Biochemistry
Why Pembroke?
The Biochemists of Pembroke are a vibrant and welcoming group who share a deep-rooted interest in Biochemistry and Biomedical sciences.
Our subject tutors, Professor Furger, Dr McHugh and Dr Duncan are all very experienced teachers and researchers who ensure you get tuition of the highest academic quality, and at the same time take the pastoral side of their role very seriously.
Tutorial teaching in College is generally done in our Biochemistry teaching room in a relaxed but highly focused atmosphere. The tutorials are organised by the tutors and complement the lectures organised by and held at the Department of Biochemistry. We provide full tuition in all aspects of the course and, as far as possible, tailor this to suit your needs and interests.
On a typical week, you would have one tutorial on a specific subject. You would research the topic during the week and hand an essay in to the tutors beforehand. In the tutorial the subject is then discussed and debated, generally in groups of two to four students. The subjects that are outside the specialist area of the College tutors are taught by external tutors who are specialists in those fields.
To help with your studies, the College library has an up-to-date collection of the major Biochemistry textbooks and copies are made readily available to the students.
What extra activities are on offer?
The biochemistry cohort usually meet up socially once a term, and there is an annual subject dinner which is attended by the whole subject community.
Could you be a Pembroke Biochemist?
To be successful on this course, an interest in and enthusiasm for biochemistry is essential, as is an ability to discuss and analyse relevant topics. Reasoning and problem-solving skills are also key.
If you are considering this course, please attend an open day where you can meet our tutors and students and find out more. This is the best way to get a feel for whether you should make an application. We look forward to meeting you!
Biochemistry Course Video
My Sixth Form College took part in several of Pembroke’s outreach projects. I had the opportunity to take part in an essay competition which enabled me to explore a degree level topic in detail (in my case, genetic engineering). Through this, I came across the Biochemistry course and decided the put in an application. The rest is history!
From playing Volleyball to organising the Pembroke’s 2019 May Ball, I have been able to get involved in lots of things outside of my course. In fact, pursuing other interests outside of the course was actively encouraged by my tutors. With the financial assistance of Pembroke’s Rokos Scholarships, I was able to spend a summer in Oxford carrying out a research internship in the Radcliffe Department of Medicine.
My favourite part of the course has been the fourth year, where I worked full-time on a project in one of Oxford’s research groups. I have been based in department of Biochemistry, using biophysical techniques such as Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR) to study chaperone proteins. This has enabled me to develop my analytical and research skills in preparation for future study and employment.
In October, I will be starting a PhD at Imperial College London in Biophysics. Although I am slightly sad that my time here is soon over, I know that one never truly leaves Pembroke. I will become part of the global Pembroke alumni community, with friends and memories for life.
The Rokos Internship Scheme provides full funding for academic summer internships.
Pembroke non-finalist STEM students are eligible for up to £1,000 funding for summer internships, allowing them to gain hands-on research experience. The award covers all academic and living expenses, including accommodation.
Below are some reports from Pembroke Biochemists who used the award in the last few years.
Alex Welch (2018, MBiochem Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry)
Alex undertook an internship in the Oxford Department of Biochemistry. His lab placement was with a team who use computational techniques such as simulation, modelling and bioinformatics to study ions channels and membrane proteins. He says: “I was able to get to know other researchers in the lab and learn about many new areas of biochemistry through enriching lab presentations and seminars…I learned how to present research clearly and effectively...Furthermore, I learned how to use computational tools such as VMD, GROMACS, PyMOL, and gained valuable experience with python scripts and coding. Frequent lab journal clubs also developed my ability to read papers critically.”
Rhiannon Durant (2020, MBiochem Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry)
Rhiannon used the Rokos Award in 2022 to with work with a PhD student whose research focuses on spatial localisation of a protein called Dwarf14-like (D14L).
Rhiannon shares: "During my 9 weeks in the lab, I developed a range of skills which will likely prove very useful for my part II and beyond. I gained experience conducting basic molecular biology techniques such as high-throughput PCRs, gel electrophoresis, DNA & RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis."
Kevin Goeij (2019, MBiochem Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry)
With the Rokos Award, Kevin undertook a research project in the area of nucleic acid chemistry at the Department of Chemistry, Oxford, with Prof. Tom Brown and Brendan Largey. The main outcome of his research was to investigate the potential use of photo-crosslinker 3-cyanovinylcarbazole nucleoside and their applicability in biological settings.
Kevin shares: "Thank you the Rokos Science Award board committee and the Brown Lab for making this great learning experience possible. Because of your kind and generous supports, I have been able to profoundly grow as a young scientist and further develop my knowledge in this emerging field. The steep learning curve I have had throughout this experience is an immensely valuable addition to what I need to continue my academic journey as a young scientist." Read more here.
Qiolng Tang (2019, MBiochem Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry)
Leilei undertook an internship at the Rosalind Franklin Institute, a new national institute dedicated to bringing about transformative changes in life science through interdisciplinary research and technology development. She worked on nanobodies against the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2.
Read more here.
Pembroke welcomes applications from prospective Biochemistry/ Biomedical Research graduate students. Prospective graduates can apply for several competitive DPhil programmes offered by the Departments and Doctoral Training Centres at the University. As part of the application for these competitive studentships the candidates can express a preference for a College.
Pembroke has a very vibrant graduate community and regularly organises social and academic events to foster discussions between graduates and tutors and researchers from various different subjects.
