该研究所分为三个多学科集群：动物科学，植物科学和微生物科学。他们在这些集群内的研究涵盖分子生物学和遗传学、细胞生物学、发育生物学、生理学、免疫生物学、进化生物学、行为生物学、微生物学、生物技术、植物生态学等学科。该研究所的研究集中在四个研究主题：生物活性分子，发育与疾病，进化与生物多样性以及宿主和微生物相互作用。研究所的理学士和理学硕士教学计划与正在进行的研究项目密切相关，让学生充分利用科学优势。
IBL代表了莱顿现代生物学研究的核心，他们与学院的其他生命科学合作机构密切合作：莱顿化学研究所（LIC），莱顿药物研究高级中心（LACDR）和环境科学研究所（CML）。他们还与位于莱顿的国家生物多样性中心（NCB-Naturalis），Hortus Botanicus Leiden和莱顿大学医学中心（LUMC）合作。研究所通过选择模式生物和关注进化过程和环境压力源来区分自己。
IBL为研究员和对生物学学士或理学硕士课程感兴趣的学生提供了一个理想的环境。BSc课程涉及扎实的三年生物学教育，不断升级到今天的现代标准，涵盖从细胞生物学和遗传学到生态学和进化的所有基本学科。有四个主要的理学硕士课程：生物多样性和可持续性，进化生物学，从细胞到生物体和分子遗传学和生物技术。
The institute is divided into three multidisciplinary clusters: animal science, plant science, and microbial science. Their research within these clusters covers molecular biology and genetics, cell biology, developmental biology, physiology, immunobiology, evolutionary biology, behavioral biology, microbiology, biotechnology, plant ecology, and more. Research at the institute focuses on four research themes: bioactive molecules, development and disease, evolution and biodiversity, and host-microbe interactions. The Institute's BSc and MSc teaching programs are closely linked to ongoing research projects, allowing students to take full advantage of science.
IBL represents the heart of modern biological research in Leiden, and they work closely with the College's other life science partner institutions: the Leiden Institute of Chemistry (LIC), the Leiden Advanced Centre for Drug Research (LACDR) and the Institute for Environmental Sciences (CML). They also collaborate with the National Centre for Biodiversity (NCB-Naturalis), Hortus Botanicus Leiden and Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC) in Leiden. The institute distinguishes itself by selecting model organisms and focusing on evolutionary processes and environmental stressors.
The IBL provides an ideal environment for fellows and students interested in a Bachelor or MSc programme in Biology. The BSc curriculum involves a solid three-year biology education, constantly upgraded to today's modern standards, covering all essential subjects from cell biology and genetics to ecology and evolution. There are four main MSc programmes: Biodiversity and Sustainability, Evolutionary Biology, From Cell to Organism and Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology.