Research

A PhD student analyses samples in the Chemical Genetics Laboratory.

An extensive range of world-leading research opportunities are available for postgraduate students in the School of Biological Sciences.

Academic staff have expertise in biochemistry, botany, cell biology, ecology, evolution, immunology, marine biology and microbiology. In 2008, School staff published 283 papers in peer-reviewed journals.

A range of state-of-the-art laboratory facilities and instruments support the research programmes. The university is situated near marine and terrestrial reserves and the Victoria University Coastal Ecology Lab at Island Bay has world-leading facilities for the study of marine science.

Around 200 students are engaged in postgraduate studies, with 120 at PhD level. Students come from around the world and contribute to the School's vibrant atmosphere.

Research collaborations with other Schools at Victoria University, in particular the School of Chemical and Physical Sciences and the School of Psychology, form important links and allow students to access a wide range of facilities.

The School's staff also have ongoing collaborations other New Zealand universities and with the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, situated on the Victoria University campus. Links with Crown Research Institues AgResearch and HortResearch and Wellington-based NIWA and ESR provide opportunities for students to undertake practical research in a broad range of fields.