Chemical Biology PhD / MPhil / MD

Our research in chemical biology bridges the gap between chemistry and biology to explore the molecular interactions that drive cellular processes, often focused on proteins. Living systems obey the laws of organic, inorganic and physical chemistry. By applying chemical tools and technology to study biological systems, we aim to uncover new insights into cellular mechanisms relevant to health and disease, drug discovery, and the development of innovative therapies to study and improve human health. The Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology (ISMIB) was established to integrate cutting-edge and clinical research across the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences. Programmes of work across ISMIB are varied and are led by world experts in their fields. Our chemical biology research is focused in the Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Systems Biology , which has excelled in teaching and research since 1902, when the world’s first Chair of Biochemistry was established in Liverpool. Our integration of biochemical research with systems-based studies, including multiomics, data analysis, structural biology, synthetic biology, and AI, makes us a global leader. This is further supported by top-tier shared research facilities and our commitment to sharing discoveries. We offer intensive PhD programmes with exposure to diverse technologies in chemical biology with close links to the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics and the Department of Chemistry. Research is multidisciplinary, with strong collaborations across the Institute and wider University, spanning physical, chemical, and clinical sciences. Our PhD programmes are supported by world-class facilities, including the Centre for Genomic Research, Centre for Proteome Research, Centre for Metabolomics Research and Computational Biology Facility.

You’ll normally be expected to hold both: A UK honours degree, or overseas equivalent, at 2:1 or above, in a relevant subject A UK master’s degree, or overseas equivalent, in a relevant subject.