohort of Nanchang University - QMUL Students
28 June 2018

On Tuesday 26 June, the first cohort of Nanchang University - Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) Biomedical Sciences / Clinical Biomedicine degree students attended their graduation.

What is TIGER and how can you get involved?
28 June 2018

In this blog, we spoke to Chair and Founder of the Teaching Interest Group and Education Research Rachel O’Callaghan to find out more about the group’s founding and activities.

American swamp sparrows have sung the same songs for more than 1,000 years
20 June 2018

American swamp sparrows may have sung the same songs for more than 1,000 years and passed them on through generations by learning, according to researchers at Queen Mary University of London, Imperial College London and Duke University.

Meet the Undergraduate – Dilan Al
19 June 2018

In this blog we spoke to Chemistry with a Year in Industry student Dilan Al. Dilan, from Turkey, started studying in the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences (SBCS) at Queen Mary University of London in 2014. Supported by her industrial supervisor at SBCS, Dr Chris Jones, Dilan did her industrial year in Switzerland, working for Pharmaceutical company Hoffmann La Roche.

SBCS Students Attend Future Scientists Field Trip
14 June 2018

From 4 - 8 June, 20 School of Biological and Chemical Sciences (SBCS) students from across all of the SBCS disciplines attended a ‘Future Scientists’ fieldtrip at the Field Studies Centre (FSC), in Millport, Scotland. Funding for the fieldtrip was provided by the Sheina Marshall Memorial Fund.

Clever bees can identify different flowers by patterns of scent
13 June 2018

Bumblebees can tell flowers apart by patterns of scent, according to new research involving Queen Mary University of London and led by the University of Bristol.

Meet the Undergraduate - Quinita Nortje
11 June 2018

In this blog we spoke to 3rd year Medical Genetics student Quinita Nortje from South Africa. Quinita joined Queen Mary University of London in 2014 and began her university journey on the Science and Engineering Foundation Programme (SEFP). 

Meet the Undergraduate - Jakob Brown
28 May 2018

Jakob Brown joined Queen Mary University of London in 2015 and is currently in the final year of his Psychology BSc at the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences (SBCS). We spoke to Jakob to learn about his experience at SBCS, his Psychology course and a very fascinating dissertation.

Changing Climates – a photographic journey of women in science
17 May 2018

From 5 - 11 June, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences (SBCS) postdoctoral researcher Sarah Harpenslager will be exhibiting a photographic journey of inspiring female scientists at the Brick Lane Art Gallery.

Meet the Postgraduate – Raphaella Jackson
11 May 2018

In this student blog, we spoke to Raphaella Jackson, who is currently undertaking a Bioinformatics MSc at Queen Mary University of London’s School of Biological and Chemical Sciences (SBCS). She is a citizen of three countries – Canada, United States and New Zealand.

Queen Mary Hosts Royal Society of Chemistry Focus Group
2 May 2018

On Monday 30 April, the Department of Chemistry at Queen Mary University of London hosted a Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) focus group.

Meet the Lecturer – David Hone
23 April 2018

David Hone is Senior Lecturer in Zoology at the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences (SBCS) at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL). He joined SBCS in 2012, after completing his PhD and working in postdoctoral and teaching positions in Dublin, Beijing and Munich.

Competition between males improves resilience against climate change
18 April 2018

Animal species with males who compete intensively for mates might be more resilient to the effects of climate change, according to research by Queen Mary University of London.

QMUL – NCU Joint Research Symposium Showcases Excellence in Biomedical Research
18 April 2018

From 12 – 13 April, the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences (SBCS) at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) welcomed academic staff and students from Nanchang University in China as part of a two-day biomedical research symposium.

Wildlife haven of Sulawesi much younger than first thought, new research reveals
11 April 2018

Scientists at Queen Mary University of London and Oxford University have shed light on the origins of some of South-East Asia’s most iconic and unique wildlife; the ‘deer-pig’, ‘warty pig’ and the ‘miniature buffalo.’

Meet the Postgraduate – Pascaline Francelle
9 April 2018

In this student blog we spoke to Pascaline Francelle from France. Pascaline joined Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) in 2017 and is currently undertaking an MSc in Freshwater and Marine Ecology at the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences (SBCS).

