Labs and resources in Natural Sciences

The School of Natural Sciences has extensive high-specification teaching laboratories and internationally-leading research facilities. This environment supports research in subjects such as structural, computational and chemical biology, microbiology, geology, planetary science and astrobiology.

Our fully-equipped teaching labs and computing resources give our students access to real-world, hands-on experience throughout their courses. Our students build a portfolio of practical and data-handling skills during their studies to give a rounded study experience.

Our research is shaped by our membership of several joint UCL-Birkbeck institutes and centres, such as the Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology (ISMB) and the Centre for Planetary Sciences (CPS).

Find out more about our labs and facilities for hire:

ISMB Facilities

ISMB Electron Microscopy and Image Processing

The ISMB Electron Microscopy and Image Processing lab provides access to bio-imagining equipment, including an electron microscope.

ISMB BiophysX Centre

Instruments and expertise in x-ray crystallography and biophysical characterisation of macromolecules and their interactions.

UCL research facilities

Our research students also have access to the Mass Spectrometry and the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance ISMB facilities at UCL.

laboratories

Biomedical Chemistry Laboratory

We use state-of-the-art equipment to research chemistry for biomedical applications.

Clean Laboratory

This metal-free, positive pressure clean room (class 100) is used to prepare rock, soil and water samples for trace metal analysis.

Conservation and Art Preservation Laboratory

We analyse environmental allergens and the microbial ecology that damage art and cultural artefacts.

Microprobe Suite

The suite supports in-situ analysis of minerals and other geological material.

Mycobacteria Research laboratory

We focus on researching unique chemical entities that can contribute to new drugs to combat tuberculosis.

Petrology Suite

This unique teaching suite provides 67 workstations, each with a petrological microscope and touchscreen computer.

Rayne and Wolfson Laboratory

We provide state-of-the-art equipment for research in biochemistry and crystallisation.

Rosalind Franklin Molecular Biology Laboratory

We investigate DNA repair, protein interactions, cell signalling and the molecular mechanism of disease.

Hiring Natural Sciences Teaching Labs and Research Facilities

Teaching laboratories for hire

We have several teaching laboratories available for day teaching purposes. They offer equipment for biology, chemistry, microbiology, molecular biology, physics and geology.

Research facilities for hire

Find out how to hire research facilities across Natural Sciences.

Research resources

ISMB Research Groups

Find out more about research groups and projects in the Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology.

CPS Research Groups

Find out more about research groups and projects in the Centre for Planetary Sciences.

Natural Sciences staff

Find out more about academic staff and their research in the School of Natural Sciences.

Safety policy

All staff, students and visitors working across natural sciences in research and teaching laboratories are expected to comply with these policies.