On October 20, 2025, the chief researcher of the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnologies of the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Associate Professor Shahniyar Mikayil Bayramov passed away. His loss is a great sorrow not only for his family and loved ones but also for the entire Azerbaijani scientific community. Shahniyar Bayramov will be remembered by everyone who knew him as a calm, thoughtful, science-devoted, and extremely modest person.

Shahniyar Mikayil oglu Bayramov was born on July 1, 1961, in Garalar village of the Tovuz district. His childhood interest in nature, keen observation skills, and independent way of thinking led him to become a biologist in the future. He received his higher education at Ganja State Pedagogical Institute named after H. Zardabi, majoring in biology. After graduation, he worked for some time as a teacher at the secondary school in Garaaghajli village of the Sabirabad district. From 1985 to 1989, he pursued full-time postgraduate studies at the Department of Physico-Chemical Biology under the Institute of Physics of the Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences. In 1991, he successfully defended his PhD dissertation in biochemistry on the topic “Study of the molecular organization of the carbonic anhydrase enzyme in chickpea leaves.”

From 1989 to 2016, the scientist worked at the Institute of Botany of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences as a junior researcher, senior researcher, and leading researcher. Between 2010 and 2021, he headed the Laboratory of Enzymology of Photosynthetic Carbon Assimilation, and from 2021 until the end of his life, he served as a chief researcher.

Following the establishment of the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnologies in 2016, under the leadership of academician Jalal Aliyev, Sh. Bayramov continued his scientific activities at this institute.

In 2017, he defended his doctoral dissertation on the topic “Regulation of some enzymes of the initial assimilation of carbon in C₃ and CAM plants by abiotic factors.”
Shahniyar Bayramov was the author of more than 70 scientific works, including 17 articles published in journals abstracted and indexed in international databases. He delivered presentations at numerous international scientific conferences and symposia held in countries such as Türkiye, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Croatia, and others, representing the traditions of the Azerbaijani scientific school and the national research culture to the international scientific community.

Shahniyar Bayramov gained scientific and practical experience at several leading research centers in Europe — Paris-Sud University (France, 2003), Newcastle University (United Kingdom, 2004), Osnabrück University (Germany, 2005, 2006), University of Essex (United Kingdom, 2007), Bielefeld University (Germany, 2009), Institute of Plant Biochemistry and Photosynthesis (Spain, 2011), Rothamsted Research Centre (United Kingdom), Malatya University (Türkiye, 2013), Institute of Plant Sciences at the Agricultural Research Centre in Bordeaux (France, 2014), Kansas State University (USA, 2015), Wageningen University (Netherlands, 2018), and the Zaidin Research Centre of the Spanish National Research Council in Granada (Spain, 2025), where he also conducted research work.

He was also a participant in several complex scientific research programs funded by the Science Development Foundation under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
In addition, the scientist repeatedly represented Azerbaijan with dignity by participating in international mega-projects carried out within the framework of the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) program coordinated by France.

Shahniyar Bayramov was not only a humble scientist but also a caring teacher. He delivered lectures on specialized courses to graduate students at Baku State University and the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnologies. Under his guidance, many master's and doctoral students completed their research and developed into a new generation of Azerbaijani biologists. He earned the respect of his colleagues and left a profound mark on the hearts of his students.

Shahniyar Bayramov was a member of the Scientific Council of the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnologies, the Dissertation Council operating under the institute, and the editorial board of the Transactions of the Institute of Molecular Biology & Biotechnologies (TIMBB) journal.

Although the loss of the biochemist and teacher Shahniyar Bayramov is a deep sorrow for the Azerbaijani scientific community, his life, dedicated to science and filled with humility, will remain an example for every student and young scientist. He leaves behind a wealth of scientific works, friends, and students who remember him with love.

May his soul rest in peace, and may his memory be eternal.