Microbiology students claim first prize in Startup Factory Scotland final
Published: 9 April 2026
A team involving two fourth year Microbiology students Rayan Ishraq and James Mclauchlan, recently took first place in this year’s Startup Factory Scotland Grand Final, hosted at the Advanced Research Centre and supported by the Scottish Government, on Wednesday, 11 March 2026.
A team involving two School of Infection & Immunity students recently took first place in this year’s Startup Factory Scotland Grand Final, hosted at the Advanced Research Centre and supported by The Scottish Government, on Wednesday, 11 March 2026.
Fourth year Microbiology students Rayan Ishraq and James Mclauchlan, alongside their EcoGraze teammates, claimed the top prize.
Opened by UofG Principal Professor Andy Schofield, 15 finalist teams from universities and colleges across Scotland came together after progressing through regional Startup Factory weekends in Aberdeen, Inverness/Elgin, St Andrews, Edinburgh, the Borders, and Glasgow City Region.
Their ideas tackled some of today’s biggest challenges, from climate and sustainable food systems to digital technologies and community wellbeing.
Over the course of the programme, students worked in mixed teams, taking part in workshops, mentoring, and rapid prototyping sessions before pitching their ventures in the national final.
Congratulations to Rayan and James, whose team took home a prize of £5,000, and everyone who took part in the grand final.
Microbiology Undergraduate Degree
The Microbiology programme provides a comprehensive overview of modern research into bacteria, viruses and parasites. It covers both infectious disease and the wider context in which microorganisms exist. Topics include clinical and veterinary pathogens, how infectious diseases can be controlled by the immune system and by pharmaceutical interventions, molecular and cellular principles of microbiology, and environmental and industrial microbiology.
First published: 9 April 2026