School of Biological and Chemical Sciences postgraduate study 2016

School of Biological and Chemical Sciences Postgraduate Study 2016

sbcs.qmul.ac.uk

“As you would expect of a science department in the Russell Group, we have state-of-the-art facilities for both research and teaching.

We have recently benefited from a £6m refurbishment across our two buildings, providing new research laboratories for our ecological and evolutionary biologists, new seminar and meetings rooms, and new research space for chemists and biochemists” Professor Matthew Evans, Head of School and Professor of Ecology

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CONTENTS Welcome to QMUL

5

What we offer

6

Biological and chemical sciences at QMUL

8

Funding and scholarship information

10

Collaboration with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

12

Careers and alumni

14

Our research

16

Our taught programmes:

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• Aquatic Ecology

by Research MSc

18

• Bioinformatics MSc

20

• Chemical Research MSc

22

• Ecology and Evolutionary Biology MSc/PgCert

24

• Ecological and Evolutionary Genomics MSc/PgCert

26

• Freshwater and Marine Ecology MSc/PgCert

28

• Plant and Fungal Taxonomy, Diversity and Conservation MSc 30 How to apply, entry requirements and further information 32 International students

36

Our home in the east

40

Meet us

45

How to find us

46

Campus maps

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The Queens’ Building, Mile End, has a proud association with not one, but four Queens: Queen Victoria; Queen Mary (wife of King George V); Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother; and our Patron, Queen Elizabeth II.

QMUL highlights

• World-class research – QMUL ranked 9th in the UK (REF 2014) among multi-faculty universities • Teaching by international leaders in their field • In the top one per cent of the world’s universities • Member of the Russell Group of leading UK universities • Attractive residential campus in the heart of London • Commitment to financial support – £9m in research studentships last year • Distinguished history dating back to 1123 (the foundation of St Bartholomew’s Hospital), and the start of teaching at the London Hospital Medical College in 1785.

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WELCOME TO QMUL

Do you want to do cutting-edge research? Explore your academic interests in depth? Develop new knowledge and skills? Advance your career, or embark on a completely new path? A postgraduate degree from Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) can help you achieve your ambitions.

We are one of the UK’s leading universities - in the most recent national assessment of research quality, we were placed ninth in the UK (REF 2014) among multi-faculty universities. This means that the teaching on our postgraduate programmes is directly inspired by the world-leading research of our academics.

Our programmes prepare you for professional life or further study, and we offer a commitment to generous financial support in the form of studentships and scholarships. We also offer something no other university can: a friendly, selfcontained residential campus at our home in the east of London.

We have a rich history in London with our roots in Europe’s first public hospital, St Barts; England’s first medical school, The London; one of the first colleges to provide higher education to women, Westfield College; and the Victorian philanthropic project, the People’s Palace at Mile End. This commitment to the local area and public good underpins our work today, especially in our collaborations with hospitals, cultural organisations, government, charities, businesses and industry.

If you join QMUL, you will be welcomed into a diverse and supportive family of staff and students from all over the world, with a wide variety of life experience. This makes QMUL a place of academic and personal self-discovery, and postgraduate study with us a stimulating – often life-changing – experience.

Meet us

The best way to get a feel for QMUL life is to join us for one of our Postgraduate Open Evenings. You can explore our campus, meet our tutors and students, and get a taste of what studying here will be like. If you are unable to visit us in person, we run virtual open events where you can speak online to current staff and students. We also have representatives in 35 countries and staff who regularly travel overseas. For more information, see page 45 or qmul.ac.uk/visitus

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WHAT WE OFFER WORLD-CLASS UNIVERSITY • 1% – we’re in the top percentile of universities in the world (Times Higher Education and QS World University Ranking) • We are a member of the Russell Group – the UK’s 24 leading universities

INNOVATIVE RESEARCH • QMUL was ranked 5th in the UK (at 83 per cent) for “world-leading” or “internationally excellent” research outputs (4*/3*) in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF 2014) • £100m – total research income per year

CAREER SUCCESS • £34,515 – average salary of all QMUL postgraduates on completing their course • 400+ employers and training organisations visited the campus last year • 325+ students placed into 45 local charities under our award-winning QProjects scheme (Guardian employability initiative of the year award 2014)

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EXCEPTIONAL FACILITIES • £142m on new facilities in the past 5 years • 7,700 square metres of new learning and teaching space with the new £39m Graduate Centre opening in 2016

INTERNATIONAL OUTLOOK •S tudents and staff from more than 150 countries • “ One of the world’s 20 most international universities” (Times Higher Education, 2015)

GENEROUS SUPPORT • £9m worth of studentships, scholarships and bursaries distributed in 2014–15

GREAT LOCATION HIGH-QUALITY TEACHING • 6 Nobel Prize-winning alumni • 55 academy and society fellows among QMUL academic staff • Personal Adviser support system for every student

• Short walk from Brick Lane and Shoreditch, and close to London’s financial centres, the City and Canary Wharf • Set beside the Regent’s Canal in Mile End, our main campus is within walking distance of the Olympic Park • Mile End station is one of the best connected in the city – it is on the Central, District, and Hammersmith and City lines

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BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL SCIENCES AT QMUL The School of Biological and Chemical Sciences is one of the largest departments at QMUL, with over 80 members of academic staff and 1,600 undergraduate and postgraduate students. The School is committed to excellence in research and teaching, and offers an exciting and stimulating environment for staff and students.

We are one of the UK’s largest centres for research and teaching across the broad sweep of biological, chemical and psychological sciences. In the most recent national assessment of research (REF 2014), 82 per cent of our academics’ work in biology was judged to be of international quality. Our research spans sub-atomic to global levels of analysis, and includes research on materials chemistry and synthetic chemistry, protein structure and function, photosynthesis, cell biology, evolutionary genetics, neurobiology, cognitive biology and psychology, behavioural ecology, aquatic and terrestrial ecology.

We offer a particularly vibrant research culture and a friendly and lively study environment.

You will be taught by academics who are leaders in their field and who regularly produce work that appears in high-impact multidisciplinary journals (for example Nature and Science) as well as leading specialist journals including Current Biology and the Journal of the American Chemical Society. Our academics also write books, lead international conferences and comment in the media. To find out more, visit: sbcs.qmul.ac.uk/people

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You will also benefit from the additional insight and expertise offered by our strong collaborative links, which include partnerships with other academic departments at QMUL, as well as with external universities, research institutes and industry, including: the Environment Agency, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, the Natural History Museum, the Institute of Zoology, GlaxoSmithKline, Procter & Gamble, AstraZeneca and EU Nanodrug.

Another strength of the School is that we offer arguably the best portfolio of fieldwork courses of any UK university, with study locations in Scotland, Wales, along the Thames Estuary, and also travel abroad: for example, we run field courses on tropical biology in Borneo.

Recent international research and teaching projects have included studying dolphins off the coast of Ireland, population genetics in the Pyrenees and invasive fish species in African lakes.

Outstanding postgraduate resources

We offer a friendly, interactive and lively environment for students undertaking our postgraduate degrees. As a student with us, you will also be able to take advantage of London’s position as a major international centre for scientific meetings and conferences. Our research resources include excellent library and information services, and a high-speed computer network that provides access to a wide range of databases and other electronic sources of information. We currently have two high-performance computing (HPC) clusters, one Mac-based and one Linux-based, with further investment in these facilities expected.

The QMUL Genome Centre provides further specialist resources for genomics and bioinformatics. Facilities for purification and analysis of macromolecules include fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) and other chromatographies, gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GCMS), liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LCMS), electrospray mass spectrometry, surface plasmon resonance, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), circular dichroism (CD), fluorescence spectroscopies and X-ray crystallography. Facilities for molecular biology include a phosphoimager, pulsed gel electrophoresis and a range of image stations, IRYS, qPCR and in-situ PCR.

