About the Department of Biochemistry

The Department of Biochemistry is committed to cutting-edge research and to offering an outstanding biochemistry curriculum compliant with international standards.

Our research is focused on the functional investigation of proteins, using biophysical, biochemical and structural approaches. Currently, the department houses seven research groups and holds the leadership of the National Center of Competence in Research Structural Biology and of the EU Program P-CUBE (Infrastructure for Protein Production Platforms). Thanks to the development of new technologies and the subsequent acquisition of patents relevant for medical applications, several spin-off companies evolved from the department.

Our department provides education in biochemistry for science and medical students, as well as for PhD students and postdoctoral fellows. Our training ranges from lectures and seminars to practical courses and individual research project coaching. Our aim is to prepare our students most efficiently for a successful career.

The Department of Biochemistry is a large unit with more than 180 members. More than half of them are junior scientists (PhD students and postdoctoral fellows). The department is headed by a Board of Directors, supported by a Department Manager.

Over the last years, we have been able to obtain an increasing number of competitive research grants. At present, over 65% of our funding is derived from such third-party grants.