Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology

History
The Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology was established in 2006. Since its foundation, the department has been headed by Professor A. I. Bozhkov. The training of specialists is conducted with the involvement of the staff and facilities of the University’s Institute of Biology.

For Applicants
The department offers Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs in Biology with a specialization in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, both full-time and part-time. The department also has a postgraduate program (PhD studies) in Biotechnology. Every year, 2–3 postgraduate students study at the department.

Research
The main research areas of the department include: molecular biology and biochemistry of aging, biotechnology (particularly yeast and unicellular algae biotechnology), cytoecology (cellular responses to stress factors), and theoretical molecular biology.
The department’s staff annually publish around 20 scientific papers, including international publications, produce textbooks, and actively participate in international conferences. They also contributed to organizing the International Symposium “Biological Mechanisms of Aging.”

Staff
The department employs six academic staff members, including three Doctors of Science and two Candidates of Science (PhD holders).

Educational Process
The department provides general courses such as Molecular Biology, Fundamentals of Biotechnology, General Cytology and Histology, and Human Anatomy for students of the School of Biology, as well as the mandatory course Anthropology for students of the School of Psychology.

Specialized courses for Bachelor’s students include:
Organization of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Genomes, Processes and Equipment in Biotechnological Production, Molecular Cell Biology, Design and Application of Biosensors, Control and Management of Biotechnological Processes, Engineering and Computer Graphics, Microalgae Biotechnology, Economics and Organization of Biotechnological Production, Cell Technology, and Life Safety and Occupational Protection.

Special practical courses include: Cultivation and Molecular-Biological Characterization of Biotechnological Objects, Analysis of Gene Transcription Activity, Fundamentals of Genetic Engineering, and Molecular Diagnostics.