St. Francis De Sales College NAGPUR, INDIA
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S.F.S. Centre for Biotechnology


The world scenario considers Biotechnology as a front line area with exciting possibilities, amazing applications, and a whole array of benefits to mankind. Biotechnology in India is attaining new heights after the revolution in computers.The country is visualizing Biotechnology as a premier precision tool of the future and can bring wealth to the nation and social justice to its people. Scientists across the country are engaged in opening up all avenues which can change the face of Indian Economy through Biotechnology.
The field Biotechnology is growing rapidly and has impact on all aspects of our life. It has a wide range of scientific applications in Nutrition and Dietetics, Medicine, Animal Science, Agriculture, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Food Processing, Genetics, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Immunology and all branches of Life Sciences. The major thrust areas of national and international relevance are Genetics and Biochemical engineering, Biofuels, Fermentation Technology, Bioinformatics, Proteomics, Genomics, etc.
The use and application of biotechnology spans a wide range of activities including developing of new varieties of seeds, improving livestock breeds, creating eco-friendly pesticides and development of methodology for production of industrially important enzymes. In the field of medicine, Biotechnology can help in curing genetically inherited diseases, drug targeting etc.
The major job opportunities for Biotechnology students are in the industries like Pharmaceutical, Agriculture, Food, Enviornment Management, Medicine Technology, etc. In most of these places students are absorbed as research students in their R & D Laboratories.


About The Department:
S.F.S. Centre for Biotechnology was established by S.F.S. College in 2005. Biochemistry department is the parent department of S.F.S. Centre for Biotechnology. It offers education at Postgraduate level in Biotechnology. The Centre has experienced staff, well equipped laboratories and a library.

The New Premises of SFS Centre for Biotechnology and Department of Biochemistry

 

HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE ADVISORY BOARD:


   Rev. Fr. Lawrence Fernandes - Chairperson
       Ex-Principal, S.F.S. College & Secretary, S.F.S. College Society
  
Dr. H. F. Daginawala,
       Senior Consultant, CIIMS, Nagpur
  
Dr. C. B. Powar,
       Ex-Principal, Sindhu Mahavidyalaya
  
Dr. S. K. Devotta,
       Director, NEERI, Nagpur
  
Dr. Tapan Chakrabarti,
       Director Grade Scientist, NEERI, Nagpur
  
Dr. Vedprakash Mishra,
       Vice-Chancellor, Datta Meghe College of Medical Sciences &
       Chairman, PG Medical Education Committee, Medical Council of India


Teaching Faculty

 Name   Qualification   Designation  Specializes in   Experience 
 Dr. Prakash  Zanwar  M.Sc.
 Biochemistry
Ph.D.
 Hon. Director, S.F.S.
 Centre for Biotechnology and Reader in Biochemistry
 Carbohydrate
 and Lipid Chemistry,
  Physiology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology.
 20 Years
 His Research interests are in Microbial Toxins, Oil Degradation and Microbial Proteases.
 Mr.
Arvind  Mungole
 M.Sc.
 Botany
 Adhoc Lecturer  Plant Biotechnology,
 Plant Tissue Culture,
 Biodiversity
 4 Years
 His Research interests are in Medicinal Properties of Plants
 Ms. Bhavna Arya M. Sc. Biotechnology  Adhoc Lecturer Genetic Engineering 1 Year
Mrs. Namrata Bonde M. Sc. Biotechnology Adhoc Lecturer Genetic Engineering 1 Year
Ms. Simki Dey M. Sc. Biotechnology Contributory Lecturer Genetics and Biomolecules 1 Year
Ms. Roopal Jain M. Sc. Biochemistry Contributory Lecturer Biophysical Chemistry 1 Year
 Mrs.
Vidya  P. Zanwar
 M.Sc.
 Biochemistry
 Lecturer Selection Grade  Enzymology,
 Protein
 and Nucleic Acid
 Chemistry,
 Metabolism
 23 Years
 She is also H.O.D.
 of Biochemistry & a guest faculty for M.Sc. Zoology, Chemistry and Biotechnology.
 Mrs.
Alka  Dhondge
 M.Sc.
 Biochemistry
 Visiting Guest Faculty  Clinical Biochemistry & Animal Tissue Culture.  20 Years
 
 Ms.
Tulika Kumar
 M.Sc.
 Microbiology & Bioinformatics
 Contri. Lecturer  Bioinformatics.  2 Years
 
