Stories from the University of Dundee in 2021 - July to December

Press releases, features, and news from 2021 - July to December

View across Perth Road from DJCAD

July to December

  • News

    New tools for the fight against COVID-19

    Seven new papers have been published this month in The Biochemical Journal, representing a major collaboration between multiple groups at the Francis Crick Institute in London, University College London and The University of Dundee.

    • Published on 5 July 2021
  • Feature

    Michael Keillor - Life Through a Lens

    As the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown spread throughout the world millions of people turned to television and streaming services. TV and film director, Michael Keillor, talks all things TV.

    • Published on 6 July 2021
  • Feature

    How a pandemic forged One Dundee

    Like the rest of the world, Covid-19 transformed life at the University of Dundee. But while much of the campus fell silent in March 2020 as the majority of students and staff returned home, the work of the University never ceased.

    • Published on 6 July 2021
  • Feature

    Frame, Focus, Capture

    From being one of the only photographers to have work featured on a Scottish banknote to becoming a sell-out author, Shahbaz Majeed has come a long way from his undergraduate days in the Queen Mother Building computing labs.

    • Published on 6 July 2021
  • Feature

    Forensic Pioneers in Pakistan

    Falak Syed and Suman Shoro are the first and only female forensic odontologists in Pakistan. Together they used their expertise to shed light on one of the biggest airline disasters in their country’s recent history.

    • Published on 6 July 2021
  • Feature

    Pursuing a breakthrough for Parkinson’s

    There can be no greater example of the transformative impact of modern science than that in the developing of a Coronavirus vaccine

    • Published on 6 July 2021
  • Feature

    A vision for Dundee

    We caught up with Dundee City Council’s new Chief Executive Officer, Greg Colgan, to find out about his new role, his vision for Dundee and what excites him about this fantastic city that he is proud to call home.

    • Published on 6 July 2021
  • Feature

    Leading our students to mentoring success

    At the University of Dundee, we believe that it is important for students to have an opportunity to take part in a wide range of extra-curricular activities. One such activity is the Leadership Plus Mentoring programme

    • Published on 6 July 2021
  • Feature

    Danny Denholm’s career goals

    Danny is best known as the left winger of East Fife FC in Scottish League One. To the children of Crossford Primary School, however, he is Mr Denholm, and apparently fair game whenever things go awry on the football field.

    • Published on 7 July 2021
  • Feature

    The Home of the Biscuit Cushion

    Scotland’s self-proclaimed ‘Biscuit Lady’ recounts her experiences at the University of Dundee and how they led to a hugely successful business empire.

    • Published on 7 July 2021
  • Feature

    Military Precision

    The army medic transforming modern surgery.

    • Published on 7 July 2021
  • Feature

    From Student Rep to Sporting Success

    Now Senior Media Manager at Scottish Rugby, and having worked closely with Scotland’s own Andy Murray in her previous role at Tennis Scotland, sport has always played a major role in Sarah’s life.

    • Published on 7 July 2021
  • Feature

    Protecting communities across boundaries

    From engaging with indigenous communities to drafting legislation and policy for state governments, Harum Mukhayer talks to us about how she has used her legal skills to push for sustainable and equitable distribution of the world’s natural resources.

    • Published on 7 July 2021
  • Feature

    Drawing from experience

    One of the great joys of studying at university is the incredible people that you meet.

    • Published on 7 July 2021
  • Press release

    £1 million grant to help drive innovation

    The University of Dundee has received £1 million to furbish a new centre that will foster the commercialisation of world-leading science while anchoring new biomedical companies and jobs in the city

    • Published on 7 July 2021
  • Press release

    Researchers discover coeliac disease drug target

    Researchers at the University of Dundee have identified a new treatment target for coeliac disease that could relieve inflammation and unlock alternative treatment options

    • Published on 13 July 2021
  • Press release

    Dundee graduand doesn’t let dyslexia hold her back

    A student who thought she wouldn’t be able to complete the full four years of her higher education course due to her dyslexia will this week officially graduate from the University of Dundee

    • Published on 14 July 2021
  • Press release

    Remarkable year for University of Dundee Sports Union

    The efforts of clubs and members from the University of Dundee’s Sports Union throughout the Covid-19 pandemic have been praised as “phenomenal” by the Union’s President

    • Published on 16 July 2021
  • News

    Science in the summer!

    Local children are being offered a special experience over the summer holidays in the first ever Dundee Science Centre STEM summer club.

