Faculty of Biological Sciences

Meet Prof Nicola Stonehouse. 🔬 A leading researcher in viruses & vaccines, Nic never planned to go to uni & left her first PhD after a year. Hear her story of taking risks & making a difference 🎥 biologicalsciences.leeds.ac.uk/biological-s... #ResearcherSpotlight @unileedsnews.bsky.social

This work comes from the PhD thesis of Rebecca Thomas exploring disease threats to endangered turtle doves, and was done in collaboration with @bioscienceleeds.bsky.social @jennycdunn.bsky.social, @rspbscience.bsky.social, @naturalengland.bsky.social, and @nerc-eof.bsky.social

Just out: Supplementary feeding of wild birds on farmland can be an important transmission risk for severe avian parasites such as Trichomonas gallinae, suggesting a rethink is needed on how this conservation practice is managed 🪱🧪🌍🐦 doi.org/10.1111/mec.... @molecology.bsky.social

Great to welcome leading clinicians Andy Williams and Richard Sylvester to the Sport and Exercise Medicine Group at Leeds 🏃‍♂️🔬 Looking forward to them sharing their clinical expertise to help strengthen research, teaching and impact. Full story: biologicalsciences.leeds.ac.uk/biological-s...

👏 @zeqiraj.bsky.social and @helenfoster.bsky.social, both in the School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, have scooped two prestigious awards from @biochemsoc.bsky.social! Congratulations both - incredibly well-deserved. Read the full story 👇 biologicalsciences.leeds.ac.uk/biological-s...

The Astbury Conversation is nearly here! 🧪 A two-day conference on 20–21 April, connecting people with a passion for structural and chemical biology, biophysics, and biotechnology. Learn about the organiser and host behind the public event ➡️ bit.ly/41CLTWu More about the public event below 👇

Meet Dr Camilla Nyjkjaer @camillanykjaer.bsky.social In this short video, part of our new #ResearcherSpotlight series, hear how Camilla's research is shaping healthier pregnancies for women in underserved communities @universityofleeds.bsky.social 🎥 biologicalsciences.leeds.ac.uk/biological-s...

Why international education matters... Congratulations to Leeds alumnus Professor Abhishek D Garg @abhishekgarglab.bsky.social who has been named an Indian Achiever in Education, Science and Innovation at the 2026 NISAU India UK Achievers Awards 🎉 biologicalsciences.leeds.ac.uk/biological-s...

♥️ It's time to say thank you to our brilliant colleagues and students in the Faculty of Biological Sciences. The LUU Partnership Awards nominations close on 19 February. Show your appreciation and nominate someone today. #LeedsPA2026 www.luu.ac.uk/leeds-partne...

🔬Great to see Adhirons, developed here at Leeds, recognised in the UK Government's recent strategy to reduce animal testing. The technology offers an alternative to traditional antibodies and is already being used for drug discovery and diagnostics. Supported by @nc3rs.bsky.social bit.ly/4rnjLSs

📊 UK Health & Biomedical Data Scientists - can we get your input? 🧬 Do you work with health or biomedical data? Use statistics, maths, AI or ML in healthcare or life sciences? Support health research as a data engineer?

🏆The LUU Partnership Awards 2026 nominations are now open Know someone in the Faculty of Biological Sciences who deserves recognition? Don't delay, go ahead and nominate them today! Deadline: 19 Feb www.luu.ac.uk/leeds-partne... #LeedsPA2026

When academic expertise meet popular culture 📻 Find out what happened when Leeds researchers Tim Benton & Stefan Kepinski visited BBC Radio 4's #TheArchers (and the fictional village of Ambridge!) to advise on the future of UK farming. 👀 bit.ly/3YANfzQ @afnnetwork.bsky.social

Have you seen our Jan, Feb and March webinar line-up? Visit our Eventbrite page to read about what we have coming up and to register your place www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/global-foo... These sessions are free and open to all. We also upload the recordings to YouTube: youtube.com/playlist?lis...

How can animal waste be used in sustainable farming? Join this free webinar from our friends over at GFEI to find out...

