The Department of Applied Sciences contributes significantly to the University’s research themes in Cellular & Molecular Sciences and its Bioeconomy multidisciplinary research theme. Much of this work take an integrated ‘multi-omics’ approach, enabled by on our outstanding facilities for genomics, metabolomics and proteomics. Research by our staff is focussed in the following areas:

• Chemistry Research and Innovation Group – members take analytical, modelling and synthetic approaches to a range of projects including studies of: metal complexes for fluorescent materials, labelling and purification; medicinal chemistry; novel synthetic methods; high value polymer chemistry; biocatalysis and biotransformation; substrates for microorganism detection and identification; fluorescence and Raman spectroscopy; soft matter property prediction; the chemical analysis of historical objects and fine art; and pollutant and volatile organic compound analysis.

• Exploring and Exploiting Microbial Diversity Research Group – our researchers investigate a broad range of contemporary topics in the field of microbiology including: biotechnology – microbial enzymes as biocatalysts (through our Nzomics Biocatalysis Innovation Unit); molecular ecology and microbial community analysis in both human health and in the environment; pathogenicity – microbial virulence, particularly understanding bacterial cell envelopes; and phylogenomic approaches to microbial systematics.
• Forensic Science Unit – staff pursue multi-disciplinary research in drug analysis and toxicology, forensic craniofacial identification, forensic genetics and proteomics, trace evidence analysis, and issues in forensic science policy and procedure. In addition our staff contribute to our Artefacts & Analysis research theme which applies analytical and genetic methods to the analysis of artist materials, archaeological materials and cultural artefacts.

• Nutrition & Food Research Group – our researchers have interests in diet and cancer, diet and cardiovascular health, gut health and microbiomes, and food microbiology, food security and analysis, using a variety of approaches to study these conditions at both the molecular and whole body level.

• Translational Biosciences – our staff take a multi-disciplinary approach to research spanning a range of areas including aging, cancer, drug delivery, infection and immune-mediated diseases and pharmacology and toxicology.

In addition to our research groups, our Innovation Units provide research and consultancy support to academia and industry

• Arthrox UK Innovation Unit offer mite pesticide resistance testing and new product formulation services.
• Foodtrac Scientific Innovation Unit offers a range of services for food analysis and nutritional advice.
• Nzomics Biocatalysis Innovation Unit supplies custom-made enzymes to companies looking to use biocatalysis in industrial biotechnology applications.
• NU-OMICS offers a comprehensive DNA sequencing service based on our MiSeq and PacBio sequencing platforms, with support for experimental design and bioinformatics data handling.

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