    • Published on 16 July 2021
  • Press release

    Graduand defies expectation after surprise pregnancy

    A University of Dundee student who found out she would be expecting her first child during her studies will graduate this week with a first class degree and a place secured to study graduate Medicine

    • Published on 16 July 2021
  • Press release

    Successful anti-cancer collaboration extended

    The expansion of an exemplary industry-academia collaboration will see the University of Dundee intensify its efforts to develop new medicines that target and destroy key cancer-causing proteins, which have previously been regarded as undruggable

    • Published on 19 July 2021
  • Feature

    Xiaoxiao’s destiny to be in Dundee

    Xiaoxiao Zhang always wanted to run her own business, and coming to Dundee saw her realising that dream, as well as meeting the love of her life.

    • Published on 19 July 2021
  • Press release

    Professor receives global award for eliminating Hepatitis C

    University of Dundee Professor, John Dillion, is being recognised by the Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination for his contributions to advancing hepatitis elimination in Scotland and making a global impact

    • Published on 23 July 2021
  • Press release

    Summer School learners are walking on sunshine

    More than 200 University of Dundee learners celebrated the culmination of a summer of study after completing their path towards higher education.

    • Published on 30 July 2021
  • News

    Student success in Dundee’s Three Minute Thesis competition

    PhD student Anna will represent the University of Dundee in Three Minute Thesis (3MT), a national competition for early career researchers to explain their work succinctly and engagingly to non-specialist audiences

    • Published on 2 August 2021
  • Feature

    A new career in Islamic Finance beckons

    The popularity of our MSc Islamic Finance degrees continues to grow as it welcomes students from around the globe

    • Published on 4 August 2021
  • Feature

    Double take

    Our former Rector on Succession, his ‘evil twin’ and memories of the University.

    • Published on 5 August 2021
  • Press release

    New podcast to explore unsolved murder

    It was a crime that shocked early 20th century society and attracted international coverage – the apparently motiveless killing of an elderly spinster in her home.

    • Published on 6 August 2021
  • Feature

    Alan and Aalap’s mentoring story

    Alan Bainbridge, graduate of Law in 1994, mentored current medical student Aalap Asurlekar as part of the Leadership Plus Programme. They both share their experience of the mentoring process. 

    • Published on 6 August 2021
  • Feature

    Andy and Jack’s mentoring story

    Andy Smart, graduate of Politics with German in 2012, mentored student and now recent Digital Interaction Design graduate Jack Rodger as part of the Leadership Plus Programme. They both share their experience of the mentoring process. 

    • Published on 6 August 2021
  • Feature

    Graeme and Tisha’s mentoring story

    Graeme Butler, supporter of the Careers Service, mentored Pharmacology student Tisha De Guzman as part of the Leadership Plus Programme. They both share their experience of the mentoring process. 

    • Published on 6 August 2021
  • Feature

    Meet our postgraduate researchers: Zoë Kessler

    Zoë is a postgraduate researcher in the School of Education and Social Work and has a background as a social worker. Her research focuses on emerging adults leaving care.

    • Published on 7 August 2021
  • Feature

    Meet our postgraduate researchers: Theo Dupuis

    Theo Dupuis's research is focused on functional genomics. He applies methodologies to analyse how much genetic variants change how genes are read and identify new therapeutic targets to fight diseases.

    • Published on 10 August 2021
  • Feature

    Meet our postgraduate researchers: Lucy Smith

    Lucy is exploring the subject overlap of Art and Science and how Art - particularly kinetic sculpture and musical performance, might find pathways to visualising abstract concepts.

    • Published on 18 August 2021
  • Press release

    UN submission highlights unseen consequences of Covid

    The Covid-19 pandemic has exposed more people to the health pitfalls and stigmas associated with poverty and homelessness, University of Dundee experts have told the United Nations.

    • Published on 19 August 2021
  • Feature

    Meet our postgraduate researchers: Karen Westland

    Karen is working at the intersection of science and art, having joined the Physics group from a background of silversmithing in order to research solar lasers.

    • Published on 19 August 2021
  • News

    Royal Society University Fellowship for Martin Balcerowicz

    Dr Martin Balcerowicz has been awarded a five-year Royal Society University Fellowship to research how temperature affects plant growth. This work may provide ways to breed plants that are more resilient towards climate change.

    • Published on 20 August 2021
  • Feature

    Meet our postgraduate researchers: Holly Keir

    Holly Keir is a postgraduate researcher in the School of Medicine. Holly has received the British Thoracic Society’s Early Career Investigator Award at this year organisation’s Winter Meeting.

