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Digital artwork depicting a human brain made of luminous, interconnected neural pathways, creating a complex network of glowing white strands and nodes on a dark blue background.

Ancient genome duplications laid the foundations of complex brains

A new study led by researchers from the Department of Biology and published in Nature has found that genetic doubling events that occurred over 450 million years ago helped kick-start the evolution of complex brains.

Five pelicans at the water’s edge, with one flying low above the others and reflections visible on the wet sand.

Oxford researchers awarded ARIA funding to develop an ‘Internet of Birds’

MPLS researchers are to receive backing of a £500,000 grant from the Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA) to develop advanced monitoring technologies that could be carried by wild birds. Ultimately, this could provide invaluable data to inform actions to restore nature and improve ecosystem resilience.

The RisingWISE team receiving their award from the Vice-Chancellor

MPLS colleagues recognised in Vice-Chancellor’s Awards 2026

Researchers, innovators and professional staff from across the MPLS Division have been recognised in the University of Oxford's Vice-Chancellor’s Awards 2026, celebrating excellence in research, innovation, collaboration and inclusion.

Dr Monisha Singha, first author of this paper, working in the IOI's drug discovery labs in Oxford.

New type of inhibitor could help tackle resistance against ‘last-resort’ antibiotics

Researchers from the Ineos Oxford Institute for antimicrobial research (IOI) have identified a new class of molecule that could help protect ‘last-resort’ antibiotics from bacterial resistance, and reduce the amount of antibiotics needed to treat infections by up to 32 times.

Artist’s impression of an exoplanet with a magnetic field.

Strange winds reveal strongest hints yet of exoplanet magnetic activity

Physicists from the MPLS Division have contributed to a new study which has found the strongest evidence yet that some planets outside our Solar System may be magnetic. By using telescopes to measure wind speeds on seven very hot, Jupiter-like exoplanets, they discovered that the winds on these planets are most likely governed by magnetic fields.

Welcome

We are home to the mathematical, physical, engineering and life sciences at Oxford. Our academic departments regularly appear at the highest levels in world rankings and have been evaluated as conducting world-leading and internationally excellent research in UK research assessments.

MPLS Division encompasses 7,400 undergraduate and postgraduate students, 1,200 leading science researchers, and 1,690 faculty and professional services staff. In 2020/21 we attracted £109.3m in research contracts and awards from industry.

MPLS Division SharePoint Intranet

A landing page for various ‘information hubs’ relevant to staff across MPLS Division. Everyone who works in the University can access the main page via SSO, but access to the information hubs may be restricted. These include:

Committees Hub: access for those on MPLS Division committees
Safety Hub: access for anyone with SSO
Finance Hub: access only for senior staff with finance responsibilities
Divisional Office Hub: access only for those working in the Divisional Office

If you cannot access a hub but think you should be able to, please email communications@mpls.ox.ac.uk

MPLS Division SharePoint Intranet