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School of Biological Sciences
The School of Biological Sciences is home to exceptional research and dynamic collaboration.
We're a school of diverse students, driven researchers, curiosity, and novel discoveries. Our interests span the biological sciences, from biochemistry to microbiology, cell biology, biomedicine, evolutionary biology, ecology, conservation and plant biology.
Our flexible courses encourage students to pursue their interests and discover new ones. Our focus on skills development for their future inspires them to excel at teamwork, data analysis and communication as well as research and learning. We're embedded in the Norwich Research Park, which boasts one of the largest concentrations of life scientists in the country. Our researchers excel in their fields, and in the creation of wider impact for their work. We're a community generating exciting breakthroughs and pioneering applications.
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92%
of research in biological sciences by UEA scientists in the School of Biological Sciences, Norwich Medical School and Norwich Research Park partner institutes (Earlham Institute, John Innes Centre, Quadram Institute, The Sainsbury Laboratory) was assessed to be ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’
Research Excellence Framework 2021
January courses
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2025/26 - September - 2025 entry
BSc (Hons) Biological Sciences
Explore the intricacies of life itself, from molecules to ecosystems. Discover the why, how and what of living organisms, from how we came to be, to how we’ve since evolved. In this BSc Biological Sciences, you’ll cover a broad range of biological topics, and be given the chance to specialise in the subjects that interest you most. Learn about the role biology plays in the way we tackle challenges in society today – and the role it'll play in our future.
2025/26 - September - 2025 entry
BSc (Hons) Biomedicine
Harness your passion for biology and join the battle to improve human health by studying for a BSc in Biomedicine. You’ll study how we can tackle diseases such as cancer, arthritis and cardiovascular disease by applying cellular and molecular techniques. Using the state-of-the-art equipment and facilities at our teaching laboratories, you’ll explore fascinating research areas, from human physiology and genetics to pathogens and antibiotic resistance. You’ll train in a wide range of biochemical techniques and discover the biomedical solutions of the future.
2025/26 - September - 2025 entry
BSc (Hons) Biochemistry
Explore the wonders of life, studying biological organisms and processes at the molecular level with this BSc in Biochemistry. You’ll investigate a wide range of fascinating topics – cell and molecular biology, medicinal chemistry, genetics, protein engineering and microbial biotechnology – that will allow you to put your love of both biology and chemistry into action.
2025/26 - September - 2025 entry
BSc (Hons) Molecular Biology and Genetics
On our BSc Molecular Biology and Genetics programme, you'll study and specialise in a number of fascinating subject areas, including medical genetics, biotechnology or agriculture, as well as their application in fields such as human health and disease, microbial or plant molecular biology, cellular signalling, and evolutionary biology. It’s a diverse degree programme, with a wide range of options and opportunities, all taught by our expert staff at UEA and the Norwich Research Park.
2025/26 - September - 2025 entry
BSc (Hons) Ecology and Conservation
Discover how organisms behave, evolve and interact with their physical and biological environments, and join the next generation of ecologists and conservationists. In this BSc Ecology and Conservation degree, you’ll study a broad range of topics, from plant science and animal behaviour to environmental management and biodiversity, with opportunities to get out into the field for some first-hand practical experience. Our course will nurture your love for the natural environment, and prepare you for an exciting career in this increasingly important field.
2024/25 - September - 2024 entry
MSc Molecular Medicine
Our MSc Molecular Medicine will set you up for a thriving career in biomedical research, the pharmaceutical industry or the health services. UEA has enormous expertise in biomedical research, with a global reputation for academic excellence and strong links with the major institutes based across the Norwich Research Park. As well as learning fundamental theory, you’ll develop valuable transferable skills through personal development sessions, where you’ll cover presentation skills, employability and time-management.
2025/26 - September - 2025 entry
MSc Applied Ecology and Conservation
Our established MSc in Applied Ecology and Conservation offers interdisciplinary training that prepares you for a range of careers in this exciting field. Benefiting from tuition from world-leading experts, and from our strong links to major conservation organisations and institutions, you’ll be well-equipped for progression to doctoral research, or for employment in the ecology and conservation sectors.
