The School of Biological Sciences is housed in a modern, custom-designed building and boasts research and teaching facilities to international standards.
Ecology laboratories are equipped to measure environmental parameters at the macro and micro levels. They include seawater, Antarctic and freshwater aquaria, as well as environmental chambers with controlled light and temperature.
A large microscopy facility is also available for sorting and identifying organisms.
Animal physiological laboratories contain research equipment for neurophysiology, ion and water regulatory physiology, cardiac, respiratory and exercise physiology.
Molecular genetics and molecular biology research laboratories are fully equipped for DNA, RNA and protein analysis, recombinant DNA techniques, real-time PCR and microinjection of macromolecules into cells. We also house the Canterbury Sequencing Facility and Ancient DNA laboratory.
We have a microscopy facility which includes a confocal microscope.
An extensive plant herbarium and insect collection are housed in specialist facilities. Plant physiology laboratories have research equipment for transgenic plant production, including comprehensive plant growth rooms and greenhouse facilities.
Biochemistry and biotechnology labs house advanced tools for the study of macro-molecular structure and enzyme function.
Microbiology laboratories have equipment to study the genetics, physiology and biochemistry of a diverse range of microbes.
The school has a computational cluster for high-performance applications such as bioinformatics and ecological modelling. Researchers can also access time on super computers too.