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About the Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences

About SILS

The Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences (SILS) was established in 2000 and is one of the largest institutes of the Faculty of Science of the University of Amsterdam (UvA). The institute brings together approximately 240 researchers in 18 research groups and three underpinning technologies. The institute comprises several biological disciplines including molecular and cell biology, microbiology, plant science, physiology and neurobiology. Our research is further supported by modern enabling technologies for the life sciences: genomics and transcriptomics, mass spectrometry (metabolomics and proteomics) and advanced microscopy. Knowledge from adjacent fields of science, in particular biochemistry, biophysics, medicine, bioinformatics, statistics and information technology make SILS a multidisciplinary research institute focusing on the broad research field of life sciences. 

SILS’ research objective is to understand the functioning of living organisms, from the most basic aspects up to complex physiological functions. Biological processes are studied at the level of molecules, cells, cellular networks and organisms, and the interactions between and in all those levels. Within the institute, this leads to exchange of information and extension of research over the borders of different disciplines. Part of SILS research activities take place in close collaboration with industry. 

SILS hosts the directors of the largest Life Science programmes Psychobiology and Biomedical Sciences (bachelor and master level) and the director of the Graduate School Earth and Life Sciences. Our staff is highly involved in teaching various Bachelor and Master programmes in the fields of Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Biomedical Sciences and Earth and Environmental Sciences, and contributes to organizing and supervising a large number of student projects in our labs.