    • Published on 20 August 2021
  • Press release

    Appointment strengthens ties with pharma industry

    A University of Dundee researcher is to join an international collaboration that brings scientists from academia together with one of the world’s largest pharma companies to help develop new drugs for cancer and other devastating diseases.

    • Published on 23 August 2021
  • Feature

    Get to know… Dan Sayer

    Dan Sayer, Sports Union President for 2020-21 and recent Urban Planning graduate shares with us his experience as President and the impact of sports on his University journey.

    • Published on 25 August 2021
  • Press release

    Revolution in the air as Dundee gallery reopens

    An art exhibition by internationally celebrated Scottish artist Ruth Ewan will open to the public next week at the University of Dundee’s Cooper Gallery

    • Published on 27 August 2021
  • Press release

    Online showcase for DJCAD Masters students

    The work of students from some of the UK’s most contemporary and exciting postgraduate courses will be exhibited online when the Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design Masters Showcase 2021 launches this week

    • Published on 30 August 2021
  • Feature

    Meet our postgraduate researchers: Chidozie Ogbonnaya

    Chidozie’s research is focused on Radiogenomics in prostate cancer and the use of radiographic images to reduce invasive procedures in the management of Prostate cancer.

    • Published on 2 September 2021
  • Press release

    Student speaks up for seaweed

    Seaweed: it’s slimy, smells and often comes hand in hand with a swarm of flies, but one University of Dundee student is encouraging others to rethink how we engage with the marine plant

    • Published on 3 September 2021
  • Press release

    Student work explores touch in times of Covid-19

    How our physical interactions with others have changed due to restrictions implemented as a result of the pandemic is the focus of one of dozens of exhibits at the University of Dundee’s Masters Showcase 2021

    • Published on 3 September 2021
  • Feature

    Meet our postgraduate researchers: Camila Biazus Dalcin

    Camila is a postgraduate researcher at the School of Education and Social Work. She moved from Brazil to Dundee because she was offered the possibility to start her interdisciplinary research focused on public health, community, learning and development.

    • Published on 3 September 2021
  • Press release

    Prestigious award completes hat-trick of prizes

    A University of Dundee researcher who has spent the past 18 months working at the sharp end of the Covid-19 pandemic has completed a hat-trick of awards recognising his achievements.

    • Published on 9 September 2021
  • Press release

    Ice Age secrets of Dundee revealed thanks to pandemic project

    A surprise lockdown in Scotland led to a US-based academic teaming up with an animation expert from the University of Dundee to create a film depicting the landscape of the city during the last Ice Age.

    • Published on 13 September 2021
  • News

    School of Business shortlisted for THE award

    For the first year ever, the School of Business at the University of Dundee has been shortlisted in the “Business School of the Year” category.

    • Published on 14 September 2021
  • Press release

    New performance specifications for Vitamin D analysis

    A University of Dundee expert and his colleagues have received a prestigious international honour after creating a new model to assess the performance of analyses of Vitamin D in blood

    • Published on 16 September 2021
  • Press release

    ‘Great Scott’ celebrated at Dundee event

    The University of Dundee’s Centre for Scottish Culture will next week host a celebration of the 250th birthday of one of Scotland’s most illustrious writers.

    • Published on 17 September 2021
  • News

    Celebrating Our Alumni

    Last month the University of Dundee hosted The Bridge Alumni Awards, an event which recognised the many ways that our alumni give back to the university community.

    • Published on 24 September 2021
  • News

    Jasmin Hirn

    Jasmin from Germany, studied MSc International Marketing. Now a FT Regional Sales Manager, she looks back on her journey with us.

    • Published on 29 September 2021
  • Press release

    Can you help solve a murder?

    The year is 1923 and Susie Sato finds herself investigating a murder when her great-uncle is found dead in his private museum, with an ancient Egyptian burial dagger protruding from his back.

    • Published on 4 October 2021
  • Press release

    Injury despair proves genesis for award-winning business

    A University of Dundee graduate, whose devastating knee injury inspired her to set up a company seeking to revolutionise the way we train and recover from injury, has won £10,000 in the 2021 Converge Awards.

    • Published on 5 October 2021
  • Press release

    Professor Sir Philip Cohen marks 50th anniversary in Dundee

    Professor Sir Philip Cohen, one of the major influences in establishing Dundee as an international centre of excellence in life sciences research, has marked his 50th anniversary of joining the University of Dundee.

