The Department of Biosciences (formerly the Department of Biological Sciences) is one of the five departments in the College of Natural and Applied Sciences and among the four oldest departments at the College. It has existed since the establishment of the then Faculty of Science in 1999. The Department currently comprises twenty-two (22) academic staff members, nine (9) laboratory scientists, and three (3) administrative staff. These professionals represent a wide range of specializations within the life sciences, providing diverse research opportunities and offering undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in areas such as Ecology, Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Evolution, Genetics, Microbiology, Parasitology, Limnology, Ethnobotany, and Bioprospecting.
The Department serves as a centre for innovative and interdisciplinary teaching and research in life sciences. Our programmes aim to provide students with a broad understanding of biological molecules, processes, and systems, while fostering deep knowledge of biology at environmental, organismal, cellular, and molecular levels. Teaching and research activities span all levels of biological organization, from molecules to global ecosystems. Courses and research opportunities cover both basic and applied sciences, including Biochemistry, Structural Biology, Zoology, Cell Biology, Genetics, Genomics, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Computational Biology, Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Ecosystem Management, Developmental Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, Microbiology, Parasitology, Entomology, and Environmental Toxicology.
This cross-disciplinary approach to life sciences, fostered within a collegial and interactive academic environment, supports discoveries that contribute to diverse fields ranging from biomedicine to environmental conservation. The Department has a long-standing tradition of academic excellence and leadership in biological science education. The biological courses taught across various programmes at the University draw on our staff’s extensive research expertise, teaching excellence, and mentorship skills.
A key goal of the Department is to strengthen interdisciplinary education and research collaboration. This is achieved through partnerships within the biological sciences and through collaborations with colleagues in the School of Education and the Departments of Chemistry and Physics, Geography and Environmental Studies, Statistics and Mathematics, and Informatics and Information Technology within the College of Natural and Applied Sciences, as well as with other colleges and institutions within and beyond the Sokoine University of Agriculture. Through such collaborative efforts, the Department helps address some of the most pressing scientific and societal challenges.
We invite you to explore the Department’s research and teaching programmes to discover the exciting learning and discovery opportunities available in the Department of Biosciences at the College of Natural and Applied Sciences, Sokoine University of Agriculture.
To be a centre of excellence in teaching, research, and professional services in biosciences.
To contribute to scientific advancement and societal development through high-quality training, research, consultancy, and service delivery in the biosciences.
Since its establishment in 1999, the Department of Biosciences (formerly Department of Biological Sciences) has benefited from the leadership and vision of several distinguished scholars who have served as Heads of Department.
| SN | NAME | ACADEMIC RANK | PERIOD |
| 1 | Prof. Yasinta Charles Muzanila | Associate Professor | 1999 – 2004 |
| 2 | Late Prof. Patrick L.P. Mwang’ingo | Associate Professor | 2004 – 2011 |
| 3 | Prof. Allen Lewis Malisa | Associate Professor | 2011 – 2017 |
| 4 | Dr. Charles Moses Lyimo | Senior Lecturer | 2017 – 2020 |
| 5 | Dr. Beda John Mwang’onde | Senior Lecturer | 2020 – 2025 |
| 6 | Dr. Justine Daudi Maganira | Senior Lecturer | 2025 – Present |