School highlights

• Diverse, vibrant and welcoming postgraduate community of around 140 students, with teaching by high-calibre academic staff who are leaders in their field • In the recent national assessment of university of research (REF 2014), we performed well in our main areas of research: Biology and Chemistry were both placed 22nd in the UK; Materials was placed 10th in the UK; and our Clinical Medical submission was placed 7th in the UK • Opportunities for interdisciplinary research in biology, psychology and chemistry, with around 40 studentships on offer each year

State-of-the-art imaging facilities include confocal (two-photon) and EM microscopy, and an efficient and well-equipped chemical store.

We also have plant growth facility; controlled environment rooms; cold rooms; one of the largest CO2 flux monitoring facilities in the UK; and marine and freshwater aquaria. Some of our academic staff are based at the River Laboratory (Dorset) and its research facilities are also available for use by our students.

The School has recently benefited from a £4.5m refurbishment of the Fogg Building (biology and psychology) and £1m investment in the Joseph Priestley building (chemistry and biochemistry) to build new research laboratories.

• Ranked 29th in the world, 6th in Europe and 5th in the UK for Earth and Life Sciences (Leiden Ranking) • Close links to industry partners including the Environment Agency, Kew, the Natural History Museum, the Institute of Zoology, GlaxoSmithKline, Procter & Gamble, AstraZeneca and EU Nanodrug • Staff draw heavily upon their industrial or research council-funded research to inform their teaching, and to ensure projects are topical and well resourced • Over £1m investment in state-of-the art equipment for cell biology, structural biology and aquatic biology • Fieldwork in inspiring locations

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FUNDING AND SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION

Projects, funding, research grants and awards

The School attracts funding from UK research councils (BBSRC, NERC, MRC, EPSRC, ESRC) and charities (Royal Society, Wellcome Trust, Leverhulme Trust), the EU, industrial collaborators and other funding agencies.

We have also benefited from substantial infrastructure funding (SRIF and CIF).

To get an up-to-date impression of the international recognition of the School’s research, please see the news section on our website: sbcs.qmul.ac.uk

Our scholarships and studentships

PhD studentships The School offers around 40 research studentships each year, which Home and some EU students are eligible to apply for.

These are advertised at sbcs.qmul.ac.uk in November/December. Around half of these studentships are funded by the following research councils: NERC (nerc.ac.uk); EPSRC (epsrc.ac.uk); ESRC (esrc.ac.uk); and BBSRC (bbsrc.ac.uk).

We also offer a number of Queen Mary Postgraduate Research Studentships, which Home, EU and International students are eligible to apply for.

We welcome international students supported by scholarships funded by a variety of agencies, such as: the China Scholarship Council, Science Without Borders (Brazil), and CONACYT (Mexico).

MSc scholarships and bursaries We want to attract the best students to QMUL, and every year we offer a generous range of scholarships for academically excellent students. For the latest information, please visit: qmul.ac.uk/postgraduate/funding As a guide, in 2015 we were able to offer the following: The Freshwater and Marine Ecology MSc was linked to the Sheina Marshall MSc Bursary (worth ÂŁ3,000). To be eligible, students had to spend part of their time at Millport on the Isle of Cumbrae, Scotland, undertaking some of their independent research there.

For more information about how to apply, tuition fees and more, please email us at: sbcs-admissions@qmul.ac.uk 10 sbcs.qmul.ac.uk

For Home/EU candidates: Science and Engineering taught scholarships £1,500 to every Home/EU student accepted onto a science and engineering programme with a UK first class bachelors degree or equivalent.

For international candidates: Chevening scholarships The British Council administers the UK Government’s Chevening Scholarship programme. This is a special worldwide scheme to fund masters-level study by international students and Queen Mary attracts about 20 Chevening Scholars every year. For further information please visit chevening.org or your local British Council office britishcouncil.org who will also be able to inform you of any other scholarship opportunities open to you.

International Science and Engineering Excellence Awards This extensive scheme provides awards of up to £5,000 for students, based on academic achievement. To achieve the highest award you must hold a UK first class bachelors degree or equivalent.

“My group is trying to understand the cell biology of bacteria. Our key technique is to add fluorescent tags to interesting proteins, and then use fluorescence microscopy to watch those proteins in action, in live bacterial cells” Conrad Mullineaux, Professor of Microbiology

Professor Conrad Mullineaux operating the School’s laser-scanning confocal microscope. sbcs.qmul.ac.uk 11

COLLABORATION WITH THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW

The School of Biological and Chemical Sciences is excited to be part of a new partnership with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Under the new partnership, QMUL and Kew will be jointly supervising and training a number of PhD students each year (part of a NERC doctoral training programme). We are also launching a new jointly taught MSc in Plant and Fungal Taxonomy, Diversity and Conservation, which offers you the unique opportunity of being based at Kew for the duration of your MSc (see page 30).

QMUL and Kew have a number of longestablished research links, and these have led to the joint award of competitive funding and research papers in leading science journals such as Science, Trends in Plant Science, Trends in Ecology and Evolution, and Plant Journal. Professor Mark Chase (Fellow of the Royal Society at Kew) is a visiting Professor at QMUL, while our own Professor Andrew Leitch is an Honorary Research Associate at Kew.

Dilatris viscosa (Haemodoraceae), found only in South Africa’s Greater Cape Floristic Region, a biodiversity hotspot. © RBG Kew

About Kew

Kew has over 7 million herbarium specimens, a valuable resource for plant naming, identification and evolutionary studies. This is a herbarium specimen of Paeonia peregrina. © RBG Kew

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The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, was founded in 1759, and has the largest and most diverse collections of plant and fungal specimens and associated biodiversity databases in the world. The combination of extensive specimen collections, databases, and scientific research and conservation work conducted on a global scale is unique, and means that Kew plays a leading role in facilitating greater access to basic plant information, underpinning science and conservation activities worldwide.

The iconic Palm House at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. © RBG Kew

The Kew Madagascar Conservation Centre (KMCC) team collecting a species of Kalanchoe (Crassulaceae) in the Itremo Massif Protected Area, Madagascar. © RBG Kew

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CAREERS AND ALUMNI

Some of our graduates apply their degree knowledge directly, working in researchfocused positions such as chemistry consultants, molecular microbiologists and conservation officers in labs as far afield as Australia, South Africa and the USA. Many others pursue their academic interests from MSc to PhD-level, or from PhD to postdoctoral research associate or research fellows, and eventually to lectureships. Recent graduates from our masters degrees have gone on to do further research in the UK and abroad, including PhD positions at QMUL, Oxford University, University College London, and at universities in the USA and New Zealand.

Others have secured employment in industry and academia, including environmental consultancies, UK and overseas government agencies, the pharmaceutical industry, a global oil-field services provider and as the head of a department at a university in Guyana. Others work in areas including teaching, museums and journalism.

The most recent national destination survey confirmed that 82 per cent of our graduates were in employment and/or study six months after graduation. The range of skills gained through our programmes, coupled with opportunities for extra-curricular activities, has enabled students to enter careers such as:

• Ecotoxicologist ADAS UK Ltd • Consultant HR Wallingford • Technical Officer Environment Agency •R esearch Intern Zoological Society of London Recent career events open to our postgraduates include our Industrial Liaison Forum, featuring small- and medium-sized employers, and workshops on studying for a PhD.

Graduates from our PhD programme

Graduates from our PhD programme have excellent career prospects. Many continue on to pursue a career in research, taking up positions as postdoctoral research fellows in laboratories based in the UK and abroad.

Some progress to become independent research scientists, heading up their own research groups in universities or research institutes and going on to train the next generation of research scientists. Others take up research positions in industry (such as agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals) or move on to a teaching career in schools and other educational institutions. For some, a PhD is a qualification that provides a strong academic foundation for careers in business, the Civil Service, healthcare, journalism and more.

• Curator Natural History Museum • Fisheries Ecologist Brown & May Marine • Research Chemist Xention • Research Scientist PhosphonicS

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For more information about the application procedures, tuition fees and more, please contact us at: sbcs-admissions@qmul.ac.uk

“My supervisors are exceptionally helpful and supportive. We have weekly meetings, research discussions and theory meetings, where we explore the world of science�

Mariya Chernobryva, PhD in organic chemistry

Mariya Chernobryva recovering copper at the end of a reaction as part of an experiment to synthesize a cyclam-based Zinc sensor. sbcs.qmul.ac.uk 15

OUR RESEARCH

Research areas

Our research is split across four departments: Biological and Experimental Psychology, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, and Organismal Biology.