    • Published on 7 October 2021
  • Press release

    Barley scientists of the future get £9m boost

    A University of Dundee-led programme that will train the next generation of barley researchers has received a multi-million pound investment.

    • Published on 7 October 2021
  • Press release

    University completes divestment from fossil fuels

    The University of Dundee has announced the completion of its divestment from fossil fuels – less than 12 months after stating its intention to do so.

    • Published on 8 October 2021
  • Press release

    Dundee scientists win MND research grant

    The charity MND Scotland is to invest more than a quarter of a million pounds over the next two years into three new motor neurone disease (MND) research projects – powered by generous donations and fundraising by supporters

    • Published on 13 October 2021
  • Press release

    Courts could hold power to climate change action

    Courtrooms could become crucial in tackling climate change by ensuring large companies commit to cutting carbon emissions, a University of Dundee expert has said.

    • Published on 13 October 2021
  • Feature

    Sharing thoughts of Dundee

    Chris Mok from Hong Kong is a graduate of our MSc Finance degree. Now working as a Project Manager with Morgan Stanley in Hong Kong, he shares his thoughts of Dundee

    • Published on 13 October 2021
  • Feature

    Covid: Combat of a vicious infective disease

    Having spent 128 days in hospital Honorary Professor of Orthodontics at the University of Dundee, Grant McIntyre, has the label of being Scotland's sickest Covid-19 survivor.

    • Published on 15 October 2021
  • Feature

    Tracey McFee: Memories of a lifetime

    Tracey McFee, Class of 1983 and Specialty Dentist for Dental A&E prepares for retirement and reflects on her time in Dundee

    • Published on 18 October 2021
  • Feature

    Crystal Tao – Bringing China to Dundee

    Crystal Tao was always interested in studying abroad. Little did she know just how much her time at Dundee and all that came with it would change her life.

    • Published on 18 October 2021
  • Press release

    Tag tech provides insight into undruggable diseases

    Scientists at the University of Dundee have developed a new technology that provides a greater understanding into the biology of ‘undruggable’ diseases.

    • Published on 19 October 2021
  • Press release

    Event to focus on the future of energy

    The drive towards renewable energy sources is to be examined at a special event hosted by the University of Dundee.

    • Published on 20 October 2021
  • Press release

    Three heads are better than two in drug discovery concept

    Researchers from the University of Dundee and Promega Corporation have shown how a “three-headed hydra” significantly improves efficacy in a field of chemical biology that is revolutionising drug discovery.

    • Published on 21 October 2021
  • Press release

    Dundee’s creative responses to climate change

    An upcoming University of Dundee event will showcase the work of those who are connecting the power of the visual arts to enhance our understanding of climate change

    • Published on 26 October 2021
  • News

    Adipa Nilachart

    Adipa Nilachart from Thailand, graduated from MSc in International Marketing and Management

    • Published on 27 October 2021
  • Press release

    Imaging award for digital artist

    A digital artist from the University of Dundee has won a prestigious Royal Photographic Society Award for her pioneering work across forensic and medical arts.

    • Published on 27 October 2021
  • Press release

    Dundee academic honoured for contribution to drug safety

    The University of Dundee’s Professor Roland Wolf has been awarded the Sir James Black Medal by the Royal Society of Edinburgh for his outstanding work in helping to ensure the safety of drugs used to treat a wide variety of diseases.

    • Published on 28 October 2021
  • News

    Wellcome-Beit Prize for Joana Faria

    Joana Faria, a postdoctoral researcher in David Horn’s Lab (BCDD-WCAIR) who is moving to establish her own group at the University of York, has been awarded the Wellcome-Beit Prize.

    • Published on 28 October 2021
  • Press release

    Computing student Ryan wins top tech talent award

    Ryan Anderson a Computing Science student at the University of Dundee has been awarded the Best Engineering Award for his gyroscope- based offline calibration and stabilisation for first person view (FPV) drone videos.

    • Published on 3 November 2021
  • Press release

    Power of one key to tackling climate crisis

    Empowering individuals and communities could be key to addressing the climate crisis, a University of Dundee expert says.

    • Published on 4 November 2021
  • Press release

    Listen to poor countries or face COP26 failure

    COP26 is doomed to failure unless the richest countries on the planet stop ignoring those from the developing world, a University of Dundee energy expert has said.

    • Published on 5 November 2021
  • News

    Targeted Protein Degradation Reveals Secrets of Tumour Suppressor

    PhD Student Seraina Blümli and colleagues from the Owen-Hughes lab show the ARID1A subunit of the BAF chromatin remodelling complex organised nucleosomes flanking pluripotency transcription factors and association of the coactivator EP300.