2025/26 - September - 2025 entry
MSc Evolution and Genomics
Our MSc in Evolution and Genomics is a one-year postgraduate programme that will provide you with extensive conceptual understanding and diverse practical experience in evolutionary biology and genomics. The unique, world-leading expertise available across the Norwich Research Park including UEA, will give you excellent training in all aspects of modern evolutionary studies, including genomics and phenomics, from experimental design to bioinformatics, and spanning field and laboratory systems. The course covers a wide range of topics, including experimental design, bioinformatics, and field and laboratory research. You’ll also have the opportunity to work on an independent research project with a research leader of their choice. Upon completion of the course, you’ll be well-qualified for PhD programmes in evolution and genomics, as well as for careers in industry, government, and non-government organisations.
2025/26 - September - 2025 entry
MSc Global Plant Health
Learn how to tackle significant worldwide crop losses on our MSc in Global Plant Health. On this course, you’ll discover the latest research on plant-pathogen interactions and sustainable defense strategies to help feed the world. You’ll also acquire the leadership and management skills needed to make a difference in global plant health and take your career to the next level after studying at The Sainsbury Laboratory in Norwich.
2025/26 - September - 2025 entry
MSc Plant Genetics and Crop Improvement
Our MSc Plant Genetics and Crop Improvement course is based at the John Innes Centre (JIC), which is one of the world’s leading research institutes in plant genetics and crop improvement. The teaching team is made up of research staff from JIC and several leading plant breeding companies within the UK, meaning you'll graduate well-prepared for a career in plant breeding and crop improvement, or further PhD study in this area.
Research
People
Dr Alper Akay
- UKRI Future Leaders Fellow, School of Biological Sciences
- Member, Cells and Tissues
- Group Lead, RNA (epi)Genetics Lab
Dr Janneke Balk
- Group Leader, School of Biological Sciences
- Member, Molecular Microbiology
- Member, Plant Sciences
Professor Iain Barr
- Professor of Field Ecology, School of Biological Sciences
- Member, Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation
- Member, Organisms and the Environment
- Member, Biosciences Teaching and Education Research
Dr Ellen Bell
- Lecturer in Ecology and Bioinformatics, School of Biological Sciences
- Member, Organisms and the Environment
- Member, Biosciences Teaching and Education Research
Dr Anders Bergström
- Lecturer, School of Biological Sciences
- Member, Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation
Dr Anthony Blake
- Associate Professor in Biological Sciences, School of Biological Sciences
- Member, Biosciences Teaching and Education Research
Professor Richard Bowater
- Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education, School of Biological Sciences
- Member, Centre for Molecular and Structural Biochemistry
- Member, Molecular Microbiology
- Member, Biosciences Teaching and Education Research
Professor Charles Brearley
- Professor of Biochemistry, School of Biological Sciences
- Member, Molecular Microbiology
- Member, Plant Sciences
Professor Simon Butler
- Professor of Applied Ecology, School of Biological Sciences
- Member, Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation
- Member, Organisms and the Environment
Professor Julea Butt
- Professor of Biophysical Chemistry, School of Biological Sciences
- Member, Centre for Molecular and Structural Biochemistry
- Member, Chemistry of Life Processes
- Member, Chemistry of Light and Energy
- Member, Energy Materials Laboratory
- Member, Molecular Microbiology
- Member, Centre for Photonics and Quantum Science
- Member, Wolfson Centre for Advanced Environmental Microbiology
Professor Tracey Chapman
- Professor of Evolutionary Genetics, School of Biological Sciences
- Member, Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation
- Member, Organisms and the Environment
Professor Ian Clark
- Professor of Musculoskeletal Biology, School of Biological Sciences
- Member, Musculoskeletal Medicine
- HealthUEA Academic Chair, Vice-Chancellor's Office
- Member, Nutrition and Preventive Medicine
- Academic Chair, HealthUEA
Professor Thomas Clarke
- Professor, School of Biological Sciences
- Member, Centre for Molecular and Structural Biochemistry
- Member, Energy Materials Laboratory
- Member, Molecular Microbiology
Dr Mark Coleman
