Botany Section

Botany Department is one of the oldest and most established Departments of the Department of Biology in the Faculty of Science at Istanbul University. Following the 1933 University Reform, German botanist Prof. Dr. Alfred Heilbronn (1885-1961) and Austrian citizen Prof. Dr. Leo Brauner (1898-1974) started their duties at Istanbul University. Within the framework of the 1933 University Reform, a new building was constructed in the Süleymaniye district for the Biology Institutes (Botanical and Zoological Institutes) of the Faculty of Science. Before the construction of the Biology Institute began, priority was given to the construction of the garden to provide plant material for students' practical applications. Following the initial regulations in 1934, the Istanbul University Botanic Garden, known internationally as Hortus Botanicus Universitatis Istanbulensis, was inaugurated in the spring of 1935. The Süleymaniye Biology Institute was opened for education and training on June 4, 1937, by Istanbul University's first Rector, Prof. Dr. Cemil Bilsel (1879-1949). Until the Higher Education Law No. 2547, enacted in 1981, education and training were provided on topics such as "General Botany Chair" and "Morphology, Physiology, Systematics, Ecology, Algology, Paleobotany" in the Biology Institute. With the enforcement of the Higher Education Law, working groups were dissolved, and Biology Departments were established, forming the Departments of the Biology Department.

"Botany is a scientific discipline whose importance is increasing due to the growing environmental problems of our era, changing land and plant cover due to global climate change, the need for biodiversity, and the demand for new food and drug sources. It continues to evolve in the light of new technologies, particularly in the fields of functional morphology, physiology, ecology, omics technologies, and bioinformatics. Students at the Biology Department of Istanbul University Faculty of Science receive education for four years, gaining detailed knowledge in systematic, morphology, anatomy, molecular taxonomy, physiology, plant ecology, plant growth and development, plant nutrition, stress physiology, herbicides, phytochemical analyses, palynology, phytoremediation, plant genetic resources, medicinal and aromatic plants, functional foods, plant secondary metabolites, phytopathology, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and bioinformatics.Our Department contributes to undergraduate education and training with the teaching staff and members. Additionally, thesis-based master's and doctoral programs are conducted at the Institute of Science  (https://fenbilimleri.istanbul.edu.tr/en/content/botany/information). The Biotechnology Laboratory, Plant Physiology and Molecular Analysis Laboratory, Environmental Food and Instrumental Analysis Laboratory, Imaging and Molecular Microbiology Laboratory (Phytopathology Laboratory), RNA Biology Research Laboratory, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) Imaging Laboratory, Microtechnique Laboratory, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research and Development Laboratory, Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory, and Computational Analysis Laboratory, equipped with high technological facilities, carry out scientific research with the support of projects from TUBITAK, Istanbul University BAP, and other institutions.

In addition, under the umbrella of our department, there is the ISTF (Istanbul University Faculty of Science Herbarium), which was established by German botanist Prof.Dr.A. Heilbronn at the end of the 1930s and is one of the first two herbaria established in universities with the universities law enacted in 1933. The most valuable collection of the herbarium is a plant collection collected from the surroundings of the Dead Sea (Lut Gölü), which was presented to the Palace in 1908, within the borders of the Ottoman Empire at that time. This collection, consisting of 238 plant specimens, is preserved in 18 velvet boxes bearing the palace emblem and the sultan's tuğra. The Herbarium, which contains over 40,000 plant specimens, is open to scientific research. Currently, efforts are underway to digitize this unique collection, in addition to traditional herbarium collections.

