The Department of Zoology and Physiology was established on May 5, 2020, based on the merger of the former Departments of Zoology and Human and Animal Physiology. The Department of Human and Animal Physiology was initially founded in 1920. Its founder was Professor Lyubov Garkavi-Landau, the mother of world-renowned physicist and Nobel Laureate Academician Lev Landau. In 1924, the department was headed by Pavel Rostovtsev. Over the years, the department has been led by Academician Abdulla Garayev (1937–1966), Professor Talat Gayıbov (1966–1992), Professor Hagverdi Jafarov (1992–1997), Professor Ali Aliyev (1997–2018), and Associate Professor Valida Madatova (2018–2020).
Since the foundation of Baku State University in 1919, the subject of General Zoology has been taught at its Faculty of Medicine (lectured by Professor Elpatevsky). In 1934, the Department of General Zoology was established, headed by Professor Aleksandr Derjavin. In 1945, the Department of General Zoology was divided into three independent departments: Genetics and Darwinism; Invertebrate Zoology; and Vertebrate Zoology.
The Department of Invertebrate Zoology was led by Professor Valentina Nikolaevna Rusanova (1945–1961), Professor Abdulla Alakbarov (1961–1967), Professor Shamil Jafarov (1967–1974), again Professor Abdulla Alakbarov (1975–1978), and Professor Farzali Aghamaliyev (1979–2018).
The Department of Vertebrate Zoology was headed by Associate Professor Kamal Gambarov (1945–1977), Professor Abdulla Alakbarov (1978–1985), Professor Hajibaba Abbasov (1985–1991), and Professor Gara Mustafayev (1992–2018). Alongside faunistic studies, ecological research also developed within the department, and from 1997 to 2011, under the initiative of Gara Mustafayev, it was renamed the Department of Vertebrate Zoology and Bioecology. However, in 2011, with the creation of the Department of Bioecology under the Faculty of Ecology, it continued to operate under its former name — the Department of Vertebrate Zoology.
On December 27, 2017, the Departments of Invertebrate Zoology and Vertebrate Zoology were merged to form the Department of Zoology. From February 2018, the department was led by Professor Janbakhish Najafov (2018–2020).
On June 5, 2020, the Departments of Zoology and Human and Animal Physiology were merged, establishing the current Department of Zoology and Physiology. Until February 2022, the department was co-led in turns by Associate Professor Valida Madatova and Professor Hokuma Guliyeva. On January 28, 2022, Abulfaz Taghiyev was elected as the Head of Department.
Currently, the department operates 5 educational laboratories and includes 2 Doctors of Science (1 professors and 1 associate professors), 15 PhD holders (including 9 associate professors, 3 senior lecturers, 5 lecturers), 1 laboratory head, 3 senior laboratory assistants, and 1 lab assistant.
The department’s scientific focus includes the study of biodiversity of Azerbaijan’s fauna, flora, and soil cover, preservation and efficient use of the gene pool, and research into the mechanisms of physicochemical changes in animals under various experimental conditions. The department plays an active role in developing the strategy and tactics for the study, protection, and sustainable use of biodiversity in the Republic.
The department maintains international relations with scientific research and educational institutions in countries such as the USA, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Australia, Türkiye, Russia, Iran, the Czech Republic, Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia, and others.