Guest lecturer Dr Ingrid Schoon discusses mental health at SBCS
5 April 2018

On 29 March, Dr Ingrid Schoon delivered a lecture on ‘Adolescent Mental Health and the Transition to Adulthood’ to students at Queen Mary University of London’s School of Biological and Chemical Sciences.

Meet the Undergraduate – Nathan Long
26 March 2018

In this student blog we spoke to Nathan Long. Nathan joined Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) in 2016 and is currently in his second year of studying a BSc in Pharmaceutical Chemistry at the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences (SBCS).

Dinosaur frills and horns did not evolve for species recognition
21 March 2018

The elaborate frills and horns of a group of dinosaurs including Triceratops and Styracosaurus did not evolve to help species recognise each other, according to researchers at Queen Mary University of London.

Meet the Lecturer – Dr Tippu Sheriff
19 March 2018

Dr Tippu Sheriff has been teaching in the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) since 2002. He teaches a number of undergraduate modules in Chemistry including Practical Chemistry, Solid State and Inorganic Chemistry, States of Matter and more. We interviewed Tippu to learn more about his passion for Chemistry.

Researchers discover new method for metal-free C-H bond functionalisation
14 March 2018

Research led by Dr Christopher Jones, Senior Lecturer at the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences has led to the first reporting of transition metal-free intramolecular hydride transfer onto arynes.

Queen Mary student takes her research to Parliament
12 March 2018

A PhD student from Queen Mary University of London presented her research to the Houses of Parliament as part of a Parliamentary poster competition.

Dr Vidya Darbari receives Early Career Award
8 March 2018

Queen Mary University of London’s (QMUL) School of Biological and Chemical Sciences is delighted to announce that Dr Vidya Darbari, Lecturer in Structural Biology, has been awarded the Early Career Prize by the British Crystallographic Association’s (BCA) Biological Structures Group. 

Varinder Aggarwal delivers Dewar Lecture on Assembly Line Synthesis
22 February 2018

On Wednesday 21 February 2018, students at Queen Mary University of London’s School of Biological and Chemical Sciences (SBCS) were treated to a fascinating lecture from Varinder Aggarwal, a leading figure in UK chemical synthesis.

Researchers unravel the time of origin of flowering plants
6 February 2018

Flowering plants likely originated between 149 and 256 million years ago according to new research involving Queen Mary University of London, and led by University College London (UCL).

Dr Iwan Jones featured on BBC Two
26 January 2018

Don’t forget to catch Dr Iwan Jones’ talk about mayflies on the River Frome with Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall on BBC Two Saturday night at 6.15pm. 

Check out the BBC Two programme: Hugh's Wild West.

Pupils' mental health improved through school-based programme, study shows
11 May 2017

School-aged children can be taught to better their mental health through intervention programmes delivered at school, suggests a new study carried out in east London and led by an academic at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL).

Fukomys livingstoni, I presume?
27 April 2017

Two new species of African mole-rat have been discovered by researchers at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), together with colleagues in Tanzania and at the University of Pretoria.

Seasonal warming leads to smaller animal body sizes
29 March 2017

Changes in the body size of animals measured under controlled laboratory conditions have been shown to closely match changes in body size with seasonal warming in nature, according to research from School of Biological and Chemical Sciences (SBCS).

Ghosts of past diseases shape species evolution
21 March 2017

A team of researchers from the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences (SBCS) and the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (EAWAG) has revealed that diseases can not only affect fish evolution, but also the aquatic environments in which fish live.

Teaching video - what is teaching excellence?
21 March 2017

Our Teaching Interest Group and Education Research (TIGER) ran a seminar on what is teaching excellence.  Watch the video of the seminar below and see what our three speakers had to say.

New technology enables detailed analysis of target proteins
20 March 2017

A team of researchers from the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences (SBCS), Francis Crick Institute,Goethe University Frankfurt and University of Tübingen in Germany have developed a novel technology to understand how an important protein connects to other cellular proteins.

Blog post: staff v. student football showdown
17 March 2017

Dr Tippu Sheriff blogs about the recent staff versus student football match in the chemistry and biochemistry department, which he and his fellow lecturers are in no way bitter about losing.  

Ball-rolling bees reveal complex learning
10 March 2017

Bumblebees can be trained to score goals using a mini-ball, revealing unprecedented learning abilities, according to scientists at the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences.