Academic Staff List of the Botany Section

Prof. Dr. Gül CEVAHİR ÖZ (Head of Section) https://profil.istanbul.edu.tr/en/p/cevahirg

Prof. Dr. ALliye ARAS https://profil.istanbul.edu.tr/tr/p/aaras

Prof. Dr. Osman EROL https://profil.istanbul.edu.tr/tr/p/erol

Prof. Dr. Tamer ÖZCAN https://profil.istanbul.edu.tr/tr/p/tameroz

Prof. Dr. Taylan KÖSESAKAL https://profil.istanbul.edu.tr/tr/p/taylank

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Elif YÜZBAŞIOĞLU https://profil.istanbul.edu.tr/tr/p/aytamka

Assoc. Prof. Dr. İbrahim Sırrı YÜZBAŞIOĞLU https://profil.istanbul.edu.tr/tr/p/yuzbasis

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mehmet BONA https://profil.istanbul.edu.tr/tr/p/mbona

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Serap SAĞLAM https://profil.istanbul.edu.tr/tr/p/sercag

Assist. Prof. Dr. Erdal ÜZEN https://profil.istanbul.edu.tr/tr/p/uzen

Assist. Prof. Dr. Fadime ERYILMAZ PEHLİVAN https://profil.istanbul.edu.tr/en/p/fadime

Assist. Prof. Dr. Hakan ÖZDEN https://profil.istanbul.edu.tr/en/p/ozdenh

Assist. Prof. Dr. Işıl TULUM https://profil.istanbul.edu.tr/en/p/isil.tulum

Assist. Prof. Dr. Mehmet TARDU https://profil.istanbul.edu.tr/en/p/mehmet.tardu

Assist. Prof. Dr. Yusuf Can GERÇEK https://profil.istanbul.edu.tr/en/p/yusuf.gercek

Res. Assist. Dr. Almıla ÇİFTÇİ https://profil.istanbul.edu.tr/en/p/almila.ciftci

Lecturer Dr. Hande MORGİL GERÇEK https://profil.istanbul.edu.tr/en/p/hande.morgil

Res. Assist. Kadir BOZTAŞ https://profil.istanbul.edu.tr/en/p/kadir.boztas

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General Biology Section

The basis of the Department of General Biology, which is affiliated with the Department of Biology of the Faculty of Science of Istanbul University, is the "Department of Radiobiology", which was established in 1968 in Kuyucu Murat Paşa Madrasa under the chairmanship of Prof. Dr. Atıf Şengün. With the Higher Education Law No. 2547 enacted in 1981, the Department of Biology was established at the Faculty of Science and the existing chairs began to serve as departments. There are seven research laboratories in our department: Radiobiology and Biological Dosimetry Laboratory, Tissue and Immunohistochemistry Laboratory, Cell and Tumor Biology Research Laboratories, Molecular Cancer Biology and Bioinformatics Research Laboratory, Radioecology Laboratory, Molecular Radiobiology and Plant Biotechnology Laboratory and Molecular Radiobiology and Plant Genomics Research Laboratory. All our research laboratories have FEDEK accreditation, and in these laboratories, cell and tumor biology, toxicology, radiobiology, the relationship of chromosome instability and radio sensitivity with aging and cancer, molecular cancer biology and bioinformatics, marine ecotoxicology and radio ecology, obtaining plant mutants, molecular and biochemical typing studies are being carried out. In the Department of General Biology, there are 5 Professors, 4 Associate Professors, 2 Doctor Lecturers, 1 Lecturer Doctor, 1 Research Assistant, and 1 Biologist. Research projects supported by National and International organizations, especially TUBITAK, are carried out by our faculty members and assistants who are experienced in their fields and have a high H index, and publications are made in journals included in international indexes. Our faculty members can go to universities abroad and conduct research through international collaborations.

Faculty members of the Department of General Biology teach the "Cell and Molecular Biology", "Radiobiology" and "Biotechnology" clusters in the senior year, in addition to the Biology Undergraduate Program courses. Postgraduate courses and Thesis Projects are continued within the scope of General Biology Master's and Doctoral programs.

