The MOU recognise our complementary strengths in the field of Developmental Genetics & Biology. The two universities wish to develop collaboration in these areas for the benefit of their students and researchers.
The MOU emerged through a programme of visits over the past 5 years sponsored in part by by the UK BBSRC and the Chinese “111” project. Constructive relationships have been established between researchers in the two universities – particularly in the fields of neuronal development and plant developmental genetics. Oxford researchers have contributed to conferences and teaching in SJTU, and SJTU researchers have contributed to meetings organised by Oxford staff. SJTU and Oxford University intend to work together for their mutual benefit in the general field of Developmental Genetics & Biology. In particular Oxford and SJTU have agreed to develop their collaborative work in the specific areas of plant developmental genetics, and in neuronal molecular biology – both areas which are a specific focus for research in the two universities. Within these two research areas complementary ‘pairings’ have been identified between researchers at SJTU and Oxford. These pairings will form initial ‘centres of collaboration’.
Professor Zoltan Molnar, who represented the Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics told that "I am delighted to see that our scientific collaboration that developed spontaneously between the two universities now has been endorsed from the highest levels. We are looking forward to build on this in the near future."
Picture: Front row, left to right: Professor Andrew Hamilton, Vice Chancellor of University of Oxford; Professor Jie ZHANG, President of Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Back row, left to right: Professor Dabing ZHANG, Vice Dean, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology SJTU; Professor Hugh Dickinson, Emeritus Professor of Plant Reproductive Biology, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford; Professor Zoltán Molnár, Professor of Developmental Neuroscience, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Oxford; Mr Ed Nash, International Strategy Officer, University of Oxford; Associate Professor Jin Xianmin, Department of Physics and Astronomy, SJTU.