Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago

Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago The Department of Biochemistry at Otago teaches biochemistry, genetics, plant biotechnology, and more to undergraduate and postgraduate students.

It also hosts cutting-edge research into how life works at the molecular level. The Department provides tuition for students studying Biochemistry as a subject for the Bachelor of Science, the Honours Bachelor of Science and for research degrees (MSc, PhD). As part of the Division of Health Sciences it contributes to the professional school courses in Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, and Medical Laboratory Sciences, as well as the degree in Biomedical Sciences. The Department has an active and productive research and postgraduate programme. In an average year there are about 40 PhD, 10 second year MSc and 20 fourth year ( BSc(Hons)) students. Staff publish 90 - 110 papers each year in international journals. The Department is housed in a well-equipped four-level building of approximately 5,400 sq metres. It is well-equipped for research, and houses the Otago Genomics Facility, The Centre for Protein Research, and a new X-Ray Crystallography suite.

Journal Club Fri 12pm, Rm BIG13Sakshi Mathur: Zhao, J., Ye, J., Zhang, M. et al. Lonely minds, inflamed guts: metabolic ...
16/09/2026

Journal Club
Fri 12pm, Rm BIG13
Sakshi Mathur:
Zhao, J., Ye, J., Zhang, M. et al. Lonely minds, inflamed guts: metabolic and circulating protein pathways linking social isolation and loneliness to inflammatory bowel disease. Transl Psychiatry 16, 365 (2026)

Mounting evidence suggests that psychosocial stressors, such as social isolation and loneliness, contribute to gastrointestinal disorders by disrupting gut-brain interactions. We aim to investigate the associations of social isolation, loneliness, and their related alterations in metabolism and circ...

Department of Biochemistry Special SeminarWed 16 Sep, Rm BIG13Grace Young, PhD Candidate, Department of BiochemistryUnco...
11/09/2026

Department of Biochemistry Special Seminar
Wed 16 Sep, Rm BIG13
Grace Young, PhD Candidate, Department of Biochemistry
Uncovering a novel regulator of triple negative breast cancer cell behaviour

Department of Biochemistry SeminarTues 15 Sep, Rm BIG13Dr Rebecca French, Department of Zoology, University of OtagoAdva...
11/09/2026

Department of Biochemistry Seminar
Tues 15 Sep, Rm BIG13
Dr Rebecca French, Department of Zoology, University of Otago
Advancing Wildlife Conservation via Disease Ecology

Congratulations to Nihar Naik of the Rare Disorder Genetics Lab (Bicknell Group) for submitting his PhD!🎉
09/09/2026

Congratulations to Nihar Naik of the Rare Disorder Genetics Lab (Bicknell Group) for submitting his PhD!🎉

Read about PhD student Tyla Hill-Moana's haerenga (journey), making connections with the people of Rapa Nui.Ka mau te we...
08/09/2026

Read about PhD student Tyla Hill-Moana's haerenga (journey), making connections with the people of Rapa Nui.
Ka mau te wehi, Tyla!

Tyla Hill-Moana, a PhD student from Te Tari Matū Koiora - the Department of Biochemistry, recently had a trip of a lifetime visiting one of the most geographically isolated inhabited places on Earth, Rapa Nui - Te Pito o te Henua (Easter Island), and making meaningful connections with the Mā‘ohi...

08/09/2026

OBiGSA is hosting Meet the Postgrads, a chance for undergrads to chat with current postgraduate students studying Genetics/Biochemistry related topics. Aimed to give undergrads a real insight into postgrad life, the style of different lab groups, and let people talk student-to-student to pass on what they wish they knew before starting postgrad and allow undergrads to ask questions and connect with our postgrads.

This event is mainly targeted at 300 level students, though anyone is welcome!

📅 21 September
🕠 5:30 pm 🔬🎓
📍 Room 2.31, Biochemistry Building

Department of Biochemistry Seminar TOMORROW Tues 8 Sep, 12pm, Rm BIG13Dr Tianyu Zhang, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedici...
06/09/2026

Department of Biochemistry Seminar
TOMORROW Tues 8 Sep, 12pm, Rm BIG13
Dr Tianyu Zhang, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health
Advances in the Development of TPD-Based Drug Candidates Directly Targeting InhA in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

04/09/2026

Hey students! Got a startup, side hustle, or project on the go? There's grant money on the table. 💸

Startup Dunedin's Student Pitch Competition is open for semester two, to all Otago Polytechnic and University of Otago students!

Ideas at any stage welcome. We just want to know: what would you do with $500–$1000? What would you test, and where would it get you next?

⏰ Submissions close Tuesday 15 September, 5pm.
🔗 startupdunedin.nz/pitch

Research from the Rare Genetic Disorders Lab has given people around the world an answer to the source of their family m...
02/09/2026

Research from the Rare Genetic Disorders Lab has given people around the world an answer to the source of their family member’s rare genetic neurological condition, and has been published in the prestigious journal The American Journal of Human Genetics

University of Otago – Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka researchers have helped identify the cause of a previously unrecognised neurodevelopmental disorder.

Address

710 Cumberland Street
Dunedin
9016

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm

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