 Dr.
S.B. Sarwe
 M.Sc.
 Mathematics
 H.O.D. Mathematics, Guest Faculty  Biostatistics  9 Years
 Dr. H.G. Jahagirdar  M.Sc.
 Chemistry
Ph.D.
 H.O.D. Chemistry  Spectroscopy, Organic Chemistry  26 Years
 He is also the Director for PG Chemistry at S.F.S. College. His research interests are in Polymer Chemistry.
 Dr. (Mrs)
Nikhat Naqvi
 M.Sc.
 Botany
Ph.D.
  H.O.D. Botany, Guest Faculty  Plant Pathology  5 Years
 Mrs. V. Pradhan  M.Sc. M. Phil,
 Zoology.
 H.O.D. Zoology, Guest Faculty   MRP, Envi. Biology, Guest Faculty  5 Years
 Mr. A.V.Bhagade  M.Sc, (NET)  Lecturer, Guest Faculty  Ichthyology  U.G 4 years
 P.G. 2 years
 Dr.
J.D. Saharabuddhe
 M.Sc.
 Zoology
Ph.D.
 Retd. H.O.D. Zoology, Guest Faculty  MRP  33 Years
 Authored several Books.
 Dr.
S.P. Gawali
 M.Sc.
 Botany
Ph.D.
 Retd. H.O.D. Botany, Guest Faculty  Plant Embryology  33 Years
 Authored several Books.
Dr.
Mrs. P. Sahasrabuddhe
 M.Sc.
 Zoology
Ph.D.
 Retd. H.O.D. Zoology, Guest Faculty   MRP  36 Years
 Actively engaged in Popularizing Science.

Facilities
In the span of one year, the College has established well-equipped - spacious laboratories for M.Sc. part I and II, including computer laboratory, Instrumentation center, animal and plant tissue culture, laboratories for research etc.
The College has spent Rs 1.5 Crores on construction for accommodating S.F.S. Centre for Biotechnology & Department of Biochemistry. Its total area is about 16,200 Sq.Ft.
The Department was blessed by Most Rev. Archbishop A. Viruthakulangara, Chairman of the S. F. S. College Society and later Inaugurated at hands Most. Rev. Archbishop Abraham Viruthakulangara and Hon'ble Vice Chancellor of R. T. M. Nagpur University Dr. S. N. Pathan on 17th Dec. 2006. Dr. S. N. Pathan lauded the efforts of Dr. Prakash Zanwar and Rev. Fr. Principal and mentioned that it is one of the best departments he has visited.

Hon’ble Vice Chancellor Dr. S. N. Pathan and Most. Rev. Archbishop A. Viruthakulangara inaugurated the SFS Centre for Biotechnology.

Hon’ble Vice Chancellor Dr. S. N. Pathan with Dr. Prakash H. Zanwar, Hon. Dir.
Dr. S. H. Pathan appreciating the facilities provided at SFS Centre for Biotechnology.


The New Building includes following:

 

B.Sc. Lab.750 Sq.Ft
M.Sc. Lab I 750 Sq.Ft
M.Sc. Lab II 750 Sq.Ft
Research Lab & sterilization area. 950 Sq.Ft
Walk-in-Incubator 100 Sq.Ft
Digital Imaging & Bioinformatics Lab 300 Sq.Ft
Library & Reading Room other than
 Central Library 500 Sq.Ft
Two class rooms for B.Sc. 750 Sq.Ft
Two class rooms for M.Sc. 500 Sq.Ft
Animal Tissue culture Lab. 200 Sq.Ft
Plant Tissue culture Lab 200 Sq.Ft
Instrumentation Centre 1200 Sq.Ft
Staff Room 750 Sq.Ft
General Utility area for Toilets
for Staff and Students 400 Sq.Ft

The college is also constructing a general-purpose Auditorium (Area ~ 6,000 Sq.Ft) with a capacity of accommodating 500 people.
Some of the major instruments in the department include PCR (Thermocycler), Laboratory Fermentor - 5 Ltr capacity, Deep Freezer, Spectrophotometer UV-VIS, High Speed Centrifuge, High Speed Homogenizer, Inverted Research Trinocular Microscope, Carbon Di-Oxide Incubator, Laminar Flow Benches, Orbital Shaking Incubator, Rotary shaker, Autoclaves, Digital animation facility, Computers, Cyclomixer, Digital Colony Counter, Digital Conductivity Meter, Digital Electronic Balance, Humidifier, Bacteriological Incubator, Oven, Membrane Filter assembly, Micro Centrifuges, Microscopes, Digital pH Meter, Platform Rocker, Serological water Bath, UV Trans illuminator.
The entire Department has been put on UPS for constant power supply.

Students are allowed to handle most of the instruments required for their Laboratory work.
Department has fully equipped Plant and Animal Tissue Culture Laboratories.

Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory.

The Departmental library has about 90 books in addition to the books available in the Central Library of the College. The department also subscribes journals and science magazines like:
• Nature • Nature Reviews Molecular and Cell Biology • Nature Reviews Immunology • Nature Reviews Microbiology • Nature Reviews Genetics • Scientific American India • Journal of Scientific and Industrial Resaearch • Indian Journal of Experimental Biology • Indian Journal of Biotechnology • Indian Journal of Biochemistry & Biophysics • Genetic Engineering News • Dream 2047

Students have a free access to the computers in order to view various educational CD ROMs related to Biosciences, available in the Department. They are also provided with unlimited Internet access for Bioinformatics and search of Literature for Seminars, Studies and Project Work

Course Structure:
M. Sc. Biotechnology Syllabus is prepared as per guidelines from UGC and R. T. M. Nagpur University to which this course is affiliated. Syllabus comprises of Cell Biology, Enzymology, Genetics, Molecular Biology, Macromolecular Structure and Function, Bioinformatics, and details of Recombinant DNA Technology. The Laboratory Course is related to the above aspects.

