Device and method for heating or cooling a sample

A device for heating or cooling one or more samples, the device comprising:

• at least one heating or cooling element thermally connected to a first member;
• at least one heating or cooling element thermally connected to a second member;
• wherein the first member and the second member each have a sample contacting surface and are independently moveable with respect to each other,
• wherein the first member is provided in a first plane and aligned to move perpendicular to the first plane and second member is provided in a second plane and aligned to move perpendicular to the second plane, and
• wherein the first member is configured to contact a first surface of the one or more samples and the second member is configured to contact a second surface of the one or more samples, further comprising one or more sensors operable in use to monitor one or more characteristics of the members, and/or the one or more samples, and/or a container within which the one or more samples are contained, wherein the first or second member is configured to agitate the one or more samples, in use, during the heating or cooling process by oscillating and the device is operable in use to adjust an agitation in response to the monitored one or more characteristics.