Goats can identify the calls of their goat friends
7 March 2017

A new study led by scientists at the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences at QMUL has found that goats can recognise their stablemate friends calling by developing a mental image of how they sound and look.

Queen Mary University of London part of £3m consortium for structural biology
3 March 2017

A new £3m grant from Wellcome Trust to a consortium involving scientists from Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) will help to set up a new facility for cryo-electron microscopy – a technology that is revolutionising biology.

Scientists explore the evolution of a ‘social supergene’ in the red fire ant
27 February 2017

Scientists from the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences at QMUL have discovered that the chromosome responsible for the social organisation of colonies of the highly invasive fire ant is likely to have evolved via a single event rather than over time

Researchers reveal that not all violent acts are equal
12 January 2017

People from different nationalities make similar judgements and decisions about the severity of different violent acts – a finding that could help international organisations, such as the UN and World Health Organisation to better manage crime and violent behaviour – according to research led by the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences at QMUL.

Teaching blog - helping first years make the leap
5 January 2017

Our Teaching Interest Group and Education Research (TIGER) ran a seminar on helping first year students adjust with guest speaker Dr Harriet Jones from the University of East Anglia.  TIGER founder and chair Dr Rachel O'Callaghan blogs about the seminar.  You can also watch a recording of the event below. 

Ash tree genome aids fight against disease
4 January 2017

Researchers at the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) have successfully decoded the genetic sequence of the ash tree, to help the fight against the fungal disease, ash dieback. 

Photo µSR gives insights into key industrial processes and fundamental science
3 January 2017

Photochemistry is a chemical reaction caused by the absorption of light (photons). It underpins a large range of important biological and industrial processes, from photosynthesis in plants through a host of chemical engineering applications – for example, the manufacture of the antimalarial drug artemisinin. Excitations in molecules also play a key role in devices – for example organic LEDs and organic photovoltaic cells. 

Researchers create synthetic skin
7 December 2016

Wearable technologies could be transformed with a new type of artificial material that can mimic the properties of skin from sensing touch to even being self-healing.

Competitive males are a blessing and a curse, study reveals
17 November 2016

Showy ornaments used by the male of the species in competition for mates, such as the long tail of a peacock or shaggy mane of a lion, could indicate a species' risk of decline in a changing climate, according to a new study from the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences.  

Turtle project triumphs in engaging the public
28 October 2016

A conservation project led by Senior Lecturer Dr Christophe Eizaguirre in collaboration with NGOs has been shortlisted for a national award in public engagement, and has won funding from QMUL’s Centre for Public Engagement.

Student coders triumph at London ZooHackathon
21 October 2016

A group of QMUL students were on the winning team of the London ZooHackathon, a computer coding and technology event which aims to tackle wildlife trafficking. Environmental Science student Marysia Clouter, who was part of the winning team, took our third year module Ecology and Conservation, which she says was instrumental in developing her understanding of the natural world.

A Naked Mole-Rat Eutopia at Somerset House
7 October 2016

From 10-16 October, Somerset House’s Utopian Treasury will host a contemporary art installation ‘powered’ by live data from a naked mole-rat colony by Julie Freeman, an artist at Queen Mary University of London.

String pulling bees provide insight into spread of culture
4 October 2016

Bumblebees can learn to pull strings for food and pass on the ability to a colony, according to researchers at the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences at QMUL.

Scientists discover mechanisms of shape-shifting sea cucumbers
4 October 2016

Scientists from Queen Mary University of London (QMUL's School of Biological and Chemical Sciences have discovered for the first time how marine animals called sea cucumbers can rapidly change the stiffness of their body, which could provide a useful basis for developing novel biomaterials for applications in medicine.

Good food puts bees in good mood
29 September 2016

We all know what it’s like to taste our favourite food and instantly feel good about the world but the same phenomenon may happen in bumblebees.

Big data analysis shows weak link between badgers and cattle for TB transmission
27 September 2016

The largest simulation to date of the numbers of cattle and badgers infected with tuberculosis (TB) casts serious doubts about the extent to which badgers cause TB in cattle, according to research from the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences at QMUL.

Bees remain excellent searchers even when ill
12 September 2016

Honeybees are hardwired to efficiently search the landscape enabling them to continue working for the greater good of their hives even when they are sick, according to new research co-authored by the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences at QMUL.

