BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT

Yayın Tarihi | 29 June 2024, Saturday

GENERAL INFORMATION

Definition and Introduction

Biology is the science that investigates the structural, functional, morphological, ecological, and developmental characteristics of all living beings, studies their origin, distribution, and classification based on their evolutionary development, and serves as a fundamental basis for many scientific fields. The science of Biology is needed in many research areas, primarily health, veterinary, and food. Developments in biological sciences form the basis for advancements in many fields worldwide. Biological research and developments actually form the foundation of many areas, from the health sector to the food sector, from the livestock sector to the pharmaceutical sector. Therefore, our knowledge about many living beings and/or groups of living beings, especially humans, has been exponentially increasing up to the present century and it is evident that it will continue to increase in the future.

 

Mission-vision

As the Biology department, our vision is to be a unit that is followed on a national and international scale, primarily in demand, and makes significant contributions to the development of our university, our region, and our country. Our mission and purpose as the Biology department are to train biologists who can conduct innovative, original, and qualified studies in accordance with the fundamental principles of natural sciences and ethical values by following current scientific developments, have problem-solving abilities, have developed awareness of protecting the environment and biological richness, have received qualified education, and are equipped with contemporary knowledge.

 

History

The Biology Department Undergraduate Program has been active within the Faculty of Science and Letters since the 2008-2009 Academic Year. The department's graduate education activities continue with the Master's (2009-2010) and Doctorate (2013-2014) Programs within the Institute of Science.

 

Job description and employment areas

Students who graduate from the Biology Department will receive the title and authority of "biologist." Biology graduates will have the opportunity to work in various fields such as health services, medical research units, biotechnology, hydrobiology and aquaculture, national parks and wildlife, biology education activities and biology programs, environmental protection, ecological planning, agriculture and forestry, food control laboratories, treatment plants, biological products, criminology and forensic medicine, customs, biomedical, pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical raw materials, cosmetics, and vector control.

DEPARTMENT MANAGEMENT AND HEAD OF DEPARTMENT OFFICES
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mustafa ÖZTOP
SECTION CHAIR
mail
moztop@mehmetakif.edu.tr
phone
0248 213 3062 / 3005
abs
ABS Profili
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Neslihan BALPINAR
HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Asuman PEKGÖZ
HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL BIOLOGY
Prof. Dr. İskender GÜLLE
HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HYDROBIOLOGY
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dilara AKÇORA YILDIZ
HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
Prof. Dr. Ümit KEBAPÇI
HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY
Serap YILMAZ
DEPARTMENT SECRETARIAT
mail
serapyilmazaksu@mehmetakif.edu.tr
phone
+90 248 213 3089
EDUCATION -TEACHING

GENERAL

Our academic staff consists of 5 professors, 6 associate professors, 1 assistant professor, and 1 research assistant with a doctorate. In the preparation of our undergraduate and graduate programs, the latest developments are followed as much as possible. In addition to the basic theoretical and applied field courses in line with the basic needs of the region and the country, especially considering the opportunities in our country and the region where it is located, elective courses are also offered considering the ecological, hydrobiological, archaeological, anthropological, livestock, etc. characteristics and activities of the region. On the other hand, field applications that will support students' educational activities and facility visits and trips that offer the opportunity to observe and experience developments and applications in the field are also organized.

 

UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM
Our students will graduate as biologists after four years of biology education.

 

Diploma Program
To graduate from the department; at the end of the VIII. Semester, it is necessary to take courses with at least 155 ± 10 national credits and 240 ECTS credits, to achieve a weighted general grade point average of at least 2.00 (70/100), and to be considered successful according to the "Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Associate and Undergraduate Education-Teaching and Examination Regulation". Our graduates receive the title of "Biologist".

 

Qualifications of Graduated Students
Our graduated students gain full competence in the basic subjects of biology, molecular biology and genetics, plant and animal systematics, basic biochemistry, environmental pollution, ecology, and hydrobiology; while gaining further qualifications and competence in some specific areas they desire with the numerous elective courses available in the department. Thanks to the skills and competencies they have acquired, our graduates can find employment opportunities in public and private institutions covering the following areas.

  • Agriculture, forestry, and aquaculture
  • Plant and animal systematics
  • Biochemistry laboratories
  • Molecular techniques
  • Environmental pollution laboratories
  • Ecotourism activities
  • Ecological activities

 

GRADUATE PROGRAMS

Master's Degree
They must take at least 7 different courses from the course list on the ECTS page and successfully complete these courses, complete at least 21 national credits (including 60 ECTS credits including the seminar), take the specialization course related to the thesis topic (20 ECTS), prepare and defend a thesis (40 ECTS), and have a grade point average of at least 70 out of 100.