- Associate Professor, School of Biological Sciences
- Member, Biosciences Teaching and Education Research
Dr Dominic Cram
- Lecturer in Ecology and Conservation, School of Biological Sciences
- Member, Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation
Professor Tamas Dalmay
- Professor of RNA Biology, School of Biological Sciences
- Member, Plant Sciences
Dr Gabrielle Davidson
- Lecturer in Ecology/ Evolutionary Biology/ Genomics, School of Biological Sciences
- Member, Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation
Dr Richard Davies
- Lecturer in Biodiversity, School of Biological Sciences
- Member, Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation
- Member, Organisms and the Environment
Dr Kelly Edmunds
- Associate Professor, School of Biological Sciences
- Member, Biosciences Teaching and Education Research
Professor, Chair of Pharmacology Samuel Fountain
- Professor of Pharmacology, School of Biological Sciences
- Member, Cells and Tissues
Ben Garrod
- Professor of Evolutionary Biology and Science Engagement, School of Biological Sciences
Dr Andrew Gates
- Associate Professor in Bacterial Bioenergetics, School of Biological Sciences
- Member, Centre for Molecular and Structural Biochemistry
- Member, Molecular Microbiology
- Member, Wolfson Centre for Advanced Environmental Microbiology
Dr Jelena Gavrilovic
- Associate Professor, School of Biological Sciences
- Member, Cells and Tissues
Professor Jennifer Gill
- Professor of Applied Ecology, School of Biological Sciences
- Member, Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation
- Member, Organisms and the Environment
- Member, ClimateUEA
Dr Karl Grieshop
- Lecturer in Genomics and Bioinformatics, School of Biological Sciences
- Member, Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation
Dr Timothy Grocott
- Lecturer in Biomedicine, School of Biological Sciences
- Member, Cells and Tissues
Dr Wilfried Haerty
- Senior Group Leader, School of Biological Sciences
- Member, Norwich Institute for Healthy Aging
Dr Mohammad Hajihosseini
- Associate Professor, School of Biological Sciences
- Member, Cells and Tissues
Professor Neil Hall
- Professor in Genomics & Director of Earlham Institute, School of Biological Sciences
Professor Anthony Hall
- Professor of Plant Genomics & Head of Plant Genomics at Earlham Institute, School of Biological Sciences
Dr Carl Harrington
- Associate Professor & Widening Participation Academic Lead, School of Biological Sciences
- Member, Biosciences Teaching and Education Research
Professor Andrew Hemmings
- Professor of Structural Biology, School of Biological Sciences
- Member, Centre for Molecular and Structural Biochemistry
- Member, Chemistry of Life Processes
- Member, Molecular Microbiology
- Member, Plant Sciences
- Professor, School of Chemistry, Pharmacy and Pharmacology
Dr Audrey Heppleston
- Associate Professor in Biomedical Science, School of Biological Sciences
- Member, Biosciences Teaching and Education Research
Professor Simone Immler Maklakov
- Professor of Genetics and Reproduction, School of Biological Sciences
- Member, Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation
- Member, Organisms and the Environment
Dr Helen James
- Associate Professor, School of Biological Sciences
- Member, Biosciences Teaching and Education Research
Dr Gabriella Kelemen
- Associate Professor, School of Biological Sciences
- Member, Molecular Microbiology
Professor Robert Kingsley
- Research Leader/Professor of Microbiology, School of Biological Sciences
Dr David Lea-Smith
- Associate Professor in Microbiology, School of Biological Sciences
- Member, Molecular Microbiology
- Member, ClimateUEA
Dr Philip Leftwich
- Associate Professor, School of Biological Sciences
- UKRN - UEA Academic Lead, Research and Innovation Services
- Member, Biosciences Teaching and Education Research
Dr Helen Leggett
- Associate Professor in Foundation Year, School of Biological Sciences
- Member, Biosciences Teaching and Education Research
Dr Laura Lehtovirta-Morley
- Associate Professor, School of Biological Sciences
- Member, Molecular Microbiology
- Member, Wolfson Centre for Advanced Environmental Microbiology
Dr Rebecca Lewis
- Associate Professor in Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences
- Member, Biosciences Teaching and Education Research
Professor Alexei Maklakov
- Professor of Evolutionary Biology and Biogerontology, School of Biological Sciences
- Member, Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation
- Member, Organisms and the Environment
- Member, Norwich Institute for Healthy Aging
Dr Jacob Malone
