The chair of Algebra and Mathematical Logic was founded in 1960. Its founder and first Head was A.I. Maltsev, the member of The USSR Academy of Sciences. Later on, the chair was headed by M.I. Kargapolov, the corresponding member of The USSR Academy of Sciences. Also, one of its founders was A.I. Shirshov, the corresponding member of The USSR Academy of Sciences. From 1977 to 2003 the chair was headed by its graduate Y.L. Ershov, the member of The Russian Academy of Sciences. Since 2003 V.D. Mazurov, the corresponding member of RAS, has been the head of the chair.

The chair has specialized in algebra and mathematical logic since 1963. Its members are working in the following fields:

• Mathematical logic and model theory
• General algebraic systems
• Group theory and ring theory