There are following scientific institutions:
• Biological Station,
• Center for Social and Humanitarian Research,
• Drinov Center for Bulgarian and Balkan Studies,
• T. Tronko Center for Area Studies,
• Research Institute of Astronomy,
• Research Institute of Biology,
• Research Institute of Chemistry,
• The University Botanical Garden.
Biological Station
The Biological Station was created in 1914. It is located 50 km from Kharkiv, near Haidary village, Zmiiv district, in a picturesque oak-grove (Homilshanskyi Nature Park) on the steep bank of the Siverskyi Donets River. The first Ukrainian biological research station was created at the initiative of Professor V. M. Arnoldi, who also picked the location for it.
The beautiful nature, a great variety of flora and fauna, outdoor classes, and unforgettable “Biologist’s Days” have remained forever in the memory of thousands of biologists. The Station is the place for practical training of first- and second-year students; and for on-the-job and pre-graduation practical training of third- and fourth-year students majoring in botany, zoology, mycology, and genetics.
In addition, the Station conducts research on flora and fauna, genetics and breeding, groundhog domestication. The Biological Station became the Center for Regional Ecological Monitoring of Chemical Pollution of North-Eastern Ukraine.
Center for Social and Humanitarian Research
On February 4, 2016, by order of the University President, the Social and Humanitarian Research Institute, which was established by the decision of the University Academic Board on April 29, 2008, was reorganized into the Center for Social and Humanitarian Research.
The activities of the Center focus on socio-humanitarian research (sociological, marketing, electoral, socio-economic, etc.), as well as research aimed at addressing topical issues of the University. The Center involves students in research activity during their internships.
Structural subdivisions of the Center:
• Department of Applied Sociology;
• Department of Applied Psychology;
• Department of Education Issues.
From October 2015 to February 2016, the staff of the Center for Social and Humanitarian Research of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University conducted the sociological survey “Senior Students of V. N. Karazin University About Their Studies and Future Employment”. The survey involved 3rd-6th year students of the University. The survey determined the stability of the University senior students’ professional choice, the peculiarities of their study at V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, professional orientations of 3rd-6th year students of V. N. Karazin KhNU, namely: employment, additional work during study, employment plans, factors of choosing a place of work, awareness and frequency of contacting the Employment Center for students and alumni of the University, as well as students’ opinion on what needs to be changed in the content and organization of training to increase the competitiveness of the University graduates in the labor market.
The Center closely cooperates with the School of Sociology of the University, in particular 4th-year students undergo their on-the-job training here. In October 2011, together with faculty members of the School of Psychology, School of Sociology, School of Law, the Institute organized and conducted a seminar for senior students “Employment Through the Eyes of Practitioners”.
Drinov Center for Bulgarian and Balkan Studies
The Center was founded in 2005 with the support of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and M. Drinov Kharkiv Society of Bulgarian Culture.
The Center’s activity is aimed at addressing the following goals and objectives: to maintain the traditions of scientific Bulgarian Studies at the University through developing the priority areas, in particular the study of history and culture of the Bulgarian community in Ukraine; to coordinate research activity and focus efforts on topical areas of Balkan and Byzantine studies in Ukraine; to hold conferences, symposia, seminars, readings, roundtables on topical issues of Bulgaristics, Balkanistics, and Byzantine Studies; to send faculty members, doctoral, postgraduate, and undergraduate students to Bulgaria and other countries of South-Eastern Europe to conduct research; to help students and other interested persons in learning and mastering the Bulgarian and Greek languages; to amass a research library, an archive and a database in Bulgaristics and Balkanistics; to establish direct contacts with humanitarian universities and academic institutions in Bulgaria and other countries of the region to implement joint projects.
T. Tronko Center for Area Studies
The P. T. Tronko Center for Area Studies was founded as a research structural unit of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University in 2008. It coordinates research in the field of area studies at the University, in Kharkiv and Kharkiv region. The Center was created with the support of the All-Ukrainian Association of Area Studies Specialists in order to preserve and develop the traditions of scientific area studies.