You can access the working areas of the members from the links below:

Prof. Dr. Ömür BULAN (Head of Section) https://avesis.istanbul.edu.tr/bulan/

Prof. Dr. Tuncay ORTA https://avesis.istanbul.edu.tr/ortatun/

Prof. Dr. Gül ÖZCAN https://avesis.istanbul.edu.tr/gozcan/

Prof. Dr. Önder KILIÇ https://avesis.istanbul.edu.tr/okilic/

Prof. Dr. Murat BELİVERMİŞ https://avesis.istanbul.edu.tr/belmurat/

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sema ALİKAMANOĞLU https://avesis.istanbul.edu.tr/semakaman/

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ayşe ŞEN https://avesis.istanbul.edu.tr/senayse/

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nihal GÖREN SAĞLAM https://avesis.istanbul.edu.tr/gorenn/

Assoc. Prof. Dr. İdil ÇETİN https://avesis.istanbul.edu.tr/idil.cetin/

Assist. Prof. Dr. Orkun YAYCILI https://avesis.istanbul.edu.tr/oyaycili/

Assist. Prof. Dr. İlknur BUGAN GÜL https://avesis.istanbul.edu.tr/ibugan/

Lecturer Dr. Gizem AKMAN https://avesis.istanbul.edu.tr/gizem.akman/

Res. Assist. Melis ÇÖREMEN https://avesis.istanbul.edu.tr/meliscoremen/

Biologist Saim ERGENÇ

Hydrobiology Section

The Hydrobiology Section, established in 1981 within the Biology Department of the Faculty of Science through Law No. 2547 on Higher Education, conducts comprehensive research on planktonic organisms, benthic invertebrates, ichthyoplankton, fish, marine ecology, and water pollution in aquatic ecosystems. These investigations are carried out in seven laboratories, namely the Plankton Research Laboratory, Plankton Culture Laboratory, Benthos Research Laboratory, Fish and Fisheries Laboratory, Marine Bioactive Substance Laboratory, Environmental DNA (eDNA) Analysis Laboratory, and Water Analysis Laboratory, established through projects initiated by the department's faculty members.

The research conducted in these laboratories encompasses revealing the existing plankton species, benthic invertebrates, and fish fauna of the country. In addition to identifying endemic and endangered species, studies are conducted on the growth and reproductive biology of species, along with microalgal culture research, aiming to preserve fish populations.

Through its undergraduate and postgraduate education, the Hydrobiology Section aspires to cultivate individuals equipped with contemporary knowledge capable of competing nationally and internationally. Graduates are expected to possess expertise in the taxonomy, ecology, and origin of all aquatic organisms and the ability to assess water quality and its impact on organisms. The department aims to produce environmentally conscious individuals, contribute solutions to environmental problems, conduct original research, and contribute to science, nature, and society.

In alignment with these objectives, graduates find employment opportunities in research institutes, natural history museums, aquaculture facilities, astrobiology research laboratories, forensic medicine, the food sector, environmental organizations within ministries and municipalities, and academia.

The staff of this section constitute a successful academic team, highly specialized and experienced in their respective fields. Their scientific research receives support from national and international organizations such as the European Union, TÜBİTAK (Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey), ministries, and municipalities.

The Istanbul University Faculty of Science Hydrobiology Collection (IUSHM), established and developed through the effectiveness of faculty members who have served in the department over the years, is a scientific collection storing specimens of living species found in our seas and inland waters. The collection is accessible to all students and researchers.

