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Biochemistry

College of Science and Engineering, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences

Course Code: PHD-BCHM

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Course Overview

Research activity within the discipline of biochemistry involves some sixty postgraduate students and thirty postdoctoral researchers from all over the world. Research is carried out in the following main areas:

Cell Stress and Cell Death
Researchers in this area examine what signals arise within the cell during stress and how different stresses can cause death in certain cell types, particularly in neurons and in heart muscle cells.

Chromosome Biology
The ten research groups in this area are interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying chromosome replication, segregation, repair, and transcription. These processes are fundamental to genetics and have important implications for cancer and other diseases.

Developmental Biology
Particular interests lie in the control of gene expression during development using the zebrafish model. Other work looks at how blood cells develop from stem cells.

Molecular Biotechnology
Research in this area focuses on the industrial application of enzymes and other biomolecules from fungi.


Research areas

  • Cancer biology 
  • Cell cycle 
  • Cell death mechanisms 
  • Cellular stress responses 
  • Chromosome biology 
  • DNA damage responses 
  • Mutagenesis 
  • Developmental mechanisms 
  • Enzymology 
  • Epigenetics 
  • Gene expression 
  • Glycobiology 
  • Neurobiology

Programmes Available

MSc, full-time and part-time

Applications are made online via the University of Galway Postgraduate Applications System. 

Entry Requirements

Candidates for the degree of MSc by research must have reached a high honours standard (minimum H2.2 [or equivalent international qualification] for an MSc) at the examination for the primary degree or presented such other evidence as will satisfy the Head of School and the College of his/her fitness.

Current research projects

Find a Supervisor / PhD Project

If you are still looking for a potential supervisor or PhD project or would like to identify the key research interests of our academic staff and researchers, you can use our online portal to help in that search