Life Sciences MRes

Our supervisory staff are recognised experts in their field. Their research expertise includes the following.

Centre for Biomedicine and Health Innovation

Molecular Oncology
Supervisor: Dr Gavin Bowen-Metcalf
Research focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying cancer progression, therapeutic resistance, and diagnostic inertia, with a particular emphasis on non-coding RNAs (e.g. microRNAs), neuro-oncology, and biomarker discovery. Projects combine the analysis of patient-derived datasets with molecular and cellular laboratory techniques, supported by bioinformatics, to identify novel therapeutic targets and improve cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Keywords: Cancer; Patient Data Analysis; Non-coding RNAs; Neuro-Oncology; Biomarker Discovery; Cancer Therapeutics.<

Genetics of Neurological Disorders
Supervisor: Dr Krithika Sundararaman
Investigate the genetic and molecular basis of neurological and neurodevelopmental disorders, including epilepsy and sleep disorders, using genomic and bioinformatic approaches. Projects focus on the analysis of large-scale genomic resources, such as gnomAD and ClinVar, to investigate rare genetic variants, their ethnic distributions, and their potential role in disease, alongside variant annotation, pathogenicity assessment, and clinical interpretation.
Keywords: Human Genetics; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Epilepsy; Sleep Genetics; Bioinformatics; Genomics

Innate Immune Receptor Signalling in Human Disease
Supervisor: Dr Clett Erridge
Investigate how innate immune receptor signalling can be modified to prevent or treat major human diseases, including cancer and atherosclerosis. Projects involve mammalian cell culture, recombinant protein expression, transfection, reporter assays, microscopy and other skills in much demand in the life science industries.
Keywords: Immunity, Toll-like receptor, inflammation, atherosclerosis, cancer

Cell Biology and Membrane Trafficking 
Supervisor: Dr James Edgar
Examine the cellular pathways that direct membrane trafficking and maintain organelle function. Projects involve designing innovative experimental assays, performing cell-based studies, and investigating how trafficking defects contribute to disease.
Keywords: Organelles; Biochemistry; Pathology; Membrane biology; Molecular biology; cell-based assays

Neuronal Function in Healthy Ageing and in Neuropsychiatric Diseases
Supervisor: Dr Francesca Panin
Investigate the mechanisms of disrupted neuronal activity in healthy ageing and in neuropsychiatric diseases (e.g. sleep disorders, Parkinson's disease etc). Project will involve in vitro electrophysiological measurements of neuronal function, clinical and preclinical data analysis and collaboration with a biotech and with researchers and clinicians of the neuropsychiatric sector.
Keywords: In Vitro Electrophysiology; Multi-Electrode Arrays (MEA); Sleep; Neuropsychiatric; Healthy ageing; Clinical Data

Development of Gene Therapy Pipelines
Supervisor: Dr Saqlain Suleman
Explore advanced molecular biology and biotechnology to improve gene and cell therapies for the treatment of human disease. Projects cover viral vector development including using adenoviruses or HIV, stem cell biology, genome engineering, and bioinformatic analysis.
Keywords: HIV, advanced therapeutic medicinal product, vectors, genotoxicity

Understanding and Treating Cardiovascular Disease
Supervisor: Prof Havovi Chichger
Investigate the molecular mechanisms which regulate vascular disruption in settings of cardiovascular disease, such as diabetes, metastasis, and lung injury. Projects include cell and molecular analysis of key vascular phenotypes, including angiogenesis, barrier function, to develop new therapeutic strategies which can translate to patients. 
Keywords: Cardiovascular disease, Diabetes, Endothelial function, Cell biology, Angiogenesis.

Microbial Genomics and Antimicrobial Resistance
Supervisor: Dr Harisree Paramel Nair
Investigate microbial communities and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) across environmental sources, particularly sediments and aquatic environments, using molecular microbiology and genomic approaches. Projects involve metagenomics, bacteriophage biology, and pathogen surveillance to address challenges in AMR from a One Health perspective. 
Keywords: AMR, Microbial Genomics, Metagenomics, One Health, Bacteriophages, Phage therapy

Bioarchaeology/Paleopathology
Supervisor: Dr Sam Tipper
This project will involve the analysis of human skeletal remains from archaeological contexts to understand daily life, health and disease in past populations. This includes studying skeletal pathology, trauma, and demographic patterns.
Keywords: Osteoarchaeology, Palaeopathology, Skeletal trauma, Health and disease, Hansens disease, Past populations

A Multidisciplinary Investigation of Drink Spiking: Toxicology, Detection Methods and Evidence-Based Prevention
Supervisor: Dr Lata Gautam
Investigate the prevalence, health impacts, and prevention of drink spiking through laboratory-based analysis of in-vitro spiked drinks, evaluation of commercial detection kits and protection measures and analysis of Freedom of Information requests. The project involves toxicological investigations, instrumental analysis, analytical method development, and AI-enabled data analysis to improve the detection and understanding of drink spiking incidents.
Keywords: Drink Spiking; Laboratory Testing; Forensic Toxicology; Drug and Drink Analysis; Commercial Detection Kits; Evidence-Based Policy

Centre for Ecology, Evolution and the Environment

Find out more about the Centre's work.

