About the Department
The Department of Biotechnology, MAKAUT, WB has started its journey in the year 2002 with a view to emerge as a Center of Excellence for education and research in biotechnology. With an objective to equip students for meaningful lives and productive careers in the field of Biotechnology, a four-semester AICTE-approved and DBT supported M.Tech. programme in Biotechnology was initially started in 2003. Each year students were admitted through the all-India level Graduate Aptitude Test in Biotechnology (GAT-B), better known as the Combined Entrance Examination in Biotechnology (CEEB), that was conducted by Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, on behalf of the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India. In the recent days GAT-B is being conducted by the Regional Centre for Biotechnology. The Department of Biotechnology, MAKAUT, WB, further admits students through the Post Graduate Entrance Test (PGET), hosted by the University. The strength of the department is its well-equipped labs supervised by the enthusiastic and dynamic faculty members. Along with conventional class room teaching the department encourages self-learning and flipped learning and the students are free to use computer facilities. Befitting with the outcome of the program the students are encouraged to choose project topic which will be of commercial interest and societal benefit as well. Besides regular teaching learning, the department frequently arranges webinars, seminars and conferences, actively participated by the students, scholars and teachers. The industry personnel are often invited to bridge the gap between academics and industrial sectors. All the faculty members are engaged with active research as evident from their publications in various journals of high impact and ongoing research projects and patents. A number of PhDs are being produced by the department every year. The record of successful alumni is a matter of pride for the department. The fast growth of the department in the main campus after shifting in 2018 only, nurtures the hope of achieving world class resources and in making outstanding contributions in the field of biotechnology.
Vision of the Department :
To emerge as a center of excellence in the field of biotechnology and allied areas through teaching, training, innovation, and research.
Mission of the Department :
- M1. To educate young minds in biotechnology and related emerging areas through theoretical and practical knowledge acquired by training and hands-on experience.
- M2. To develop human resources with ingrained ethics and empathetic outlook having research expertise and entrepreneurship skill.
- M3. To strive for meaningful employment and to foster networking amongst industry and academia.. .
Distinctiveness of the Department: M.Tech in Biotechnology program is sponsored by the Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India. The students are admitted through qualification of GAT-B Examination conducted by the National Testing agency (NTA) and students receive Rs.12000/- as scholarship per month for this 2-year long course. Since the admission test is conducted nationally, this program is considered truly a pan India program where students from all parts of the country take admission.
Notably, this is the only M.Tech program in Biotechnology in the state of West Bengal which has received full 6-year accreditation by NBA.
Unique Features :
- Fellowship : Rs. 12,000/- per month granted by DBT (Govt. of India) for M.Tech in Biotechnology students who are admitted through GAT-B .
AdmissionAdmission to M.Tech. in Biotechnology
Program Educational Objectives (PEOs) of the M.Tech in Biotechnology programme:
| PEO1 | To make the students accomplished with an advance knowledge of biotechnology. |
| PEO2 | To prepare the students with effective research communication skills. |
| PEO3 | To develop a research network with other institutes and industries. |
Admission Process:
Admission through GAT-B:
Applications are generally invited from candidates qualified Graduate Aptitude Test in Biotechnology (GAT-B) after National Testing Agency (NTA) declares the result and publishes the name of qualified candidates. Name of the category-wise shortlisted candidates’ names published on the University website. For any vacant seat, candidates from the waiting list are considered.
Admission through PGET:
Other eligible candidates may apply through Post Graduate Entrance Test (PGET) examination conducted by University. The merit list is prepared from the candidates who qualified in the PGET.
Intake Capacity: 30
Eligibility criteria for the programmes:
B.Pharm/ B.Tech ./B.E.(Biotechnology, Biochemical engineering, Biomedical engineering, Industrial biotechnology, Chemical engineering, Pharmaceutical technology, Chemical technology, Food technology, Food engineering)/M.Sc.(Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Botany, Zoology, Microbiology, Genetics, Life sciences, Bioengineering) Minimum of 60% marks or equivalent CGPA from any recognized university. Admission to reserved category candidates will be as per Government of India rules .