- Honorary Professor, School of Biological Sciences
- Group Leader, School of Biological Sciences
- Member, Molecular Microbiology
Dr John Miller
- Associate Professor, School of Biological Sciences
- Member, Molecular Microbiology
- Member, Plant Sciences
Professor David Monk
- Professor of Developmental Epigenetics, School of Biological Sciences
Professor Andrea Münsterberg
- Professor of Developmental Biology, School of Biological Sciences
- Member, Cells and Tissues
Dr Isabelle Piec
- Lecturer in Biomedical Science, School of Biological Sciences
- Member, Musculoskeletal Medicine
- Member, Metabolic Health
Professor David S. Richardson
- Professor in Evolutionary Ecology, School of Biological Sciences
- Member, Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation
- Member, Organisms and the Environment
Dr Stephen Robinson
- Research Leader, School of Biological Sciences
- Member, Norwich Institute for Healthy Aging
- Member, Cells and Tissues
Dr Gary Rowley
- Associate Professor, School of Biological Sciences
- Member, Molecular Microbiology
- Member, Pathogen Biology Group
Dr Matthew Sullivan
- Lecturer in Molecular Microbiology, School of Biological Sciences
- Member, Molecular Microbiology
- Member, Pathogen Biology Group
David Swainsbury
- Lecturer in Biochemistry/Microbiology, School of Biological Sciences
- Member, Molecular Microbiology
Dr Tracey Swingler
- Lecturer in Biomedicine, School of Biological Sciences
- Member, Biosciences Teaching and Education Research
Mr Sean Tattan
- Associate Tutor, Faculty of Science
- Lecturer in Immunology, School of Biological Sciences
- Lecturer in Cell Biology, School of Chemistry, Pharmacy and Pharmacology
- School of Chemistry, Pharmacy and Pharmacology
Dr Martin Taylor
- Associate Professor in Molecular Ecology, School of Biological Sciences
- Member, Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation
- Member, Organisms and the Environment
- Member, Collaborative Centre for Sustainable Use of the Seas
Professor Jonathan Todd
- Professor of Environmental Microbiology, School of Biological Sciences
- Member, Molecular Microbiology
- Member, Wolfson Centre for Advanced Environmental Microbiology
Dr Maria Vardakou
- Associate Professor in Biomedicine & Biochemistry, School of Biological Sciences
- Member, Biosciences Teaching and Education Research
Dr Laura Wagstaff
- Associate Tutor, Faculty of Science
- Lecturer in Biological Sciences, School of Biological Sciences
- Member, Biosciences Teaching and Education Research
Professor Grant Wheeler
- Group Leader, Wheeler Group
- Professor, School of Biological Sciences
- Member, Cells and Tissues
Dr Janine Wilkinson
- Lecturer in Biomedicine, School of Biological Sciences
- Member, Biosciences Teaching and Education Research
UEA partner Quadram Institute welcomes The Princess Royal as patron
Friday 23 May 2025, 1:11pm
Blossoming partnership between UEA and Norfolk Wildlife Trust recognised with new Memorandum of Understanding
Wednesday 21 May 2025, 12:50pm
Annual Bishop of Norwich Prize for Ecology awarded to UEA student
Wednesday 27 November 2024, 3:56pm
Five UEA professors named in annual Highly Cited Research list for 2024
Wednesday 20 November 2024, 11:31am
Wild birds’ health and likely survival is affected by the gut microbiome
Wednesday 16 October 2024, 1:52pm
Researchers discover how plants produce a novel anti-stress molecule
Wednesday 9 October 2024, 10:57am
Innovation and Impact Awards now open for entries and nominations
Monday 7 October 2024, 4:55pm
Outdoor businesses and venues could benefit from boosting biodiversity
Thursday 3 October 2024, 4:21pm
Discovery challenges beliefs about origins of marine-derived climate-cooling gas
Wednesday 28 August 2024, 3:37pm
UEA’s Award Fellowship boosting career development for students
Tuesday 23 July 2024, 9:05am
Wild blue and great tits recall what they have eaten in the past, where they found the food and when they found it, a new study shows
Wednesday 3 July 2024, 4pm
New discovery reveals unexpected ocean algae help cool the Earth
Tuesday 11 June 2024, 2:26pm
Antibiotic pollution disrupts the gut microbiome and blocks memory in aquatic snails
Thursday 30 May 2024, 2:59pm
Innovative 3D printing could revolutionise treatment for cataracts and other eye conditions
Tuesday 21 May 2024, 10:36am
£24 million for biotechnology research to address clean growth and environmental challenges
Friday 9 February 2024, 4:12pm
Six UEA professors named in Highly Cited Researchers 2023 list
Wednesday 15 November 2023, 2:27pm
Dr Anders Bergström awarded the Philip Leverhulme Prize in Biological Sciences
Friday 20 October 2023, 9:15am