The employees of the Center regularly participate in conferences, symposia, seminars, roundtables on topical issues of area studies; organize contests of student research papers in the field; provide assistance to faculty and students, as well as other interested parties, in area studies research; study and generalize the experience of area studies centers.
The employees of the Center promote the historical and cultural heritage of our region in the media, give consultations to teachers of “Kharkiv Region Studies” of the city and the region. The Center conducts classes in historical area studies (including optional ones), various excursions, consultations on creating expositions of museums and exhibitions. The Center carries out important projects related to publication of archive materials, area studies literature, other printed matter (primarily, in preparing various calendars of memorable dates, anniversary collections, encyclopaedic and reference literature, guides).
The Center cooperates with humanitarian academic and educational institutions, with the Ukrainian Society for Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments, and other organizations.
Research Institute of Astronomy
The Research Institute of Astronomy at V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University was established in January 2002 on the basis of the University Astronomical Observatory founded as far back as 1808. Today it is one of the leading astronomical institutions in Ukraine, engaged in fundamental and applied research in the field of Solar, Lunar and Planetary Physics, Physics of Satellites, Asteroids, and Comets, Fundamental Astronomy and Stellar Astronometry, development of methods for enhanced space distribution in astronomical observations. The Institute is an international Solar Service Station and since 1933 Astronomical Observatory conducts regular observations and research within the State Time Service Program. The Institute has an observational out-station and a scientific library. It also has a 0.7-m reflector, Repsold meridian circle, a spectroheliograph, a transit instrument, a 0.2-m Zeus refractor, a 0.27-m reflector, a special coherent-optical system, listed in the State Register of Scientific Objects Constituting National Patrimony, and many other instruments.
The Institute provides research and training facilities for University undergraduate and graduate students majoring in Astronomy and postgraduate students.
Today the staff of the Institute, including the University Astronomy Department numbers 5 Doctors of Science and 20 PhDs. Their research activity earned them 4 State Awards of Ukraine and 4 M. Barabashov Ukrainian National Academy of Sciences Awards. 22 objects in the Solar System (craters on the Moon, Mars, and Venus as well as 12 minor planets) are named after Kharkiv astronomers and graduates from the University Astronomy Department.
The Institute researchers are members of the International Astronomical Union and European Astronomical Society. They conduct their studies in close cooperation with their colleagues from the USA, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Poland, and Finland.
Research Institute of Biology
The Research Institute of Biology of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University was founded in 1944 by the famous gerontology researcher, Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine O. Nahornyi. In 1953-1989, the Institute was headed by the Academician of the NAS of Ukraine V. Nikitin. During those years, the Institute became one of the leading gerontological centers of our country. Every two years, the Institute holds the Biological Mechanisms of Aging international symposia. The Institute has the Thesis Committee for conferring doctoral degrees in Biochemistry; Human and Animal Physiology. The Institute offers postgraduate studies in four specialties: Biochemistry, Human and Animal Physiology, Biotechnology, Ecology. The Institute of Biology is the main biological organization of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.
Today, the Institute employs 5 Doctors of Sciences and 20 PhDs in Biology. Much of the research conducted at the Institute focuses on the mechanisms of development and aging of the body. These studies are conducted at the Molecular Biology of Ontogenesis Department (Head — A. Bozhkov, Doctor of Biology, Professor), the Membrane Biophysics Department (Head — Yu. Nikitchenko, PhD in Biology, Senior Researcher), the Genetics Department (Head — Yu. Shkorbatov, Doctor of Biology, Professor), and the Physiology of Ontogenesis Department (Head — N. Babenko, Doctor of Biology, Professor). Along with this, the staff of the Institute studies adaptation mechanisms (Cell Biology and Biotechnology Department, Head — N. Menzianova, PhD in Biology), ecological issues (Applied Animal Ecology Group, Head — A. Atemasov, PhD in Biology, Senior Researcher), and also develops modern methods of biotechnology (Molecular Biology of Ontogenesis Department, Cell Biology and Biotechnology Department).
