Department of Biological Applications and Technologies

Secretary: Anna Yfanti

Secretary's Office:
Tel.: +30 26510 97265, 97277, 97336
Fax: +30 26510 97061, 97064
Website: http://www.bat.uoi.gr
E-mail: klatinou@cc.uoi.gr, aifanti@cc.uoi.gr

General - Aim of the Department

The Department of Biological Applications and Technologies is one of the new departments in the University of Ioannina, that commenced its operation in the academic years 2000-2001 with the aim:

• To provide high quality education encompassing the whole spectrum of life sciences with emphasis on the technologies stemming from them, and
• To promote the advancement of knowledge and the development of new technology through research, with the specific objective to improve the utilization, management and preservation of animal & plant resources and biotopes, at a local and national level.

Structure of the Department

The curriculum of the department comprises of the following three main areas of study:

• Molecular Biosciences (Cellular, Molecular, Developmental, Structural and Computational Biology, Biochemistry and Genetics).
• Functional & Systemic Biology (Botany, Zoology, Plant and Animal Physiology, Microbiology, Ecology, Aquatic Biology).
• Technologies and Applications (Immunobiology, Animal and Plant and Product Biotechnology, Animal and Plant Pathology, Enzyme Biotechnology, Environmental Technologies, Bioinformatics).

Subject Areas

The undergraduate curriculum consists of 34 compulsory courses (28 of which include laboratory exercises), and 6 elective courses selected from an extensive list covering a wide range of topics. The programme is completed with a two-semester undergraduate research project ("undergraduate thesis").

The initial semesters of the curriculum include introductory courses in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology and Computer Science, aiming to provide a solid background necessary for the subsequent exposure to the more advanced biology and biotechnology courses. The following courses are taught in the latter periods: Botany, Zoology, Biochemistry, Plant and Animal Physiology, Biotechnology, Genetics, Molecular Biology and Ecology. The six elective courses, as well as the dissertation topic may well determine a direction.

Members of Academic Staff

Georgios Pilidis, Professor, Environmental Chemistry with ephassis on Organic Chemistry.
Caterina Psarropoulou, Professor, Animal Physiology.
John Maxwell Halley, Associate Professor, Functional Ecology.
Efstathios Hatziloukas, Associate Professor, Molecular Biology, with emphasis on Molecular Microbiology.
Ioannis Leonardos, Associate Professor, Animal Biology with emphasis on Ichthyology.
Theologos Michaelidis, Associate Professor, Molecular Genetics.
Haralambos Stamatis, Associate Professor, Biotechnology, with empassis on the Manufacture of Products with High Added Value.
George Thyphronitis, Associate Professor, Immunology.
Theoni Tranga, Associate Professor, Biochemistry.
Aris Kyparissis, Assistant Professor, Plant Biology and Technology, with empassis on Forest and Pharmaceutical Plants.
Costas Papaloukas, Assistant Professor, Bioinformatics.
Anastasios Troganis, Assistant Professor, Physical Chemistry of Biological Systems and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Applications.
Amalia-Sophia Afendra, Lecturer, Microbial Genetics.

The Department's teaching duties are supplemented by temporary teaching staff.

Career prospects - New fields of specialization

Graduates of the Department can work in the public or private sector, both in Greece and in EU countries. Below are some examples of where they can find employment:

• At research centres and institutes.
• In the health sector.
• In industry (food technology, pharmaceutical industries, waste management, etc.).
• In aquaculture facilities and fish hatcheries.
• At zoological and botanical museums.
• In sectors related to biotechnology and the protection and management of the environment.
• In secondary education.
• In the wider public sector (ministries, prefectures, Greek police).
• Finally, graduates may continue their studies at the postgraduate level, towards a research (independent researchers, facility heads) or academic career.

The administration of the Department and the University of Ioannina is taking all necessary steps in order to ascertain the professional rights of graduates, which emanate from the areas of expertise, covered in the curriculum and are similar to those of other Biology Departments in the country.

Pending the amendment of the "List of Qualifications", graduates of the Department who wish to compete for positions relevant to their studies, receive a certificate from the Rector or the competent body of the University of Ioannina, stating that "the degree in question is based on studies that fully and adequately cover the academic requirements towards the degrees that constitute the official prerequisite for appointment" (document of the Hellenic Ministry of the Interior, Public Administration and Decentralization, 1 June 2006).

Postgraduate studies

A. From the academic year 2002-2003 and onwards, the Department of Biological Applications and Technologies has been participating in the Postgraduate Study Programme (PSP) entitled "Agrochemistry and Organic Farming" in conjunction with the Department of Chemistry, which is also responsible for the Programme's administrative support, and the School of Agricultural Technology of the Technological Educational Institute of Epirus.

The aim of the programme is to provide postgraduate-level education in Agrochemistry and Organic farming, and endow its graduates with a strong scientific background, experience and know-how in the adoption of optimal solutions and applications in agricultural and livestock production, produce quality and protection of the environment.

The main objectives of the study programme are the following:

1. To provide knowledge on the-state-of-the-art developments in agrochemistry and organic farming.
2. To develop environmentally-friendly farming techniques and methods.
3. To apply biological methods in the production of high quality plant and animal products, free from toxic and harmful substances.
4. To prepare students for PhD-level studies.

The Postgraduate Study Programme awards:

a. M.Sc. degree in "Agrochemistry and Organic Farming" in the following individual fields of specialization:
   1. Environmental Agrochemistry
   2. Organic Farming
b. Doctoral degree in subject areas relevant to those of the Department of Biological Applications and Technologies and the collaborating Departments.

B. Also, the Department's academic staff are entitled to supervise doctoral theses whose topics fall within their subject areas (not related to the above programme), in which case the Department awards doctoral degrees.

back to top