We offer MPhil, PhD and MD supervision in all of our main research areas. You will join a vibrant research community of about 100 postgraduate research students in the Institute. You will work in one of our established research groups alongside postdoctoral researchers, senior students and staff. You will be encouraged to present your work in the Institute and at scientific meetings.

Our staff are successful in attracting postgraduate funding from diverse sources, such as:

  • UK Research Councils, including a BBSRC Doctoral Training Partnership
  • Industrial CASE awards
  • charities
  • UK and international government initiatives

Our results in the Research Excellence Framework 2014 were exceptional. We were ranked 1st for research output amongst all UK submitted university biosciences departments (UoA5 - Biological Sciences Unit of Assessment). In the overall scores, the Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences (UoA5) was 5th out of 44 UK submissions.

Our research is divided into four themes, each linked to a research group.

Bacterial Cell Biology Group

The Bacterial Cell Biology Group focuses on the fundamental aspects of cell biology, biochemistry and pathogenicity of eubacteria. Together with colleagues from Computing Sciences, they form the Centre for Bacterial Cell Biology (CBCB). The CBCB is the worldÕs largest research centre focussed on the molecular and cellular biology of bacterial cells and bacterial cell wall biosynthesis. Using a wide range of biochemical, genetic and microscopic approaches, researchers reveal fundamental cell mechanisms including:

  • bacterial cell wall biosynthesis
  • cell division including plasmid and chromosome segregation
  • cellular response to phage infection
  • genetic competence
  • the action of toxinÐantitoxin genes and mRNA cleaving enzymes
  • secretion chaperones involved in the regulation of flagellar assembly
  • microbial protein secretion
  • responses to environmental stress
  • gene expression and regulatory networks
  • determination and control of cell shape

Epithelial Biology Group

The Epithelial Biology Group focuses on universal organising principles that include the processes governing the specialised roles of epithelial cells in:

  • epithelial transport
  • nutrition
  • microbial-interactions
  • health and disease