Department of Biological Sciences

Programs

Department of Biological Sciences is currently offering an undergraduate degree program in Molecular Biology and Genetics (BS degree) as well as a minor degree in Molecular Biology and Genetics.

Accreditations

ASIIN: Accreditation Agency for Degree Programmes in Engineering, Informatics, Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Accreditation Agency for Degree Programmes in Engineering, Informatics, Natural Sciences and Mathematics
https://www.asiin.de
Accredited Programs: Molecular Biology and Genetics (B.S.) Medical Biotechnology (without Thesis) (M.S.)

Our Mission

Our mission is to provide undergraduate students with an education that complements theoretical information with technical laboratory skills, while giving students opportunities for personal growth and for building a knowledge base for fruitful careers. The research and teaching interests of the department members include fundamental, as well as medically relevant, problems in molecular biology, genetics, genomics, proteomics, cell biology, environment, population genetics, biochemistry, and bioinformatics. Our mission includes further development of educational and research opportunities in these fields, and efficient transfer of up-to-date knowledge in these fields to our students. Furthermore, our mission includes further strengthening our educational capacities by strategic recruitment of new faculty, improvement of core laboratories, expansion of existing programs, and development of new high impact research clusters. These core goals are expected to position the Department of Biological Sciences to achieve national and international research and education prominence in the coming decade. In addition, our department is also committed to offering a number of courses for non-majors in order to provide those students with opportunities to learn and think about the larger issues in the biological sciences, and thus serves the society in general by promoting education in biological sciences.

Administration

Chair:
Prof. Dr. BAHAR TANERİ

Vice Chair(s):
Assist. Prof. Dr. BURAK ALİ ÇİÇEK

Departmental Facilities

Students of the Molecular Biology and Genetics program benefit from the chemistry, physics, computer and audio-visual technology facilities of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. In addition, the main technical education on molecular biology and genetics laboratory skills is provided at the Molecular Biology and Genetics Laboratory housed by the Biological Sciences Department within the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. Publications offered by the Eastern Mediterranean University Library, allow the students to access and explore the latest literature in different fields of biological sciences. E.M.U. Biological Sciences Department has various on-going collaborations with national and international universities, institutions and private establishments regarding students' internship opportunities. Additionally, students of the program are offered the opportunity to take part as an assistant researcher in projects carried out by the department's academic staff.

With the current Molecular Biology and Genetics Laboratory equipment, undergraduate students are able to perform several different molecular experiments, some of which are listed below;

• Isolate DNA from different cell types,
• Perform Restriction Enzyme digestion on DNA samples,
• Run gel electrophoresis,
• Perform PCR reactions,
• Transform bacterial cells.

Distinguishing Attributes

Department of Biological Siences has state-of-the-art student and research laboratories. Students are encouraged to be part of research projects under department members’ supervision. Molecular Biology and Genetics department members play key roles in life sciences initiatives that involve genomics, cell and molecular biology, bioinformatics and environmental science at EMU. As a basic science department, we also support curricula of other disciplines including EMU’s Medical School, Faculty of Pharmacology, and Faculty of Health Sciences with core courses in molecular biology and medical genetics. Molecular Biology and Genetics program serves as a bridge between investigators of the Department and other investigators throughout the university, and foster robust interfaces between the clinical, basic sciences, and engineering providing a multidisciplinary stage for collaborative research at EMU.One of our main achievements is to be able to offer an undergraduate education within international standards and in a truly multi-cultural education setting, achieved by a very high international. In addition, in order to encourage extracurricular activities of our students, our department is affiliated with four different student clubs at EMU; Environment Club, Scuba Club, Genetics Club, and Surfing Club.

Major Accomplishments

Internationally educated and trained faculty members bring many areas of strengths to the Department of Biological Sciences including: First and foremost education in Molecular Biology and Genetic, and research in the areas of

1. RNA and genomic expression analysis.
2. Bioinformatics.
3. Genetic disorders.
4. Alternative splicing analysis.
5. Molecular Microbiology.
6. Cancer Genetics.
7. Genome sequence analyses.
8. Environmental studies.

Quality of Graduates

Department of Biological Sciences offers an engaging and academically rigorous undergraduate program that addresses the national need for professionally trained scientists and scientifically literate citizens. Department members take active roles in using their research to shape undergraduate education and make real-life research experiences available to our graduates. The Department strives to ensure that the students gain a state-of-the-art education in Molecular Biology and Genetics, which is currently the only undergraduate program available in this field in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Our program is designed in accordance with internationally recognized programs and is comparable with those in well-established universities in Turkey, Europe and the U.S.A. The Department is expected to graduate its first group of students in 2015.

Career Opportunities

Following the successful completion of the 4-year undergraduate curriculum, program graduates will receive a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Molecular Biology and Genetics. Upon receiving this degree, graduates have the necessary foundation to further their education in relevant post-graduate programs. Students will be able to continue their further graduate education in various national and international academic settings. In addition, graduates have the opportunity to find employment in variety of fields including:

• medical settings
• private hospitals
• state hospitals
• teaching
• clinical genetics
• bioinformatics sector
• pharmaceutical companies
• biotechnology industries
• private diagnostic laboratories
• research institutes
• agricultural sector
• environmental sector

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