ABOUT
The origins of the department date back to 1962, when the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics was established at the Faculty of Natural Sciences of Vilnius University. In 2012, following the division of this department into two separate units, the Department of Neurobiology and Biophysics and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology were founded.
The Department of Neurobiology and Biophysics conducts scientific research in the fields of neuroscience and biophysics. It coordinates the Bachelor's study program Neurobiophysics, the Master's programs Neurobiology and Biophysics, as well as doctoral studies in biophysics. The department's staff are also actively involved in the activities of the Lithuanian Neuroscience Association and the Lithuanian Biophysical Society.
RESEARCH
Hormones and Brain Function Research Group
Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Brain Development
HISTORY
Establishment of the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics
On January 26, 1961, the President of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences Juozas Matulis, Vilnius University Rector Jonas Kubilius, and the Chairman of the Lithuanian Biochemical Society Vladas Lašas requested permission from the State Planning Commission to establish a biochemistry program at Vilnius University’s Faculty of Chemistry. The first students were admitted on September 1, 1961. At that time, the Faculty of Natural Sciences focused mainly on classical disciplines, but Rector Kubilius aimed to expand research into modern areas of biology by applying methods from physics, chemistry, and mathematics. With his initiative, a new department for training biochemists and biophysicists was proposed and supported by academic Jurgis Viščakas (Semiconductor Physics Department) and Assoc. Prof. Leonas Jasinskas (Organic Chemistry Department). On April 11, 1962, Rector Kubilius approved the decision to establish the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, which officially began operating on September 1 of the same year.
1962–1972
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1962 – The Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics was established, and the first biophysics specialists began training.
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1965 – The genetics group was integrated into the department (until 1972 it operated as the Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Genetics).
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The first research laboratories were formed, launching biophysics studies that applied methods from physics, chemistry, and mathematics.
1972–1982
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1973 – Biophysics was officially introduced as a specialization within the biology study program.
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1973 – The All-Union Symposium “Blue-green Algae and Their Use in Biological Research” was held.
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Research expanded to include studies of neural and plant cell membranes, and the cell biophysics group was strengthened.
1982–1992
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The Biophysics and Neurocybernetics Laboratory was established, focusing on the neuronal mechanisms of the visual system.
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Computerized systems for research automation were introduced (visual system modeling, psychophysiological studies).
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1988 – A joint biophysics-physics training program was launched in collaboration with the Faculty of Physics.
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1991 – Vilnius hosted the 14th European Conference on Visual Perception (ECVP ’91).
1992–2002
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1992 – The Human Physiology Laboratory was established (O. Rukšėnas, A. Daugirdienė).
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1995 – Doctoral studies in neurobiology were launched.
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1996–1999 – The TEMPUS-PHARE project with Oxford, Manchester, and Kuopio universities led to the creation of a neurobiology master’s program.
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1997 – The first neurobiology master’s students were admitted.
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2000 – The NATO Advanced Study Institute on Visual Neuroscience took place in Nida.
2002–2012
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2002 – Full biophysics study programs (bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD) were introduced.
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2003 – Assoc. Prof. Aidas Alaburda joined the department, starting spinal motoneuron research.
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2005 – O. Rukšėnas became a professor.
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2007 – A. Alaburda and colleagues published a paper on spinal cord networks in Science.
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2007 – Prof. D. Kirvelis published the textbook Biophysics.
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2009 – D. Kirvelis was promoted to professor.
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2010–2012 – The “Biotefa” modernization project (worth 30 million LTL) upgraded laboratories and equipment.
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2011 – O. Rukšėnas was elected Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences.
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2011 – O. Rukšėnas and A. Alaburda received the Lithuanian Science Award in biomedical sciences.
2012–2022
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2012 – The former Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics was reorganized, leading to the creation of the Department of Neurobiology and Biophysics, which began operating independently.
