Research Departments

We are one of the largest and most active research environments for biosciences in the world. The division is home to over 130 research groups and a community of over 500 staff and more than 300 PhD students engaged in cutting edge research. Our research interests span all biological scales from molecules to cells, tissues, organisms and populations. Research and teaching across the division is organised around four academic departments, which also incorporate several research centres that promote cross-disciplinary collaborations.

A lateral view of a 4dpf Tg(1.4dlx5a-6a:GFP) transgenic larvae labelled with anti-GFP(green), anti-tubulin(red) to label axons and anti-SV2(white) to label neuropil. This transgeic labels neurons throughout the telencephalon, optic tectum and cerebe…

Cell and Developmental Biology

Our mission is to gain mechanistic insight into biological processes across scales, spanning from cells to tissues to whole organisms and from milliseconds to minutes to hundreds of millions of years. Research in the department therefore encompasses a wide spectrum of basic biomedical investigation, from animal development, stem cell biology, functional and evolutionary morphology, to neuroscience, organelle biology and cell signalling.

Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology

The research department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology (NPP) researches the fundamental aspects of how and why organisms work, continuing a long-standing tradition of shedding light on the most complex animal function and behaviour, in both health and disease, by revealing the underpinning molecules, cells, systems and circuits. It is part of UCL's Neuroscience Research Community, the largest in Europe, and home to over 40 research groups and 100+ Post-Docs, PhD students and support staff.

Genetics, Evolution and Environment

The research department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment (GEE) traces its origins to the Department of Comparative Anatomy founded in 1826 and incorporates previous Departments of Biology, Botany, Microbiology, Zoology and the Galton Laboratory, the first Department of Genetics in the UK. GEE continues to be world-leading in the study of Evolutionary Biology, Human Genetics, Healthy Ageing and Biodiversity research, with over 40 research groups and some 200 Post-Docs, PhD Students and support staff.

Structural and Molecular Biology

The research department of Structural and Molecular Biology (SMB) provides a stimulating and diverse research and training environment of international standing in cutting-edge, modern biochemistry. It is home to one of the world's largest academic centres for research in biochemistry with over 30 research groups and 60+ Post-Docs, PhD students and support staff.