Our work spans the range from sub-atomic to global levels of analysis, and includes research on materials and synthetic chemistry, protein structure and function, photosynthesis, cell biology, evolutionary genetics, neurobiology, cognitive biology and psychology, behavioural ecology, and aquatic and terrestrial ecology. Find out more at: sbcs.qmul.ac.uk/research

Chemistry and Biochemistry

This Department has three main areas of research: • Synthesis and Catalysis has seen a resurgence at QMUL in recent years with the appointment of a number of new staff.

Our main interests lie in: (i) the development of new synthetic and catalytic methodologies; (ii) the total synthesis of natural products and their analogues as drug candidates; (iii) molecularly imprinted polymers for application as artificial receptors, catalysts and as drug delivery vehicles; (iv) molecular machines for application in the synthesis of complex molecules and materials; and (v) the development of new sensor materials.

• Theoretical and Physical Chemistry research, often utilising the central facilities at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, includes: (i) ultrafast electron transfer; (ii) molecular simulation allied to muon spectroscopy and inelastic neutron 16 sbcs.qmul.ac.uk

scattering; (iii) neutron reflectrometry at interfaces; and (iv) the synthesis and characterisation of solid state ionic materials.

•C hemical and Structural Biology research includes: (i) analysis of protein structure and structure/activity relationships in peptides, proteins and enzymes, utilising X-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy; and (ii) synthesis of biologically relevant molecular systems.

Cell and Molecular Biology

This is a time of enormous advances in molecular and cellular biology, driven by curiosity, scientific skill, and technological developments. In this Department, we have research excellence in: • Membrane protein structure and dynamics, especially in photosynthesis, light harvesting and bioenergetics. We are combining molecular biophysics, advanced optical fluorescence measurements and structural methods to understand photosynthetic processes at the cellular and molecular levels, including assembly and repair of the photosynthetic machinery within the photosynthetic membrane. This research has profound implications for bioenergy.

• Biomedical research: in particular the processes of ubiquitination, epigenetics, infection, and trypanosomal diseases.

Ubiquitin labelling regulates the cell cycle, the response to infection, and protein degradation and errors in ubiquitin labelling can result in cancer. Epigenetic changes in patterns of histone protein modification can also cause cancer as well as other diseases.

Our biomedical research also underpins drug discovery: for example, in development of new strategies for control of trypanosomal diseases.

Organismal Biology

In this Department, we have unparalleled strengths in:

underlying changes in animal behaviour in response to environmental factors such as light, temperature and drugs, complementing and bridging with comparative/evolutionary research on animal/human behaviour in the psychology departments.

Psychology

• Aquatic ecology, including: population and community ecology, food web structure and function, and greenhouse gas production, all underpinned by impressive capital infrastructure; this includes one of the largest CO2 flux monitoring facilities in the UK. The impact of environmental change on ecosystems and biological resources is an important and growing area of research.

Research in this area focuses on the ultimate (evolutionary) and proximate (genetic, developmental and neurobiological) mechanisms responsible for the psychology of humans as animals, specifically, their decision making, cognition, communication and behaviour. A central consideration for this group concerns cognitive evolution and the biological basis of human social behaviour.

• Evolution and genetics – our cutting-edge research in this area, utilising genomic markers and next-generation sequencing technologies to investigate genome and gene divergence, represents a significant internationally recognised contribution to the understanding of the mechanisms and consequences of speciation and hybridisation. This work has relevance to food security, biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.

We place an emphasis on the experimental approach to research problems in these fields of psychology. Recent topics in which worldclass work has been conducted include: physical reasoning and social cognition in corvids; colour perception in insects; the transmission of cultural information in humans using evolutionary models; the biological origins of human sexual orientation; sex differences in cognition; the use of zebra fish as a model behavioural assay of addiction; visual attention and search in humans and non-human animals; the role of signalling molecules in neural processes; social evolution in mole rats; gene-brain interaction in mammalian reproductive behaviour; the utility of Drosophila models of circadian rhythms, face processing and imitation; and the philosophy of the mind.

We also study the communication of domestic animals, as well as their psychological welfare.

• Research on ecological aspects of parasites and infectious diseases – this work complements research on diseasecausing agents in the cell and molecular biology department.

• Neurobiology and developmental biology – utilising vertebrate and invertebrate model systems, we research the evolution and development of neural systems, and the molecular and cellular mechanisms

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OUR TAUGHT PROGRAMMES

Aquatic Ecology by Research MSc One year full-time, two years part-time qmul.ac.uk/msc-aebr

The Aquatic Ecology by Research programme provides comprehensive practical training by application in the laboratory or field, rather than by formal tuition in the lecture theatre.

The format is designed to equip you with the skills and experience to undertake further academic or applied research. Learn the skills and techniques of aquatic ecology research in a practical lab and fieldwork setting.

QMUL is home to a leading research group in aquatic ecology, within which you will receive expert supervision and have access to cutting-edge facilities, such as the Centre for the Aquatic and Terrestrial Environment and the Freshwater Biological Association’s River Laboratory on the River Frome in Dorset via our River Communities Group. Partfee bursaries are also available to support promising scientists.

Programme outline

Core modules • Ecosystem Structure and Function • Quantitative Techniques for Surveying and Sampling in Ecology • Statistics and Bioinformatics • Individual Research Project

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Teaching and assessment

• The taught element incorporates formal lectures, workshops and seminars, as well as field days and follow-up lab practicals.

25 per cent of your final mark is determined by continuous assessment in the form of lab reports, multiple choice questions, data analyses, and oral presentations. You can expect around 20 hours of contact time per week.

• Your extended research project makes up the remaining 75 per cent of your mark. You will be assessed on the following: a literature review and project plan (20 per cent), student contribution and work ethic (10 per cent), oral presentation (10 per cent), and a thesis written in the style of a manuscript to be submitted to a journal (60 per cent).

Where will it take you?

On completion of the programme, you will have: • An advanced, interdisciplinary understanding of aquatic sciences and biostatistics, and an appreciation of the current research issues • Training in cutting-edge research techniques, contemporary approaches, and practical skills • An enhanced experience of a working research environment • A range of transferable and generic skills including research planning and experimental design, data analysis and statistics, reporting and research paper preparation.

These assets provide a strong foundation for further PhD research, or for prospective employment with environmental protection and conservation agencies, the water industry and environmental consultancies.

Entry requirements

A minimum of an upper second class BSc(Hons) degree (or equivalent international qualification) in biology or other relevant natural sciences subject. Applicants with relevant professional experience in science or environmental management will also be considered.

Further information

Postgraduate Admissions Officer Tel: +44 (0)20 7882 3328 email: sbcs-pgadmissions@qmul.ac.uk For informal enquiries, please contact: Dr Christophe Eizaguirre, Programme Director Tel: +44 (0)20 7882 6982 email: c.eizaguirre@qmul.ac.uk

Please note: the availability of the taught modules listed in this section is subject to change. Please contact us to confirm the availability of specific modules before you make your application.

“The programme is led by a prestigious team of freshwater and marine scientists, and forms part of a vibrant postgraduate community. “I chose QMUL for three main reasons: first, because it is based on practical application rather than formal lectures; second, because the available research topics cover contemporary ecological issues; and finally because independent thought is enthusiastically encouraged by supervisors�

Matteo Dossena, Aquatic Ecology by Research MSc sbcs.qmul.ac.uk 19

OUR TAUGHT PROGRAMMES

Bioinformatics MSc One year full-time, two years part-time qmul.ac.uk/msc-bioinfo

Bioinformatics is an essential part of a wide range of modern biological research, from genetics to biochemistry, analytical science, neuroscience, epidemiology, nutrition, ecology, biomedicine and beyond. This programme will teach you how to manage and manipulate large datasets to gain new insights in biological sciences.