Our School celebrates successes in National Student Survey
11 August 2016

Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) continues to rank top in London among Russell Group universities for student satisfaction, according to the latest National Student Survey (NSS).

Teaching blog - large group teaching
9 August 2016

Our Teaching Interest Group and Education Research (TIGER) ran a workshop on large group teaching. TIGER chair Dr Rachel O'Callaghan blogs about the event. You can also watch a recording of the event below.

Our teaching interest group one year in
5 August 2016

Our School formed the Teaching Interest Group and Education Research (TIGER), a forum for anyone involved in teaching and curriculum development, over a year ago. Since then, TIGER has held three events, formed an executive committee, and supported teaching activity in our School and beyond. Dr Rachel O'Callaghan, TIGER founder and chair, shares her thoughts on TIGER's first year.

Could goats become man's best friend?
11 July 2016

Goats have the capacity to communicate with people like other domesticated animals, such as dogs and horses, according to scientists from the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences (SBCS) at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL).

Lost hormone is found in starfish
5 July 2016

Biologists from the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences (SBCS) have discovered that the evolutionary history of a hormone responsible for sexual maturity in humans is written in the genes of the humble starfish.

London bee tracking project - save London bees
4 July 2016

Hundreds of bees with individual coloured number tags have been released from our rooftops for a project that hopes to uncover the secret lives of London’s bees. Biologists from the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences have attached weather-resistant number tags on the backs of bees, and encourage the public to identify them and take photos for a competition.

Schools compete in chemistry festival at SBCS
16 May 2016

School kids from across London, Middlesex, Hertfordshire, Essex and Kent competed in an exciting day of hands-on chemistry at the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences (SBCS) at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL).

Teaching awards triumph for SBCS
26 April 2016

It was highly flattering to be nominated for Teacher of the Year in the 2015-16 Queen Mary Student Union (QMSU) Teaching Awards, especially as I’ve always held the belief that I was “just doing my job”. I was absolutely flabbergasted to have won and am extremely grateful to all the students who took the time to nominate me and other staff for the award.

Student Voices: Dinosaurs in the Horniman Museum
21 April 2016

Our Student Voices series gives our students a chance to blog about life at QMUL's School of Biological and Chemical Sciences. This edition is written by Patrick Hennessey, third year zoology student, who recently went to the Horniman Museum with staff and students from the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences.

SBCS palaeontologist chronicles tyrannosaur evolution in new book
21 April 2016

How the dinosaur group, the tyrannosaurs, evolved over the course of 100-million years into the giant carnivorous bone-crushers that are so well recognised today, is charted in a new book by a Zoology lecturer from Queen Mary University of London (QMUL).

Student voices: presenting at a conference
30 March 2016

Our Student Voices series gives our students a chance to blog about life at QMUL's School of Biological and Chemical Sciences. This edition is written by Jemma Mary Brett, third year Zoology student, who recently presented at the British Conference of Undergraduate Research (BCUR).

New study reveals new pathway for river pollution
30 March 2016

Scientists from the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) have discovered new ways how rivers convert excess nitrogen, which can have damaging impacts on the environment, to harmless nitrogen in a new study published in the journal Nature Geoscience.

What does geographic profiling have to do with modern art?
3 March 2016

Scientists at the School of Biological and Chemical Science (SBCS) at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) have shown research on infectious disease outbreaks can been adapted to study the locations of artworks by graffiti artist Banksy.

Flowers tone down the iridescence of their petals and avoid confusing bees
29 February 2016

Flowers' iridescent petals, which may look plain to human eyes, produce the perfect signal for bees, according to a new study involving researchers from QMUL's School of Biological and Chemical Sciences.

Prof Marina Resmini delivers her inaugural lecture
12 February 2016

In February 2016, Professor Marina Resmini delivered her inaugural lecture: Why size matters: from antibodies to nanomaterials.

Starfish reveal the origins of brain messenger molecules
10 February 2016

Biologists from Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) have discovered the genes in starfish that encode neuropeptides - a common type of chemical found in human brains. The revelation gives researchers new insights into how neural function evolved in the animal kingdom.

Slime can see
9 February 2016

After more than 300 years of looking, scientists led by Queen Mary University of London have figured out how bacteria “see” their world. And they do it in a remarkably similar way to us.

