Facilities and research environment in the School of Life Sciences
We provide a fast-paced, collegiate and supportive environment for our staff and students. With access to state-of-the-art facilities and collaborative opportunities, it is a setting that facilitates scientific innovation and discovery.
Environment
The School of Life Sciences research complex consists of four physically interlinked buildings. In addition, our Division of Plant Sciences is located at the James Hutton Institute in Invergowrie 20 minutes away.
An enclosed atrium ‘Street’ was created between our newest building, the Discovery Centre for Translational and Interdisciplinary Research and the existing research complex. This space is a place for meeting, collaboration and networking. It incorporates a café, informal break-out areas and a venue for public engagement.
State-of-the-art facilities
All our laboratories in the research complex are open-plan, which encourages collaboration and interdisciplinary working. They are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and equipment. These include:
- ‘wet’ laboratories for chemistry, biochemistry and microbiology
- tissue culture suites for categories 1, 2 and 3 level work and designated spaces for radioactivity
- rooms specially designed for working with various model organisms such as yeast, Drosophila, Xenopus laevis and C. elegans
- in-house research facilities and expertise (see below)
- a high quality ‘dry’ laboratory for computational biology research
- cutting-edge plant science facilities located within our Division of Plant Sciences based at the James Hutton Institute
The School is committed to ensuring that our research practices are mindful of their wider environmental impact. Sustainability is therefore an important part of our activity. Our sustainability page details more about our approaches.
Outstanding in-house support
A critical component of our research success is the quality of infrastructure and in-house support enjoyed by our scientists. These include our Central Technical Services (media services and wash up), health and safety, IT support, stores team, laboratory management and administrative support.
Please check individual facilities for further details.
Research facilities
![robot in lab for national phenotypic screening](http://cdn-acquia.dundee.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2022-07/NPSC%20robot.jpeg?itok=82No3715)
Research facility
NPSC provides phenotypic screening services for the School of Life Sciences and external academic and commercial partners
![The Cryo-Electron microscope in the lab.](http://cdn-acquia.dundee.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2022-12/microscope_2.jpg?itok=74M9esnx&h=71976bb4)
Research facility
This facility provides access to state-of-the-art equipment and advice aimed at enabling users to characterise samples at high resolution
Research facility
We produce and supply thousands of reagents and provide scientific services to academics and pharmaceutical companies across the globe
Research facility
We provide a wide range of contract research products for DNA analysis and associated services
![Life sciences building](http://cdn-acquia.dundee.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2020-04/Life%20sciences%20cover.jpg?itok=9pbGyoDT)
Research facility
We support the School to ensure a safe environment for staff, students and visitors.
![words data analysis group over 0s and 1s](http://cdn-acquia.dundee.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2021-11/DAG%20lifesci2.jpg?itok=qyccXzm0)
Research facility
We collaborate on projects covering all aspects of bioinformatics and data analysis
Research facility
Providing flow cytometric analysis and fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) services and support to investigators
![magnified image of oval shaped cells](http://cdn-acquia.dundee.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2022-01/DIF%20BioDundee_3.jpg?itok=yzlhyodq)
Research facility
We provide light and electron microscopy resources, with a central hub in Life Sciences and facilities in Science and Engineering and on the Ninewells campus.
![gloved hands holding specimen in circular glass container](http://cdn-acquia.dundee.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2022-01/thumbnail.jpg?itok=e9rhJooF&h=f2b6299e)
Research facility
Provision of human embryonic stem cells, human induced pluripotent stem cells, and associated reagents and services.
![female scientist in lab coat working on a computer](http://cdn-acquia.dundee.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2022-03/Life%20Sci2i3a1602.jpg?itok=JvKSo7zb)
Research facility
We provide a state of the art Proteomics and Mass Spectrometry capability to researchers and external academic and industrial clients across the globe
![bottles of solutions on shelving in lab](http://cdn-acquia.dundee.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2022-04/CTS%20Front%20page%20image_0.jpg?itok=Wp80c5PM)
Research facility
The CTS is a ‘housekeeping’ service that provides core support to research labs throughout the School of Life Sciences and the D’Arcy Thompson Unit (DTU).