Subject overview

Programmes

• PhD in Biochemistry
• MPhil in Biochemistry

Research projects in your area of interest are initiated in the first year of study with an initial emphasis on learning basic techniques and skills, supported by integrated modules running concurrently with research projects.

We encourage collaborative projects between laboratories, enabling you to interact with members from other laboratories and further expand your portfolio of expertise in a wide range of techniques. As part of your intellectual development, you are encouraged to attend seminars in the School of Life Sciences that cover a wide variety of biological topics and research interests. All students are also encouraged to attend and present their work at national and international scientific meetings.

During your MPhil/PhD, you will be supervised in the laboratory both by lab heads and postdoctoral researchers. In addition, each student has an independent co-supervisor or mentor, and progress is monitored according to guidelines set by the School of Life Sciences Graduate Training Programme. You will attend informal meetings, write annual reports, and participate in poster (Year 1) and oral presentations (Year 2).

Career development is an integral part of your study, and the development of research and transferable skills is supported by the Sussex Postgraduate Skills Programme, which runs a large number of short skills modules, including interview skills, time management, oral presentations and thesis writing.

We welcome applications for PhD study in projects falling within the range of faculty interests.

Recent thesis titles

C1, SAP and ZiCo: structural studies of three metal-binding proteins from a crystallographic perspective

Expression and genetic manipulation of Bacillus thuringiensis toxins for improved toxicity and development of a protocol for in vivo selection of toxin variants with improved activity

Functional analysis of Rex, a sensor of the NADH/ NAD+ redox poise in Streptomyces coelicolor

Hyphal growth in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe

Investigations into the cellular and molecular biology of acytoplasmic dynein mutation which leads into neurodegeneration

The computational analysis of the post-transitional modification

Entry requirements

MPhil in Biochemistry

UK entrance requirements

A first- or upper second-class undergraduate honours degree in a subject relevant to your chosen area of research.

Overseas entrance requirements

Please refer to column A in Overseas qualifications.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5, with not less than 6.5 in Writing and 6.0 in the other sections. Internet TOEFL with 88 overall, with at least 20 in Listening, 20 in Reading, 22 in Speaking and 24 in Writing.

For more information, refer to English language requirements.

Additional admissions information

If you are a non-EEA student you must obtain clearance by the UK Government Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) for this degree. Please ensure you allow sufficient time for your university application to be considered and processed in time for you to apply for ATAS clearance and your Tier 4 visa.

PhD in Biochemistry

UK entrance requirements

A first- or upper second-class undergraduate honours degree in a subject relevant to your chosen area of research.

Overseas entrance requirements

Please refer to column A in Overseas qualifications.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5, with not less than 6.5 in Writing and 6.0 in the other sections. Internet TOEFL with 88 overall, with at least 20 in Listening, 20 in Reading, 22 in Speaking and 24 in Writing.

For more information, refer to English language requirements.

Additional admissions information

If you are a non-EEA student you must obtain clearance by the UK Government Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) for this degree. Please ensure you allow sufficient time for your university application to be considered and processed in time for you to apply for ATAS clearance and your Tier 4 visa.

Visas and immigration

Find out more about Visas and immigration.

For more information about the admissions process at Sussex

For pre-application enquiries:

Student Recruitment Services
T +44 (0)1273 876787
E pg.enquiries@sussex.ac.uk

For post-application enquiries:

Postgraduate Admissions,
University of Sussex,
Sussex House, Falmer,
Brighton BN1 9RH, UK
T +44 (0)1273 877773
F +44 (0)1273 678545
E pg.applicants@sussex.ac.uk 

Related subjects

• Chemistry
• Evolution, behaviour and environment
• Genome damage and stability
• Neuroscience

Fees and funding

Fees

MPhil in Biochemistry

Home UK/EU students: £3,900¹
Channel Island and Isle of Man students: £3,900²
Overseas students: £16,200³

¹ The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
² The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
³ The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.

PhD in Biochemistry

Home UK/EU students: £3,900¹
Channel Island and Isle of Man students: £3,900²
Overseas students: £16,200³

¹ The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
² The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
³ The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.

Funding

The funding sources listed below are for the subject area you are viewing and may not apply to all degrees listed within it. Please check the description of the individual funding source to make sure it is relevant to your chosen degree.

Faculty interests

Dr John Armstrong Differentiation of fission yeast into mycelia, a model for pathogenic fungi, and autophagy, an important aspect of disease processes.

Professor John Atack The identification of drugs to treat disorders of the central nervous system including Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression.

Professor Juan-Pablo Couso Molecular and developmental genetics. The study of limb development, analysing the molecular basis of proximal-distal pattern formation in Drosophila.

Dr Neil Crickmore, Bacillus thuringiensis Laboratory Our research is based on the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis and its insecticidal toxins. We are interested in discovering and developing novel biological insecticides and in studying the interaction between these and their insect targets. We also use this bacterium and its host as a model system for studying a variety of ecological, physiological, biochemical and genetic processes.

Professor Tony Moore, Moore Laboratory Our research interests are focused on the structure and function of the alternative oxidases in plants and parasites. In particular, we are interested in how the structure of these important but enigmatic proteins influences their function in plants and parasites. Although this protein has been known for over 100 years, still relatively little is known about its mechanism of action or physiological significance. We are crystallising mutant and wild-type forms of the protein from both plants and human pathogens, which will provide structural and mechanistic clues as to its function in vivo.

Professor Simon Morley, Morley Laboratory We are investigating the signalling pathways regulating mRNA utilisation in eukaryotic cells during proliferation and differentiation. Our main focus is on the initiation factor complex, eIF4F, and its regulated assembly during different phases of the cell cycle. We are also developing tools to investigate localised protein synthesis in cells maintained in 2D and 3D culture. Although the regulation of protein synthesis is fundamental to cell growth and survival, relatively little is actually known about the role of phosphorylation of translation initiation factors in modulating this process.

Dr Mark Paget The Streptomyces bacteria mechanisms of sensing stress inputs and how these signals are transduced into regulatory outputs at the level of transcription and translation.

Dr Mark Roe, Roe Laboratory Our research is geared towards the understanding of structure and mechanism of proteins and protein complexes, in collaboration with other groups both in the University and from elsewhere.

Professor Louise Serpell, Serpell Laboratory We work on the structure and function of amyloidogenic proteins using a range of biophysical and imaging techniques.

Dr Alison Sinclair, Sinclair Laboratory We investigate the interactions between the Epstein-Barr Virus and host cells that direct whether the virus establishes latency and promotes cancer development or undergoes lytic replication, destroying the cell.

Dr Darren Thompson Using x-ray crystallography to determine the 3D structures of proteins. These structures also give us insights into the nature of interactions between ligands and their biological targets.

Dr Michael Titheradge Control of carbohydrate metabolism by bacterial lipopolysaccharides and proinflammatory cytokines during sepsis.

Dr Michelle West, West Laboratory We focus on deciphering the mechanisms involved in B-cell transformation by the cancer-associated herpes virus, Epstein-Barr Virus.

Careers and perspectives

Our graduates have gone on to careers in research and teaching, as well as to arrange of academic and scientific roles in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.

School and contacts