Students from the School of Biology, School of Radiophysics, School of Medicine undergo on-the-job training at the laboratories of the Institute. The Institute’s specialists develop and teach lecture courses on biotechnology, genetic engineering and pay great attention to popularization of modern achievements in biology.
Research Institute of Chemistry
The Research Institute of Chemistry was established in 1929. It is the first research institute founded at Kharkiv University. Today, it consists of four research departments: Department of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry of Solutions, Department of Radiochemistry and Radioecology, Department of Physical and Organic Chemistry, Department of Theoretical Chemistry and Astrochemistry. It has a certified center for experimental data standardization, a molecular interaction laboratory, a glass furnace, a specialized library and computer network. The Institute staff includes one Academician of the Academy of Sciences of the Higher School of Ukraine, six Doctors of Sciences, and over 20 PhDs. The research activity combines fundamental and applied projects. The Institute conducts the following studies: ionization and electrocrystallization of metals in aqueous and aqueous-organic solutions; development of waste-free resource-saving technologies for instrument engineering and machine building enterprises; experimental and theoretical study of association processes for certain classes of organic chromophores accompanied by change of spectral-luminescent properties of solutions, which can be applied in chemical analysis; photonics of luminophores with anomalously large Stokes shift of luminescence; development and application of radioactive indicators method for solving applied tasks in chemistry, radiobiology, and radioecology; theoretical study of electric and magnetic properties of molecules and molecular systems; computer modeling of chemical equilibrium of stellar and planetary masses.
The research achievements include patented processes for: disposal of spent etching solutions and extraction of copper-bearing compounds from them; quantitative determination of chemical toxicants (surface-active substances, and others); quantitative determination of biologically active components (flavonoids, anthocyanins, carotene sulphur, and others) in phytogenous products; formation of high-temperature superconductor layers on metal and dielectric surfaces. The Institute also develops new therapeutic medicines for protecting the human body from radiation damage. Some of them have already been tested and are being produced commercially. The Institute successfully cooperates with more than ten large national and foreign research centers (the USA, Poland, Great Britain, Sweden, Turkey, etc.).
The University Botanical Garden
The University Botanical Garden is a research and nature conservation institution. Its purposes are to preserve, study, introduce, acclimatize, and propagate rare and typical species of local and world flora in specially created conditions by creating, replenishing, and preserving botanical collections; conducting research and educational activity.
The Botanical Garden was founded in 1804. It is the oldest botanical garden in Ukraine. Its history is associated with the names of prominent scientists such as V. Cherniaiev, M. Turchaninov, A. Beketov, V. Arnoldi, O. Korshykov, Ye. Lavrenko, L. Shkorbatov, and others.
The Garden has rich collections of trees and herbs: more than 7,000 species of local and world flora are exhibited in the departments of dendrology, natural flora, open-ground flowers and ornamental plants, tropical and subtropical plants. The Botanical Garden has over 1,000 types and forms of trees and shrubs, more than 1,000 species of natural flora herbs, over 2,000 species and varieties of flowers and ornamental plants, and the collection of tropical and subtropical plants contains 3,000 taxons.
The Botanical Garden conducts research in order to develop a scientific basis for conservation and protection of biodiversity, especially rare and endangered plants. The Garden studies methods of growing, propagating, selecting, and introducing into production ornamental, medicinal, food, fodder, and other valuable plants.
The Botanical Garden research facilities are widely used for teaching students of universities, vocational schools, lyceums, colleges, schools, advanced training courses, etc.
The Botanical Garden is also engaged in educational activity to shape an environmentally conscious worldview of the population, develop ecological culture, disseminate environmental and nature conservation knowledge.
The Botanical Garden participates in international cooperation on topical issues of preservation, use, and development of botanical gardens; exchanges plant material, scientific information; participates in research conferences, symposia, joint expeditions, etc. The Botanical Garden is a member of the Botanic Gardens Conservation International and has established cooperation with 230 botanical institutions in 40 countries of the world.
