Ed. by V. V. Demidchik. «Faculty Of

UDK 57:378.4(476-25)096 Authors: V. V. Lysak, V. V. Demidchik, N. S. Pavlova, T. I. Ditchenko, I. M. Popinachenko Edited by V. V. Demidchik, C.Sc., D.Sc. Recommended by the Academic Council of the Faculty of Biology September 7, 2011, protocol № 1 Faculty of Biology of Belarusian State University / V. V. Lysak [et al.] ; ed. by V. V. Demidchik. – Minsk : BSU, 2012. – 64 p. : figs. ISBN 978-985-518-756-2. This guide to international postgraduate students and visitors provides historical perspective on the development of Biological Faculty and describes the major research and pedagogical activities of this leading Belarusian higher education establishment. UDK 57:378.4(476-25)096 ISBN 978-985-518-756-2 © BSU, 2012 INTRODUCTION he Faculty of Biology of the Belarusian State University has been founded in 1931. It is a major biology research T and teaching establishment in the country, which includes nine Departments and nine Research Laboratories. More than eleven thousands biologists have been graduated from the Faculty since 1931. About eighty graduates have received the ‘Doctor of Sciences’ degree (highest scientifi c degree, equivalent to Habilita- tion or old style UK D.Sc.); seven hundreds graduates obtained the ‘Candidate of Sciences’ degree (equivalent to Ph.D.). A number of world-class researchers and outstanding managers of high education started their career in the Faculty. For ex- ample, Professor Leonid M. Sushchenya was graduated from the Faculty in 1953. He is widely accepted as one of the creators of modern Freshwater Biology. Leonid M. Sushchenya was an Aca- demician of both Soviet and Belarusian Academies of Sciences. In 1990s, he was a President of National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (NASB). Another ecologist, Professor Alexander P. Ostapenya, was a Head of Hydrobiology Laboratory (largest in Europe). Professor Ekaterina I. Slobozhanina (graduated in 1967) is currently a Deputy Director of the Institute of Biophysics and Cell Engineering of the NASB. Another alumni, Professor Oleg G. Davydenko (graduated in 1973), works as a Head of Labora- tory in the Institute of Genetics and Cytology of NASB. Vitaliy P. Semenchenko (graduated in 1973) is a Deputy Director Gene- ral of NASB Scientifi c and Practical Center of Bio-resources. Professor Sergey A. Usanov (graduated in 1973) is a Head of the Institute of Bio-organic Chemistry of the NASB. These success- ful academics are well-known in Belarus and abroad. Since early 1990s, graduates of BSU Biological Faculty have been settling all around the world; a number of them currently work as Professors, Lecturers or Senior Research Associates in the world’s leading research universities, such as Cambridge, Heidelberg, Harvard or Oxford. Some graduates have become top managers in bio- industry (Glaxosmithkline, Pfi zer, etc.). The highest standard in biology teaching is maintained due to the strong linkage between educational process and the scientifi c research in the Faculty. Internationally recognised centers for study of hydrobiology, biochemistry, plant ion transport, microbial molecular genetics, entomology and others have been established in the Faculty since 1931. The Faculty collaborates with NASB Department of Biological Sciences forming Joint University Cen- tre between BSU and NASB. As a result a number of research students have good quality publications and win Student Biology 3 Olympiads, prizes and young scientist research grants both in Belarus and abroad. The international collaboration is another strong feature of the Faculty. The Faculty routinely organises several key international conferences, such as «Lake Ecosystems: Biological Processes, Anthropogenic Transformation, Quality of Water», «Xenobio- tics and Living Systems», etc., usually involving several hundred participants. The Faculty publishes peer-reviewed «Physiological, biochemical and molecular fundamentals of biological systems». Apart of the NASB Department of Biological Sciences, the Faculty has established collaborative links with research institu- tions of NASB Department of Medical Sciences and NASB De- partment of Agricultural Sciences. The Faculty owes one of the Europe’s most advanced Zoology Museum, which has recently been renovated to the highest international standard. It is also a home of old Fundamental Herbarium, University Botanical Gar- dens and Biological Theatre. The Faculty also owes a research base on Naroch Lake (large lake in the Northern Belarus), which is called «Vinberg’s Naroch Biological Station» and used both for teaching and research purposes. The Faculty is committed to providing students with modern and well-equipped lecture halls and research facilities to ensure a fi rst-class environment in which to study and do research. It offers excellent computer rooms, free wi-fi internet access in the Faculty buildings. The Faculty also organises students’ research conferences and paper contests, Annual Belarusian Biology Olympiad for High Education Students. Several departments in the Faculty possess a special infrastructure, which is called Student Research Laboratories. These Laboratories are aimed to provide research guidance, space and equipment for student independent research work. When preparing for exams, students are provided with all necessary handbooks (library is available on campus), free exam training using Moodle based environment and other up-to-date resources. 