Biology

You will be taught by staff from the School of Natural Sciences who are experts in their field. Our students enjoy being here and we pride ourselves on the quality of teaching and pastoral care we offer. We have a long tradition in teaching and research in the Biological Sciences. Research submitted by our staff has been recognised as being within the top 20 in the UK in the Research Excellence Framework (REF 2014).

We have excellent facilities on campus for the study of both flora and fauna, which include our very own natural history museum, botanical garden, freshwater and marine aquaria, venomous snake collection, Europe’s largest underground soil laboratory, aviaries, an ocean-going research vessel, and an active research farm – all of which are constantly used for teaching and research.

The 21^st century post genomics era offers a wide range of job opportunities in the agricultural, medical, pharmaceutical, aquaculture, forensics and environmental science areas. The rapidly developing economies of China and India in particular have recognised the enormous opportunities offered by Biotechnology. Job openings in sales and marketing with companies who have a science base are also common. Some graduates will also choose to extend their knowledge base by undertaking PhD programmes in relevant areas.

Our graduates are now enjoying careers in research (both in academia and research institutes) as well as in commercial environmental consultancies, DEFRA, water authorities, scientific publishing, landscape architects and many others.

We have a vigorous research base in a number of areas which include: molecular ecology, fisheries genetics, ancient DNA, evolutionary and conservation biology, biogeochemistry, bio hydrometallurgy, plant product biochemistry and (plant) stress physiology, wetland biogeochemistry, neurophysiology of crustaceans, animal responses to stress and applied microbiology.