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2016 – The Vilnius University Life Sciences Center (VU LSC) was established, merging the Institutes of Biochemistry and Biotechnology with the biological departments of the former Faculty of Natural Sciences, including the Department of Neurobiology and Biophysics, which became part of this new interdisciplinary environment.
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2020 – During the COVID-19 pandemic, the department’s laboratories had to fundamentally adapt their workflows to remote and hybrid formats.
DEPARTMENT STAFF
|
Employee |
Position |
Contacts |
Courses taught |
List of Publications |
| Dr. Aidas Alaburda | Head of Department, Professor |
(0 5) 223 4438 Saulėtekio al. 7, LT-10257 Vilnius, V135 |
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| Martynas Arbačiauskas | PhD student, Junior Assistant |
Saulėtekio al. 7, V121 |
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| Dr. Zoryna Boiarska | Researcher |
Saulėtekio al. 7, LT-10257, Vilnius, V.134.1 |
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| Ieva Brimienė | PhD student |
Saulėtekio al. 7, LT-10257, Vilnius |
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| Dr. Rokas Buišas | Associate professor |
(05) 239 8217 Saulėtekio al. 7, LT-10257 Vilnius, V123 |
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| Olgerd Babkin | Specialist |
Saulėtekio al. 7, LT-10257 Vilnius, V113 |
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| Agnė Dambrauskaitė | PhD student |
Saulėtekio al. 7, LT-10257, Vilnius, V121 |
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| Dr. Neringa Daugelavičienė | Researcher |
Saulėtekio al. 7, LT-10257, Vilnius, C516 |
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| Eimina Dirvelytė | PhD student |
Saulėtekio al. 7, LT-10257, Vilnius, C543 |
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| Lauryna Filatovaitė-Vyčienė | PhD student |
Saulėtekio al. 7, LT-10257, Vilnius |
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| Rimantė Gaižauskaitė | Assistant, Researcher |
Saulėtekio al. 7, LT-10257, Vilnius, V129 |
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| Vilmantas Gėgžna | Lector |
Saulėtekio al. 7, LT-10257, Vilnius, V127 |
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| Mahrad Ghodousi | PhD student |
Saulėtekio al., 7, LT-10257, Vilnius, V115 |
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| Dr. Ramunė Grikšienė | Professor |
(0 5) 2398218 Saulėtekio al., 7, LT-10257, Vilnius, V129 |
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| Mahrad Ghodousi | PhD student |
Saulėtekio al., 7, LT-10257, Vilnius, V115 |
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| Dr. Inga Griškova-Bulanova | Professor, Research professor |
(0 5) 2234439 Saulėtekio al., 7, LT-10257, Vilnius, V137 |
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| Dr. Robertas Guzulaitis | Associate professor, Senior researcher |
(05) 239 8217 Saulėtekio al., 7, LT-10257, Vilnius, V123 |
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| Erik Ilkevič | PhD student, Junior assistant |
(0 5) 2398227 Saulėtekio al., 7, LT-10257, Vilnius, V127 |
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| Kotryna Jakuba | PhD student |
(0 5) 2398219 Saulėtekio al., 7, LT-10257, Vilnius, V139 |
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| Urtė Jašinskytė | PhD student |
Saulėtekio al. 7, LT-10257, Vilnius, V121 |
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| Dr. Vilma Kisnierienė | Professor |
(0 5) 2398232 Saulėtekio al., 7, LT-10257, Vilnius, V125 |
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| Viktorija Kralikienė | Junior administrator |
Saulėtekio al. 7, LT-10257, Vilnius, V138 |
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| Dr. Ugnė Kuliešiutė | Researcher |
Saulėtekio al. 7, LT-10257, Vilnius, C516 |
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| Dr. Simonas Kutanovas | Senior researcher |
Saulėtekio al. 7, LT-10257, Vilnius, C516 |
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| Dr. Indrė Lapeikaitė | Associate Professor, Researcher |
