Biological Sciences

As a research student in the Biological Sciences program at the University of Essex , you’ll work at the heart of our internationally acknowledged and well-connected research community. We offer world-class supervision and training opportunities, and encourage you to engage with other researchers, professionals, practitioners and research users, where possible for example using the generous funding from Proficio to attend conferences and training courses.

Specialist facilities

Our School provides a comprehensive range of facilities for modern, multi-disciplinary, biological research which include:

• a next-generation genome sequencing facility

• a high-performance computing cluster with 368 CPUs, 5.4 Tb of RAM and 700 Tb of storage for analyses of large biological data sets

• an advanced bioimaging suite to visualise and process images of biological processes in real time

• an X-ray Crystallography and Macromolecular Interactions facility for the biophysical characterisation of proteins and other macromolecules

• aquaria, mesocosms and other facilities for ecology and behaviour studies

• advanced bioimaging suite to visualise and analyse images of biological processes in real time

• a range of facilities for cell and microbial culture, and a greenhouse and plant / algal growth rooms

• fully automated laboratories with robotic liquid handling systems and equipment for cell culture, molecular biology and gene editing

A dedicated study room allows all our postgraduate research students to have access to a desk and a computer outside of the research laboratories. This provides a focal point for our postgraduates, facilitating reading and writing as well as good communication and a sense of community.

Your future

Many of our postgraduates choose to continue their scientific research by taking up postdoctoral positions at Universities and research institutes in the UK and overseas. Some go on to work in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, while others go on to work with governmental and non-governmental organisations and environmental agencies.

Research areas

• Biophysics

• Biochemistry

• Cell and molecular biology

• Molecular medicine

• Environmental microbiology

• Photosynthesis

• Plant productivity

• Ecology

• Marine and environmental science