Doctorate
For students accepted with a thesis master's degree, it consists of a total of at least 180 ECTS credits, including at least seven courses from the list on the ECTS page, a specialization course, two seminars, a proficiency exam, a thesis proposal, and a thesis study. For students accepted with a bachelor's degree, it consists of 270 ECTS credits, including at least fourteen courses, a proficiency exam, a thesis proposal, and a thesis study. The course load is calculated as 30 ECTS per semester, 60 ECTS credits per year. Students who successfully complete 120 ECTS credits, including two seminars, are considered to have completed the course period and can take the proficiency exam. The doctoral proficiency exam is conducted in two parts, written and oral, by the jury.

The Doctoral Proficiency Committee evaluates the exam jury's recommendations and the student's success in written and oral exams and decides by majority vote whether the student is successful or unsuccessful. The student must score at least 75 out of 100 in each section. A student who fails any of the written or oral exams is considered unsuccessful in the proficiency exam and must retake the proficiency exam by the end of the next semester. In the retake of the proficiency exam, the same jury members are reappointed, except in mandatory cases. The exam documents are reported to the Institute within three days following the exam by the head of the EABD.

The student's thesis work is evaluated by the TİK by majority vote as successful or unsuccessful. A student who does not submit a report on the specified date is considered unsuccessful. The report submitted to the thesis monitoring committee and the committee's decision regarding the report are forwarded to the Institute Directorate by the relevant EABD head within three days. The TİK continues to meet regarding the unsuccessful student.

 

TEACHING INFRASTRUCTURE AND FACILITIES

Educational and research activities in the department are carried out in 4 classrooms, 3 student laboratories, and 17 research laboratories. The department has basic laboratory equipment such as binocular student microscopes, stereo microscopes, fume hoods, vortex, scales, magnetic stirrers with heating, shaker mixers, autoclave, deionized water device, PCR devices, pure water device, incubator, drying oven, inverted microscope, ultraviolet spectrophotometer, vacuum oven, evaporator set, centrifuges, thermal cycler, ultrasonic disintegrator, climate cabinet, etc. Additionally, analyses and examinations that cannot be performed in our department can be obtained for a nominal fee at our university's BİLTEKMER laboratory.

 

RESEARCH AND PROJECT ACTIVITIES

In addition to numerous regional and university-supported projects carried out within our department, we have completed 3 TÜBİTAK projects so far, and we currently have 2 ongoing TÜBİTAK supported projects.

ACADEMIC PERSONNEL

Link List (Title)

Link List (Title)

Prof. Dr. İskender GÜLLE
Department of Hydrobiology
mail
igulle@mehmetakif.edu.tr
phone
+90 248 2133028
abs
ABS Profili
Prof. Dr. Tamer ALBAYRAK
Department of Zoology
mail
talbayrak@mehmetakif.edu.tr
phone
+90 248 2133034
abs
ABS Profili
Prof. Dr. Deniz İNNAL
Department of Hydrobiology
mail
denizinnal@mehmetakif.edu.tr
phone
+90 248 2133045
abs
ABS Profili
Prof. Dr. Pınar GÜLLE
Department of Hydrobiology
mail
pinargulle@mehmetakif.edu.tr
phone
+90 248 2133079
abs
ABS Profili
Prof. Dr. Ümit KEBAPÇI
Department of Zoology
mail
kebapci@mehmetakif.edu.tr
phone
+90 248 2133032
abs
ABS Profili
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Neslihan BALPINAR
Department of Botany
mail
nerdogan@mehmetakif.edu.tr
phone
+90 248 213 30 26
abs
ABS Profili
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Burçin Yenisey KAYNAŞ
Department of General Biology
mail
bykaynas@mehmetakif.edu.tr
phone
+90 248 2133052
abs
ABS Profili
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mustafa ÖZTOP
Department of General Biology
mail
moztop@mehmetakif.edu.tr
phone
+90 248 2133062 / 3005
abs
ABS Profili
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dilara AKÇORA YILDIZ
Department of Molecular Biology
mail
dilaraakcora@mehmetakif.edu.tr
phone
+90 248 2133073
abs
ABS Profili
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Asuman PEKGÖZ
Department of General Biology
mail
akaradeniz@mehmetakif.edu.tr
phone
+90 248 2133027
abs
ABS Profili
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Seyit Ali KAMANLI
Department of Hydrobiology
mail
sakamanli@mehmetakif.edu.tr
phone
+90 248 2133218
abs
ABS Profili
Dr. Lecturer Member Duygu Ceren ÇAĞLAN KAYA
Department of Zoology
mail
caglan@mehmetakif.edu.tr
phone
+90 248 2133059
abs
ABS Profili
Res. Asst. Dr. Yasin KIZILYER
Department of Molecular Biology
mail
ykizilyer@mehmetakif.edu.tr
phone
+90 248 2133100
abs
ABS Profili
COURSE CONTENTS

You can access the course contents of our department from the link below.