Going postgraduate? Find out all you need to know
4 February 2016

Find out more about postgraduate study in Bioinformatics, Ecology, Botany, Chemical Research and more, and discover more about the world-leading research, teaching and support we offer our MSc students.

Student Voices - wading in Windermere
21 January 2016

Postgraduate students on our Aquatic Ecology and Freshwater and Marine Ecology MSc programmes went on a week-long field trip to the Lake District.  Two of our students - Kirsty MacLeod and Adrienne Kerley - have blogged about the trip. Find out what they got up to.

Student voices: life is for living
18 January 2016

Our Student Voices series gives our students a chance to blog about life at QMUL's School of Biological and Chemical Sciences.

First demonstration of sexual selection in dinosaurs identified
14 January 2016

Large ornamental structures in dinosaurs, such as horns and head crests are likely to have been used in sexual displays and to assert social dominance, according to a new analysis of Protoceratops carried out by scientists at the School of Biological and Chemical sciences (SBCS) at QMUL.

Phytoplankton like it hot: Warming boosts biodiversity and photosynthesis in phytoplankton
21 December 2015

Warmer temperatures increase biodiversity and photosynthesis in phytoplankton, researchers at the Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) and University of Exeter have found. Globally, phytoplankton - microscopic water-borne plants - absorb as much carbon dioxide as tropical rainforests and so understanding the way they respond to a warming climate is crucial.

Five biomedical scientists visit Nanchang University in China
1 December 2015

After over 10,000 miles and 48 hours of travelling, five biomedical scientists from Queen Mary found their way to Nanchang University, China. The School of Biological and Chemical Sciences at QMUL runs a joint undergraduate programme with Nanchang University, and our London-based students went to visit Nanchang as part of a cultural exchange project.

New review on origin and evolution of the nervous system
27 November 2015

A review from the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences highlights the importance of developmental processes in understanding nervous system evolution.

Student voices: obsession is a great thing
26 November 2015

Our Student Voices series gives our students a chance to blog about life at QMUL's School of Biological and Chemical Sciences.

Male bees have more than a one-track mind
16 November 2015

Male bumblebees are just as smart as female worker bees despite their dim-witted reputation, according to new research from Queen Mary's School of Biological and Chemical Sciences.

Using technology to enhance student outcomes
16 November 2015

Dr James Pickering visited Queen Mary in November to give a talk on using technology to enhance student outcomes, attended by academics across the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, the School of Medicine and Dentistry, the E-Learning unit and beyond.

Success at Engagement and Entrepreneurship awards
12 November 2015

Academics from the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences triumphed at the recent Public Engagement and Entrepreneurship awards, which recognise outstanding staff and student achievement throughout Queen Mary.

Watching cement dry could help dental fillings last longer
10 November 2015

Scientists led by the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) and Aberystwyth University have revealed ‘sweet points’ for dental fillings, where cement used to fill cracks regain elasticity before hardening indefinitely. This could have implications for creating more durable and longer-lasting fillings in the future.

Industry collaboration drives Queen Mary research into higher yields in agricultural crops
28 October 2015

Scientists from the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences have teamed up with industry to create the next generation of lighting systems.  Professor Alexander Ruban, Professor of Biophysics, collaborated with Finnish company Valoya and Microsoft to create a novel solution for simulation of natural outdoor light.

PhD student stumbles upon a new way for producing oldest chemical compounds
28 October 2015

A chemistry PhD student has found a simple way for the first time of producing two chemical compounds that were first discovered in late 19th century, entirely by accident. The discovery could have implications for fighting disease and growing crops, where the sulfur containing compounds called sultones and sultines, play a significant role.

Is happiness a matter of our genes?
27 October 2015

Senior lecturer in development psychology at the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences Dr Michael Pluess organised a public event at Queen Mary University of London, in partnership with the Centre for Economic Performance from the London School of Economics and Action for Happiness

Students triumph at Biotechnology Entrepreneurs Scheme
21 October 2015

A team of Queen Mary postgraduate students are through to the final of the annual Biotechnology YES (Young Entrepreneur Scheme) competition.

Giraffe, impala and boomslang - our South Africa field trip
6 October 2015

Lecturer Dr Dave Hone shares his experience of our recent field trip to South Africa, open to undergraduate students on our biology, genetics and zoology programmes. 

