Friday, 06 February 2026
A University of Nottingham PhD researcher, Eva Simpson, has been awarded the prestigious Raff Medal 2026 by the British Society for Cell Biology (BSCB), recognising her outstanding contributions during her doctoral studies.
The highly competitive Raff Medal celebrates exceptional PhD research that advances the field of cell biology across the UK and Ireland. Eva’s work stood out for its innovation, technical rigour and the important insights it offers into reproductive biology.
Working in the Booth Lab at the University of Nottingham’s Biodiversity Institute, Eva focused on using cutting‑edge 3D imaging techniques to study how chromosomes are organised during cell division.
She first examined chromosomes during mitosis, the process by which a cell divides to make two identical copies. By capturing these structures in unprecedented detail, she and her colleagues in Edinburgh created what is essentially the world’s first comprehensive “Mitotic Chromosome Atlas”.
Eva then expanded this work to look at chromosomes during meiosis, the specialised type of cell division that produces eggs. Working with teams in Newcastle and Warwick, she studied both mouse and human egg cells. This research produced one of the most detailed views ever made of chromosomes in developing eggs and was the first to show that a structure known as the “chromosome periphery” is present in both human and mouse meiosis.
It's an absolute honour to receive this award from the BSCB in recognition of my PhD work. It's something that absolutely wouldn’t have been possible without the support of my supervisor, lab group and collaborators, and I'm so grateful for all of them.
Dr Daniel Booth, Eva’s PhD supervisor at the University of Nottingham, said: “It has been a privilege to have worked with Eva over the last 4 years. Her project, which was very technically demanding, has required dedication and patience in levels seldom seen these days. She is both a gifted researcher and a lovely person – very much worthy of this award”
The award will be formally presented at the BSCB Annual Meeting in Reading, on 21-24 April 2026, where Eva will deliver a talk on her research alongside leading scientists from across the UK and Ireland.
Story credits
More information is available from Eva Simpson at: Eva.Simpson1@nottingham.ac.uk or Amanda Cooke, Media Relations Officer in the Press Office at The University of Nottingham, on +44 (0) 115 7485848 or by email at amanda.cooke@nottingham.ac.uk
Eva’s work and details about the 2026 Raff Medal can be viewed on the BSCB website: https://bscb.org/bscb-phd-award-raff-medal-winner-2026-eva-simpson/
Notes to editors:
About the University of Nottingham
Ranked 97 in the world and 17th in the UK by the QS World University Rankings, the University of Nottingham is a founding member of Russell Group of research-intensive universities. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience, and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement.
Nottingham was crowned Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 – the third time it has been given the honour since 2018 – and by the Daily Mail University Guide 2024.
The university is among the best universities in the UK for the strength of our research, positioned seventh for research power in the UK according to REF 2021. The birthplace of discoveries such as MRI and ibuprofen, our innovations transform lives and tackle global problems such as sustainable food supplies, ending modern slavery, developing greener transport, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The university is a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally - and our graduates are the third most targeted by the UK's top employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2024 report by High Fliers Research. Alongside Nottingham Trent University, we lead the Universities for Nottingham initiative, a pioneering collaboration between the city’s two world-class institutions to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing for residents in the city and region we are proud to call home. More news…