Since China opened up to the world in 1978, the School of Life Sciences of Shandong University has got substantial development. In March 1996, the Department of Biology, the Department of Microbiology, the Microbial Research Institute and other units were merged to be the School of Life Sciences. Since its establishment, the School of Life Sciences placed the highest priority on building and improving the programs for teaching and mentoring. This included strengthening the State Key Laboratory, building the doctoral and master’s training programs, focusing on undergraduate teaching and personnel training, and actively developing talent both in China and abroad to lay a solid foundation for rapid development.

In recent years, the School of Life Sciences ranks at the top of Shandong University with respect to major national project’s application, scientific and technological achievements and the quality of undergraduate education. Botany and Zoology, Biology and Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Genetics, Neuroscience and behavioral science, as well as agricultural science are ranked in the top 1% of ESI. The School of Life Sciences now includes: the State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, the National Glycoengineering Research Center, the Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation of the Ministry of Education, the Shandong Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology, the Shandong Vegetation Ecological Engineering Technology Research Center, the Biology Doctoral Degree Authorization of Environmental Engineering and Ecology, and the Biology Postdoctoral Research Station.

The School of Life Sciences is not only a national base for basic science research and education, but also a national talent training base for life science and technology. There are four undergraduate majors: Biological Science, Biological Engineering, Ecology and Biotechnology. The school has four research institutes: the Institute of Developmental Biology, the Cell and Genetic Research Institute, the Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and the Ecology and Biodiversity Research Institute.

At present the School of Life Sciences has 147 staff members, including 37 professors and 26 associate professors. Among the faculties, 98.7% of them have doctoral degrees while 80.5% of staff have more than one year overseas experience. Currently, the School of Life Sciences has 4 members of the "The Recruitment Program of Global Experts", 6 NSFC Distinguished Young Scholars, 4 State Council Experts for Special Allowance, 1 member of "The Recruitment Program of Global Youth Experts", 1 Taishan Mountain Scholar, 2 Shandong Province Young and Middle-aged Outstanding Contributions Experts, and 5 Shandong Province NSFC Distinguished Young Scholars. So far, there are 592 undergraduate students, 236 master students, 120 Ph.D. Candidates, and 41 postdoctoral fellows.

The School of Life Sciences has two buildings for teaching and scientific research in the Dizhou center and several undergraduate teaching labs in the north of Huiwen Building, with a total area of 12,000 square meters in Qingdao campus.

Life science is one of the leading subjects of the 21st century and also the focus of development for Shandong University. The School of Life Sciences of Shandong University will continue to strive for excellent education and world-class research.