Department of Bio-Chemistry

The Department of Biochemistry is established in 1995 in the University, which was earlier as one of the course paper (1984) and complete course (1989) in the Department of Chemistry with the vision to shape the students to understand molecular mechanism, to find out cause of happenings in the living organism. The Department has maintained Departmental library (480 books, 4 National Journals Current Science, Indian Journal of Biotechnology, Indian Journal of Experimental Biology, Indian Journal of Biochemistry & Biophysics). Presently, 28 Ph. D students are working in research projects worth Rs. 350 lakhs from UGC, DST and DBT. Department has produced 18 Ph D since last 5 years. The faculty members of the Department have published 119 research papers in several International as well as National journals (Total citations: 645, Average citation: 5.42, Average Impact factor: 1.27) and presented research papers in 49 International and National conferences and symposia in last 5 years. Two staff members have postdoctoral experience in National Institute of Health, Bethseda, USA; Tuskeegee Institute, Alabama, USA; University of South Florida, USA and National Taiwan University, Taipai, Taiwan. 13 Ph. D students from this department have received post doctoral fellowships at USA, Taiwan and South Korea.

This Department is sponsored by

• Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, New Delhi under DST-FIST for infrastructure development.
• The course M. Sc. in Environmental Biotechnology is sponsored by Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, New Delhi.
• This Department is supported by UGC-SAP-DRS-1 program.

Department is involved in the research area viz. Bioremediation (Microbial and phyto, Degradation of textile dyes), toxicological studies and cytochrome P450 mediated biotransformation, fermentation, Ayurvedic drugs and its biochemical action, molecular modeling and bioinformatics.

Department is significantly working in the thrust area of “Microbial Biotransformation (Bioremediation)” and recognized internationally, besides molecular modeling, fermentation, and mechanism of ayurvedic drugs. We are in the process of the development of bioremediation technology for the textile industrial applications which will benefit several cottage industries in Ichalkaranji area.

• Department is supported by DST-FIST, DBT, UGC-SAP-DRS-1 programs.
• Department is recognized internationally for the research in “decolorization” (Top 2 in the world).
• M. Sc. in Environmental Biotechnology course is supported by Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, New Delhi (First and only course in India).
• Industrial training, Fellowships (Rs. 1800/- per month) and Research grants (Rs. 50,000/-per student) for M. Sc. Environmental Biotechnology (10 students).
• Department produced 31 Ph D students, out of which 13 students got postdoctoral fellowships in USA, Ireland, Taiwan, South Korea during last five years. Department has arranged Ph D program at South Korea for two M. Sc. students.
• Scientific collaboration to investigate phytochemistry and safety aspects of ayurvedic/herbal drugs with M/S S G PHYTO PHARMA, KOLHAPUR. (September 2007- August 2011).
• Department runs Horizontal Mobility concept for Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Microbiology (common courses among these disciplines).
• Department had research collaboration (2008-2009) with Prof. J.S. Chang, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, TAIWAN (for the Ph D work of Mrs. Rijuta saratale)

Following academic programs are available in the Department.

• Integrated program for M. Sc. Course in Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Microbiology and Environmental Biotechnology (Horizontal mobility).
• M. Sc. Biochemistry.
• M. Sc. Environmental Biotechnology.
• M. Phil. Biochemistry.
• Ph. D in Biochemistry and Environmental Biotechnology.
• P.G. Diploma in Bioinformatics.

Department has P.G. Diploma in Bioinformatics which serve as additional course. Students can complete this course while doing other postgraduate degree in the University.

Department has animal house, plant tissue culture and cold room facilities.

During last five years this Department has taken initiative to start the Department of Microbiology and Department of Food Science and Technology (received grants of Rs. 50 lakhs for infrastructure development from Ministry of Food Processing & Technology) in the campus.

Department has international collaboration with Prof. J. S. Chang from National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan for the doctoral research and with Prof. M. Y. Yoon from Hanyang University Seoul, South Korea. We have interdepartmental collaboration with the Department of Microbiology, Biotechnology, Environmental science, Botany and Zoology for teaching as well as research.

Department has scientific collaboration to investigate phytochemistry and safety aspects of ayurvedic/herbal drugs with M/S S G PHYTO PHARMA, KOLHAPUR (September 2004- August 2011).

• Instruments

• Laboratory Space

The Department is hosted in the Building which contains, Total area of the Department = 5867 Sq. ft., Total Laboratory area of the Department = 2104 Sq. ft. (Laboratory for M. Sc. Students: 2, Preparation rooms: 2, Class rooms: 1, Auditorium: 1, Computer room:1, Instrumentation room: 2, Research laboratory: 1, Rooms for Teachers: 6, Departmental Library: 1, Store room: 1, Office: 1, Room for Head of the Department: 1, Animal Tissue Culture Lab: 1, Plant Tissue Culture Lab:1, Environmental Biotechnology Lab: 1, Molecular Biology Lab: 1)

Head,
Department of Bio-Chemistry,
Shivaji University, Kolhapur.