School of Life Sciences

Disciplines

The School is comprised of seven disciplines that fall under three clusters: Biotechnology, Biodiversity & Evolutionary Biology and Cellular Biology.

Biotechnology

Biotechnology is the branch of applied science that uses living organisms and their derivatives to produce products and processes. The Biotechnology cluster is comprised of three disciplines:

  • Biochemistry
  • Genetics
  • Microbiology
Prof Carola Niesler

Prof Carola Niesler

Academic Leader: Biotechnology – PMB
niesler@ukzn.ac.za | 033 260 5465

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Prof Shahidul Islam

Prof Shahidul Islam

Academic Leader: Biotechnology – WVL
IslamD@ukzn.ac.za | 031 260 8717

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Biodiversity & Evolutionary Biology

Biological Sciences

Biology is a diverse field that focuses on living things and their interaction with the environment. Our courses combine practical and theory work with a mixture of lectures and lab work. 

Ecology

Ecology is the study of organisms, the environment and how the organisms interact with each other and their environment. It is studied at various levels, such as organism, population, biosphere and ecosystem.

Marine Biology

Marine biology is the study of marine organisms, their behaviors and interactions with the environment. Marine biologists study life in the oceans, and sometimes the oceans themselves.

Dr David Glassom

Dr David Glassom

Academic Leader: Biodiversity/ Evolutionary Biology – WVL
Glassom@ukzn.ac.za | 031 260 3183

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Prof Jeffrey Finnie

Prof Jeffrey Finnie

Academic Leader: Biodiversity/ Evolutionary Biology – PMB
Finnie@ukzn.ac.za | 033 260 5151

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Cellular Biology

Cell biology is the study of cell structure and function, and it revolves around the concept that the cell is the fundamental unit of life. Focusing on the cell permits a detailed understanding of the tissues and organisms that cells compose.

Dr Dalene Vosloo

Dr Dalene Vosloo

Academic Leader: Cellular Biology – WVL
VoslooD@ukzn.ac.za | 031 260 3237

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