Short History

The Faculty of Biology is one of the first faculties of the University of Bucharest, the Biology profile being born in 1866, with the establishment of the Faculty of Sciences, initially composed of two departments: Mathematical and Physical Sciences and Natural Sciences. Throughout its existence, the faculty has had prestigious professors such as Dimitrie Voinov, pioneer of Romanian cytology, and Andrei Popovici-Bâznoșanu, founder of the Zoological Station in Sinaia in 1922. In 1948, according to the Education Reform Law, the Faculty of Sciences was divided into several faculties, including the Faculty of Natural Sciences, which in 1958 became the Faculty of Biology. The Faculty of Biology evolved continuously, adding a Biochemistry section in 1974 and an Ecology section in 1990, both with distinct study programs based on the transferable credit system.

Today, the faculty offers a broad spectrum of educational programs: (i) three undergraduate programs (Biology, Biochemistry and Ecology), (ii) eleven master's programs, comprising both professional master's programs and master's programs oriented towards research and teacher training, one of which is in English, (iii) two doctoral schools providing high quality training for PhD students in Biology and Environmental Science and (iv) a postgraduate program for patient navigators. Since 2022, the Faculty of Biology is in a wide process of digitalization of the educational process being part of the PNRR project: Digital Ecosystem for Sustainable Learning at the University of Bucharest (EDIS-UB).

The Faculty of Biology presents itself today as a pole of academic and research excellence, offering a broad spectrum of educational and research programs. The research structure of the faculty is organized in five centres of excellence: (i) Research Centre in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; (ii) Research Centre in Neurobiology and Molecular Physiology; (iii) Centre for Research, Training and Consultancy in Microbiology, Genetics and Biotechnology; (iv) Research Centre for Environmental Protection and Waste Management; and (v) Research Centre in System Ecology and Sustainability. Research success is evidenced by numerous national and international projects finalized with prestigious publications. The Faculty adheres to institutional strategies and policies of international collaboration by integrating into research networks such as Alternet, ILTER, LifeWatch and MIRRI-ERIC, as well as the national network ROGEN. The infrastructure of the Faculty of Biology, such as the Botanical Garden in Bucharest and the modernized research stations in Sinaia and Brăila, promotes cutting-edge research in the fields of life and earth sciences. The establishment of the Research Platform in Systems Biology and Ecology has led to the development of a nationally and internationally recognized centre of excellence through a complex, inter- and trans-disciplinary approach to the study of biological and ecological systems. This platform is equipped with state-of-the-art laboratories and equipment facilitating advanced and innovative research. Extensive partnerships, both national and international (including the CIVIS network), strengthen the faculty's ability to participate in significant research projects and provide students with internship opportunities, thus reinforcing its position as a leader in the field of systems biology and ecology.