    • Published on 9 November 2021
  • Press release

    Joy at return of Graduation ceremonies

    For eight months it served as one of Scotland’s largest vaccination centres, but Caird Hall will revert to a place of celebration next week when the University of Dundee holds its first physical Graduation ceremonies for two years

    • Published on 11 November 2021
  • Press release

    Students plan to ‘Own The Night’ at DUSA

    Students are invited to own the night next week as Dundee University Students’ Association (DUSA) host a special event to highlight and support the strong and collective demand for freedom from gender-based violence

    • Published on 15 November 2021
  • Press release

    Alumni support for Afghan students

    The University of Dundee’s global alumni network is helping to support students from Afghanistan who have come to study at the institution against the backdrop of tumultuous events in their homeland.

    • Published on 16 November 2021
  • Press release

    Momentous move pays dividends for graduand Aanchal

    Aanchal Udaynath Pareri’s decision to give up her job and move 5,000 miles to study would have been life-changing at any time, but doing so at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic made the switch even more momentous.

    • Published on 17 November 2021
  • Press release

    Inspirational Dundee student helps raise millions for Children in Need

    A student who spent time on the road with BBC presenter Matt Baker as part of his Great Rickshaw Relay Challenge has talked about her experiences of helping to raise millions for charity and increase awareness of her rare liver condition

    • Published on 19 November 2021
  • Press release

    Universities gifted ‘invaluable’ collection

    The Universities of Dundee and St Andrews have been gifted almost 100,000 clinically significant samples which will help to further research aimed at overcoming antimicrobial resistance.

    • Published on 22 November 2021
  • Feature

    Courtney Stewart's story

    Courtney is a fourth year student in our Education MA (Hons) course and shares her story on what inspired her to get into teaching, why she initially thought she couldn’t and what her hopes are for the future.

    • Published on 22 November 2021
  • Feature

    Aine Bidgood's story

    Aine is a PGDE Secondary (English) student. She shares her story on what inspired her to become a teacher, what advice she would give someone considering the PGDE course and more. 

    • Published on 22 November 2021
  • Feature

    Chloe Harper's story

    Chloe is a PGDE Secondary (Chemistry) student. She shares her story on how she came to be on the course, what inspired her and what her hopes for her future as a teacher.

    • Published on 22 November 2021
  • Feature

    Farkhanda Sheikh's story

    Farkhanda is a fourth year student on our MA Education Course, here’s her story.

    • Published on 22 November 2021
  • Press release

    Diabetes expert warns of the dangers of festive weight gain

    It may be a time of indulgence, but Scots are being urged to keep an eye on their calorie intake and offset second helpings with exercise to stop them receiving the unwanted gift of type 2 diabetes this Christmas.

    • Published on 29 November 2021
  • Feature

    Enabling medical educators across the world

    Alumnus, Abdullah Aldahmash, shares his own story from Dundee and how he is working with CME to the benefit of his own institution in Saudi Arabia

    • Published on 14 December 2021
  • News

    Successful tenure review for Susan Wyllie

    Dr Susan Wyllie, Head of the Mode of Action group within WCAIR and Principal Investigator in the School of Life Sciences, underwent a successful tenure review recently.

    • Published on 15 December 2021
  • Press release

    Prestigious honour for Dundee scientist

    The career of a University of Dundee researcher has been recognised with a top honour from the Microbiology Society.

    • Published on 16 December 2021
  • News

    Fergus Preston wins Young Chemist Award

    Fergus Preston, who is undertaking a PhD within the DDU and WCAIR, was one of 10 successful applicants for the Scientific Update Young Chemist award.

    • Published on 16 December 2021
  • Feature

    Reflecting on time in Dundee

    Parul Mishra from London, travelled to Scotland in 2017 to start her BSc Business Management degree. This was the start of an incredible journey for her. She reflects on her 4-years in Dundee.

    • Published on 16 December 2021
  • Feature

    The Class of 1974: Supporting the next generation

    The Robertson Scholars programme, in partnership with the Robertson Trust, supports Scottish students from challenging backgrounds to access a university education

    • Published on 17 December 2021
  • Press release

    Climate change transforming famous Scots village

    It is known around the world as a location for the TV series Outlander, but the landscape around the picturesque village of Falkland is being permanently altered by weather events influenced by climate change.

    • Published on 30 December 2021