University of Bucharest

Faculty of Biology
~ rather old, around 1870, as Faculty of Sciences (but not as old as Belgian universities)
2 buildings 1 building to be constructed
Specially designed for scientific research
2 main activities
Higher Education
Scientific Research
Deeply inter-connected
CONTACT
www.bio.unibuc.ro
+40-21-318.15.66 (Secretary)
+40-21-311.80.77 (Dean)
Dean Professor. dr. Tatiana Vassu
Vice-Dean Professor dr. Anca Dinischiotu
Scientific Secretary Professor dr. Carmen Postolache
Higher Education Educational structure & plan follows Bologna Cart :
UNDERGRADUATE
studies
MASTER
studies
DOCTORAL
studies
POSTDOCTORAL
studies
DURATION
3 yrs
6 sem
2 yrs
4 sem
3 yrs
6 sem
3 yrs
6 sem
DIPLOMA B.Sc.
M.Sc. Ph.D.
Postdoctoral
diploma
Available
positions
without taxes
150/yr 100/yr
30/yr
10/yr
Admitance
process
Grades
previously
obtained in
highschool
Written + oral
examination
Research
project + oral
exam
Research
project + oral
exam
ETCS ETCS ETCS
ETCS
UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES
3 yrs = 6 sem.
- Organized in 3 educational sections
Biology
Biochemistry
Ecology
- All 3 have
Common (core) topics
Specific topics
- Practical skills are very important
Topics = lecture + lab sessions
Educational plans include as separate topics :
- One 3wks lab practice
- One 3wks field practice
Students evaluation At each topic it includes theoretical knowledge and practical skills
It comprises
- Continuous evaluation through all the sem.
- Final evaluation
During last of the 3 yrs, students are given less topics, but are required to
work on a license thesis, that is mostly theoretical but also includes some
personal experimental data.
License thesis is to be publicly defended and graded
License Thesis
License Diploma
Undergraduate studies finishes with Bachelor of Science diploma
ETCS
GRADUATE STUDIES
=
Master Studies (M.Sc.)
Doctoral Studies (Ph.D.)
The 2 main activities higher education and scientific research shift weighs, e.g. scientific
research activities increases from undergraduate to graduate programs.
6 master programs
Applied Genetics & Biotechnology
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Neurobiology
Medical Biology
Ecology
(Integrated Management of Natural Resources)
Molecular Biotechnology
- fully given in English
- for foreign students
- ~ 30 positions taxes-free
- starts this fall
~ 20 available positions
taxes-free
Admittance
Written and oral examination
Duration
2 yrs = 4 sem,
~ 10 14 school hrs / week
Most topics include more lab sessions than lectures
Students evaluation Requires more individual study and lab work
Master Disertation
Thesis
From the 4 semesters, only 3 include school hours, and the last
sem. includes only lab work for the disertation thesis.
Disertation thesis is to be publicly defended and graded
Master Diploma Master studies finishes with Master of Science diploma
ETCS
School Hours
Students are encouraged to apply and to use mobility scholarships offered by
European programs, e.g. Erasmus
FACULTY PERSONNEL
Organized in 5 departments
Genetics
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Microbiology & Botany
Anatomy Physiology - Biophysics
Ecology
+ Secretary
+ Administrative
Each department includes
-Professors (from very young assistants
to full professors)
- researchers
- technical personnel
MAIN RESEARCH AREAS
Are performed by
Faculty staff (professors, researchers, technicians)
More or less bachelors
Master students, PhD students, postdocs
Microbiology, Microbial Genetics
&
Biotechnology
molecular genetics of biodegrading microorganisms
microbial community studies on pristine / polluted ecosystems
molecular genetics of lactic acid bacteria & yeasts
antimicrobial activity of various natural isolates of yeasts
mechanisms of bacterial adherence in microbial biofilms involved in human health
construction of shuttle vectors for biotechnological microorganisms
molecular taxonomy and phylogeny studies on bacteria & yeasts
Microbial Cell Culture Collection ~ 3000 strains (natural isolates & modified MOs)
Cancer Molecular
Studies
Molecular genetics studies on several cancer types, e.g. skin cancer, breast cancer,
colorectal cancer, oropharynx cancer
Human & Mammals
Genetics
Genetics and molecular studies on some human genes using Drosophila as model organism
immunochemistry and cytogenetics studies on mammal gametogenesis
molecular studies on human cells apoptosis
genetic diversity and genotyping studies on human population using various genetic markers
(microsatellites, mtDNA, Y chromosome)
epigenetic markers in autism disorders
molecular diagnosis in neuromuscular disorders (DMD, BMD), blood diseases (thalassemia),
diabetes, autoimmune disease, cystic fibrosis
Biophysical Mechanisms
in Neuroprocesses
Biopysics studies in various normal / pathological conditions on human neurons (patch-clamp)
COMPLEX ECOLOGY
- Complex ecology / ecotoxicology / biodiversity studies on
Danube River
Danube Delta
Black Sea
RESEARCH
PERSPECTIVES
Bionanotechnologies, DNA sensors
SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
PROJECTS in 2010
PUBLICATIONS in 2010
72 projects funded in 2010 by national funds
16 projects funded in 2010 by international funds
61 original papers in ISI indexed journals
18 original papers in foreign journals indexed in IDB
21 original papers in Roumanian journals
49 poster presentations in national & international meetings
6 books in Roumanian
4 chapters in foreign books
2 patents
8 gene sequences introduced in GenBank
Molecular Biology Labs
Automated sequencing
PCR & Real-Time PCR
Microarray equipment
Cell culture Lab
Laminar flow hoods
CO
2
Incubators