The biological sciences have become increasingly data driven, as new analytical techniques deliver ever more data about genes, proteins, metabolites and the interactions between them. Bioinformatics is the discipline tasked with turning all this data into useful information and new biological knowledge. With applications spanning the width of the life science disciplines, there is now high demand for trained bioinformaticians.

Without assuming any prior informatics experience, you will be taught the very latest tools and techniques in bioinformatics and will apply them in a cutting-edge research project. You will also collaborate with peers to build new bioinformatics solutions to realworld problems as part of an innovative group project.

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This programme is delivered by academics who are actively engaged in developing bioinformatics tools and applying them in areas such as genome sequencing, proteomics, evolution, ecology, psychology, cancer, diabetes and other diseases. We also have an extensive network of academic and industrial collaborators around the UK and in Europe, who contribute to teaching, cosupervise projects and provide employment opportunities.

The programme is led by Professor Conrad Bessant, who has been teaching bioinformatics at masters level since 2002 and is lead author of the popular textbook Building Bioinformatics Solutions. His main research interest is proteome informatics, which is one of the topics covered in his post-genomics module.

Programme outline

Taught modules include: • Genome Bioinformatics • Coding for Scientists • Statistics and Bioinformatics • Post-genomic Bioinformatics • Group Bioinformatics Software Development Project Research modules: • Bioinformatics Research Project

Where will it take you?

Our Bioinformatics programme will equip you with a strong foundation for further PhD research or for prospective employment. There is an increasing demand for bioinformatics skills across the biotechnology, life sciences and pharmaceutical sectors. The ability to manage, analyse, integrate and visualise ‘big data’ is also applicable to fields including software development, data analytics and finance.

Entry requirements

A minimum of an upper second class BSc(Hons) degree (or equivalent international qualification) in biology or other relevant natural sciences subject. Applicants with relevant professional experience in science will also be considered.

Further information

Postgraduate Admissions Office Tel: +44 (0)20 7882 3328 email: sbcs-pgadmissions@qmul.ac.uk For informal enquiries, please contact: Professor Conrad Bessant Programme Director Tel: +44 (0)20 7882 6510 email: c.bessant@qmul.ac.uk

“As a student on our MSc Bioinformatics course you will learn not only how bioinformatics methods work but also how they can be applied to solve problems, which will make you more attractive to potential employers.

We are ideally located in east London, close to Tech City – the centre of the UK’s technology community – and within easy reach of key research hospitals, the European Bioinformatics Institute and major companies such as Google, Unilever and GlaxoSmithKline” Conrad Bessant, Professor of Bioinformatics

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OUR TAUGHT PROGRAMMES

Chemical Research MSc One year full-time, two years part-time qmul.ac.uk/msc-chem-research

This programme gives you the opportunity to acquire key research skills while conducting a major individual project in your chosen area of chemistry. It will provide a comprehensive preparation for a research career in academia, as well as being a real asset if you wish to pursue alternative careers in industry or education.

You will receive training in a wide range of research techniques to enable you to build up a substantial profile of experimental and/or computational skills so that you can tackle more extended research projects with confidence. Typically, this includes hands-on use of instrumentation for nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, chromatographic and vacuum systems, and the manipulation of air-sensitive materials, in addition to state-ofthe-art scientific computing and modelling.

Highlights of this programme include: • You will undertake an in-depth individual research project and will develop the skills necessary to investigate a new area of chemistry and present the results both verbally and in writing.

• You will work in modern, well-equipped laboratories, such as our new Homogeneous Catalysis Laboratory and Laboratory of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, which were opened in 2012.

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•W e have links with chemical enterprises of all sizes, including Astra-Zeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer and Syngenta.

•S everal PhD students in the School are supported by industry.

• Some members of staff in the School have set up spin-out companies where students have found employment or direct involvement with management.

Programme outline

Core module Chemical research project (worth 150 credits; 80 per cent of the overall assessment).

Option modules You will be able to choose from a wide range of option modules (each worth 15 credits).

Examples include: • Advanced Topics in Physical Chemistry • Advanced Topics in Inorganic Chemistry • Organic Synthesis • Computational Chemistry.

Teaching and assessment

• As well as regular meetings with your research project supervisor (typically about two hours per week) and training in the use of instruments needed for your particular project, you will attend workshops on academic writing. For laboratory-based research projects, you will spend around 30 hours per week working alongside PhD students, technical and postdoctoral staff and will have many opportunities to learn skills through interaction with other researchers.

• Teaching in option modules includes lectures, workshops and a virtual learning environment. You can expect two to four hours of contact time per module, per week.

• Assessment of the research project module is on the basis of a dissertation (up to 30,000 words), seminar presentation, oral examination, and your research supervisor’s evaluation of the quality and efficacy of the work performed.

• Option modules are assessed through a combination of coursework, which is often based on sets of written problems, and written examinations.

Where will it take you?

Many graduates from this programme have gone on to do further research in the UK and abroad, including PhD positions at QMUL, Imperial College London, Oxford University, and University College London, as well as universities in continental Europe, North America and Asia. Other graduates have secured employment in industry and academia.

Specific examples of graduate destinations and roles include: • Schlumberger, a leading global oil-field services provider • Manager of a cosmetics company in China • Pharmaceutical industry in the USA • Analytical Chemist at South East Water • National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens • Dental Institute, King’s College London • Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.

Entry requirements

The normal minimum requirement is an upper second class honours degree (or international equivalent) with a significant chemistry component.

Further information:

Postgraduate Admissions Officer Tel: +44 (0)20 7882 3328 email: sbcs-pgadmissions@qmul.ac.uk For informal enquiries, please contact: Dr Gregory Chass, Programme Director Tel: +44 (0)20 7882 5835 email: g.chass@qmul.ac.uk

“I research the natural antioxidants found in green tea, wine, olive oil, spices and traditional herbal medicines, and am interested in how insights from studying these chemical systems could be transferred to others, such as homoegeneous catalysts. Working at the cutting edge of scientific research allows me to disseminate important findings and advances in my area of science to my students” Dr Gregory Chass, Programme Director

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OUR TAUGHT PROGRAMMES

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology MSc/PgCert One year full-time, two years part-time qmul.ac.uk/msc-eco-evo-bio

This exciting programme will give you a scientific understanding of global ecological change, and provide you with the skills, tools and experience to tackle pressing environmental questions.

The programme will focus on the concepts and theory essential to understanding global ecological change, including state-of-theart techniques for environmental process research, invasive species ecology, and conservation genetics. You will learn how to convert science to policy or management, and how to consult with stakeholders. You will spend time shadowing our multidisciplinary research teams before conducting a substantive six-month project. These projects may be jointly supervised by colleagues at related institutes or within industry. We will equip science graduates with the essential skills to proceed to further research via PhD or careers in consultancy and industry.

Highlights of this programme include: • We have worked with industry to design modules that develop both pure research and applied practical skills, which will enhance your employability.

• We offer field courses overseas for first-hand experience of theory in action; and in Dorset you will learn to convert science to policy with our River Communities Group.

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•Y ou will be taught by internationally recognised scientists who are leaders in their respective fields.

•Y ou can attend scientific events and seminar series across London.

•O pportunities for research projects in the UK and overseas, and in conjunction with collaborators such as the Institute of Zoology, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, and the Natural History Museum.

Programme outline

Taught modules (all worth 15 credits): • Ecological Theory and Applications • Ecosystem Structure and Function • Statistics and Bioinformatics • Research Frontiers in Evolutionary Biology • Tropical field course – Borneo • Science into Policy and Management Research module: Research project (90 credits) Students taking the MSc over two years via the part-time option should aim to register for 50 per cent of the taught modules per year.

The exact combination of modules should be discussed with your programme director.

Projects can also be undertaken over the twoyear period, provided a schedule of work can be agreed upon which equates to the same time requirements as the full-time option.

Note: you may also enrol for a Postgraduate Certificate in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (60 credits) which will comprise four of the taught modules that contribute towards the MSc.

Entry requirements

A minimum of an upper second class honours degree (or equivalent international qualification) in a relevant subject, such as ecology, environmental science, biology or zoology. Applicants with relevant professional experience in science or environmental management will also be considered.