Meet Our Academics
Biochemistry
Why Pembroke?
The Biochemists of Pembroke are a vibrant and welcoming group who share a deep-rooted interest in Biochemistry and Biomedical sciences.
Our subject tutors, Professor Furger, Dr McHugh and Dr Duncan are all very experienced teachers and researchers who ensure you get tuition of the highest academic quality, and at the same time take the pastoral side of their role very seriously.
Tutorial teaching in College is generally done in our Biochemistry teaching room in a relaxed but highly focused atmosphere. The tutorials are organised by the tutors and complement the lectures organised by and held at the Department of Biochemistry. We provide full tuition in all aspects of the course and, as far as possible, tailor this to suit your needs and interests.
On a typical week, you would have one tutorial on a specific subject. You would research the topic during the week and hand an essay in to the tutors beforehand. In the tutorial the subject is then discussed and debated, generally in groups of two to four students. The subjects that are outside the specialist area of the College tutors are taught by external tutors who are specialists in those fields.
To help with your studies, the College library has an up-to-date collection of the major Biochemistry textbooks and copies are made readily available to the students.
What extra activities are on offer?
The biochemistry cohort usually meet up socially once a term, and there is an annual subject dinner which is attended by the whole subject community.
Could you be a Pembroke Biochemist?
To be successful on this course, an interest in and enthusiasm for biochemistry is essential, as is an ability to discuss and analyse relevant topics. Reasoning and problem-solving skills are also key.
If you are considering this course, please attend an open day where you can meet our tutors and students and find out more. This is the best way to get a feel for whether you should make an application. We look forward to meeting you!
Biochemistry Course Video
My Sixth Form College took part in several of Pembroke’s outreach projects. I had the opportunity to take part in an essay competition which enabled me to explore a degree level topic in detail (in my case, genetic engineering). Through this, I came across the Biochemistry course and decided the put in an application. The rest is history!
From playing Volleyball to organising the Pembroke’s 2019 May Ball, I have been able to get involved in lots of things outside of my course. In fact, pursuing other interests outside of the course was actively encouraged by my tutors. With the financial assistance of Pembroke’s Rokos Scholarships, I was able to spend a summer in Oxford carrying out a research internship in the Radcliffe Department of Medicine.
My favourite part of the course has been the fourth year, where I worked full-time on a project in one of Oxford’s research groups. I have been based in department of Biochemistry, using biophysical techniques such as Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR) to study chaperone proteins. This has enabled me to develop my analytical and research skills in preparation for future study and employment.
In October, I will be starting a PhD at Imperial College London in Biophysics. Although I am slightly sad that my time here is soon over, I know that one never truly leaves Pembroke. I will become part of the global Pembroke alumni community, with friends and memories for life.
The Rokos Internship Scheme provides full funding for academic summer internships.
Pembroke non-finalist STEM students are eligible for up to £1,000 funding for summer internships, allowing them to gain hands-on research experience. The award covers all academic and living expenses, including accommodation.
Below are some reports from Pembroke Biochemists who used the award in the last few years.
Alex Welch (2018, MBiochem Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry)
Alex undertook an internship in the Oxford Department of Biochemistry. His lab placement was with a team who use computational techniques such as simulation, modelling and bioinformatics to study ions channels and membrane proteins. He says: “I was able to get to know other researchers in the lab and learn about many new areas of biochemistry through enriching lab presentations and seminars…I learned how to present research clearly and effectively...Furthermore, I learned how to use computational tools such as VMD, GROMACS, PyMOL, and gained valuable experience with python scripts and coding. Frequent lab journal clubs also developed my ability to read papers critically.”
Rhiannon Durant (2020, MBiochem Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry)
Rhiannon used the Rokos Award in 2022 to with work with a PhD student whose research focuses on spatial localisation of a protein called Dwarf14-like (D14L).
Rhiannon shares: "During my 9 weeks in the lab, I developed a range of skills which will likely prove very useful for my part II and beyond. I gained experience conducting basic molecular biology techniques such as high-throughput PCRs, gel electrophoresis, DNA & RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis."
Kevin Goeij (2019, MBiochem Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry)
With the Rokos Award, Kevin undertook a research project in the area of nucleic acid chemistry at the Department of Chemistry, Oxford, with Prof. Tom Brown and Brendan Largey. The main outcome of his research was to investigate the potential use of photo-crosslinker 3-cyanovinylcarbazole nucleoside and their applicability in biological settings.
Kevin shares: "Thank you the Rokos Science Award board committee and the Brown Lab for making this great learning experience possible. Because of your kind and generous supports, I have been able to profoundly grow as a young scientist and further develop my knowledge in this emerging field. The steep learning curve I have had throughout this experience is an immensely valuable addition to what I need to continue my academic journey as a young scientist." Read more here.
Qiolng Tang (2019, MBiochem Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry)
Leilei undertook an internship at the Rosalind Franklin Institute, a new national institute dedicated to bringing about transformative changes in life science through interdisciplinary research and technology development. She worked on nanobodies against the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2.
Read more here.
Pembroke welcomes applications from prospective Biochemistry/ Biomedical Research graduate students. Prospective graduates can apply for several competitive DPhil programmes offered by the Departments and Doctoral Training Centres at the University. As part of the application for these competitive studentships the candidates can express a preference for a College.
Pembroke has a very vibrant graduate community and regularly organises social and academic events to foster discussions between graduates and tutors and researchers from various different subjects.