Graduate Research Centre in Biological Sciences
It is widely held that the major driving force in current research is the interdisciplinary
approach to th pursuit of knowledge. No better example is to be found than the extensive internal
and external scientific links of tthe GRC in Biological Sciences at Sussex.
The GRC has three component centres:
- Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology
Cell developmental biology; cellular recognition and signalling;
molecular cell biology and cancer; molecular biology and gene expression;
protein form and function.
- Biology
Neurophysiology; ethology; plant biology; ecology.
- Experimental Psychology
Sensory processes; cognitive psychology; cognitive development;
neuropsychology; psychopharmacology; physiological psychology.
Each of these reflects sets of common interests and collaborative research that have led to successful bids
to funding bodies such as the research councils.
One outcome of the interdisciplinary strategy is the research centre associated with the GRC,
the Sussex Centre for Neuroscience, established
in 1991 on the foundations already laid in neuroscience at Sussex.
Now with a staff of 60, the Centre studies the fundemental requirements for
functioning nervous systems by applying cellular, molecular, electrophysiological and
behavioural techniques to simple nervous systems.
Graduate Programmes
The GRC offers
DPhil and Mphil programmes in Biochemistry, Biology and Experimental Psychology,
and taught MScs in Biochemistry(four variants) and Experimental Psychology.
In 1995 the total number of graduate students in the GRC was 130
Sources of Funding
The majority of graduate studentships available in the GRC for research (DPhil)
and taught Masterâ•’s (Experimental Psychology) degrees are awarded by the research
councils to each of the three Graduate Centres, a proportion of DPhil places being
allocated for collaboration with industrial organisations. In some instances a
Graduate Centre may provide additional funds to allow DPhil students to contribute
to undergraduate teaching, e.g. as teaching assistants in tutorials or laboratory classes.
The GRC in Biological Sciences frequently offers bursaries to allow exceptional students to
pursue DPhil studies, and the John Maynard-Smith Research Studentship is awarded
every three years.
External links
There are strong collaborative links with research units on campus:
the Sussex Centre for Neuroscience, the MRC Cell Mutation Unit and the
Trafford Centre for Medical Research.
The GRC has numerous world wide links with industry, medical and agricultural
institutes, and other universities through collaborative and contract research
(including research studentships) and consultancies.
Training and Academic Activities
During the first year, laboratory-based graduate students attend lectures in health and safety,
radiation protection and research techniques, and throughout their graduate careers
are expected to attend lectures or seminars on information retrieval, computing
skills and report writing, in addition to weekly research seminars by outside speakers.
Experimental Psychology students organise their own residential seminar session.
Opportunities are also available to pursue topics relevant to a future career, e.g.
intellectual property rights and budgetary control.
A regular feature is attendance at scientific meetings and the availability of
additional training opportunities on campus, e.g. in computing, or organised by the
research councils.
Careers
Our graduate students show a very high level of employment: some 70 per cent continue
in full-time research, the remainder being divided equally among teaching,
science-related disciplines such as editing and publishing, and non-science careers.
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