Facilities

We offer state-of-the-art facilities, including field ecology labs, genetics labs, a 3D laser scanner and dedicated lab, as well as a video editing suite and computer studios.

Conservation laboratories

Research in conservation genetics is spread across two molecular laboratories. One is dedicated to DNA extraction and PCR (polymerase chain reaction) preparation, the other to PCR amplification and downstream analyses. Both are managed by Professor Jim Groombridge.

Ecology Laboratory

We also house an Ecology Laboratory, managed by Professor Richard Griffiths and Dr Jake Bicknell, featuring equipment for processing samples that are collected on field trips and for dissertation projects, also a small population of the golden mantella frog.

Field Ecology Site

On campus we have our very own field ecology site which we use to study important populations of amphibians, and other species. Here students get hands-on experience as part of formal learning, and some students also get extra experience by helping our research teams outside of formal classes. The field ecology site is managed by Professor Richard Griffiths and Dr Jake Bicknell.

Dr Chris Dunmore in The Imaging Centre for Life Sciences

Look around

Take the 360° tour of our laboratories and study spaces

Anthropology laboratories

Animal Postcranial Evolution Laboratory

The Animal Postcranial Evolution Laboratory (APE) investigates the evolution and functional morphology of the postcranial skeleton, with a focus on humans, non-human primates and their fossil ancestors.

The Imaging Centre for Life Sciences

Opened in 2021, The Imaging Centre for Life Sciences (ICLS), has a Next Engine 3D laser scanner, an Artec Space Spider light scanner, and a Diondo D1 microtomographic scanner. These scanners are used to image the shape, surface texture and internal structure of electrodes, meteorites, bones, and archaeological artefacts among many other materials. They are available for use in dissertation projects. The ICLS is managed by Dr Chris Dunmore.

Biological Anthropology Teaching Laboratory

This exceptional laboratory, upgraded in August 2018, houses a large fossil cast collection with more than 150 casts of extant and extinct primates and hominins. The collection includes full skeletons of modern humans as well as Homo erectus, Homo neanderthalensis, Australopithecus afarensis, chimpanzee, mandrill, siamang (gibbon), spider monkey and vervet monkey.

Ethnobiology Laboratory

The Ethnobiology Laboratory focuses on the identification of useful plants, herbarium practice, culture and taste perception, and material culture.

Human Osteology Research Laboratory

The Human Osteology Research Laboratory managed by Dr Patrick Mahoney investigates questions related to growth, development and diet in humans, non-human primates, our fossil ancestors and other mammals. It is also home to KORA (Kent Osteological Research & Analysis), an established unit offering osteological analyses of human skeletal remains both on-site and within the lab.

Virtual Palaeoanthropology Laboratory

The Virtual Palaeoanthropology Lab investigates the evolutionary history of humans from seven million years ago to the present day. Its research aims are to reconstruct the lineage that led to the origin of modern humans after the split from our common ancestor with the chimpanzee/bonobo lineage.