For information on the research areas of the members in the section, you can refer to the following links:

Prof. Dr. Neslihan ÖZDELİCE (Head of Section) https://avesis.istanbul.edu.tr/neslbalk

Prof. Dr. Serhat ALBAYRAK https://avesis.istanbul.edu.tr/serhatal

Prof. Dr. Lütfiye ERYILMAZ https://avesis.istanbul.edu.tr/lutmazer

Prof. Dr. Ayşegül MÜLAYİM https://avesis.istanbul.edu.tr/aysegulm

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Muharrem BALCI https://avesis.istanbul.edu.tr/muharrem.balci

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Cem DALYAN https://avesis.istanbul.edu.tr/cdalyan

Assist. Prof. Dr. Benin TOKLU ALIÇLI https://avesis.istanbul.edu.tr/benin

Assist. Prof. Dr. Senem ÇAĞLAR https://avesis.istanbul.edu.tr/senemc

Assist. Prof. Dr. Emre YEMİŞKEN https://avesis.istanbul.edu.tr/emre.yemisken

Lecturer Dr. (U) Turgay DURMUŞ https://avesis.istanbul.edu.tr/turgay.durmus 

Res. Assist. Nur Bikem KESİCİ https://avesis.istanbul.edu.tr/nbkesici      

Molecular Biology Section

Division of Molecular Biology carries out the education and academic research activities with its members, containing 5 Professors, 1 Associate Professor, 1 Assistant Professor, and 3 Research Assistants. In addition, it serves to train new generation scientists who support life sciences, who can compete at national and international levels, and who serve to disseminate scientific studies by turning them into social benefits and to bring them into the science, health and industrial sectors (https://fenbilimleri.istanbul.edu.tr/tr/content/molekuler-biyoloji/tanitim).

Our mission is to carry out  mechanistic and translational studies in various aspects of molecular biology, such as molecular cell biology, biochemistry, glycobiology, molecular cancer biology, nanobiotechnology, stem cell biology, regenerative and restorative biology, and omics sciences, which allow understanding of the molecular basis of life, including diabetes, cancer, various lung and gastro-intestinal system diseases,  and  to find solutions to problems in these fields via theoretical and experimental approaches. For this purpose, innovative R&D activities in world-class, containing 6 TÜBİTAK, 3 TUSEB, and 15 BAP-sourced projects with a budget of 13.573.865 TL are being carried out between 2020-2023 in our Division.  

 As products of these researches, in the last three years, 39 international articles within the scope of SCI, two international articles outside the scope of SCI, and two national articles have been published, and our studies have received 480 citations in Web of Science. Additionally, one international PCT patent, one international European Patent and three national patents have been registered, and one international PCT patent and two national patents are still being examined. Our division aims to investigate cell death, damage, and repair mechanisms at the molecular level in various experimental disease models and human diseases in vivo and in vitro, to make a fundamental contribution to therapeutic approaches for human health and to ensure the implementation of studies by creating a bridge between basic and clinical sciences. It continues the collaborative works together with Cerrahpaşa University Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Engineering, Koç University Faculty of Medicine, Health Sciences University Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul Medeniyet University Faculty of Medicine, Engineering and Natural Sciences, Demiroğlu Bilim University Faculty of Medicine and Istanbul University Faculty of Pharmacy.

Academic Staff

Prof. Dr. Füsun ÖZTAY (Head of Section) https://avesis.istanbul.edu.tr/fusoztay

Prof. Dr. Bahriye Pelin ARDA https://avesis.istanbul.edu.tr/parda

Prof. Dr. Engin KAPTAN https://avesis.istanbul.edu.tr/engkaptan

Prof. Dr. Selda OKTAYOĞLU https://avesis.istanbul.edu.tr/selgez

Prof. Dr. Şehnaz BOLKENT https://avesis.istanbul.edu.tr/sbolkent

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ayşe KARATUĞ KAÇAR https://avesis.istanbul.edu.tr/akaratug

Assist. Prof. Dr. Serap SANCAR https://avesis.istanbul.edu.tr/ssancar

Res. Assist. Dr. Merve ERÇİN https://avesis.istanbul.edu.tr/merveercin

Res. Assist. Merve YILDIRIM https://avesis.istanbul.edu.tr/merve.yildirim

Res. Assist. Öyküm GENÇ AKAR https://avesis.istanbul.edu.tr/oykumgenc

Courses Offered at Undergraduate Level

Molecular Biology, Molecular Biology Techniques Molecular Cell Biology, Organelle Biogenesis and Homeostasis, Biochemistry, Selected Topics in Biochemistry, Enzymology, Stem Cell Biology, Cell and Molecular Biology Research I and II, Introduction to Scientific Research, Biology Applications in Forensic Sciences, Basis of Human Diseases, Neurobiology Introduction, The Epigenetic Control of Gene Expression, Introduction to Toxicology, Introduction to Biotechnology, Introduction to Nanobiotechnology.

