The Department of Biosciences
We provide courses in areas of applied life science, from undergraduate degrees to PhDs.
Through our teaching and research we aim to increase the understanding of the molecular and cellular basis of disease, and apply this knowledge to improving the diagnosis and treatment of patients. We also apply analytical techniques to pharmaceutical, environmental and materials chemistry.
We excel in teaching the practical skills currently used in life sciences research and diagnosis. All our courses include extended sessions in our well-equipped labs and an optional placement year for undergraduate students.
To make sure we provide the skills and knowledge required for employment, we hold regular meetings with employers from the NHS, and biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.
In the 2011 National Student Survey we received a 90% satisfaction rating for our teaching, and the latest international student barometer ranked us first in the UK for the quality of our laboratories and second for the quality of our IT infrastructure.
- Facilities
- Research
- Industry links
- Links with professional bodies
- Placements
- Courses
Facilities
All our courses have an emphasis on practical work which mimics the real world, in laboratories equipped with industry-standard equipment.
Both our undergraduate and postgraduate students have access to
- a nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer
- a state of the art mass spectrometer
- a cell culture suite consisting of five laminar flow hoods and incubators
- an extensive range of analytical equipment, such as HPLCs and GCs
- real-time PCR equipment for quantitative analysis of nucleic acid
- high-powered microscopes for cell and tissue analysis
Our cell culture suite won an S-lab award for the best refurbished laboratory in 2011. The S-lab scheme is sponsored by highly regarded scientific organisations including the national HE-STEM programme, the Society of Biology and the Royal Society of Chemistry.
For videos and information about facilities, please visit our online prospectus.
Research
Our Biomedical Research Centre (BMRC) carries out research into
- disease mechanisms
- molecular microbiology
- pharmacology
- bioanalytical science
The BMRC has over 30 students on MPhil and PhD programmes, as well as a number of postdoctoral research assistants.
65% of our staff were considered to be 'internationally' recognised in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise.
We have an established record of obtaining external funding from research councils and charities and often work in collaboration with UK and international scientists as well as clinical colleagues at a number of UK hospitals. Staff and postgraduate students present their research findings at national and international conferences.
Industry links
We have excellent links with employers in the NHS and pharmaceutical industry (including Pfizer, Astra Zeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, BBraun, Covance and Evotec).
We regularly meet with representatives of these companies to ensure that we understand what they require in our graduates. These employers also
- provide year long placements for undergraduate students
- give essential advice on curriculum design
- contribute to teaching on our courses
- fund research and consultancy
Links with professional bodies
Our MSc and BSc Biomedical Sciences courses are accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Sciences. They recently commended us on
- the excellent scientific content of our courses
- the laboratory and teaching facilities, which provides an excellent learning environment
- our research facilities and the way we use them to support student learning
- taking a lead in responding to external changes in the sector
- our engagement with employers
Placements
All undergraduate students have the opportunity to spend a year on paid work placement between the second and final years of their course.
We have placement partners in industry and the public sectors, and opportunities for placement are available in areas including
- research and clinical trials departments in pharmaceutical companies
- quality control laboratories in the private and public sector
- chemical synthesis and analysis
- medical diagnostics including hospital pathology laboratories
- university and government research institute laboratories
- biotechnology and food technology development in SMEs
- schools and colleges