First imagery from echolocation reveals new signals for hunting bats
14 September 2015

The ability of some bats to spot motionless prey in the dark has baffled experts until now. By creating the first visual images from echolocation, researchers reveal we have been missing how bats sense their world.

Queen Mary scientists speak at Professor Brian Cox's summer school
28 August 2015

Two scientists from Queen Mary’s School of Biological and Chemical Sciences spoke at a science summer school event this week with Professor Brian Cox. Mathematical biologist Dr Steve Le Comber and PhD student James Borrell were invited along with other top scientists to deliver talks at the St Paul’s Way Trust Science Summer School 2015.

Freshers week tips from our undergraduates
26 August 2015

Starting your undergraduate degree at Queen Mary soon? Have dozens of questions or concerns? Some of our lovely student ambassadors have shared their experiences. Take a look below to get a taste of what your Freshers Week will be like.

Fallow deer are all about the bass when sizing up rivals
17 August 2015

Research published in the journal BMC Evolutionary Biology, has found that fallow deer bucks make judgements about the possible threat from competitors from the sound of their calls.

School of Biological and Chemical Sciences celebrates successes in National Student Survey
12 August 2015

Student satisfaction in biology and zoology teaching in QMUL’s School of Biological and Chemical Sciences has increased by 5% in a year, according to the latest National Student Survey (NSS). In addition, molecular biology, biophysics and biochemistry teaching was ranked fourth in London.

Find out about our outstanding year in our annual report
21 July 2015

We've released our first ever annual report, looking back at this year's exciting developments at the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences.

Study finds pet owners reluctant to face up to their cats' kill count
10 July 2015

Cat owners fail to realise the impact of their cat on wildlife according to new research from the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences and the University of Exeter.

Naked mole-rats anti-cancer gene is unique among mammals
6 May 2015

Researchers have found that the gene which gives naked mole-rats their natural resistance to cancer is unique among mammals.

Bumblebees use nicotine to fight off parasites
28 April 2015

Bumblebees that have been infected by parasites seek out flowers with nicotine in the nectar, likely to fight off the infection, new research has found. The nicotine appears to slow the progression of disease in infected bees but has harmful effects when consumed by healthy bees.

Proteins that control anxiety in humans and cause insects to shed their skins have common origin
22 April 2015

Researchers have discovered that a protein which controls anxiety in humans has the same molecular ancestor as one which causes insects to moult when they outgrow their skins. Studies on sea urchins provided the missing link because they have a protein with elements common to those in both humans and insects and reveal a common ancestry hundreds of millions of years ago.

New evidence that tyrannosaurs fought and ate each other
10 April 2015

Examination of a Daspletosaurus skull by Dr David Hone of the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences found signs that it had been bitten by another tyrannosaur during its lifetime as well as after it had died.

Professor Mark Trimmer delivers his Inaugural Lecture
9 April 2015

In April 2015 Professor Mark Trimmer delivered his inaugural lecture - New spokes for old cycles: The life sustaining transformation of bio-elements on Earth

Bumblebees differentiate flower types when arranged horizontally but not vertically
7 April 2015

Bumblebees trained to go to feeders labelled with a certain colour or pattern cue but avoid differently labelled alternative feeders did so when feeders were arranged horizontally but didn’t when arranged vertically. Researchers believe this could be because groups of flowers arranged horizontally, like those in a meadow, often include several different species, while those arranged vertically, like in blossoming trees are likely to all be the same species.

Conscientious children less likely to smoke
24 March 2015

Conscientious children are less likely to smoke in later life, a study carried out by Dr Michael Pluess of QMUL and researchers from UCL has found.

Cold-blooded animals grow bigger in the warm on land, but smaller in warm water
23 March 2015

Scientists studying arthropods, the group of cold-blooded animals that includes crabs and insects, have found that individuals within species living on land tend to grow to a larger size in the warm and nearer the equator, but that the reverse is true of species found in water.

Bees form false memories just like humans
27 February 2015

In the same way that humans sometimes remember things that didn’t actually occur, researchers have found that bees also misremember. False memories have never been observed in non-human animals before.

We announce a new educational partnership with Kew
27 February 2015

From September 2015 QMUL will be offering a new MSc Plant and Fungal Taxonomy, Diversity and Conservation in collaboration with the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew.

'Stressed' young bees could be the cause of colony collapse
9 February 2015

Pressure on young bees to grow up too fast could be a major factor in explaining the disastrous declines in bee populations seen worldwide.

