Department of Microbial - Biotechnology

From the existence as a component of Department of Biotechnology, Department of Microbial Biotechnology emerged as an individual department in the year 2008 with two teaching faculty members to nurture it. In the next 5 years, two more faculty members have been appointed to expand the research focus areas which encompassed Bioprocess technology, Cancer therapeutics, Clinical Biotechnology and Biopharmacy.

The PG program M.Sc. Industrial Biotechnology which was offered under the Dept of Biotechnology from the year 2001, was brought under the aegis of Dept. of Microbial Biotechnology from 2008 onwards. In addition to the PG program, the research programs viz. M.Phil. in Microbial Biotechnology and Ph.D. in Microbial Biotechnology are also being offered to explore and contribute to scientific community. Bioprocess laboratory focused on exploiting microorganisms for degradation of waste and textile dyes which generated around Rs. 5.3crores from various funding agencies such as DRDO, UGC, etc.

Cancer therapeutics laboratory aims at exploring the potential of microbial metabolites including proteins for anticancer applications which attracted around Rs.130 L from various funding agencies like DST, DBT, UGC, ICMR, RUSA, etc. Similarly, Clinical Biotechnology laboratory has ventured into probiotics to scout the microbes for the benefit of human health and has received Rs. 46.33 L from UGC and DBT. Biopharmacy laboratory is expending its effort to utilize microbes for producing antioxidants and biopolymers. Meanwhile in 2015, enrichment to the research focus of the department was added by the entry of DBT-Ramalingaswamy fellow, who ventured into a new research field of Biomaterials.  

Stepping towards the next level of growth, two more faculty members were recruited in 2017 to expand the research horizon which extended the interesting rays in the field of Plant Biotechnology and Nano technology. With the gained strength both in terms of quality and quantity, the department strived for financial support from DST-FIST and was successful in receiving DST-FIST assistance to the tune of Rs.45 L in the year 2018 for further development.    

In 2017, to cater to the needs of Society in the field of Microbiology, M.Sc. Microbiology was instituted. The next year the PG program in Industrial Biotechnology was declared equivalent to M.Sc. Microbiology [GO (Ms) No. 266; dated 29.11.2019]. With the present strength of 5 regular faculty members along with one research faculty of DBT Ramalingaswamy fellow, the department is offering M.Sc. Microbiology, M.Phil. and Ph.D. in Microbial Biotechnology.

The Department with the total revenue of Rs. 3.56Crore from various funding agencies sourced by the faculty members has well established research facilities in Protein purification, Water analysis, probiotics, waste management, genetic engineering, plant tissue culture and animal tissue culture. Recently under RashtriyaUchchatarShikshaAbhiyan (RUSA) phase 1.0, a Recombinant protein production unit was established in 2018 at a cost of Rs. 50 L. 

In the PG curriculum, the department has included summer internship as mandate to improve their skills and expand their research exposure. In addition, to prepare them for their chosen career, the syllabus includes an exclusive elective in the fourth semester for giving them a glimpse of the requirement for the career leading to Teaching and Research or Entrepreneurship.  To motivate the learning skills of the students, they are engaged with interactive learning with discussions, quiz competition and seminars. 

BIOGALAXIA

In view of imparting commitment towards social responsibilities and managerial skills, a student Association named “BIOGALAXIA” was started in 2009. Since then under this umbrella of BIOGALAXIA, several activities both academic and social events are being conducted every year.
 

Consultancy

Under consultancy services, as a social responsibility the department is engaged in performing Drinking water quality analysis for elderly homes. The department also offers internships to other students seeking skill based training on Molecular Biology, Downstream processing and Microbiological techniques.

Mushroom cultivation

As part of the co-curricular activity students are motivated to culture the mushrooms in the protected and controlled environment facility established in our department experimental garden. For Mushroom cultivation, we are providing hands on training to students for their improvement of technical skills in this field. This may lead the students to become an entrepreneur in mushroom cultivation practices. 

Vermicomposting

Vermi-technology is a green technology to produce organic manure for agri& Horticulture crop supplement. In this, students are encouraged to culture earthworms and preparation of compost pit by their own. Vermi products are having much commercial value due to its rich nutrient content. This technology also have an avenue for an entrepreneurship. 

Newsletter

News letter is published every year for encouraging every student to exhibit their hidden talents. Articles for the newsletter such as cartoon, short poem, any interesting advancement in the field of science are invited from students, scholars and staff member. Achievements made by the members of the association are also included along with the upcoming events of the department. 

• Cancer therapeutics
• Clinical biotechnology
• Bio pharmacy
• Translational Plant Research 
• Natural Product 
• Microbiology
• Bioenergy

Dr.K.Swaminathan, Professor & Head,(2008-2016)

Department of Microbial biotechnology possesses the expertise in handling microbes and related field. As a social responsibility of giving back to the society, the department has started the initiative of providing consultancy services to the needed. In this context, the department is engaged in providing Water quality analysis services for Elderly homes at Coimbatore at a nominal charge. The drinking quality parameters are checked and assessed for permissible limits. The same is given as report to the Institution for further process. In addition, to cater to the requirement of students from other Institutions, the department is offering Training on three modules viz. Microbiological techniques, Molecular techniques and Downstream processing with nominal charges.  In addition to that Antibiotic sensitivity testing is also being performed for students from other departments and Institutions.