Fluorescence Microscopy
Flow-cytometry
Microscopy Lab
Phase-contrast
microscopy
Confocal microscopy
Microdissection
microscopy
Biochemistry Labs
FPLC &HPLC
Spectrophotometres
Nucleic acids
electrophoresis &
blotting
Bioinformatics Station
Sequences/genotypes
analyses
Molecular modelling
RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE
Neurobiophysics Lab
Patch-Clamp System
Confocal microscopy
Molecular modelling
Lactic Acid Bacteria LAB
Laminar flow hoods
Centrifuges
Nucleic acids
electrophoresis
Microscopes
Microbial Biodiversity LAB
BIOLOG Microstation
Flow-cytometer
Electrokaryotyping station
(PFGE, CHEF)
Epifluorescence microscopy
Microbial Genetic
Engineering LAB
Nucleic acids
electrophoresis &
blotting
Electroporation system
Real-Time PCR
Plant Genetics LAB
Plant tissue culture room
Centrifuges
Laminar flow hoods
Microscopes
Nucleic acids
electrophoresis

Human Genetics LAB
CO2 incubator
Molecular cytogenetics
microscopy
DNA automated sequencing
Hybridization ovens
Drosophila LAB
Molecular cytogenetics
microscopy
DNA automated sequencing
Hybridization ovens
Drosophila biobase
Sem I: Fosforilarea
proteinelor;Tehnici de
genetica moleculara; Biologia
dezvoltarii; Aspecte teoretice
si practice ale culturilor de
celule animale;
Sem II: Semnalizarea
celulara; Genomica si
transcriptomica;
Toxicologie moleculara;
Bazele moleculare ale
maladiilor.
Sem III: Terapie genica;
Proteomica; Biologia si
aplicatiile clinice ale celulelor
stem; Introducere in
bioingineria tisulara;
Biochimie comparativa si
filogenie moleculara;
Sem IV: Activitate de cerceta Principii de
fitoterapie/Dizertatie master
Modul psihopedagogic II disciplina
facultativa (cu plata)
Sem I: Fosforilarea
proteinelor;Tehnici de
genetica moleculara; Biologia
dezvoltarii; Aspecte teoretice
si practice ale culturilor de
celule animale;
Sem II: Semnalizarea
celulara; Genomica si
transcriptomica;
Toxicologie moleculara;
Bazele moleculare ale
maladiilor.
Sem IV: Activitate de cerceta Principii de
fitoterapie/Dizertatie master
Modul psihopedagogic II disciplina
facultativa (cu plata)
!
TEACHING ROOMS