This programme includes a compulsory overseas field course during which students should expect to have to undertake physically demanding work in remote locations.

Applicants for the programme from outside the UK should ensure that there are no residency or travel restrictions that would prevent them from attending this course.

We would recommend that applicants with any disability which may impact upon their ability to undertake such activities should contact the School to seek advice and discuss possible adjustments that could be implemented.

Further information

Postgraduate Admissions Office Tel: +44 (0)20 7882 3328 email: sbcs-pgadmissions@qmul.ac.uk For informal enquiries, please contact: Dr Richard Buggs, Programme Director Tel +44 (0)20 7882 8441 email: r.buggs@qmul.ac.uk

“QMUL was the ideal choice for my PhD in conservation genetics. With a conveniently located London campus, a large body of highly active research staff and a welcoming atmosphere, it provided the perfect environment to further my studies. I’m confident that the training, experience and networks I’ve developed at QMUL will put me in an excellent position to continue a career in science after I graduate” James Borrell, PhD student

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OUR TAUGHT PROGRAMMES

Ecological and Evolutionary Genomics MSc/PgCert One year full-time, two years part-time qmul.ac.uk/msc-eco-evo-geno

Cutting-edge ecologists and evolutionary biologists now routinely use high-throughput DNA sequencing in their research, but it is hard to find graduates with training in both genomics and ecology/evolution. This MSc programme will train a new generation in cross-disciplinary skills with many applications in academia and industry. You will be taught by internationally recognised researchers who are applying genomic methods to a wide range of issues in ecology and evolution.

This MSc course is taught by a dynamic group of scientists doing cutting-edge research. For example, Professor Steve Rossiter does world-leading research on bat genome evolution, Dr Yannick Wurm has discovered a social chromosome in fire-ants, and Dr Richard Buggs is using genomic methods to find tree genes for resistance to ash dieback. This means that our teaching is informed by the latest developments, and individual projects can be at the leading edge of current progress. You will also benefit from state-of-the-art supercomputing and informatics resources.

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Programme outline

Taught modules include: • Genome Bioinformatics • a choice between either: Coding for Scientists or Ecosystem Structure and Function • Statistics and Bioinformatics • a choice between either: Research Frontiers in Evolutionary Biology or Post-genomic Bioinformatics • A field course EITHER in Borneo on tropical ecology OR in Crete on mathematical modelling Research modules: • Evolutionary/Ecological Analysis/Software Group Project module • Individual Research Project (50 per cent of the course) Note: you may also enrol for a Postgraduate Certificate in Ecological and Evolutionary Genomics (60 credits), which will comprise four of the taught modules that contribute towards the MSc.

Where will it take you?

The Ecological and Evolutionary Genomics MSc programme equips you with the knowledge and skills for PhD training in any area of genomics, ecology, or evolution. A collaborative research module offers you the opportunity to gain work experience with external organisations, and employer lectures bring you into direct contact with industry figures. Career options include research, technical roles in bioinformatics, teaching, and consultancy for government and other agencies.

Entry requirements

A minimum of an upper second class BSc(Hons) degree (or equivalent international qualification) in biology or other relevant natural sciences subject. Applicants with relevant professional experience in science or environmental management will also be considered.

Further information

Postgraduate Admissions Office Tel: +44 (0)20 7882 3328 email: sbcs-pgadmissions@qmul.ac.uk For informal enquiries Dr Richard Buggs, Programme Director Tel +44 (0)20 7882 8441 email: r.buggs@qmul.ac.uk

“My lab uses DNA sequencing technologies to study tree genomes.

We use these to inform the conservation around threatened British tree species such as Dwarf Birch and the Common Ash. We currently have a major focus on using evolutionary methods to seek genes for resistance to ash dieback in ash species�

Dr Richard Buggs, Senior Lecturer sbcs.qmul.ac.uk 27

OUR TAUGHT PROGRAMMES

Freshwater and Marine Ecology MSc/PgCert One year full-time/two years part-time qmul.ac.uk/msc-fame

Threats to the ecosystem, goods and services that aquatic resources provide (eg clean drinking water, sustainable fisheries) frequently appear in the media and on the agendas of governments. To maintain these goods and services requires a fundamental understanding of the biodiversity and ecosystem processes responsible, for without knowledge there can be no application or effective management.

With aquatic ecosystems under threat from multiple stressors, we have designed a programme to equip you with the necessary interdisciplinary practical skills and theoretical understanding for employment in this area or further research.

Highlights of this programme include: • The programme balances the latest in ecological theory with practical application in both freshwater and marine systems

•A ccess to state-of-the-art analytical, mesocosm and temperature-controlled facilities within the Centre for the Aquatic and Terrestrial Environment, developed from an initial investment of £3m.

Programme outline

Core modules • Ecosystem Structure and Function • Ecological Theory and Applications • Statistics and Bioinformatics •S cience into Policy and Management – includes a week in Dorset • Sampling and Surveying Techniques for Ecology – includes a week in Cumbria Option modules • Marine Mammals and Turtles – includes a field-course to Cape Verde • Mathematical Ecology – includes a field-course to Crete •T ropical Ecology & Conservation – includes a field-course to Borneo

• Residential field-courses (Borneo, Dorset and Cumbria) for practical, ‘hands-on’ training in the field

Please note: field-course locations are subject to change.

• Taught by expert university staff with world-class research profiles and guest lecturers from external organisations • Excellent research supervision undertaken either alongside established PhD students or with potential employers

Note: you may also enrol for a Postgraduate Certificate in Freshwater and Marine Ecology (60 credits) which will comprise four of the taught modules that contribute towards the MSc.

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Where will it take you?

Some of our graduates apply their degree knowledge directly, working in researchfocused positions; many others pursue their academic interests from MSc to PhD-level.

Recent graduates are working as researchers in labs as far afield as Australia, South Africa and the USA. Others use their transferable skills, such as data analysis and reporting skills, to work in areas including government or education.

Entry requirements

Undergraduate degree (minimum upper second class honours or overseas equivalent) in a relevant subject, such as environmental science, biology, chemistry or geography.

Individuals with relevant professional qualifications or other experience and qualifications will also be considered.

Further information

Postgraduate Admissions Officer Tel: +44 (0)20 7882 3328 email: sbcs-pgadmissions@qmul.ac.uk For informal enquiries, please contact: Dr Christophe Eizaguirre, Programme Director Tel: +44 (0)20 7882 6982 email: c.eizaguirre@qmul.ac.uk

“London is a great place to work – even for an Aquatic Ecologist – because it is such a focus of worldleading research at its various universities and institutions, ideal for fostering collaborations. There are also the wider cultural benefits to living and working in the capital.

Our students take advantage of both aspects” Dr Christophe Eizaguirre, Senior Lecturer Dr Christophe Eizaguirre (second from left) on a field trip to Cape Verde, where he was studying the local marine turtle population and testing new conservation techniques.

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OUR TAUGHT PROGRAMMES

Plant and Fungal Taxonomy, Diversity and Conservation MSc (subject to final approval at the time of printing) One year full-time

qmul.ac.uk/msc-plant-fungal-diversity With only a small percentage of the planet’s diversity formally described by science, it is more important than ever to train a new generation of taxonomists who will go on to describe, understand and conserve biodiversity. There is a critical shortage of skilled scientists in plant and fungal taxonomy; scientists that underpin much bioscience, nature conservation and plant breeding work, as well as the development of environmental policy. This course delivers vital training to fill that skill shortage. The course will provide training in plant and fungal identification skills, in combination with a thorough grounding in molecular systematics, evolutionary biology, and conservation policy, theory and practice.

You will be taught by world-leading experts, who are internationally recognised for cutting edge research in plant and fungal sciences, applying new technologies to answer fundamental questions about the diversity of plant and fungal life on the planet, how it evolved and how we can best conserve it.

This MSc course is delivered in collaboration with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and you will be based there for the taught part of the course, travelling to QMUL for two of the six taught modules. The project location will be determined for individual projects.

