Comparative and Integrative Biology research cluster

The Comparative and Integrative Biology (CIB) cluster at the OU is a diverse and inclusive research group. Established in 2024, the CIB cluster brings together academics from connected themes across biology, including zoologists, botanists, and cellular and molecular biologists.

The main areas of research include (but are not limited to):

Physiology, the study of functions and mechanisms in living systems.
Evolutionary biology, a discipline that encompasses the origins and diversity of life.
Developmental biology, which seeks to understand processes that control and influence growth in living things.

Comparative research in the group covers the whole biological hierarchy, ranging from molecules to ecosystems, and from time frames of minutes to millions of years. As part of our integrative approach to biology, academics in the cluster use a varied toolkit, including lab-based experiments, theoretical methods, advanced computation, and bioinformatics. The CIB cluster is hosted by the school of LHCS, but it is interdisciplinary and includes staff from multiple schools in the STEM faculty. Members of the group are also involved with producing and delivering biology modules and engagement with BBC/OU co-productions in natural history.

If you are interested in the cluster and would like to become a member or would be interested in hearing about seminars and events organised by the group, please send an email to the group convenor to be added to our email list.

To find out more about our researchers, click on the links below.