Oxford University researchers recognised in the 2025 Royal Society of Chemistry Prizes
25 June 2025
Two MPLS researchers have won 2025 Royal Society of Chemistry Prizes for their work on clean energy technologies, while an Oxford-led collaboration also received a Horizon Prize for sustainable chemical manufacturing.
Oxford academics awarded European Research Council Advanced Grants for breakthrough research
17 June 2025
Three researchers from the MPLS Division have been awarded Advanced Grants from the European Research Council, each worth up to €2.5 million over a period of five years.
The Royal Society elects five scientists from the MPLS Division as Fellows
20 May 2025
Seven academics from the University of Oxford, including five from the Mathematics, Physical and Life Sciences Division (MPLS) have been elected as Royal Society Fellows.
MPLS success at the Vice-Chancellor's Awards 2025
16 May 2025
The University honoured remarkable talent and dedication to excellence on Thursday 15 May as the winners of the Vice-Chancellor's Awards 2025 were announced. Dr Joshua Bull from the Mathematical Institute received the Breakthrough Researcher Award and Department of Computer Science spinout Oxford Semantic Technologies claimed the Innovation and Commercialisation Award.
Four Oxford researchers elected to the US National Academy of Sciences
2 May 2025
Véronique Gouverneur, Waynflete Professor of Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry has been elected as an international member to the US National Academy of Sciences, together with Oxford academics from social sciences and medical sciences.
Oxford welcomes new Schmidt AI in Science Fellows
29 April 2025
Ten new Fellows have joined the Eric and Wendy Schmidt AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellowship programme at the University of Oxford. Now entering its third year, the programme is helping to accelerate the next scientific revolution by applying artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to research across the natural sciences, engineering, and mathematical sciences.
Researchers develop innovative new method to recycle fluoride from long-lived ‘forever chemicals’
28 March 2025
Researchers from the Department of Chemistry have developed a method to destroy fluorine-containing PFAS (sometimes labelled “forever chemicals”) while recovering their fluorine content for future use.
IOI awarded £1m from PACE to develop a new antibiotic
21 February 2025
The Ineos Oxford Institute for antimicrobial research (IOI) has been awarded £1 million from Pathways to Antimicrobial Clinical Efficacy (PACE) to develop a new class of antibiotics based on a β-lactam-free small molecule transpeptidase inhibitor.
Researchers develop new method to identify fake Covid-19 vaccines
30 January 2025
Researchers at the University of Oxford and their collaborators, including the Serum Institute of India, have developed an innovative method to identify falsified vaccines without opening the vaccine vial.
Trailblazing Sustainability and Innovation: Announcing the 2024 SCGC-FIRST Awards Recipients
21 January 2025
The SCG Chemicals (SCGC)-FIRST Prioritisation Panel has revealed the recipients of the second round of SCGC-FIRST Awards, showcasing exceptional research driving innovation and sustainability across the MPLS Division. This year’s awardees tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges, from plastic waste to energy efficiency and renewable technologies.
Four MPLS researchers selected for European Research Council Consolidator Grants
3 December 2024
Four MPLS researchers have been awarded European Research Council Consolidator Grants, part of the EU’s Horizon Europe programme. These grants, totalling €678 million this year, aim to support outstanding scientists and scholars as they establish their independent research teams and develop their most promising scientific ideas.
Batteries for miniature bio-integrated devices and robotics
29 October 2024
A team led by researchers from the Department of Chemistry have made a significant step towards realising miniature, soft batteries for use in a variety of biomedical applications, including the defibrillation and pacing of heart tissues.
SCGC-FIRST Round Two Launched to Accelerate Sustainable Innovations in the Chemicals Industry
9 September 2024
The University of Oxford and SCG Chemicals Public Company Limited (SCGC) are excited to announce round two of the SCGC-FIRST (Fund for Innovation and Research in Sustainability and Technology). This initiative aims to propel cutting-edge research and innovations from Oxford’s laboratories into practical, sustainable solutions for the global chemicals industry.
University of Oxford to lead two projects from new UKRI interdisciplinary scheme
4 September 2024
The University of Oxford is to share in £32.4m funding from the first round of UKRI’s new cross research council responsive mode (CRCRM) pilot scheme. The scheme is designed to stimulate exciting new interdisciplinary research.
New method developed to detect fake vaccines in supply chains
29 August 2024
The research describes a first-of-its-kind method capable of distinguishing authentic and falsified vaccines by applying machine learning to mass spectral data. The method proved effective in differentiating between a range of authentic and ‘faked’ vaccines previously found to have entered supply chains.
Kavli INsD Director receives honorary doctorate from the University of Cambridge
27 June 2024
On June 19 2024, Professor Dame Carol Robinson, Director of Oxford's Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, received an honorary doctorate from the University of Cambridge.
Professor Dame Carol Robinson to receive Lifetime Achievement Award for groundbreaking protein analysis work
25 June 2024
The European Patent Office (EPO) has announced that Professor Robinson will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award for her groundbreaking work in mass spectrometry, advancing drug discovery, and personalised medicine.
Four MPLS scientists awarded Royal Society of Chemistry prizes
12 June 2024
Four scientists and a multidisciplinary collaboration have won prizes from the Royal Society of Chemistry in recognition of brilliance in research and innovation. The awards are among the oldest and most prestigious research prizes in the world, having recognised excellence in the chemical sciences for more than 150 years.
University of Oxford to lead new Sustainable Chemicals and Materials Manufacturing Research Hub
16 May 2024
The University of Oxford is leading a major UK government investment in research to improve the sustainability of chemical and polymer production. The Sustainable Chemicals and Materials Manufacturing Hub (SCHEMA) will bring together researchers from across the UK working with a large consortium of commercial, technology translation and civic partners. The Hub has been funded by £11 million from the UKRI Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and leverages a further £22 million in funding from its partners.
Recipients of the inaugural SCGC–FIRST awards announced
27 March 2024
SCGC-FIRST is a major new award scheme to develop novel ideas and nascent research from Oxford’s laboratories into environmental sustainability solutions for the global chemicals industry. The four chosen projects exemplify innovation and promise to accelerate sustainable technology development.