Tropical wasps attack intruders with unfamiliar faces
4 February 2015

Researchers at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) in collaboration with the University of Florence, have discovered that a species of tropical wasps can memorise the faces of members of their colony and will attack any individual with an unfamiliar face. These wasps can also recognise the smell of their nestmates, but pay more attention to the unique facial patterns in their species when considering whether an individual is friend or foe.

'Nudge' psychology is not based on robust evidence and conscious decision-making is more effective
28 January 2015

A new study says that the kind of instinctive decision-making advocated in best-selling popular psychology books like ‘Nudge’, ‘Thinking Fast and Slow’ and ‘Blink’ is not backed up by reliable evidence.

Life-sized Tyrannosaurus rex skull arrives on campus
16 January 2015

The School of Biological and Chemical Sciences (SBCS) has taken delivery of a life-sized cast of a Tyrannosaurus rex skull that will be used for school visits, public engagement and outreach.

Testing for Bovine Tuberculosis is more effective than badger culls at controlling the disease
14 January 2015

Modelling produced by researchers in QMUL’s School of Biological and Chemical Sciences (SBCS) has found that the only effective potential Bovine Tuberculosis (TB) control strategies are badger culling, cattle testing, controlling cattle movement, and ceasing the practice of housing farm cattle together during winter.

Research highlights from our 2014 REF submission
18 December 2014

Academics within the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences are involved in a wide range of ground breaking projects across the broad sweep of biological, chemical and psychological sciences. The Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014 will consider the strength of our research in six core areas.

We confirm our place as one of the UK’s elite research departments in the REF 2014
18 December 2014

The School of Biological and Chemical Sciences has shown itself to be one of the UK’s elite research departments in the UK with our latest ranking in the Research Excellence Framework (REF).

Do you speak cow? Researchers listen in on ‘conversations’ between calves and their mothers
16 December 2014

Researchers have been eavesdropping on 'conversations' between calves and their mothers — measuring the process of how cows communicate using detailed acoustic analysis for the first time.

Did Christopher Columbus really bring syphilis back to Europe?
8 December 2014

Following his comments in the Daily Mail, where he questioned new theories derived from a single skeleton with a questionable pathology, Dr Rob Knell was asked to write a piece in the Conversation about his theories on whether Christopher Columbus brought syphilis back to Europe.

Dr Isabelle Mareschal conducts experiments with Science Museum visitors
8 December 2014

Londoners are notorious for avoiding eye contact with each other but how bad are we really? That’s one of the things visitors to the Science Museum can currently help to find out if they take part in an experiment being run by QMUL and UCL researchers to learn how long people can comfortably make eye contact with someone else.

Animal welfare could be improved by new understanding of their emotions
5 December 2014

A new study from researchers at Queen Mary University of London looking at how goats express subtle positive emotions could lead to greater understanding of animal welfare.

We welcome the NERC Doctoral Training Partnership students to our School
18 November 2014

This week we are hosting students from the London Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) Doctoral Training Partnership to offer our expertise and training for their PhD projects.

Alan McElligott's work with goats is featured in the Guardian newspaper
17 November 2014

Alan McElligott’s research on optimistic goats has been featured in the Guardian’s piece on Do animals have emotions?

QMUL scientists find further evidence that fish are cleverer than previously thought
31 October 2014

Scientists working at Queen Mary University of London and University of Bath have found that zebrafish are able to visually process multiple objects simultaneously, more proof that fish are cleverer than their ‘three-second memory’ reputation suggests.

Students make important dinosaur discovery in Canada
21 October 2014

Final year undergraduate students from the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences studying a new module called Species and their Relationships: Dinosaurs to DNA have uncovered a rare and important dinosaur skull while on a trip to Canada as part of the course.

Entire amphibian communities are being wiped out by emerging viruses
17 October 2014

Scientists from QMUL, UCL, Zoological Society of London, and the National Museum of Natural Sciences (MNCN-CSIC) in Madrid, tracing the real-time impact of viruses in the wild have found that entire amphibian communities are being killed off by closely related viruses introduced to mountainous areas of northern Spain.

Queen Mary receives share of £125m for bioscience PhD students
2 October 2014

Queen Mary University of London is part of a group of London-based institutions awarded £15m to train bioscience PhD students as part of a £125m nationwide campaign to support the training and development of PhD students tackling some of the world’s major challenges.

