About Us

The Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery (Kavli INsD) is a groundbreaking interdisciplinary science institute focused on world-class nanoscience research. Established in April 2021 as the 20th institute funded by the esteemed Kavli Foundation, we are proud to be the University of Oxford's first institute spanning the life, medical, and physical sciences.

 

Led by the distinguished Professor Carol Robinson, a renowned chemist specializing in mass spectrometry and the study of protein structures, Kavli INsD is committed to making significant contributions in critical areas such as antimicrobial resistance, brain and mental health, infectious diseases, and malaria. Additionally, we strive to develop cutting-edge instrumentation that brings the analytical power of the physical sciences into the realm of cellular exploration.

At Kavli INsD, our exceptional team of faculty and researchers represents diverse backgrounds in structural biology, biochemistry, pathology, chemistry, physics, physiology, and engineering. United by our shared focus on the nanoscale—the scale of proteins, viruses, and DNA—we are at the forefront of unraveling the mysteries of the most fundamental unit of life: the cell.

Together, we are shaping the future of nanoscience, fostering an inclusive and collaborative working culture, and driving breakthrough discoveries that have the potential to revolutionize our understanding of the world around us.

 

 

 
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Kavli Management Committee 
Director: Professor Dame Carol Robinson (Chemistry)
Co-Deputy Director: Professor Achillefs Kapanidis (Physics)
Co-Deputy Director: Professor Molly Stevens (DPAG)
 

Members:

Professor Richard Wade-Martins (DPAG)
Professor Philipp Kukura (Chemistry)
Professor Kevin Talbot (NDCN)
Professor Russell Foster (NDCN/SCNi)
Professor Matt Higgins (Biochemistry)
Dr Lindsay Baker (Kavli Fellow/Biochemistry) 
 
Kavli Senior Leadership Council 

Kavli Director: Carol Robinson (Chemistry)
Kavli Co-Deputy Director: Professor Achillefs Kapanidis (Physics)

Kavli Co-Deputy Director: Professor Molly Stevens (DPAG)
Heads of Divisions: ex-officio
Professor Gavin Screaton (Medical Sciences) 
Professor Sam Howison (Mathematics, Physical and Life Sciences)
Heads of Departments
Professor Ian Shipsey (Physics)
Professor Francis Barr (Biochemistry)
Ex-officio: Professor Matthew Freeman (Dunn School of Pathology)

 

The Kavli Application for Research Development (K.A.R.D) Fund*, established at the Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery (Kavli INsD), represents our commitment to fostering innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and teamwork among our early career researchers. 

Launched in September 2023, this fund serves as a crucial steppingstone for researchers by providing seed funding for a proof-of-principle project. Through the K.A.R.D FUND, we aim to catalyse bold scientific exploration and support the next generation of researchers in their pursuit of cutting-edge discoveries. 

*Note: Funds are only available to current Kavli INsD based researchers

 

To catalyse synergies between the different physical, engineering and biological activities, Kavli INsD funds short-term fellowships to cement interdisciplinary interactions. Kavli Fellowship applications are viewed favourably for those who wish to retrain in a different discipline. This is expected to be a longer-term process than for those remaining with the subject of their degree.

A key aspect of the Institute working environment is its ability to provide training and support to allow Fellows to transition to independent careers. As such, the Kavli program of mentorship extends to training on different equipment, on sample handling techniques as well as on soft skills including preparing experimental data, writing for publications, applying for funding, and honing presentation skills for different audiences.

Kavli Fellowship funding is used as leverage to attract funded research fellows from outside Oxford to the Institute.