As a strategic unit located within the Faculty of Science and Health at Dublin City University, the School of Biotechnology boasts state-of-the-art teaching, research, and pilot plant facilities. The School is unique in having established expertise across a broad range of scientific disciplines contained within a single departmental unit, thereby encouraging innovative approaches to teaching and research. Areas of expertise include Bioprocess Engineering, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Genetics, Bioinformatics, Immunology, Virology and Molecular Cell Biology. The School is an active centre of basic and applied research. Members of staff have collaborative links with national and international research laboratories, and also work in close collaboration with centres of excellence based at DCU, such as the National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology (NICB), the National Centre for Sensor Research (NCSR), and the Biomedical Diagnostics Institute (BDI). Academic School members are also involved in teaching at both undergraduate and postgraduate level in various undergraduate degree and graduate training programmes.

2. Our Undergraduate Programmes
BSc in Biotechnology*
BSc in Genetics and Cell Biology*
BSc in Analytical Science (Biology Option)
BSc Environmental Science and Health
*Numbers permitting
School of Biotechnology

3. Our strength: Multi-disciplinarity
Academics, Research Staff & Graduate Students
 Molecular/Cell Biologists, Geneticists (5)
 Biochemical/Bioprocessing Engineers (4)
 Immunologists (3)
 Bioinformatics (2)
 Microbiologists (2)
 Biochemists (2)
 Postdoctoral researchers and MSc/PhD students (>60)
 BioAT and BioTranslate PhD Training Programmes
School of Biotechnology

4. Our Scientific Research Expertise Includes....
 Genomics and Bioinformatics
 Applied Immunology and Immunomodulation
 Vascular Biology and Health
 Biopharmacology and Bioprocess Engineering
 Applied Microbiology/Applied Biochemistry
 Biomedical Diagnostics Institute
 National Centre for Sensor Research
 National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology
 International Centre for Neurotherapeutics
School of Biotechnology

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What will you do
here?
BSc in Biotechnology
BSc in Genetics and Cell
Biology
 Lectures
 Laboratory classes
 Tutorials/group work
 Problem solving
 Subject reviews and oral
presentations
 INTRA work experience
 Research projects

6. Biotechnology is the application of scientific and
engineering principles to the processing of materials by
biological agents to provide goods and services
BSc in Biotechnology
BSc in Genetics and Cell Biology

7. Some Examples of Biotechnology Products:
 Human Insulin – Diabetes
 Enbrel – Autoimmune Disease
 Factor VIII – Blood Clotting
 EPO – Kidney Failure/Anaemia
 Herceptin – Breast Cancer
 Tysabri – Multiple Sclerosis
 Penecillin Amidase – Semisynthetic Antibiotic
 Gardasil – Vaccine Against Cervical Cancer
BSc in Biotechnology
BSc in Genetics and Cell Biology

8. Biotechnology Companies in Ireland
 Pfizer
 Eli Lily
 Merck MSD
 Genzyme
 GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)
 Alkermes (Elan)
 Biotrin
 Trinity Biotech
 Megazyme
BSc in Biotechnology
BSc in Genetics and Cell Biology
Pfizer BioPharma Campus, Grange
Castle, Co. Dublin

9. Year 1 – All programmes
 Biology
 Chemistry
 Physics
 Maths
 Problem Solving
Note: not every students will have done these at Leaving
cert level
BSc in Biotechnology
BSc in Genetics and Cell Biology

10. Year 2
 Biochemistry, Microbiology, Genetics, Bioprocess
engineering, Chemistry, Mathematics
Year 3
 Advanced Biology and Bioprocess Engineering, Analytical
Microbiology and Genetics, Cell Culture, Bioreactors,
Separation Processes, Commercial Biotechnology, INTRA
BSc in Biotechnology
Course details
Year 4
 Integration of Biology and Engineering, Industrial
Bioprocessing, Protein Biotechnology, Bioreaction
Engineering, Research project, Optional Modules

11. INTRA: A Distinctive Attribute of DCU Degrees
 INTRA -internships or co-operative education at DCU
 it stands for INtegrated TRAining.
 INTRA has been at the heart of the DCU experience for over
25 years
 Most students undertake INTRA as part of their course
 There are paid and unpaid placements
 INTRA enables students to apply their academic learning in a
workplace setting
 Of great benefit to both employer and student

12.  Broader and deeper coverage of modern biological
sciences eg. Genetics, Bioinformatics, Cell & Molecular
Biology
 No bioprocess engineering
 First Graduates in 2008
 Career Paths: Basic & applied research, biopharma
industry, teaching
 Pharmaceutical sector, medical therapeutics,
diagnostic & healthcare devices, management
& operational roles in the production of
healthcare products.
BSc in Genetics and Cell Biology