What will you discover?
29 September 2014

Chemistry students discover new way of identifying hydrogen peroxide
12 September 2014

Chemists from Queen Mary University of London have discovered a new way of identifying peroxide-based explosives, which could make detection of suspect devices more cost-effective in the future.

It's a do or die situation in this clash of the ash
20 August 2014

Dr Richard Buggs has been working with Teagasc researchers, and other partners, to counter ash dieback disease by crossing Asian and Irish species of the tree.

Students give us their seal of approval
13 August 2014

Molecular Biology and Chemistry programmes at Queen Mary University of London are ranked second in London for student satisfaction, according to the latest results of a nationwide poll of final-year undergraduates.

Congratulations to our academic excellence prizewinners!
23 July 2014

The School of Biological and Chemical Sciences awarded prizes to over 30 students for outstanding academic excellence. Most of the prizes were awarded to graduating students but a few were given to first and second year students who have done exceptionally well in their studies so far.

Professor Peter Hudson FRS on biology, baths and identifying your groove
22 July 2014

Professor Peter Hudson FRS was named as an Honorary Doctor of Science (DSc) for his work in disease ecology at the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences Summer graduation ceremony.

Ambika Kumar named Course Rep of the Year
18 July 2014

Ambika Kumar was named Course Rep of the Year at the Education Awards 2014. She is graduating with a First class degree in Biomedicine before going straight on to a PhD in Microbiology at Queen Mary.

Scientists improve metal detectors for early diagnosis of lifestyle and age-related diseases
10 July 2014

Sensors created by chemists at Queen Mary University of London could lead to a set of new tools for researchers to investigate conditions like diabetes resulting in earlier diagnosis and new treatments.

Silver lining found for making new drugs
26 June 2014

Chemists at Queen Mary University of London have discovered a new chemical to aid drug manufacturing processes, making it more environmentally-friendly and easier to scale up for industry.

Chemistry festival for secondary school pupils returns with new science challenges
24 June 2014

Students from schools across London, Hertfordshire and Kent enjoyed an exciting day of hands-on fun activities at the Salters' Festival of Chemistry at Queen Mary University of London on Wednesday 14 May.

Criminal profiling technique targets killer diseases
3 June 2014

A mathematical tool used by the Metropolitan Police and FBI has been adapted by researchers at Queen Mary University of London to help control outbreaks of malaria, and has the potential to target other infectious diseases.

UK top 10 for QMUL in international science and medicine rankings
29 May 2014

A league table measuring the scientific performance of some 750 universities worldwide rates Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) 9th in the UK and 52nd globally.

Hat-trick of research awards for QMUL bee expert
9 May 2014

A scientist from Queen Mary University of London, who studies how bees forage for food and the evolution of their sensory systems, has received a top prize from the UK’s national academy of science as well as a prestigious grant from the international Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP). These two awards are in addition to a major grant awarded by European Research Council last month.

Crayfish study provides complicated web of interactions
17 February 2014

How different species of invasive crayfish interact with each other and affect their local environment has been uncovered for the first time by scientists at Queen Mary University of London.

Farming and wetlands: readdressing the balance
10 February 2014

More than 50 per cent of our planet’s wetlands, from peatbogs to estuaries, both natural and man-made, are under threat from habitat destruction and climate change.

Fight or flight? Vocal cues help deer decide during mating season
10 February 2014

Male fallow deer are sensitive to changes in the groans that rivals make during mating season when competing for the attention of female deer, and can assess the level of threat other males pose simply from vocal cues, according to new research from Queen Mary University of London.

QMUL Research seeks to safeguard the Future of Europe’s Ash Trees
28 November 2013

SBCS's Dr Richard Buggs is the local organiser of the international fraxback conference. On Friday 29th of November, Dr Buggs will host a session entitled “Living with ash dieback in continental Europe: present situation, long-term experience and future perspectives” at the Linnean Society of London.

The One Show: Bees
12 March 2013

Chimpanzee justice
29 November 2012

I woke up gay
19 April 2012

How sex works
17 January 2012

Culture evolves
21 September 2011

See with your ears?
9 August 2011

New bat for Sumatra
12 November 2010

Move over lab rat
31 October 2010

The germ breeders
22 June 2010

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