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Programme outline

Taught modules: • Plant Taxonomy and Diversity • Fungal Taxonomy and Diversity • Conservation and Ecosystem Science • Statistics and Bioinformatics • Research Frontiers in Evolutionary Biology Fieldwork module: • Field Skills and Ecology in a Biodiversity Hotspot Individual Research Project (worth 50 per cent of the programme): The Individual Research Project will enable you to focus on an area that interests you, with the vast scientific collections of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, available for investigative research. Projects can be based at either institution, depending on your specialism. Lab facilities are available at both locations and QMUL also has state of-the-art super-computing and informatics resources.

Where will it take you?

This programme equips you with the knowledge and skills for PhD training in any area of taxonomy, molecular systematics, ecology, evolution, or more applied conservation work. The programme will train a new generation in cross-disciplinary skills with many applications in academia, government, industry, consultancy, and non-governmental organisations.

Please note: This programme involves a compulsory fieldwork unit based in a biodiversity hotspot. As part of this, you should expect to undertake physically demanding work in remote locations. If you are an applicant from outside the UK, you should ensure that there are no residency or travel restrictions that would prevent you from travelling to a biodiversity hotspot. We would recommend that applicants with any disability which may impact upon their ability to undertake such activities should contact the School to seek advice and discuss possible adjustments that could be implemented.

Entry requirements

A minimum of an upper second class BSc(Hons) degree (or equivalent international qualification) in biology or other relevant natural sciences subject. Applicants with relevant professional experience in science will also be considered.

Further information

Postgraduate Admissions Office Tel: +44 (0)20 7882 3328 email: sbcs-pgadmissions@qmul.ac.uk For informal enquiries, please contact: Professor Andrew Leitch, Programme Director Tel: +44 (0)20 7882 5294 email: a.r.leitch@qmul.ac.uk Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: kew.org

“We have established this new programme to train young scientists and conservation biologists in botanical and fungal sciences. It has an unashamed emphasis on the diversity of plant and fungal life on earth. This is not a programme focused on detailed plant and fungal physiology; instead, it is about the causes, constraints and consequences of diversity in the wild, in all its glorious complexity�

Andrew Leitch, Professor of Plant Genetics

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HOW TO APPLY, ENTRY REQUIREMENTS AND FURTHER INFORMATION How to apply

All applications should be made online at: sbcs.qmul.ac.uk Documents such as references and transcripts can be uploaded directly into the online application system.

Entry requirements

See individual programme entries.

Tuition fees

You can find a full list of both UK/EU and overseas tuition fees here: qmul.ac.uk/tuitionfees

Funding

All funding information for taught and research students is available at: qmul.ac.uk/postgraduate/funding

New ways to fund your masters degree (Home/EU): The government is planning a new loan scheme for postgraduate students for September 2016 entry. It is expected that loans of up to ÂŁ10,000 will be available for Home/EU students under 30 years old wishing to do a postgraduate taught masters in any subject. We will provide guidance at qmul.ac.uk/postgraduate/funding once the details have been confirmed. For a summary of the proposals, see: www.findamasters. com/funding/guides/new-uk-postgraduateloans-scheme.aspx

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Accommodation

We are in the enviable position of being the only university in central London to offer a completely self-contained campus experience with close to 2,000 beds at our Mile End campus, including those in our purposebuilt Student Village. We are also able to offer dedicated halls at our Charterhouse Square and Whitechapel campuses. We have a thorough grasp of alternative local housing options, and can provide you with comprehensive guidance and information to help you find a suitable place to live, whether on or off campus.

For more information: Tel: +44 (0)20 7882 5522 email: residences@qmul.ac.uk residences.qmul.ac.uk

Contact us

School of Biological and Chemical Sciences Tel: +44 (0)20 7882 3328 email: sbcs-pgadmissions@qmul.ac.uk sbcs.qmul.ac.uk For general admissions enquiries for taught masters programmes: Freephone: 0800 376 1800 From outside the UK: +44 (0)20 7882 5533 email: admissions@qmul.ac.uk For general admissions enquiries for research degree programmes: Telephone: +44 (0)20 7882 2207/5860 email: researchadmissions@qmul.ac.uk

A Maroon Langur, also known as the Maroon Leaf Monkey, spotted on the 2015 MSc field trip to Danum Valley in Malaysia. Photograph courtesy of Dr Rob Knell.

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This photo shows invasive fire ants (a queen, four workers, and two pupae) on the social chromosome that we recently discovered is responsible for determining how their societies are organised.

Image courtesy of Dr Romain Libbrecht and Dr Yannick Wurm.

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“I’ve already made plans to start a PhD in Cambridge after finishing off my masters at QMUL, in a related field, and I’m sure the knowledge and experiences at QMUL will go a long way in my career” Adelyne Sue Li Chan, Bioinformatics MSc

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INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS QMUL has a cosmopolitan postgraduate community, with students from over 150 countries making a valuable and active contribution to academic and social life. Wherever you are from, you will find a very warm welcome at our university.

Entry requirements

Each application received at QMUL is evaluated on a case-by-case basis, comparing international and UK qualifications. We look at your qualifications, the institution you have attended, and any relevant work experience.

You can find detailed country-specific entry requirements here: qmul.ac.uk/international/ countries

Support for international students We offer a range of support services to help you feel at home:

Airport collection New international students are offered a free airport collection service before the start of term in September 2016. This service will be advertised on our website, along with an online booking form: qmul.ac.uk/prearrival The welcome programme A welcome programme will be provided for all new international students before the start of term in September 2016. This is an opportunity to meet other international students studying a variety of programmes, and gain practical advice about living and

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studying in London. Following the welcome programme, you can take part in a number of social events throughout the year. In 2015, these included trips to Amsterdam, Bruges, the Scottish Highlands, Wales, and the Wye Valley.

Advice and counselling The Advice and Counselling Service offers professional advice and support to international students. They can advise you on finance and funding, Tier 4 Entry Clearance, Tier 4 extensions, immigration problems, UK work schemes after study, and offer counselling support for personal issues, such as homesickness. For further details, see: welfare.qmul.ac.uk Healthcare There is a Student Health Service on campus.

You (and your spouse and children if they are in the UK with you as your dependants) are entitled to free medical treatment on the UK National Health Service (NHS) if you are registered on a programme lasting six months or longer (please note: from September 2015 this may change – international students may face a small charge to access NHS services). If your programme lasts for fewer than six months, you should make sure you have adequate medical insurance cover. If you are a European Economic Area (EEA) national, you should obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before coming to the UK, which entitles you and your family to full NHS treatment. For more information, visit: studenthealth.qmul.ac.uk

Living costs International students will need to show evidence of having at least £9,180 (based on 2015 guidance) for living costs plus 100 per cent of your tuition fees in order to obtain Entry Clearance under Tier 4 of the UK Visas and Immigration’s points-based system of immigration. Additional amounts need to be shown for dependants. £9,180 is based on nine months of study and is an immigration requirement only; most students require more money than this for 12 months’ living costs – normally around £12,000. For further information, visit: welfare.qmul.ac.uk/ international/money

QMUL International Office

Scholarships We want to attract the best students to QMUL and every year we offer a generous range of scholarships for academically excellent students. For more information please visit: qmul.ac.uk/international/ feesfinance

All tuition and examinations at the university are in English, so a sound command of the language is essential for success. QMUL provides a number of programmes in English for academic purposes to help you get the most out of your study. You need to be able to cope with reading; note-taking from lectures, books, journals, and other materials; to speak well in seminars, discussion groups, and tutorials; and to present yourself effectively in written assignments and examinations.

Representatives in your country

In many countries, we have offices or representatives who you can visit to discuss applying to QMUL. Contact details can be found at: qmul.ac.uk/international/countries

Members of staff at QMUL regularly make visits overseas to meet students and their families.

To see when we will be visiting your region, or, for more information on any aspect of life at QMUL, see: qmul.ac.uk/international/events Contact us Tel: +44 (0)20 7882 6530 email: internationaloffice@qmul.ac.uk qmul.ac.uk/international

English language

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INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS English language requirements If your first language is not English, you must provide evidence that your English skills are sufficient by including details of recognised language qualifications with your application.