The Importance of Rare Species in Ecological Communities and Ecosystems
Supervisor: Dr Hannah White
Develop models of multiple forms of species rarity and how these shape patterns of biodiversity in time and space in different taxonomic groups. Projects involve analysing species traits, distributions, and community and ecosystem stability to understand the role of rare species and inform their conservation.
Keywords: Macroecology; Spatial modelling; Species Rarity; Ecological Traits; Functional Diversity; Community Ecology

Biodiversity Assessment & Wildlife Management
Supervisor: Dr Jim Littlemore MCIEEM CEcol
Research focusses on developing applied approaches to understand, monitor and conserve biodiversity through combining traditional ecological field methods with emerging technologies. Potential MRes projects could explore biodiversity assessments, wildlife monitoring, habitat restoration & management, sustainable land management, and tools for guiding nature conservation decision-making in the real-world.
Keywords: Biodiversity assessment; wildlife conservation; habitat management & restoration; sustainable land management; recreation ecology.

Conservation of Nocturnal Mammals
Supervisor: Prof Anna Nekaris
Research focuses on understanding the behaviour, distribution, and abundance of nocturnal mammals across South/Southeast Asia and Africa using field studies, remote monitoring technology, and global databases. Projects can also encompass ex situ studies in collaboration with zoos; social media analysis; or conservation education and outreach initiatives.
Keywords: Nocturnal Mammals; Wildlife Conservation; Remote Monitoring; Ex Situ Research; Database Analysis; Conservation Education.

Evolution and Ecology of Animal Communication
Supervisor: Professor Jacob Dunn
Investigate the anatomy, behaviour, and ecology of vocal communication in mammals, from the mechanisms of sound production to the function of animal signals. This work tests evolutionary hypotheses about how and why signals take the forms they do, with applications ranging from the origins of human language to acoustic monitoring for conservation and animal welfare.
Keywords: Bioacoustics; Vocal Communication; Evolution of Language; Comparative Anatomy; Phylogenetic Comparative Methods; Conservation; Welfare.

Molecular Archaeology and Environmental Change
Supervisor: Dr Linda King
We are interested in exploring the past at a molecular level, focussing on DNA extraction from soils to explore past environments, including the Fenlands near Cambridge, and Egypt. Techniques used include soil sampling and analysis, DNA extraction, PCR and sequencing, and bioinformatics sequence analysis. 
Keywords: soil chemistry; DNA laboratory analysis; database interrogation; environmental modelling

Environmental Microbiology and Microbial Ecology
Supervisor: Dr Benjamin Gregson
My research explores how microbial communities respond to environmental change, pollution and human activity across freshwater, marine, soil and engineered ecosystems. Potential MRes projects may use molecular, genomic and bioinformatic approaches to investigate microbial diversity, ecosystem function, antimicrobial resistance, biogeochemical cycling and environmental health.
Keywords: Environmental Microbiology; Microbial Ecology; Metagenomics; Freshwater Ecosystems; Marine Microbiology; Antimicrobial Resistance

Evolution of Cognition and Communication 
Supervisor: Prof Claudia Wascher
Investigate how social relationships, cognition, communication and physiological processes shape animal behaviour. Projects may explore animal cognition, vocal communication, stress physiology, or the impacts of environmental change on behaviour and welfare.
Keywords: Animal Behaviour; Animal Cognition; Social Behaviour; Vocal Communication; Corvids

Ecological Impacts of Environmental Pollution
Supervisor: Dr Dannielle Green
Explore the ecological effects of pollutants, including plastics and other emerging contaminants, on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning of terrestrial and/or aquatic ecosystems. Projects may focus on understanding environmental exposure, assessing ecological risk, and/or developing evidence to support sustainable environmental management.
Keywords: Conservation; Ecology; Ecotoxicology; Pollution; Biodiversity; Environmental Management

ARU's academic excellence was recognised in 2021, as part of the Research Excellence Framework (REF), an exercise which assesses the quality of academic research. Sixteen areas of our work were classed as generating world-leading research. The results showed that we're making a significant impact on the societies we live in.

Enhance your employability by combining advanced research training with the development of key professional skills.

By completing this MRes Life Sciences, you’ll gain practical experience in experimental design, data analysis, and laboratory, field, and analytical techniques. This supports employment in sectors such as healthcare, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, environmental consultancy, conservation, and forensic services, alongside a strong focus on ethical practice and data integrity.

You'll also build transferable skills in communication, teamwork and problem-solving, which can support progression to doctoral study, professional training, or industry roles requiring advanced analytical skills.

If you're interested in finding out more about the MRes Life Sciences, please contact the Course Directors:

• Havovi Chichger: [email protected]
• Claudia Wascher: [email protected]