About us
Department of Biological Science, Birkbeck
Formed in August 2009 (through a merger of the former Schools of Biological and Chemical Sciences and Crystallography) the Department of Biological Sciences continues to build on the many strengths of these schools so as to allow sustained future growth in all areas. The Head of Department is Professor Gabriel Waksman, FMedSci, FRS
Research and teaching in the department are part of a broader scientific area through our membership of the Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology (ISMB), a joint institute between Birkbeck and University College London (UCL). The scientific environment of the ISMB seeks to integrate the chemical and physical sciences to understand biological systems, in particular to provide the molecular basis of protein function and to exploit this knowledge to further our understanding of human diseases.
High-quality courses
- We offer courses at all levels, from certificates right up to PhD study, and you can choose from biology, analytical chemistry, bioinformatics and crystallography, among other specialisms. Find out more about our full range of courses.
- We specialise in distance learning courses, where all teaching is carried out via the internet. The only equipment you will require is a standard PC or workstation and an Internet connection.
Research with international impact
- In the RAE 2008, 85% of our research was recognised as having international impact, with 15% receiving the highest possible rating of world-leading.
- We perform world-class research in the areas of: biology (organismal), biophysics, cell biology, chemical biology, computational biology, microbiology, and structural biology. Read about some of our recent research highlights.
Expert staff
- Find out more about the activities of our expert staff and information about external recognition they have received.
