The Department of Biology is one of four departments that constitute the School of Biological Sciences and is a member of the Faculty of Medicine and Biology Sciences. The Department is situated on the second and third floors of the Adrian Building and has additional space in the lower ground floor for specialised facilities, including a photobiology suite, tank rooms and insect rooms. The Adrian Building is linked by a pedestrian bridge to the Maurice Shock Medical Sciences Building, which houses other Biological Sciences and Medical departments.

The Department has a complement of more than 30 academic and research staff, about 15 technical and support staff and around 30 postgraduate students. The Department is engaged in a wide range of research activities, including Plant Cellular and Molecular Biology, Molecular Cytogenetics, Behavioural and Evolutionary Biology, and Neurophysiology. External research funding, currently standing in excess of £4 million, is provided by BBSRC, NERC, CEC, DEFRA, The Environment Agency, The Royal Society, Industry, UK Charities and Foreign Governments. The Department of Biology has excellent facilities for research and is particularly well equipped for molecular biology and microscopy. There are spacious, well-equipped laboratories as well as a radioisotope suite, dark rooms, controlled-environment facilities for plant growth, marine and freshwater tank rooms, insect rooms and extensive facilities for photobiology. There is also a herbarium and associated botanic garden. All of the research laboratories have experienced technical support associated with them. Many services essential to the modern research biologist are available on site, including genomics and proteomics facilities, electron and confocal microscopes, and electronic and mechanical workshops which can design and manufacture bespoke equipment for teaching and research. The University is committed to providing first rate computing, I.T. and graphics facilities and this is achieved through a combination of departmental equipment and the University Central Services. 

The Department of Biology is committed to the provision of high quality undergraduate and postgraduate teaching. The Department is the major contributor to the Biological Sciences curriculum.