MRes Biosystematics

This MRes programme is designed to transform you into a research-ready expert through a deeply immersive, practical curriculum that bridges classical taxonomic principles with cutting-edge genomic and computational methods. You will have unique access to world-class facilities across Imperial and our partner institutions, including the Natural History Museum, London and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, where you'll work with extensive natural history collections, DNA sequencing labs, and bioinformatics suites. Your learning is powered by specialised software and culminates in an extensive research project where you will generate, analyse, and interpret real systematic data, preparing you for a career at the forefront of taxonomic research.

Here’s how you will gain advanced, hands-on experience:

• Specialised Biosystematics Software: You will gain expert proficiency in tools including Geneious for sequence analysis, R with phylogenetic packages like ape and phangorn, and Cybertracker for biodiversity and field data management.

• The MRes Research Project: The cornerstone of the programme is an extensive, original research project. You will be embedded in an active research group, designing and conducting a significant piece of systematic research, from specimen collection or selection through to genomic analysis and publication-quality output.

• Natural History Collections: You will gain hands-on experience handling, examining, and analysing specimens from the unparalleled collections at our partner institutions, learning critical curatorial and morphological analysis skills.

• Molecular Laboratories: You will use modern DNA extraction, PCR, and sequencing facilities to generate genetic data from specimens, applying laboratory techniques fundamental to modern systematics.

• Bioinformatics Suites: You will work in dedicated computing clusters and use high-performance computing resources to conduct phylogenetic analyses, sequence alignment, and evolutionary modelling on genomic datasets.

• Fieldwork Equipment: You will have opportunities to use field sampling kits, GPS technology, and digital recording systems for collecting specimens and ecological data in diverse environments.

Graduates from the MRes Biosystematics programme step into specialized roles as systematics researchers, biodiversity data analysts, or academic PhD candidates equipped with hands-on expertise in taxonomy, phylogenetics, and biodiversity informatics. The programme’s strong research focus, coupled with unique access to both Imperial and the Natural History Museum, positions you exceptionally well for doctoral study or a scientific research career.

Progression & Future Opportunities:
Here’s how Imperial supports your journey toward doctoral research or a research-oriented career in systematics:

• University Services to Boost Employability

  • You’ll undertake two intensive, hands-on research projects—one in the Spring term and another in the Summer—working directly at both the Natural History Museum and Imperial’s Silwood Park campus under supervision by international experts. Alongside, you’ll attend a seminar series co-run with NHM, lab meetings, tutorials, and journal club discussions to sharpen your practical and academic expertise.

• Employment Stats & Salary Figures

  • While course-specific salary data isn’t published, MRes graduates—especially those emerging from Imperial’s life sciences programmes—are highly sought after by sectors including research, consultancy, education, and government bodies, giving you real flexibility and potential for strong early-career earnings.

• University–Industry Partnerships

  • This MRes is delivered in collaboration with the Natural History Museum, offering unparalleled access to specimens, research facilities, and senior experts in taxonomy, systematics, genomics, and biodiversity informatics—a rare and deeply valuable partnership.

• Long-Term Accreditation Value

  • Though not a professional engineering course, the MRes delivers top-tier academic and transferable credentials—particularly for careers in scientific research, academic leadership, biodiversity data science, or entrance into elite PhD programmes.

• Graduation Outcomes

  • You’ll graduate with robust field and computational research skills, strong familiarity with cutting-edge systematics tools, data science applications in biodiversity, and a robust professional network—especially toward academic and museum-based roles, PhD candidacy, or science communication.

Further Academic Progression:
This MRes is intentionally designed to serve as a stepping-stone to doctoral study. Upon completion, many alumni continue directly into PhD research—often at Imperial, the Natural History Museum, or other world-class institutions—positioning themselves at the forefront of biodiversity science and evolutionary biology.