Saulėtekio al. 7, LT-10257, Vilnius |
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| Dr. Gintaras Malmiga | Postdoctoral researcher |
(0 5) 2398219, Saulėtekio al., 7, LT-10257, Vilnius, V139 |
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| Giedrė Matulytė | PhD student |
Saulėtekio al., 7, LT-10257, Vilnius, V115 |
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| Dr. Mindaugas Mitkus | Associate professor, Senior researcher |
(0 5) 2398219, Saulėtekio al., 7, LT-10257, Vilnius, V139 |
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| Mykolas Mikučiūnas | Specialist | |||
| Aurimas Mockevičius | PhD student, Junior researcher |
Saulėtekio al., 7, LT-10257, Vilnius, V115 |
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| Igor Nagula | PhD student, junior assistant |
Saulėtekio al., 7, LT-10257, Vilnius, V113 |
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| Aušrinė Navickaitė | PhD student |
Saulėtekio al., 7, LT-10257, Vilnius, V123 |
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| Dr. Urtė Neniškytė | Professor, Research professor |
(0-5) 2234437, Saulėtekio al. 7, LT-10257, Vilnius, C502 |
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| Dr. Evaldas Pipinis | Assistant, Researcher |
Saulėtekio al., 7, LT-10257, Vilnius, V115 |
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| Desideria Pezzuto | PhD student, junior researcher |
Saulėtekio al., 7, LT-10257, Vilnius, C543 |
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| Ieva Pocevičiūtė | PhD student, junior assistant |
Saulėtekio al., 7 LT-10257, Vilnius, V117 |
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| Mindaugas Potapovas | PhD student |
Saulėtekio al., 7 LT-10257, Vilnius, V115 |
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| Dr. Vilmantas Pupkis | Assistant, Researcher |
Saulėtekio al., 7, LT-10257, Vilnius, V125 |
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| Dr. (HP) Osvaldas Rukšėnas | Professor |
(0 5) 2398222 Saulėtekio al., 7, LT-10257, Vilnius, V121 |
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| Arnas Rakauskas | Junior laborant | |||
| Lina Saveikytė | Junior researcher |
Saulėtekio al. 7, LT-10257, Vilnius, C543 |
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| Anastasiia Shelest | Biologist |
Saulėtekio al. 7, LT-10257, Vilnius, V.127 |
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| Laura Stukonytė | PhD student |
(0 5) 2398219 Saulėtekio al., 7, LT-10257, Vilnius, V139 |
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| Dr Vaida Survilienė | Assistant, Researcher |
(0 5) 2398219 Saulėtekio al., 7, LT-10257, Vilnius, V139 |
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| Dovilė Šimkutė | Junior assistant |
Saulėtekio al., 7, LT-10257, Vilnius, V113 |
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| Ieva Šiugždaitė | PhD student, junior researcher |
Saulėtekio al. 7, LT-10257, Vilnius, C543 |
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| Dr. Alvydas Šoliūnas | Researcher |
(0 5) 2398227, Saulėtekio al., 7, LT-10257, Vilnius, V127 |
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| Mosayeb Mirani Taradeh | PhD student |
Saulėtekio al., 7, LT-10257, Vilnius, V115 |
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| Dr. Povilas Tarailis | Researcher | |
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| Gintarė Urbonaitė | Junior researcher |
Saulėtekio al. 7, LT-10257, Vilnius, C543 |
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| Dr. Valentina Vengelienė | Professor |
Saulėtekio al. 7, LT-10257, Vilnius, V117 |
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| Dr. Aleksandras Voicikas | Assistant |
Saulėtekio al. 7, LT-10257, Vilnius, V113 |
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| Dr. Ingrida Zelionkaitė | Assistant, Researcher, Laborant |
Saulėtekio al. 7, LT-10257, Vilnius |
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| Dr. Nemira Žilinskaitė | Researcher |
Saulėtekio al. 7, LT-10257, Vilnius, C516 |
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