Bio-Technology

 

Introduction

The Department of Biotechnology was started in the year 2003 with an objective of generating trained manpower in Biotechnology with disciplinary skills from Chemical engineering, Computer Science and Management Skills. Biotechnology is the application of Biology for industrial purposes such as development of vaccines, biomaterials, reducing toxic waste by using microbial or enzyme based processes, development of new drugs for treating emerging and reemerging diseases, development of newer diagnostic methods for diagnosis of human diseases, development of crops with additional productivity or added advantages etc.
 
The Research focus in our Department involves methods to reduce environmental pollution by using micro organisms, identifying the plant products which can be used to treat diabetes, fasten the wound healing processes; understanding the role of SNP in critical gene in the development of cancer; and monitoring and understanding the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance in bacteria. The Dept. is supported by grants from the SERB, DST, DBT & CSIR .
 
The Dept. offers B.Tech. and M.Tech. Programs in Biotechnology, M.Tech in Medical Biotechnology and Ph.D. programs.
 
 

Vision

To be a key driver of economic growth by stimulating regional innovation systems. Become a hub for development of key innovative industrial products and processes leading to the creation of spinout, spin along and spin in companies.
 

Mission

Our mission is to advance knowledge of basic biological processes and apply our research discoveries to improve human health, protect our environment and enrich our economy. We strive to fulfill our mission by nurturing an outstanding environment of learning where students and faculty apply the knowledge innovatively to create useful products and processes for the society. We focus on excellence in research and teaching, as well as service to the community.
 

Quality Policy

Encourage intellectual curiosity

  • Give individual opportunity
  • Act with Integrity, Truth and Empathy
  • Make learning fun

Program Educational Objective

  • A foundation in mathematics, basic sciences and engineering fundamentals required for higher studies in engineering or entry level jobs.
  • An understanding of major biological concepts, and awareness of the applications of Biotechnology in the Industry, Agriculture, Health, Environment and Bioinformatics to enable the students to choose their career paths
  • An ability to perform laboratory techniques (such as light microscopy, gel electrophoresis and keeping a laboratory notebook and understanding of principles of laboratory safety).
  • The ability to apply the scientific method and critical thinking in an ethical fashion to design experiments.
  • Contemporary professional, lifelong learning skills and an exposure to industrial training or experience to successfully compete in the local, national and global Biotechnology and allied industries.
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills and an understanding of ethical choices inherent in the engineering profession.
  • Developed design thinking process as a methodology for creative and human-cantered problem solving that empowers students to collaborate across disciplines and tackle the world�s biggest challenges.

Program Outcomes

  • Engineering knowledge: Apply the knowledge of mathematics, science, engineering fundamentals, and an engineering specialization to the solution of complex engineering problems.
  • Problem analysis: Identify, formulate, review research literature, and analyze complex engineering problems reaching substantiated conclusions using first principles of mathematics, natural sciences, and engineering sciences.
  • Design/development of solutions: Design solutions for complex engineering problems and design system components or processes that meet the specified needs with appropriate consideration for the public health and safety, and the cultural, societal, and environmental considerations.
  • Conduct investigations of complex problems: Use research-based knowledge and research methods including design of experiments, analysis and interpretation of data, and synthesis of the information to provide valid conclusions.
  • Modern tool usage: Create, select, and apply appropriate techniques, resources, and modern engineering and IT tools including prediction and modeling to complex engineering activities with an understanding of the limitations.
  • The engineer and society: Apply reasoning informed by the contextual knowledge to assess societal, health, safety, legal and cultural issues and the consequent responsibilities relevant to the professional engineering practice.
  • Environment and sustainability: Understand the impact of the professional engineering solutions in societal and environmental contexts, and demonstrate the knowledge of, and need for sustainable development.
  • Ethics: Apply ethical principles and commit to professional ethics and responsibilities and norms of the engineering practice.
  • Individual and team work: Function effectively as an individual, and as a member or leader in diverse teams, and in multidisciplinary settings.
  • Communication: Communicate effectively on complex engineering activities with the engineering community and with society at large, such as, being able to comprehend and write effective reports and design documentation, make effective presentations, and give and receive clear instructions.
  • Project management and finance: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the engineering and management principles and apply these to one�s own work, as a member and leader in a team, to manage projects and in multidisciplinary environments.