Studentship Support:
Rs. 12000/- per month for GAT-B candidates. The continuation of stipend for the second year of the programme is subject to satisfactory progress of the student
Faculty and Staff
| Name | Department | Designation |
|---|---|---|
| Dr. Arup Mukherjee | Department of Biotechnology | Professor (C) |
| Dr. Jaya Bandyopadhyay | Department of Biotechnology | Professor |
| Dr. Raja Banerjee | Department of Biotechnology | Professor |
| Dr. Rina Rani Ray , | Department of Biotechnology | Associate Professor |
| Dr. Ranjita Biswas (HoD) | Department of Biotechnology | Associate Professor |
| Dr. Debdut Naskar | Department of Biotechnology | Assistant Professor |
ResearchThrust area of research
- 1) Understanding Immune functions of intestinal epithelial cells and cellular signaling network in intestinal diseases.
- 2) Phytochemical based treatment strategy against intestinal diseases
- 3) Development of three dimensional mammalian cell culture system as alternative to animal experiments.
- 4) Molecular Aging and Development using C. elegans as the model organism
- 5) Molecular mechanism of metal / chemical induced neurotoxicity with a view to search natural products as promising drug candidates using mammalian cell systems
- 6) Interaction properties of DNA with various nanotubes and their impacts on C. elegans
- 7) Investigating the antibacterial activity of Graphene based nanomaterials and its impact on C. elegans
- 8) Precision Cancer Therapeutics
- 9) CRISPR-cas genome editing for thermophilic microbes.
- 10) Advance biofuel production from lignocellulosic biomass
- 11) Production of postbiotic nutraceutical molecules from food industry wastes.
- 12) Formulation of PGPRs for soil health improvement.
- 13) Microbial Bioremediation (Heavy metal and Low density polyethylene)
- 14) Antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities of natural compounds ( bacteruocin, phytocompounds)
- 15) Biogenic synthesis of nanoparticles and their application in biofilm removal.
Ongoing projects
1) Establishing importance of Wnt signaling in the maintenance of immune functions of Intestinal epithelial cells and therapeutic approach against intestinal diseases. Principal investigator: Dr. Debdut Naskar Funding Agency: DST-Inspire Faculty Scheme Amount: Rs. 35 Lakhs Status: Ongoing, from 2017 2) Synthesis of aptamer producing plasmid for detection and novel drug delivery for the treatment of colorectal cancer. Principal investigator: Dr. Debdut Naskar Funding Agency: MAKAUT, WB research support grant for Assistant Professor (Seed grant) Amount: Rs 1 Lakh Status: Ongoing from 2019 3) Investigation of the activity of graphene and its derivatives towards the biological systems with special relevance to C. elegans. Principal Investigator: Dr. Jaya Bandyopadhyay Co-investigators: Prof. Debashis De (MAKAUT, WB) & Dr. Tufan Naiya (MAKAUT, WB) Funding Agency: Department of Higher Education, Science and Technology and Biotechnology, Government of West Bengal Amount: Rs. 22.66 Lakhs Status: Ongoing from 2019 4) Utilize a CRISPR-cas tools for redirecting metabolic flux in Thermoanaerobacterium sp RBIIT for biobutanol production. Principal Investigator- Dr Ranjita Biswas Funding Agency- Mission Innovations Indo-US Project, DBT, New Delhi (International Collaboration- The Thayer School of Engineering, Hanover, NH, USA). Amount- Rs 140 lakhs Status- Ongoing from 2020 5) Project 8: Studies of bioremediation strategies based on the multi metal tolerance of a new bacterial isolate. PROJECT OF DBT, WEST BENGAL, 06 (Sanc) /BT (Budg) /RD-21/2016, 03.01.17 Principal Investigator: Dr. Rina Rani Ray Amount: Rs. 19.33 Lakhs Status: Ongoing from 2018
Ph.D Awarded
- Dr. Jyotirmoy Rakshit (2020)
- Dr. Kunal Biswas (2021)
- Dr. Swati Sinha (2021)
- Dr Barnita Ghosh (2016)
- Dr Moumita Karmakar (2016)
Facilities
Laboratory Facilities
- Immunology Research Lab
- Fungal Biotechnology Lab
- Biofuel and Bio refinery Lab
- Animal Cell culture lab
- Genetic Engineering Lab
- Clinical Biotechnology Lab
- Microbiology Research Lab
- Computational biology Lab
- Cell Signaling Research Lab
- Development & Molecular Biology Lab
- Biophysical Lab