🎉 Congrats to the faculty's Dr Jonathan Machin who has been awarded the British Biophysical Society's 2026 Kendrew Doctoral Thesis Prize, for his outstanding research on outer membrane proteins. Read more here: britishbiophysics.org/awards/

Insightful article here from microbiology student Fatima Arshad on an early pioneer in sustainable agriculture ⬇️ @blackinplantsci.bsky.social

Wildlife corridors are vital for biodiversity, but new research warns they can also spread diseases, invasive species & wildfires. A Nature Reviews Biodiversity paper from Josh Firth @universityofleeds.bsky.social Sarah Knowles @biology.ox.ac.uk & Ivan Jarić @ivanjaric.bsky.social bit.ly/4iisAJR

What are the challenges of farming in an unpredictable climate? New blog from @globalfoodleeds.bsky.social featuring faculty researcher Dr Ruth Wade 👇

📆Save the date: 20-21 April 2026 #AstburyConvo26 is back with a bold new theme: Designing Biology. Expect cutting-edge talks and the chance to shape the future of molecular science. Register now: astburyconversation.leeds.ac.uk @astburycentre.bsky.social @universityofleeds.bsky.social

A warm welcome to Dr Carly Day, who joins us as Visiting Clinical Professor in Sport and Exercise Medicine. Bringing international experience from Purdue Athletics and the US U20 Women’s National Soccer Team, Dr Day is a fantastic addition to our teaching and research. 🔗https://bit.ly/3Jt76wS

Inspiring event here about resilience and leadership, with special guest speaker Shaunna Burke 👇

More great #WorldFoodDay content here from our colleagues at @globalfoodleeds.bsky.social 👇

🌏A major new report from @afnnetwork.bsky.social calls for biggest transformation of UK food since World War 2. News story here ▶️ bit.ly/472Ltwt and key recommendations in thread below 👇 @timgbenton.bsky.social @globalfoodleeds.bsky.social @priestleycentre.bsky.social #WorldFoodDay

"I felt energised to be in a space where people looked like me."  Fantastic to hear Faculty of Biological Sciences PhD student Zhané Murrell-Smith share her experience of the @universityofleeds.bsky.social Generation Delta training programme. ▶️ Read all about it: www.leeds.ac.uk/news/article...

We've seen reports of more ladybird spottings this week 🐞 Professor @ejduncan.bsky.social explains how climate change might be affecting insect behaviour. Great to see the School of Biology's expert insights on the BBC! bit.ly/42x8AfS #Biodiversity #Ladybirds 📷 Christopher Stites, Unsplash

📣 Introducing the Cheney Biomedical Accelerator Last week marked the opening of a new research facility here at Leeds. But it's not just a physical space. The Accelerator brings discovery and clinical scientists together to drive bold health & bioscience discoveries. Find out more: bit.ly/4pSoA65

Researchers at Leeds and @ucl.ac.uk have been exploring what’s happening in the brain when stroke survivors experience long-term fatigue. Dr Anna Kuppuswamy sheds light on post-stroke fatigue, and how sensory overload and attention filtering may be key to understanding it. 🔗 shorturl.at/Lz98Z

The former Leeds Social Sciences Institute has entered a new chapter... The new Leeds Institute for Societal Futures will include challenge-led research, alongside postgraduate education and professional learning innovation. Find out more below 👇

Great thread here summarising Professor Pippa Chapman and Dr Ruth Wade's latest paper on the challenges associated with regenerative agriculture research...

We'll be at the Yorkshire Post Health & Life Sciences Business Breakfast this Wednesday! Going too? Stop by for a chat about our world-leading facilities, as well as training and consultancy services, commercialisation and research collaborations. #HealthInnovation #LifeSciences #YHLS2025

🔬 What are plasmodesmata, and why are they important? In this new case study, discover how the Faculty's Professor Yoselin Benitez-Alfonso's research into microscopic plant pores could help tackle climate change and global food insecurity. bit.ly/4pocNvX @researchleeds.bsky.social

"A fantastic resource to lead research, knowledge exchange and teaching activities in future-proofing farming systems." Dr Ruth Wade, School of Biology The University farm is one of 10 in Europe to become a hub for climate research. bit.ly/3VeXnfR @globalfoodleeds.bsky.social @envleeds.bsky.social

Ever wondered why a warm shower can hurt when you're sunburnt? Research from an international team led by the School of Biomedical Science's Professor Nikita Gamper suggests the clue may be in our sensory neurons, and a protein called Copine-6. Find out more: bit.ly/45MEpmS

Whoever heard of birds splitting up? A new study from @biology.ox.ac.uk and Leeds researcher Dr Josh Firth reveals wild great tits show signs of 'divorce' months before breeding season. 🔎 Vital clues to social relationships in not just birds, but other species too. bit.ly/4fLH3Nb @ox.ac.uk