Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics

Hello, I'm Sude ÖZDEMİR. I'm studying at the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Balıkesir University. Our department was established in 2013 and is located in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences building on the Çağış campus. We have eight faculty members and two research assistants. Additionally, our department is accredited by FEDEK. In our department, core courses related to the department subject are provided alongside laboratory practices, and elective courses in various fields. The elective courses in the first year are social courses designed to facilitate students' adaptation to university life. In the following years, there are elective courses regarding more complex subjects. We also offer professional English courses that students can take each year. We have four student laboratories in our department. In addition, there are over ten research laboratories used by the department's academicians. Our well-equipped laboratories cover various fields such as general biology, genetics, biochemistry, microbiology, and fundamental methods used in molecular biology. We have a mandatory internship period of 30 working days, which prepares our students for the professional work environment. In the fourth year, students conduct their own 2209 A and B research projects as part of the research project course. This allows them to gain experience in project management and laboratory work. They present their projects as posters or oral presentations at the Molecular Biology and Genetics Student Days organized by our department. Our graduates have employment opportunities in domestic and international academic institutions, pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology research and production centers, various ministries, private research centers, TÜBİTAK (Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey), and Technoparks. I was deeply inspired by the plant cells drawn by my biology teacher in high school. Therefore, I thought I could pursue a career in biology. Later, based on my research, I realized that the future of the molecular biology and genetics field is promising, so I decided to study in this department. I live in Istanbul, and I chose Balıkesir University because it is close to both my city and the Aegean region.
In the laboratory, we conduct experiments in groups of four, which allows us to experience each experiment in detail. Additionally, I have become acquainted with various instruments and learned how to use them. Besides the laboratory facilities, our professors have provided detailed guidance in TÜBİTAK (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey) projects and have been helpful in every aspect of the application process. Thanks to their support, I became a scholarship recipient in my professor's TÜBİTAK 1002 project and received acceptance for the TÜBİTAK 2209 A project. The project writing course I took in my third year was very helpful in conducting my 2209 A project. It was difficult at first, but through this course, I became capable of conducting a project at a level that could be accepted by TÜBİTAK. My plan is to pursue a master's degree after my undergraduate studies and then gain experience working in a Research and Development (R&D) laboratory. Subsequently, I aim to enter academia and share my experiences and knowledge with students who, like me, are interested in developing themselves in this field. I also want to continue conducting research with them and make new discoveries. Balıkesir is a beautiful city with its nature, clean air, and friendly people. When I came here from Istanbul, I felt the immediate change in the air. The Çağış campus is quite large and immersed in nature. Additionally, there are cafes on campus where I can spend time with my friends during breaks between classes. Moreover, it is very close to the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, which has a large library that I frequently use, especially during exam periods. We have a campus where you can feel comfortable and enjoy your time. I recommend students considering this program to have a high level of research-oriented, inquisitive, and disciplined character. It is a field that requires a great deal of patience, but as long as they continue to work with determination, they will be able to experience the sense of success. I wish success to students taking the university entrance exam. We look forward to welcoming you to the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics.