CENTRE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY

The Centre for Biotechnology with provision of teaching the post-graduate course was started in the year 1997 and from 2004 the Centre is one among the 30 Universities of India giving a course leading to M.Sc. Biotechnology degree supported by the Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India. The students those who qualify the All India entrance test conducted by JNU are eligible to take admission to the course and they get monthly scholarship @ Rs. 1,200/- from DBT. Students admitted to the program are eligible for the award of M.Sc. degree on successful completion of the course in 4 semesters (2 years duration). The first three semesters have four theory and one lab course in each semester with a provision of summer training for 4 to 6 weeks in any Research Institute/University/Biotech company of their choice in India at the end of the 2nd semester. In the 4th semester besides two theory courses each student write a review and carry out a project work under the supervision of a faculty of the Department spread over the 3rd and 4th semesters which is evaluated at the end of the 4th semester followed by a grand viva-voce. As per the syllabus revised in 2009 the entire course carry 96 credits. The courses of the first two semesters are designed with the objective to strengthen the basic concepts of life science and biotechniques. These courses are Cell biology, Microbiology, Biomolecules, Immunology, Molecular biology, Computer application, Biostatistics and Instrumentation. The 3rd and 4th semester offer courses in the applied aspects such as Animal biotechnology, Plant biotechnology, Genetic engineering, Bioprocess engineering, Bioinformatics, Bioethics and IPR, and also a course in Entrepreneurship to be introduced in the curriculum. Students are required to present recent advances in Biotechnology in weekly seminars which is also evaluated besides several extra-mural lectures/guest lectures are organised inviting scientists from other Institutions.

The centre has computer and internet facility in the class room for ready availability of students and a seminar library. Guest faculties are invited for interaction with the students for better understanding of interdisciplinary fields like Bioinformatics, Bioprocess Engineering and Entrepreneurship. The faculty members are actively working on various biotechnology related projects supported by DBT, DST, UGC, CSIR and MOEF, and also through collaboration with National and International Institutes/Universities. The priority areas of research work of the centre are the following: Biofertilizers, Biofuel, Biodiversity and functional genomics of stress tolerant algae and cyanobacteria, Bioremediation using microbial systems, Bioactive compounds from plants, Cloning and characterization of carbohydrate splitting enzymes, Ageing mediated damage to cellular macromolecules and their modulation, Host-pathogen interaction in plants, Drought and submergence stress in rice and T-cell Immunology in Leishmania infection.

The Centre is also offering Ph.D. degree in Biotechnolgy and students registered for the course are required to qualify in any of the national tests e.g. UGC-CSIR NET, GATE etc. or VB-RET, and to undertake a Pre-Ph.D. course with specialization in Microbiol Technology, r-DNA Technology, Host-pathogen interaction or Biotic abiotic stress response.

The strength of the students per year was 10 up to 2008-2009 and from the current year it was increased to 15. Like the previous years during the current year 2009-10 several students have qualified in All India entrance tests e.g. UGC-CSIR NET- 10 (out of 15 students of the Centre; GATE-13 (out of 15 students of the Centre) and are pursuing research for Ph.D. at various Institutions/Universities in India.

Presently five research projects with funding from external agencies are operating in the Centre under the supervision of the faculties.