With the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been rapid developments in the shift to research on health and infectious diseases. This has created a need for biotechnology professionals who are able to generate valuable research that can be put to use in the industry. As a unique biotechnology university of India, the Faculty of Applied Sciences & Biotechnology has been able to create new avenues for students.
Students
Headed by Prof Sourabh Kulshrestha, Dean Research, alumni Jamia Millia Islamia, University of Kentucky, USA & Max-Planck Institute, Germany
Our faculty offers the popular Summit Research Programme - A reimagined B Tech Biotechnology degree programme, the first and only one in India
Academic collaborations with universities in USA, UK, Italy, China, South Korea, Turkey, Taiwan, etc.
Undergraduates are trained to become scientists
Students receive attractive research and overseas fellowships
Our highly qualified and learned faculty members comprise nationally and internationally renowned academicians and industry leaders recognised globally for their outstanding achievements. Most have done their PhD and postdoctoral work at global institutions in India, USA, UK, Europe, China and more. Our emphasis is on quality teaching and high-impact research work. Most faculty members have received awards, grants and recognition in their fields of interest, which provides an ideal platform for learning in sophisticated labs of Biotechnology, Microbiology and Food Technology.
Considered among the best in the country in the BioSpectrum rankings, and recognized as Excellent University for Research in Biotechnology (CCI AND GTU), the Faculty of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology research focuses on bio-molecular engineering, food technology, biosensor technology, harnessing Himalayan medicinal flora for drug discovery to treat cancer, microbial infections and associated anti-microbial resistance (AMR), host-pathogen interactions, biodiversity and omics of extremophiles, cloning and molecular characterization of industrially important proteins and enzymes, bio-fertilizers and bio-pesticides.
Our food technology division houses Himachal’s first commercial food testing laboratory with a financial outlay of Rs. 2.85 crore funded by Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MOFPI), Government of India. The faculty has received a DST FIST grant of Rs. 65 lakh for setting up a proteomics facility at the university. The DST along with HPPIC, SCSTE (Shimla) also sponsored an IPR cell at the University.
In addition, the university has also received a financial assistance of Rs. 73.71 lakh under the Human Resource Development Scheme for creation of Infrastructure Development facilities for B Tech & M Tech Food technology courses by the MOFPI. The project includes financial assistance for the purchase of 26 major machines and equipments related to food processing, canning and dairy processing. The financial grant includes an assistance of Rs. 5 lakh for the purchase of more than 500 book titles in the subject of food technology. The university is also looking forward to producing marketable food, vegetable, bakery and dairy based products tailored by the food processing units at a pilot scale.
Further to satisfy the requirements of the biotech industry, our graduates are imparted practical training in plant tissue culture, biotransformation, fermentation, molecular biology, Recombinant DNA Technology, industrial enzymes screening and production, biochemical analysis and standardization of analytical instruments. Graduate and post-graduate students are required to undertake research/ projects.
Our ‘Mission 130’ aims at 100 per cent employability of students with 30 per cent in the top companies. Renowned academicians, scientists and business managers are already collaborating with us to make this mission a reality.
We have a dedicated and student-driven proactive Placement Cell, which looks after all activities related to career development, training and placement of students. Headed by an experienced team of professionals, the Placement Cell works tirelessly and diligently to provide students the right handholding in their final year. During our placement weeks, a large number of MNCs and leading companies visit the campus for on-the-spot placements.