The School
The School of Life Sciences was established in August 2010 by merging the Biochemistry (BCHE) and Biology (BIOL) Departments under the Faculty of Science. The School now has 49 teaching staff, and 66 technical, administrative and clerical staff. There are also 80 postdoctoral fellows and other research staff, supported by various research grants.
The School offers five undergraduate major programmes, Biochemistry (BCHE), Biology (BIOL), Cell and Molecular Biology (CMBI), Food and Nutritional Sciences (FNSC), and Molecular Biotechnology (MBTE), with a total annual intake of about 180 under a broad-based admissions scheme of Life Sciences. The five programmes prepare students for careers in science, health and related fields, as well as for postgraduate studies in biological and biomedical sciences. At the postgraduate level, the School currently has over 200 M.Phil. and Ph.D. students. Besides, we also offer three Taught M.Sc. programmes: Biochemical and Biomedical Sciences, Nutrition, Food Science and Technology, and Biodiversity, Environmental Management, Sustainability and Technology.
Some of the active research areas in the School include plant molecular biology and biotechnology, protein structure and function, marine biology, environmental science, and food science and technology. Research in plant and agricultural biotechnology has been funded by the Area of Excellence Scheme of the Hong Kong University Grants Council.