13. Year 2
 Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Genetics,
Biological and Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Year 3
 Genetics, Bioinformatics, Cell Biology, Immunology, Ethics
& Society, INTRA
BSc in Genetics and Cell Biology
Course details
Year 4
 Proteomics, Genomics, Human Genetics, Molecular/Cell
Biology Techniques, Immunology, Research project

14. • Biotechnology 470 (470, 465)
• Genetics and Cell Biology 490 (495, 480)
• Common Entry into Science 460 (450, 435)
• Analytical Science 440 (460, 465)
• Env. Sci. and Health 420 (435, 405)
CAO Points 2014 (2013, 2012)

15. Biotechnology:
• Minimum entry requirements: OB3 or HD3 in Mathematics
PLUS Grade OC3 or HD3 in one of Physics, Chemistry,
Biology, Physics with Chemistry, Agricultural Science
Genetics and Cell Biology
• Minimum entry requirements: OC3 or HD3 in Mathematics
PLUS Grade OC3 or HD3 in one of Physics, Chemistry,
Biology, Physics with Chemistry, Agricultural Science
OR
• OB1 or HC1 in Mathematics
Minimum Entry Requirements

16. Where will you go from here?
An award from the School of Biotechnology equips you with a
skillset appropriate to a successful and rewarding career in the
field of science – in both management and operational roles.
 Biopharma/Pharmaceutical industry –Bioprocess Engineer
 Biopharma/Pharmaceutical industry –Cell/Molecular
Biologist
 Biomedical/Healthcare and Veterinary Diagnostics industries
 Biomedical Devices industry
 Food Technologist
 Brewing/distilling industry
 Waste treatment
 Research Scientist –industry/academia
 Teaching

17. Biotechnology
Careers and Employers
Donal O’Shea – MD – Slidepath (Leica Biosystems)
Rhona O’Leary – VP – Gentech (California)
Conor Lynch - Professor of Cell Biology - Vanderbilt University
Gerard Brophy - Senior VP, Life Sciences, GE, USA
Marianne O’Sullivan – Validation Manager – DPS Engineering
Pamela O’Brien - Protein Production Scientist - Eli Lilly, Cork
Enda Moran - Fermentation Process Manager - Pfizer
Tony McCarthy - Consultant Process Engineer
Gearóid Cahill - Strategic Manager – Diageo
Sinéad Loughran – Lecturer – Dundalk Institute of Technology

18. Genetics and Cell Biology
Careers and Employers
First Graduates 2008
Claire Morgan - Research Associate, Genomics
Evolution and Medicine- Imperial College, London
Helena Culleton - Molecular Biologist -Megazyme Intl. Ltd, Bray
Mary Canavan - Clinical Scientist at Sims IV - Dublin
Gerard Brien - Researcher at Cancer Epigenetics Lab., TCD
Owen Donohoe - Res. Fellow at Marine Institute Galway.
Vincent O'Reilly - Research Scientist at TCD, Dublin.

19. Common Entry into Science - Dr. Rosaleen Devery
Tel: 01 700 5406 email: rosaleen.devery@dcu.ie
B.Sc. in Biotechnology - Dr. Philip Cummins
Tel: 01 700 5584 email: phil.cummins@dcu.ie
B.Sc. in Genetics and Cell Biology - Dr. Anne Parle-McDermott
Tel: 01 700 8499 email: anne.parle-mcdermott@dcu.ie
www.dcu.ie/biotechnology
How to Contact Us

20. Life at DCU
We know going to
University isn’t all about
lectures and books. It’s
also about getting out
there, getting involved
and having some of the
best experiences of your
life

21. Life at DCU
 Student Advice Centre
 Uaneen Module
 Students Union / Office of Student Life – www.dcusu.ie
 Elite Athlete Entry Scheme
 Clubs and Societies
 Learning Support Service
 Disability Service
 Student Accommodation
 Class Representation

22. Getting Here
Getting here, either by public transport or
under your own steam, is easy; we’re close
to the M50 and M1 motorways and
serviced by bus routes from all parts of the
city.

23. Getting Here
 44 & 104 now stop on campus, with numerous other
busses from Ballymun Road and Collins Avenue
 Private busses from Dundalk, Drogheda, Bettystown,
Skerries, Lusk, Laytown and Rush
 Bus Eireann 101 and 109A
 Go Car on campus
 M50 links
 Walking and Cycling routes
 Drumcondra Train Station

24. Questions and
Answers
?