Biochemistry (Molecular and Cellular)

Biochemistry is the use of molecular methods to investigate, explain and manipulate biological processes. The study of life at the molecular level continues to undergo dynamic expansion, leading to ever-increasing insights into topics as various as the origin of life, the nature of disease and the development of individual organisms. Powerful new techniques, such as those of molecular genetics and NMR spectroscopy, enable us to analyse biological phenomena in more and more precise molecular terms. These studies have led to valuable developments in drug design and synthesis, forensic science, environmental monitoring and a whole range of other areas. Furthermore, advances in biochemistry are largely responsible for the breakdown of traditional disciplinary boundaries between cell biology, medicine, physics and chemistry.The Biochemistry Department in Oxford is one of the largest in Europe, and is subdivided into the following research areas: Cell Biology; Development and Genetics; Chromosomal and RNA Biology; Infection and Disease Processes; Microbiology and Systems Biology; and Structural Biology and Molecular Biophysics. The department is extremely active in research, with about 300 postgraduate students and research staff. The breadth and excellence of these activities are reflected in the scope of the undergraduate course and underpin the teaching. The department has superb research and teaching facilities and excellent digital resources together with access to a wide range of online and print journals.An important aspect of the Oxford Biochemistry course is its fourth-year project, lasting 23 full-time weeks, which provides an opportunity to pursue an in-depth research project under the supervision of an academic member of staff. You choose a project, plan your research programme, design your experiments and present your results to other researchers in the field. The experience gained is much valued by employers. The project also gives you the opportunity to reflect on your aptitude and enthusiasm for a research career.