Life Sciences, University of Dundee

Planning to attend the Edinburgh Festival Fringe? Like science? Like to laugh?

Join The Provocateurs at the World-Famous Stand Comedy Club for live debate and no easy answers, exploring today's big questions and cutting-edge research.

We're delighted that our very own Dr Mary Wheldon, a medicinal chemist in the University of Dundee's Drug Discovery Unit, will take to the stage with Hard Drugs!

Choose profit, choose western diseases, choose fast solutions, choose easy targets. Dr Mary Wheldon didn't. She chose to work on neglected diseases. She talks about the realities and challenges of doing not-for-profit medical research.

📅 Wednesday 26 August | 17:35-18:35 | Stand 4

📅 Saturday 29 August | 13:45-14:45 | Stand 2

🔗 Book your tickets via the links in the comments 👇

Expect big questions, challenging perspectives and no easy answers.

Where could a Master's degree take you?

Meet Kashish, a graduate of our Biomedical & Molecular Sciences with Business MSc.

Drawn to the opportunity to combine science and business, Kashish found a supportive learning environment that helped her develop both academically and professionally.

Reflecting on her time at Dundee, “Everyone was so helpful right from the start... I lucked out with my supervisors, they are amazing, and I had the best time.”

Today, she is a PhD student at the University of Leicester, developing patient-derived lung organoids to study asthma mechanisms and personalised therapeutic responses. She is also continuing her entrepreneurial journey through the ConceptionX programme, helping turn cutting-edge research into real-world impact.

If you have a UK 2:2 degree in biological, biochemical, biomedical sciences or a related subject, our MSc could help you develop the scientific knowledge, research experience and transferable skills needed for careers in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and beyond.

Scholarships available including an Alumni Scholarship of up to £3k

🔗 Find out more about the course and September 2026 entry via the link in the comments.

🎓️ Meet Our Graduate: Juan

Juan graduated this summer with a BSc (Hons) in Biological Sciences (Plant Science). He started university as a Forensic Anthropology student but switched his focus to plants. This cumulated with him undertaking his honours project in the Martinho lab based at The James Hutton Institute.

He explained, “As I learned more about plant sciences, I became fascinated by the molecular mechanisms behind dramatic phenotypic changes in plants, epigenetics in particular, where it's modifications to the DNA rather than of it that drive the change. That fascination led me to switch to Biological Sciences (Plant Science), and eventually to the highlight of my degree: joining Claudia Martinho's lab at the James Hutton Institute.”

Juan is continuing building a career in plant sciences, firstly working the summer as a Crop Inspector with Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture, surveying potato crops across Perthshire for viral and bacterial disease. He will then join Wageningen University, Netherlands to start an MSc in Plant Biotechnology/Science. Juan concluded, “Endlessly thankful for the best four years at Dundee, and I can't wait to see where this takes me next!”

If you have been inspired by Juan’s story, you can learn more about our courses: https://buff.ly/LAUSL0f

🗓️ Places still available for September 2026 entry.

Looking at 2027 entry? Sign up to be informed when our autumn Open Day bookings are open: https://buff.ly/tGe5QBm

🏆 We have been the top UK university for Biological Sciences research since 2014 (Research Excellence Framework).

Discover your future, discover your Dundee.

📸 Photo credit: Juan.

Meet Our Graduate: Laynna

Congratulations to Laynna on graduating with a BSc (Hons) in Biomedical Sciences!

Laynna undertook her Honours project in the lab of Dr David Murray where she developed biosensors for different phosphoinositides that could be used to study how their distribution changes under different physiological conditions. She said, “This project was an incredibly rewarding experience that strengthened both my wet laboratory and research skills. I’m very thankful to everyone in the lab who supported me throughout the project.”

Looking back on her time at Dundee, Laynna said, “This journey has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. It has challenged me academically, helped me grow both personally and professionally, and has been so much fun. If I were 18 again and given the choice to do this degree all over, I would say yes in a heartbeat.”

We wish Laynna well for the future, which starts with her entering the cardiology field by undertaking a summer internship involving cardiovascular bioinformatics.

If you have been inspired by Laynna’s story, you can learn more about our courses: https://buff.ly/k6bucVG

🗓️ Places still available for September 2026 entry.

Looking at 2027 entry? Sign up to be informed when our autumn Open Day bookings are open: https://buff.ly/BS3Kplf

🏆 We have been the top UK university for Biological Sciences research since 2014 (Research Excellence Framework).

