Postgraduate study in the Department of Genetics
The Department of Genetics is host to around 45-65 postgraduate students at any given time. They work on a wide range of problems of modern biology, from population genetics and ecology to the detailed analysis of the transcriptome. Genetics has always been at the forefront of biological research and in the 21st century will continue to be a central agent of discovery.
The Department has its core in the Genetics Building on the Downing site and is host to a number of enterprises, like FlyBase and Physics of Living Matter, which highlight our open and interactive spirit. In addition it has homegrown ties with the Cambridge Systems Biology Centre, the Department of Engineering, the Cavendish Laboratory, the Gurdon Institute, iGEM [International Genetically Engineered Machines], Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, and the Centre for the Physics of Medicine. This reflects our appreciation that modern biological research is interdisciplinary and that students should learn to move between fields and scientific languages. These interactions act as showcases for a varied offer of courses and seminars from the different institutes which challenge and develop students.
Modern biology is about a systems level of understanding of problems, and this approach binds many of the local groups together. Groups cover a wide spectrum from cell biology problems with molecular dimensions about cell mechanics (divisions, migration and communication), to higher order population biology problems which raise questions of ecological and evolutionary significance.
A research degree is a treasure hunt, with the prize not necessarily being the degree but the opportunity to find something interesting about nature, and in the process, enjoy gazing at your favourite object. The Department in its variety and interactions offers you an environment to do just that during the most interesting years of your academic life.
Please follow the links on the left and on the right for more information.
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Current Postgrads in the Department should go to their index page
Images on this page courtesy of James Rice and Jelena Aleksic
- Quick Links to Graduate School of Life Sciences information for applicants
- Graduate School of Life Sciences
- Research Themes in Life Sciences - Who is researching what, and in which department
- Application instructions
- Quick Links to general University of Cambridge information for Postgrad applicants
- Board of Graduate Studies
- Graduate Studies Prospectus
- Entrance requirements
- Getting funding
- Funding search page
- Applying to Cambridge