MBB sits within the Faculty of Science, along with the Departments of Animal and Plant Science, Biomedical Science, Chemistry, Mathematics and Statistics, Physics, and Psychology.
The aim of the Department is to undertake cutting edge research directed towards understanding the way in which life functions at the molecular level. Systems studied range from micro-organisms to human beings and such studies are crucial to the development of rational treatments for disease and progress in the biotechnological industry. The Department aims to train high quality research students and to teach undergraduate students from its research base in order to disseminate knowledge of all aspects of biology at the molecular level to equip them for a wide range of careers.
The Department is one of the largest in the University. For this reason, several members of staff have responsibilities for the administration of the Department. Professor Mike Williamson is the Head of Department, with overall responsibility for running all of our activities in research and teaching. For undergraduate students the team of academic staff who co-ordinate the teaching activities are:
Dr Patrick Baker: Director of Studies and Deputy Head of Department
Dr Emma Jones: Head of Genetics Teaching and Level 2 Year Tutor (student contact)
Prof David Kelly: Head of Microbiology Teaching
Dr John Rafferty: Head of Biochemistry Teaching, Staff-Student Committee Chair
Prof Roger Anderson: Ex-Director of Studies
Dr Phil Mitchell: Level 4 Year Tutor
Dr Jim Gilmour: MSc Coordinator
Dr Liz Alvey: Level 3 Year Tutor (student contact) and Level 3 Projects Coordinator
Dr Rebecca Barnes: Level 1 Year Tutor (student contact)
Dr Rosie Staniforth, Prof David Rice, Dr John Rafferty: Additional Student Support Tutors
Comprehensive details of staff research interests and more can be found in the MBB website, here.
A large part of the administration of the Department is centred in the MBB Undergraduate Office, which is located, together with the Department of Biomedical Science Office, on C-floor in Room C102. The MBB Undergraduate Office team is: Dawn Chittenden (Office Manager), Edwina Whyers, Krystyna Wilson, Kirsty Crookes Gina Robinson, Ryan Sedgwick, and Andy Pearson. If you have any queries concerning undergraduate matters you should contact the MBB Undergraduate Office which is open from 9 am - 5 pm. If necessary, the Office will make an appointment for you to see an appropriate member of academic staff.
Email is an important means of communication between staff and students. Level 1 students will receive instructions in the use of the University’s email system at the beginning of the year. All MBB students should check their University email accounts for messages from the Department every day. Emails will only be sent to your University of Sheffield email address.