Department of Zoology

The Department of Zoology as a post-graduate department came into existence in the month of July 1964. The Department offers postgraduate courses leading to M. Sc., M. Phil. and Ph.D. degrees. The intake capacity of the students per year is 60. Syllabus of M. Sc. course is based on UGC guide lines.

The department offers four specializations for M. Sc. Zoology, M. Phil and Ph.D. These are

• Cell Biology
• Entomology
• Comparative Animal Physiology
• Aquaculture and fisheries

The Department building is situated on the southern side of the University campus and occupies 12830 Sq. feet area. It is a two-storey building. It has M. Sc. Part – I Laboratory, Cell Biology, Entomology, Comparative Animal Physiology and Aquaculture and fisheries laboratories, Museum, Store, Chemical Preparatory Rooms, Seven Research laboratories, Fourteen Staff Rooms, Computer Rooms Two and Instrumentation Room. The laboratories are well equipped. Besides, the department has Animal House. (Reg. No.CPCSEA/233). The Department is taking the efforts to set up Animal Cell Culture Laboratory.

• Insect Taxonomy and Molecular Phylogeny
• Biological Control of Insect Pests
• Sericulture
• Biodiversity of Insects, Fishes and other Animals
• Insect Endocrinology and Haematology
• Cell Biology
• Animal Physiology
• Fisheries and Aquaculture

The Department has excelled in its research standards and its highly qualified faculty offers guidance for M. Phil. and Ph.D. programs under identified thrust areas in

• Insect Taxonomy and Barcoding
• Biological Pest Control
• Sericulture
• Apiculture
• Vermiculture
• Mass Rearing of Biocontrol Agents
• Formulation of fish feed: Commercial fish production and resistance induction
• Biodiversity of fish, insects and mammals from Western Ghat Maharashtra
• Use of herbal preparations for disease management of silkworm Bombyx mori L
• Molecular taxonomy of economically important insects
• Immunocytological approach in insects
• Studies on forensic insects
• Management of woolly aphids and white grub pests of sugarcane
• Use of odonatans in mosquito control
• Insect taxonomy, Physiology, Endocrinology and Biopesticides
• Field trials of biological control agents of insect pests
• Sericulture pest management
• Comparative Physiology and reproductive biology of vertebrates and invertebrates
• Physiological approaches of sportsman and industrial workers
• Use of herbals as anti ageing agents
• Study of salivary gland derived epidermal growth factors in mice
• Cell senescence and aging
• Animal cell culture and Stem cell culture in collaboration with medical practitioner
• Toxicological studies on invertebrates and vertebrates
• Limnological studies on freshwater and marine water bodies
• Waste recycling by employing invertebrate animals
• Ecophysiological studies on the role of environmental stresses due to pollution

Till date 155 candidates have been awarded the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.). Besides about 55 M.Phil. and 30 M.Sc. (By research) degrees have been awarded. Presently 41 candidates are working for their Ph.D. and 1 for M.Phil. Degrees on the above referred specified problems. The department has published 35 books, over 450 research papers in journals of National and International repute and about 600 papers were read at the International and National Symposia / conferences. This commendable research out put was facilitated, through generous grants in the form of research projects from various funding agencies in India such as UGC, DST, ICMR, CSIR and DBT.

The Department is organizing from time to time, conferences/ workshops, symposia, seminars, exhibitions and refresher courses to up-date the knowledge in Zoology for the students, scientists, faculty and college teachers.

The Department has produced dynamic personalities who have won laurels in various fields at national and international levels. Late Prof. A.T. Varute, past head of the department chaired as Vice-chancellor of the Shivaji University, Kolhapur and Prof. Dr. Dilip Deobagkar, Presently working as Vice-chancellor of Goa University. Many students of this department occupied higher positions in different Universities, State and National Level Institutes.

• PCR thermocycler (Bio-Rad)
• Inverted phase contrast microscope (Nikon)
• Gel Documentation system
• UV-VIS Spectrophotometer (Shimadzu)
• Spectrofluorometer
• Cryotome
• Veb-Carl Zeiss Jena Zeiss Universal research Microscope "Nu".
• Rotary Microtome
• Special Rotary Microtome (Lipshaw)
• Visible Spectrophotometers (Milton Roy Spectronic – 20)
• C-24 High Speed Cooling Centrifuge (Remi)
• R-24 Research Centrifuge (Remi)
• MS5 Stereomicroscope with light stand and Microphotographic attachment (Leica)
• Gallen III Bright field/dark field/Trinocular Microscope (Leica)
• Electromyograph.
• Animal Activity Monitor.
• Japan Analytical Single Pan Balance Ay-220. (Shimadzu)
• Laminar Air flow
• Autoclaves
• Bacteriological incubators
• Dry heat sterilization ovens
• Electrophoresis units with power pack
• Tissue culture grade water purification system

MOU WITH OTHER INSTITUTES:

The Department has MOU with Ministry of Environment and Forestry, I.F.R.I., Dehradun for evaluation of Research Projects, and to study the Biodiversity of marine ecosystem as front line research area with the Goa University, Panaji, Goa and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, Marathwada University, Aurangabad.

In addition to imparting knowledge for M.Sc., M.Phil. and Ph. D. degrees, department runs following courses.

• Diploma in Insect Biotechnology
• Certificate course in Animals and cells in Research Technology
• P.G. Diploma in Biodiversity Conservation
• P.G. Diploma in Immuno-technology
• P.G. Diploma in Applied Zoology (Aquaculture and Fisheries Technology)
• P.G. Diploma in Applied Zoology (Economic Entomology)

Head,
Department of zoology,
Email: zoology @ unishivaji.ac.in