The Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics (MBG) was established in 1995 as one of the four departments of the Faculty of Science at İzmir Institute of Technology. In the same year, Prof. Dr. Hatice Güneş was appointed as the department’s first faculty member and led the establishment of laboratories, the recruitment of academic staff, and the preparation and approval of the undergraduate and graduate curricula. Prof. Dr. Hatice Güneş served as the founding chair until 2005.

MBG’s mission is twofold: (1) to conduct life sciences research focused on the molecular and genetic underpinnings of critical biological processes such as metabolism, mutation, transformation, immunity, development, aging, and disease; and (2) to provide the best possible education in the molecular and genetic aspects of the life sciences.

We offer undergraduate (BSc) and graduate (MSc and PhD) programs. These programs deliver a broad education supported not only by MBG faculty but also by contributors from other departments. While our graduate programs prioritize world-class scientific and technological research, undergraduate teaching remains an integral part of our department.

Our research spans plant genetics, animal genetics, cancer biology, immunology, bioinformatics, biochemistry, structural biology, microbiology, biotechnology, developmental biology, and neuroscience. These efforts proceed both within their respective domains and through active interdisciplinary collaboration, opening new avenues of partnership and discovery for faculty and students alike.

In project productivity, MBG is among the Institute’s leading departments. Our faculty currently run more than 20 projects supported by TÜBİTAK (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye), five supported by the European COST (Cooperation in Science and Technology) framework, and ten funded by various government ministries. In addition, we maintain collaborations with private-sector organizations in agriculture, food, medicine, and pharmaceuticals. Over the past five years, our faculty have received numerous awards and grants from prestigious national and international bodies, including the Turkish Academy of Sciences (TÜBA), the World Economic Forum (WEF), and the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO), underscoring the department’s internationally recognized research capacity.

Today, MBG employs 15 faculty members, 3 specialists, and 21 research assistants; approximately 330 students are enrolled, with over 60 in graduate programs and over 260 in undergraduate programs. Our department building, inaugurated in 2013, houses 25 research laboratories (each 110 m²), seven shared laboratory spaces including cold/hot rooms, a darkroom, and a cleanroom, two teaching laboratories, six classrooms, an auditorium, offices, social areas, and an accredited animal research facility. This modern infrastructure provides a strong foundation for our research activities. The department also hosts the Cellular Imaging Studies Application and Research Center within the Integrated Research Centers.

With its faculty, specialists, and undergraduate and graduate students, MBG fosters a dynamic, productive academic environment open to broad collaboration.

For detailed information about our faculty, research areas, and BSc, MSc, and PhD programs, please visit our website. For any inquiries, do not hesitate to contact us.