The study of living things at the molecular level provides insights into diverse topics such as the nature of disease and development of individual organisms.

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  • Studying the molecular basis of life is one of the most exciting areas of modern science, one that involves many disciplines including biology chemistry and physics.
  • St Johns has a Tutorial Fellow, a lecturer and several Research Fellows active in this area.
  • Sir John Kendrew, ex-president of St John's, Nobel prize winner for the determination of the structure of myoglobin, encouraged the establishment of biochemistry at St John's in 1987.
  • St John's is just a five-minute walk from the Department of Biochemistry, one of the largest departments in Europe and recently re-housed in a new building.
  • Biochemistry is a four-year course; in the fourth year, students carry out original research, which can lead to publication.
  • The fourth year  project can be undertaken abroad in Europe (e.g., Lyon, Padua, Marbourg) with the ERASMUS exchange scheme or the US (Princeton) with a similar exchange scheme.
  • Most of our students go on to do further research, although recent graduates have also gone on to successful careers in patent law, industry, management, and global health.

Watch a St John's student talk about studying Biochemistry:


Jan Biochemistry Video image

Biochemistry tutors