Criteria for Admission:
As per university direction no. 1 of 2005, the candidates must have passed Bachelors degree under 10+2+3 pattern of education in Physical OR Biological (All science graduates) OR Agriculture OR Veterinary OR Fisheries Sciences OR 4 years Pharmacy / Engineering / Technology / B.S. (Physician Assistant Course) OR Medicine (MBBS) OR B.D.S with at least 55% marks from Nagpur University or any other statutory University.
The students of Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Microbiology are given preference in admission. Admission at S.F.S. Centre for Biotechnology is strictly on the basis of Merit and Interview / Counseling.

Biochem-Biotech Organization of S.F.S. Students (BOSS):
The field of Biochemistry is growing rapidly and now it has become the basis for all current sciences like   Genetic  Engineering,   Molecular   Biology, and   Immunology   ect.

Dr. S. L. Govindwar , Director, Department of Biotechnology (DBT),
Government of India visited the department and interacted with the

Biotechnology students

Dr. S. K. Devotta, Director, NEERI, Nagpur, lighting the traditional lamp

and inaugurating BOSS - 2006-07.

He later delivered a talk on “Biotechnology and the Environment

Dr. (Mrs.) P. N. Shastri, HOD, Department of Food Technology, L. I. T. Nagpur delivering 2007-08 inaugural talk on "Bioreactors - An Overview" on 16th Sept. 2007.

Fr. Allan Tavares, delivering a talk on “Being Proactive

The Major problem is to keep track of recent developments and future prospects for the students. With this in mind the Biochemical Organization of S.F.S. Students (BOSS) was started in 2002. With the addition of Biotechnology at the post graduate level in the College, it has been renamed as Biochem-Biotech Organization of S.F.S. Students (BOSS) starting from 2005-06 academic session.
Aims and Objectives of BOSS are - Organizing lectures on recent trends in Biochemistry, Biotechnology and related subjects. Lectures on general topics related to overall development of students are also planned. This includes general group discussions, facing an interview, public speaking, quiz, etc. The Organization, in future, also proposes to include ex-students and form an alumni association so that past and present students can interact with each other and be benefited by it. In addition. the Department, through BOSS, also plans to procure certain teaching aids, instruments, scientific literature which would not only benefit the students but also the teachers.
The Organization has started its own open access library, which presently has about 160 books and 7 journals either purchased, subscribed or received on Gratis. The Staff, Ex-Students and Students have contributed a lot in terms of additon of books and journals to this library.

 

BOSS ACTIVITIES during 2007-08

  • Guest Lecture “Studies on Biological & Molecular Diversity to reveal phytochemistry of Curcuma & Chlorophytum in search of new drugs” by Dr. Aditi Pandey on 1st May 2007.
  • Guest lecture “Interview skills & techniques” by Mr. Mahesh Jagtap, Manager, HRD, Chromous Biotech, Bangalore on 2nd May 2007.
  • Debate on “Results – who is at fault? College, Teachers, Students or the Education System” Conducted by Dr. Prakash Zanwar on 15th August 2007.
  • Inaugural lecture of BOSS “Bioreactors: An Overview” by Dr. Mrs. P. N. Shastri, Dept. of Food Tech. L. I. T. Nagpur, on 16th Sept. 2007
  • Guest Lecture “Future prospects in the field of Biochemistry & Biotechnology” by Dr. Jayati Mullik, Scientist, NCCS, Pune on 29th Dec. 2007.
  • Guest lecture “Immunology – Innate Immunity – The Toll Story” by Dr. N. V. Shastri, Retd. Head, PGTD Biochemistry, R. T. M. Nagpur University, Nagpur on 5th Jan 2008.
  • “Valedictory Function” on 26th Jan. 2008.


Encouraging the students:
The Department also encourages students of 10th, 12th and B. Sc. Biotechnology students and allow them to visit the department to satisfy their curiosity. This has been found to be an added advantage as they do learn more about this field. Recently, students of Biyani College, Amravati visited the SFS centre for Biotechnology.

The Students and staff of Biyani College, Amravati in one of the laboratories at the Centre. Dr. Prakash Zanwar is seen explaining the use of some instruments in Biotechnology.

The Students and staff of Bhalerao Science College, Saoner in Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory. Mr. A. Mungole explaining the baisc of Plant Tissue Culture.

 

Contact and feedback:
The department will be glad to hear from our alumni, well wishers, and students.

For more information and details contact us at:

SFS Centre for Biotechnology
St. Francis De Sales College,
Seminary Hills,
NAGPUR - 440006
Maharashtra, INDIA.

Email us at :      sfs_biotech@yahoo.com
                             p_zanwar@yahoo.com
                             p_zanwar@hotmail.com
                             sfs_college@yahoo.com


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