Courses

INFRASTRUCTURE

 

Research Labs

  • Centre for Herbal & Traditional Medicine
  • Microbial Pathogens Lab
  • Cancer Genomics & Cancer Biology Lab
  • The following Laboratories are offered for the Under Graduate / Post Graduate Students of Biotechnology
  •  

For UG & PG Courses

Microbiology Laboratory

  • Microbial Technology Laboratory
  • Molecular Biology Laboratory
  • R-DNA Technology laboratory
  • Biochemistry Laboratory
  • Analytical Biochemistry
  • Immunology Laboratory
  • Bioprocess Technology Laboratory
  • Downstream Process Laboratory
  • Bioinformatics Laboratory
  • Bioinformatics Programming Laboratory
  • Animal Cell Culture Laboratory
  • Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory
  • Mycology Laboratory
  • Genomics Laboratory
  • The equipment required for conduct of these laboratories are available in the Department.



Funded Projects

Dept of BioTechnology funded projects details

Name of the Faculty

Project Title

Dr. Rama Vaidyanathan &

Dr. C. Kamatchi

Mechanism of antibiotic resistance in bacteria, Funded by CSIR, Grant awarded 27.5 Lakhs, Period (2009-2012).

Dr. Rama Vaidyanathan &

Dr. K. G. Purushotham

Validation and screening for the identification of Inhibitors of Carbapenamase from Microbial Biodiversity, 33.16 lakhs, Department of Biotechnology (DBT), New Delhi, India (2013-2015).

Dr. N. Sudhakar

To Investigate the Toll-like receptor signaling in breast cancer, Grant 24 lakhs funded by Science and Engineering Research Board under Fast Track Scheme for Young Scientists (Period: 2012-2015).

Dr. Reena Das

Microbial transformation of Colchicines and thiocolchine by selected Bacterial strains, Grant 19 lakhs by Department of Science and Technology - Science and Engineering Research Board (Period: 2015-2018).

Dr. N. Sudhakar

Development of a diagnostic kit for early detection of HPV infection in Cervical cancer; 20 Lakhs, Funded by Department of Science & Technology (Period 2017-2020)

Dr.P.Thirunvukkarasu
Post Doctoral Fellow award by SERB, Govt of India

To conduct research on Isolation, Identification and Characterization of an antigastric cancer compound from Mangrove plant species Ceriops decandra funded by SERB N-PDF scheme (Grant: 19.2 Lakhs)



 

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

RESEARCH IN FOCUS

AWARDS & ACHIEVEMENTS

S.No

Name

Awards & Achievements

1

Dr. Rama Vaidyanathan

CSIR - JRF and SRF (1989 - 1994)

2

Dr. M.Deeca Raman

National overseas fellowship from government of India - 1980

3

Dr. Vijayalakshmi

UGC Fellowship obtained

4

Dr. Rajeswari Hari

Co-Author for the Siri Research Award for the year 2009.

5

Dr. N.Sudhakar

  • Senior Research Fellowship awarded by Lady Tata Memorial Trust at Mumbai, India during Aug 2004 - Aug 2006.

  • Qualified in GATE � Life Sciences Exam in the year 2002 with 78 Percentile.

  • Invited by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna for a scientific meeting to draft a project proposal in 2008.

  • Qualified in State Educational Test (SET) 2016

6

J.Johny Arockia Reena

Best Teacher Award 2007 (Mepco Schlenk Engg College), Sivakasi.

7

 Dr.P.Thirunvukkarasu

Awarded Post Doctoral Fellowship from SERB N-PDF scheme under the mentorship of Dr.N.Sudhakar.

 

ASSOCIATIONS AND ACTIVITIES
 
The Department of Biotechnology was started in the year 2003 with an objective of generating trained manpower in Biotechnology with disciplinary skills from Chemical engineering, Computer Science and Management Skills. Biotechnology is the application of Biology for industrial purposes such as development of vaccines, biomaterials, reducing toxic waste by using microbial or enzyme based processes, development of new drugs for treating emerging and reemerging diseases, development of newer diagnostic methods for diagnosis of human diseases, development of crops with additional productivity or added advantages etc.
 
The Research focus in our Department involves methods to reduce environmental pollution by using micro organisms, identifying the plant products which can be used to treat diabetes, fasten the wound healing processes; understanding the role of SNP in critical gene in the development of cancer; and monitoring and understanding the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance in bacteria. The Dept. is supported by grants from the CSIR and UGC.