If you are an international applicant, you are strongly advised to contact your local British Council Office, take the academic IELTS (International English Language Testing Service) test and submit the results with your application. QMUL’s minimum requirement for postgraduates is an IELTS score of 6.5; however, some courses require a higher score. For detailed English language entry requirements for all of our programmes, including individual component scores, see: qmul.ac.uk/international

of English by setting individual projects.

QMUL academic staff and other visiting lecturers will give a series of lectures. We provide some residential accommodation on summer programmes in our halls of residence. Find out more: http://languagecentre.sllf.qmul.ac.uk/presessionals

If you have English language scores slightly below the required band you may be eligible to attend one of our pre-sessional English language summer programmes before the start of your course.

Academic study support To help you with the transition to higher degree study, the Library runs a programme of short courses, tutorials, and drop-in classes in skills such as organisation and time management, research and note-taking, oral communication and presentation, academic writing, personal development planning and revision, and examination skills. For more information, see: library.qmul.ac.uk/ academic_study_tutorials

English language summer programmes (pre-sessional programmes) From June to September, we arrange a series of English language programmes for students who wish to improve their proficiency in English before starting university. The programme aims to improve your listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills; teach study skills such as note-taking, academic writing, and seminar participation; develop skills essential to working independently; and to introduce you to life in Britain. We encourage independent work and use

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In-sessional English language support The Language Centre runs a series of insessional English programmes in academic writing, grammar and vocabulary, lecture comprehension and seminar skills, and general English during the main teaching periods of the academic year. These are free of charge. Find out more: http://languagecentre.sllf.qmul.ac.uk/in-sessionals

English Language and Study Skills Office Tel: +44 (0)20 7882 2827 email: elss@qmul.ac.uk http://language-centre.sllf.qmul.ac.uk

MSc student Prashanti shows off her new friend, a large pillbug, found on the 2015 MSc field trip to Danum Valley in Malaysia. Photograph courtesy of Dr Rob Knell.

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OUR HOME IN THE EAST London – the world’s favourite destination

With festivals, libraries, museums, shops, Royal Parks and nightlife, it is no surprise that London is one of the most popular cities in the world to be a student. The political, cultural and business centre of the UK, London attracts people and talent from across the globe. Our students have the opportunity to engage with an unparalleled array of academic resources, including a wealth of world-renowned libraries, museums and research institutes on their doorstep. With a population of 7.8 million and more than 300 languages spoken, the people of London represent cultures from every corner of the earth. It’s a welcoming city, and to become a Londoner, all you need to do is live here.

Where we are – an oasis in a busy city

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When thinking about where to study, you are often faced with a choice between city or campus life. QMUL is the only university that can offer the best of both: a friendly, selfcontained residential campus in the heart of the capital. We are close to Shoreditch and Brick Lane, and only 15 minutes on the Tube from Oxford Circus. Regent’s Canal runs alongside our campus, which also overlooks Mile End Park. This unusual 90-acre park features a ‘green bridge’, spanning Mile End Road, a terraced garden, ecology and arts spaces and excellent sports facilities. It’s easy to forget that you’re also in the middle of a bustling capital city.

East London – the place to be

Next to the City of London, east of the medieval walls that marked the city’s original boundaries, you’ll find the East End – a captivating place, with a rich history, vibrant cultural scene, and a sense of community all of its own which we are lucky to be able to call home. The East End is one of the most rapidly changing parts of the capital, combining the best of old and new. Cycle ten minutes from our campus, for example, and you’ll find the world-class sports facilities of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Around campus, you can take a turn down a residential street and stumble across a rare mural by graffiti legend Banksy, a hidden garden square, or an atmospheric Victorian pub serving good food. That’s the thing about the East End: there’s always something new to discover.

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OUR HOME IN THE EAST

Here are some of the highlights of living in the East End: Amazing restaurants

The cultural variety of the East End is reflected in the range of restaurants on offer. One street can represent food from all over the world, and there are some great restaurants close to campus. Exploring the streets surrounding Mile End Park, such as Burdett Road, will reveal Bangladeshi, Indian, Arabic, Italian and Chinese restaurants to name a few. If you like to step out of the tried and tested, Shoreditch is known for culinary innovations such as the infamous Cereal Killer cereal café.

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Great shopping

Perhaps the worst that can be said about shopping in the East End is that there’s simply too much choice, from charity shops to one of Europe’s biggest indoor shopping centres in Stratford. The east of London is particularly famous for its open-air markets, like Brick Lane’s Sunday stalls, where great food from all over the world sits alongside stands of imaginative clothing, vintage furniture and bric-a-brac.

Eclectic nightlife

Whether you’re after a drink with friends, a late movie or a club night, you’ll find something to suit your mood around campus. The area around Shoreditch has grown to represent an alternative experience to the formulaic bars of the West End, while local cinemas, like Genesis, and coffee shops are a lot less crowded than in the centre of London. Modern clubs, such as Cargo or the Hoxton Pony, sit alongside hundred-year-old pubs like The Old Blue Last, creating an eclectic and colourful mix.

Culture scene

East London easily has the most vibrant cultural scene in the city. The music, art, and history of the area create a potent and exciting mix. If you’re a fan of art, several local galleries are celebrated for their interesting and unique exhibitions – the Whitechapel Gallery is particularly popular.

You don’t even have to go indoors to see some of the most iconic art of the East End as famed graffiti murals dot the streets of Hackney, Whitechapel and Shoreditch. East London is also renowned for the amount of musicians, artists and actors that started their careers or grew up in the area. sbcs.qmul.ac.uk 43

Dr Maxie Roessler preparing airsensitive protein samples for EPR spectroscopic measurements.

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MEET US

Campus tours

We organise campus tours throughout the year. Restricted to small groups so that everyone has the chance to ask questions, these informal events are a great way to find out about living and studying here. They normally last an hour and you will be shown around by a current student. To book your place, please visit: qmul.ac.uk/undergraduate/ openday/campustours

Postgraduate open events

We hold a variety of postgraduate open events at the Mile End campus. Each event is different but usually includes the opportunity to meet academics, see subject-specific facilities, tour research and learning facilities, and speak to our support services, including Careers staff.

For more details and to book, please visit: qmul.ac.uk/pgopenevening

Virtual events

We also hold virtual events during the year.

For dates, virtual tours of the campus, videos and more, visit: qmul.ac.uk/ postgraduate/meet-us/virtualopenday

Around the UK

We visit local and national postgraduate education fairs, conventions and events across the country each year. Come along to an event near you to find out more about postgraduate study and student life with us.

For more information, please visit: qmul. ac.uk/postgraduate/meet-us/around-the-uk/ index.html

International students

If you are from outside the UK, please see our ‘Meet us overseas’ page for details of where you can meet the International Office over the coming year: qmul.ac.uk/international/ international-students/events

“One of my group’s main goals is to understand how the enzyme Complex I works. Complex I is a giant protein and the entry point of electrons into the respiratory chain in all higher organisms. It is essential for the production of adenosine triphosphate – the chemical that powers most cell functions in the body. Ultimately, I hope that this research will help us to find a way to cure mitochondrial diseases resulting from Complex I dysfunction” Dr Maxie Roessler, Lecturer in Chemistry and Biochemistry

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HOW TO FIND US

The easiest way to get to QMUL is to use public transport. There are two Underground stations and many bus stops within a few minutes’ walk of the Mile End campus.

Buses

Underground

The nearest DLR station to QMUL is Bow Church.

QMUL’s Mile End campus is located between Mile End station (District, Hammersmith and City lines) and Stepney Green station (District, Hammersmith and City lines). Both stations are in London Underground Zone 2.

Our Whitechapel campus is right behind the Royal London Hospital on Whitechapel Road. Whitechapel Underground station (Hammersmith and City, District and Overground lines) is directly across the road from the Hospital.

Based in the City of London, close to the Barbican, QMUL’s Charterhouse Square campus is five minutes’ walk from Barts Hospital. The nearest Underground station is Barbican (Hammersmith and City, Metropolitan and Circle lines). Farringdon is also not far away.

