Discover our laboratories and team of technicians. There are four laboratories located in different buildings within the School:AshworthJames Clerk Maxwell BuildingDaniel RutherfordPeter WilsonAll of the labs support events beyond student teaching, including Public engagement activities for School and adult learnersOpen days for prospective studentsWho runs these labs?They are run by our lab technical team, who offer expert support for a variety of biology courses. The team facilitates practical learning for students, educators, and outreach activities. Ashworth Laboratory The Ashworth Laboratory oversees the operations of many practical classes, specialising on whole organism biology, including:Life 1A: VariationLife 1D: EnvironmentAnimal Biology 2Animal Diversity and Evolution 3Pathogen Biology 3Developmental Biology 3Genomes and Genomics 3Immunology 3Molecular and Synthetic Plant Biology 3Field CoursesIt also supports the running of a number of field courses, including: Field ZoologyEcologyPlant SciencesZoologyEvolutionary Biology Teaching LabsThe Ashworth laboratory team manage the two teaching labs in rooms G.80 (Lab 1) and G.85/88 (Lab 4), which have capacity for 116 and 64 people respectively. Ashworth Lab G.80 Ashworth Lab G.85/G.88 Team memberRoleEmailMichael McDonaldTeaching Technical Support Supervisormmcdonal@ed.ac.ukJulie TanseyTeaching Lab Technicianjhopkin1.bto@ed.ac.ukMike DyeField Course Development OfficerM.Dye@ed.ac.ukCharlotte SmythTeaching Technical & Fieldwork Support Techniciancsmyth4@ed.ac.ukLes StevenTeaching Technical Support Technicianlsteven4@exseed.ed.ac.uk James Clerk Maxwell Building Laboratory The James Clerk Maxwell Building (JCMB) Laboratory is responsible for the practical classes focused on molecular genetics, biochemistry, microbiology and biotechnology. The courses run here include the following: Biology 2B: Genetics and EvolutionBiology 2C: Systems and RegulationThe Microbial World 2Molecular Genetics 3Biotechnology 3Molecular Microbiology 3Structures and Functions of Proteins 3The JCMB staff manage the two teaching laboratories in rooms 1.1104, which have capacity for 104 people. James Clerk Maxwell Building Lab 1.1104 Team memberRoleEmailAlan IsbisterTeaching Technical Support SupervisorA.Isbister@ed.ac.ukJohn HopkinsTechnical Development Officerjhopkin1.bto@ed.ac.ukNorma FultonTechnical Development Officernorma.fulton@ed.ac.ukKirsten AffleckTeaching Lab TechnicianKirsten.Affleck@ed.ac.uk-Teaching Technical Support Technician- Daniel Rutherford Laboratory The Daniel Rutherford Laboratory oversees molecular and microbiological work, with a bias towards plant and ecological sciences. Courses run here include the following:Biology 1B: LifeBiology 1C: DiscoveryMolecules, Genes and Cells 1The Green Planet 2Population and Community Ecology 3Evolution and Ecology of Plants 3Molecular and Synthetic Plant Biology 3Postgraduate taught coursesSome postgraduate taught courses are also supported in this laboratory, such as a specialised Drug Discovery practical. Teaching laboratoriesThe Daniel Rutherford team manage the two teaching laboratories in rooms B.06 and B.07, which have capacity for 40 and 72 people respectively. Daniel Rutherford Lab B.06 Daniel Rutherford Lab B.07 Team memberRoleEmailNisha ShardaTeaching Technical Support Supervisornsharda@ed.ac.ukRichard CrerarTeaching Lab TechnicianRichard.Crerar@ed.ac.ukJulie KuTeaching Lab Techniciancku@ed.ac.uk-Teaching Technical Support Technician- Peter Wilson Laboratory The Peter Wilson Laboratory supports the specialist postgraduate taught laboratory activities, including the courses: Automation in IndustryBiochemistryPrinciples of Industrial BiotechnologyTools for Synthetic BiologyMetagenomicsProtein Purification TechniquesLaboratory support here is provided staff from the Ashworth lab. Academic support of practical postgraduate teaching is provided by Heather Barker, a previous member of the technical team. Peter Wilson Lab G.128 Team memberRoleEmailMichael McDonaldTeaching Technical Support Supervisormmcdonal@ed.ac.ukHeather BarkerPractical postgraduate teaching academic supportHeather.Barker@ed.ac.uk Teaching Support Technical ManagerThe Teaching Support Technical Manager oversees the operation of the Biology Teaching Organisation's (BTO) Technical Team and can be contacted if you have any questions on our laboratories or availability. Dr David Hills Teaching Support Technical Manager Biology Teaching Organisation (BTO) School of Biological Sciences Contact details Work: +44 (0)131 650 7196 Email: David.Hills@ed.ac.uk This article was published on Tuesday 28 July 2026