Courses Offered at Graduate Level

Courses for MSc: Advanced Molecular Biology, Molecular Mechanisms of Cell Death, Experimental Design in Molecular Biology, Model Organisms in Molecular Biology, Selected Topics in Molecular Biology, Molecular Immunology, Advanced Molecular Cell Biology, Cell Biochemistry, Glycobiology, Molecular Cancer Biology, Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Nanobiotechnology and Its Use in Treatment.

Courses for PhD: Bioactive Peptides, Molecular Basis of Various Diseases and Therapeutic Approaches I and II, Cell Signaling Mechanisms, Cancer Biochemistry, Tissue Remodeling, Extracellular Matrix and Dynamics, Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering, Molecular and Biochemical Toxicology, RNA World.

Fundamental And Industrial Microbiology Section

Established under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Ayşın Çotuk on June 22, 2007, within the Biology Department of Istanbul University Faculty of Science, the Department of Fundamental and Industrial Microbiology has its roots in the research and academic activities of the Radiobiology Department since 1968. Since 1981, it has continued with research projects in the Department of General Biology and theses in the Microbiology graduate programme of Istanbul University Institute of Science under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Ayşın Çotuk, and a microbiology group was formed with academicians who earned the title of Dr. This group, currently led by Prof. Dr. Ayten Kimiran, constitutes the academic staff of the present-day 'Department of Fundamental and Industrial Microbiology.' Within the Department of Fundamental and Industrial Microbiology, research and projects are conducted on a variety of topics, including microbial ecology, Legionella pneumophila, isolation and identification of sulfate-reducing bacteria, sulfur-oxidizing bacteria, free-living amoebae, mycology, water pollution (marine, freshwater, drinking water, utility water), food microbiology, determination of antimicrobial activity, disinfectant efficacy studies (suspension, biofilm), quorum sensing, biocorrosion, petroleum microbiology, cave microbiology, microplastic biodegradation, high-performance concrete improvement, biofilm, aeromicrobiology, genomics, bacterial virulence factors, antibiotic resistome, and more. The projects conducted in our department receive support from the Istanbul University Scientific Research Projects Unit, TÜBİTAK, and other official institutions.

Fundamental and Industrial Microbiology Section Lecturers

Prof. Dr. Ayten KİMİRAN (Head of Section) https://avesis.istanbul.edu.tr/kimiran/ 

Prof. Dr. İrfan TÜRETGEN https://avesis.istanbul.edu.tr/turetgen/ 

Prof. Dr. Esra SUNGUR https://avesis.istanbul.edu.tr/esungur/ 

Prof. Dr. Nihal DOĞRUÖZ GÜNGÖR https://avesis.istanbul.edu.tr/ndogruoz/ 

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zuhal ZEYBEK https://avesis.istanbul.edu.tr/zeybek/ 

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Duygu KADAİFÇİLER https://avesis.istanbul.edu.tr/dgoksay/ 

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Elif BOZÇAL DAĞDEVİREN https://avesis.istanbul.edu.tr/elif.bozcal/ 

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Miray ONAN https://avesis.istanbul.edu.tr/ustuntrk/ 

Assist. Prof. Dr. Elim Özlem ARSLAN AYDOĞDU https://avesis.istanbul.edu.tr/ustuntrk/  

Res. Assist. Gülnihan SELİM https://avesis.istanbul.edu.tr/gulnihan.selim/

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