The nearest Underground station to the Postgraduate Law Centre at Lincoln’s Inn Fields is Holborn (Central and Piccadilly lines).

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All of our campuses are well-served by London bus routes. To plan your journey, visit: tfl.gov.uk

Docklands Light Railway (DLR)

Travelcards and Oyster cards

The most cost-effective and convenient way to pay for public transport in London (buses, trains, tubes, boats, trams, and DLR) is to get an Oyster card. You can also now pay with contactless debit or credit cards too. As a student at QMUL, you are eligible for an 18+ Student Photocard which gives you 30 per cent off the price of adult-rate travelcards and bus and tram Passes.

A discounted monthly travelcard – which gives you unlimited travel on buses, trains, tubes, and the DLR within Zone 1 (Central London) and Zone 2 (which includes Mile End) – is approximately £86. For more information, please see: tfl.gov.uk/oyster

Cars

Traffic is heavy and parking difficult, making driving in London an unattractive option.

There are no parking places for students on campus, with the exception of students displaying an authorised blue disabled sticker (who have applied for and received a QMUL parking permit). Contact the Disability and Dyslexia Service for advice on: +44 (0)20 7882 2756.

Taxis

Black cabs use a meter to calculate your fare and you can hail one in the street. They are safe to use, but can be expensive. Mini-cabs are normal cars and charge a fixed price.

Only use registered mini-cab firms.

Airports

The closest airport is London City Airport – just five miles away – which offers regular flights to UK and other European cities.

Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted and Southend are within easy reach of QMUL, and all can be reached in anything from one to two hours by train or Underground.

Student travel in London

For more information about discounted travel, safety information and how to use the travel planning tools on the TfL website, visit: tfl.gov.uk/campaign/student-guide-to-travelin-london

Trains

London is very well-served by train station­s, all within easy reach of QMUL’s campuses.

The closest is Liverpool Street, just two stops from Mile End on the Underground (Central line). Trains from Liverpool Street run to Stansted Airport, as well as other destinations.

King’s Cross and St Pancras (for Eurostar services to mainland Europe) are both a short journey from Mile End on the Underground’s Hammersmith and City line. London Bridge and Fenchurch Street are also close by.

sbcs.qmul.ac.uk 47

MILE END CAMPUS Mile End Campus

For more detailed campus information, see: qmul.ac.uk/about/howtofindus Educational/Research

Residential

Facilities

ArtsOne

37

Albert Stern Cottages

3

Advice and Counselling Service

27

ArtsTwo

35

Albert Stern House

1

Housing Hub

48

Arts Research Centre

39

Beaumont Court

53

Bookshop

22

The Bancroft Building

31

Chapman House

43

Careers Centre

19

Chesney House

45

Clock Tower

20

Creed Court

57

CopyShop

56

France House

55

The Curve

47

Bancroft Road Teaching Rooms

10 6

Computer Science Building Engineering Building

15

Feilden House

46

Fogg Building

13

Hatton House

40

G.O. Jones Building

25

Ifor Evans Place

Geography

26

Lindop House

21

Lodge House

50

Informatics Teaching Laboratories

5

Joseph Priestley Building

41

Library

32

Law

36

Lock-keeper’s Graduate Centre

42

Mathematical Sciences

4

2

Lynden House

59

Maurice Court

58

Maynard House

44

Pooley House

60

Selincourt House

51

Varey House

49

63

Ground Café

33

The Hive

24

Infusion

9

IT Services

19

Mucci’s

29

Occupational Health Service/ Student Health Service

Library/bookshop Fitness centre Bar Coffee place

28

Eatery

19a

Octagon Police Box

38

Portering and Postal Services

17

12

The People’s Palace/Great Hall

16

Qmotion Health and Fitness Centre Sports Hall 7

Queens’ Building

19

Santander Bank

Temporary Building

61

Security/France House Reception 54

Staff car park Bicycle parking Bicycle lockers

62

St Benet’s Chaplaincy

23

Students’ Union Hub

34

Student Enquiry Centre

19

Cash machine

52

Village Shop Currently no through route between Westfield Geography Square and Bancroft Road.

No.14 and No.64 no longer in use. Can be used for other locations.Nursery NS-10/2014 Bancroft Road

Smoking is prohibited on campus.

These premises are alarmed and monitored by CCTV, please call Security on +44 (0)20 7882 5000 for more information.

8

Drapers Bar and Kitchen Canalside

Occupational Health and Safety Directorate

New Graduate Centre construction site 18

Information Visitors who require further information or assistance please go to the Main Reception in the Queens’ Building.

11

Bradwell Street 60

Portelet Road

Massingham St

Leatherdale Street

Moody Street Longnor Road

59 58

55

57

Holton Street

63 62

Bancroft Road

Grantley Street

Carlton Square

55 54

53

Mile End Hospital

52 51

48

Alderney Road

50

28

13

11

6

8

Godward Square

9

3 2

15

4

Nuevo Burial Ground

44

41

43

42

BL Arts Quarter

15

40

33

16 24 23 20

22

34

35

36

37 38

39

East Gate

Mile End Tube Station

Mile End Road Harford St

48 sbcs.qmul.ac.uk

32

25

45

The Curve

Library Square

19

West Gate

Stepney Green Tube Station

19a

15

2

46

56

18

10

Bancroft Road

Mile End Place

5

7

17

Westfield Way

18

29

26

61 12

47

31

Regent’s Canal

27 BL Geography Square 18

1

49

46

21

1 Mile End campus

2 Whitechapel campus

3 Charterhouse Square campus

4 Postgraduate Law Centre

LONDON TUBE MAP

sbcs.qmul.ac.uk 49

Professor Trimmer conducting research into the greenhouse gas balance in the River Itchen in Hampshire, here sampling the bewildering biodiversity of micro-organisms that drive the production of those gases.

50 sbcs.qmul.ac.uk

QMUL has made reasonable efforts to ensure that the information provided in this prospectus is both helpful and accurate at the time of going to press. However, this information is subject to change over time.

For this reason, it is important that you check the website for the most up-to-date information (qmul.ac.uk) or contact us using the details contained within the document.

Some circumstances (such as staff changes, resource limitations and other factors over which QMUL has no control, such as industrial action, a change in the law or the level of demand for a particular programme or module) may result in QMUL having to withdraw or change aspects of the programmes, modules and/or student services detailed in this prospectus. This could include, but not necessarily be limited to: programme content, staffing, where and how the programme is taught, and the facilities provided to deliver or support the programme.

In the unlikely event that QMUL does discontinue a programme of study, or changes it significantly before it begins, we will inform relevant individuals (including applicants holding an offer of a place) at the earliest possible opportunity. In the case of other changes, we will ensure that these are reflected on our website (qmul.ac.uk) as soon as possible.

Contact Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS qmul.ac.uk We would like to thank the staff and students who took part in these photographs. Student and departmental photography by Jorge Estevao (jdestevao.com), Jonathan Cole (JonathanColePhotography.com) and Layton Thompson (LaytonThompson.com).

Produced by Marketing and Communications Queen Mary University of London This publication has been printed using vegetable oil-based inks on environmentally friendly material from sustainably managed sources (from the Edixion paper range).

The eco-friendly low carbon printing company is ISO 14001 accredited, and operates a ‘cradle to grave’ environmental management system, ensuring environmental impact is minimised throughout every aspect of print production. Key focus is placed upon energy saving, reductions of chemicals and emissions, water conservation, and waste minimisation.

sbcs.qmul.ac.uk 51

For further information contact:

School of Biological and Chemical Science Queen Mary University of London Mile End Road, London E1 4NS Tel: +44 (0)20 7882 3328 email: sbcs-pgadmissions@qmul.ac.uk sbcs.qmul.ac.uk

Any section of this publication is available in large print upon request.

If you require this publication in a different accessible format we will endeavour to provide this where possible. For further information and assistance, please contact: hr-equality@qmul.ac.uk; +44 (0)20 7882 5585.

QMUL School of Biological and Chemical Sciences