Discover your future, discover your Dundee.

📸 Photo credit: Laynna (images 1-3).

Looking for free ways to keep children entertained during the holidays? ☀️🎨🔬

Our Life Sciences Public Engagement Resource Library is packed with free, fun and educational activities that families can enjoy at home or on the go. From science experiments and creative challenges to games and hands-on learning activities, there's plenty to keep curious minds busy throughout the school break.

Explore our free resources here:
👉 https://buff.ly/5WJOzb7

Have fun discovering, learning and exploring together!

Life Sciences engagement resource library Activities, videos and resources for the public, educators and researchers

🎓️ Meet Our Graduate: Izabella

Congratulations to Izabella on graduating with a BSc (Hons) in Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery!

During her final year, Izabella undertook her Honours project in the Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation, an experience that further strengthened her passion for the subject. Izabella said, “My passion for biological chemistry deepened significantly through my final-year honours project... improving my knowledge of protein degradation organic synthesis and practical chemistry.”

Looking back on her time at Dundee, she shared, “The past four years have been an incredible journey of both academic challenge and immense personal growth. Beyond refining my technical laboratory and analytical skills, this experience has developed my communication abilities and self-confidence.”

Alongside her studies, Izabella played an active role in the Dundee University Life Sciences Society, progressing from a general member to Social Secretary before ultimately serving as President. Speaking about one of her proudest moments, she said, “Representing the society by presenting awards to my fellow graduates and friends on graduation day was a fantastic experience, and the perfect full-circle moment to conclude my university journey.”

As she looks ahead to the next stage of her career, Izabella reflected, “I am now looking forward to the future, eager to apply the diverse skill set and leadership experience I have built to the next chapter of my career.”

We wish Izabella every success in the future and look forward to seeing all she achieves.

If you have been inspired by Izabella’s story, you can learn more about our courses: https://buff.ly/k6bucVG

🗓️ Places still available for September 2026 entry.

Looking at 2027 entry? Sign up to be informed when our autumn Open Day bookings are open: https://buff.ly/BS3Kplf

🏆 We have been the top UK university for Biological Sciences research since 2014 (Research Excellence Framework).

Discover your future, discover your Dundee.

📸 Photo credit: Izabella (images 1-3).

🎓️ Meet Our Graduate: Favour

We congratulate Favour, who graduated this summer with a BSc (Hons) in Pharmacology.

Reflecting on his time at Dundee, he said, “Over the past four years, I’ve built a strong foundation in pharmacological science while developing skills in critical thinking, research, and resilience.”

“This achievement reflects the consistent effort I’ve put into my studies, and it’s something I’m genuinely proud of. I’m very grateful to the academic staff and mentors at Dundee for their guidance, as well as to my friends and family for their continued support throughout my degree.”

We wish Favour much success for the future as he continues his studies at the University of Glasgow where he plans to undertake an MSc in Clinical Trials or Clinical Pharmacology. “I’m looking forward to deepening my knowledge and progressing towards a career in the field.”

If you have been inspired by Favour’s story, you can learn more about our courses: https://buff.ly/GTQDXho

🗓️ Places still available for September 2026 entry.

Looking at 2027 entry? Sign up to be informed when our autumn Open Day bookings are open: https://buff.ly/rPHMNPS

🏆 We have been the top UK university for Biological Sciences research since 2014 (Research Excellence Framework).

Discover your future, discover your Dundee.

📸 Photo credit: Favour

We were saddened to hear of the passing of David Stansfield, who was a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Dundee from 1965 to 2000.

David was well known to generations of students across the University through his role as Warden of Belmont Undergraduate Hall of Residence. David, his wife Betty and their family lived on the University campus in the house reserved for Belmont Hall Wardens, remaining there until David’s retirement in 2000.

We were delighted to welcome David back to Life Sciences last year, when he visited former colleagues Grahame Hardie, Carol MacKintosh and Philip Cohen. The visit was a wonderful opportunity to reconnect and reflect on his many years at the University. You can read more about his visit here: https://buff.ly/0kKkdzK

David’s funeral will take place at Dundee Crematorium on Thursday 23 July at 2.30pm. All welcome. A collection will be held in aid of Alzheimer Scotland.

📸 Front row - David Stansfield (left seated) and Grahame Hardie (right seated). Back row - Philip Cohen (left) and Huw Stansfield (right)