4 DEPARTMENTS OF SPECIALISATION • Biochemistry • Botany • Genetics • General Ecology and Biology Teaching • Human and Animal Physiology • Microbiology • Molecular Biology • Plant Physiology and Biochemistry • Zoology Note that Faculty Courses (currently about 50) are compulsory for all students while ten Departmental Courses are only taught for students specialising in individual Department. CAREER PATH AFTER GRADUATION • Postgraduate studies in BSU or other universities • National and international centres for fundamental and applied research (researchers) • High education establishments, colleges and schools (lecturers, teachers) • Analytical laboratories of epidemiology, food quality con- trol, sanitary, criminology, certifi cation and customer services (heads of laboratories, engineers, doctors-technicians, etc.) • Food, biofuel, pharmaceutical, chemical, medical, veteri- nary, sanitary and forest industries (heads of research, technolo- gists, engineers, etc.) • Biotechnological companies (heads of research, technolo- gists, engineers, etc.) • Plant nurseries, plant micropropagation and selection centres (agronomists, operators, etc.) • Governmental and private centres for ecological monitor- ing, environmental pollution, mineral and natural resource man- agement, sustainable development companies (heads of laboratories, experts, engineers, etc.) • National parks, botanical and zoological gardens (researchers, engineers, etc.) 7 RESEARCH RESEARCH LABORATORIES • Hydroecology • Biotechnology • Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology • Physiology • Plant Cell Physiology and Biotechnology • Biochemistry of Metabolism • Applied Biochemistry • Biochemistry and Pharmacology of Bioactive Substances • Transgenic Plants STUDENT RESEARCH LABORATORIES • Molecular Biotechnology • Applied Plant Cell Biology and Biotechnology • Structure and Dynamics of Biodiversity MAIN FIELDS OF RESEARCH • Diversity and ecology of higher plants, fungi, lichens and the ways of maintaining the biodiversity of fl ora. Characterisation of new plant species • Genetic basis, mechanisms of biosynthesis and secretion of hydrolytic enzymes, factors of pathogenicity and virulence of phytopathogenic bacteria • Biological variety of Belarusian fauna, studies of individual animal species at the biocenosis level • Molecular and cellular mechanisms of plant ion transport, mineral exchange, radionuclide uptake from the soil, signaling and early events in stress response leading to plant stress resistance or programmed cell death • The physiology and biotechnology of plant cell, tissue and organ cultures • Neuronal and biochemical mechanisms of homeostasis and its maintenance under different physical and chemical conditions • Matter turnover and energy fl ow in water ecosystems, lake, river and reservoir productivity, self-purifi cation; formation of water quality • Molecular mechanisms of xenobiotics action on environment • Pharmacological compounds, compositions and extracts of plant and animal origin, exhibiting anticancer, radioprotective, photoprotective and antimutagenic activities • Molecular genetic mechanisms of microbial synthesis of 8 compounds for applications in biotechnology CURRENT PROJECTS AND RESEARCH FUNDING Currently, there are approximately 100 funded research projects in the Fuculty. During last fi ve years (since 2008), Faculty research grant income was over 25 billion Belarusian roubles (appr. 5 000 000 US dollars) of research grants and 12.5 billion Belarusian roubles (appr. 2 500 000 US dollars) of equipment awards. The Faculty takes part in the following State Programmes of Fundamental and Applied Research: (1) «Fundamental Basis of Biotechnology» (Subpro- grammes: «Molecule and Cell», «Genomics», «Novel Biotechnolo- gies»); (2) «Fundamental and Applied Medicine and Pharmacology» (Subprogrammes: «Pharmacological Technologies», «Fundamental and Applied Medicine», «Chemical Pharmacological Synthesis»); (3) «Convergence» (Subprogrammes: «Modern Natural Sciences and Future Technologies»); (4) «Energy Effi ciency»; (5) «Nuclear Power, Nuclear and Radiation Technologies»; (6) «Chemical Tech- nologies and

Load more