John 37, has become a professor of sociology while his brother Charles, 42, is professor of psychology.

Their careers will continue in tandem as they both head a new centre which will monitor how people look after their health.

Both came to the university from Portadown in Northern Ireland in the late Seventies and have since been awarded a string of qualifications.

John gained a mathematics BSc in 1983 before staying on at the university to study an MSc in science, technology and industrialisation and an MA in sociology.

He completed a Doctorate of Philosophy on the political sociology of medicine in 1992.

Charles graduated in 1978 with a degree in social psychology and finished his doctorate in 1982.

And unlike many other family relationships, both say their sibling rivalry is a thing of the past.

John said: "We actually get on really well, which is just as well when we live and work in the same place."

The brothers will soon be co-directors of a centre at the university for the study of health-related policy and behaviour.

Charles' research will focus on how people look after their health while John's work looks at the regulation of medicines.

John is also writing a book about the safety of sleeping pills.

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