Department of Life Sciences: -

Phone  :   0278 – 2519824
Fax       :   0278  - 2521545

HoD  :  Dr.  A. J. Joshi
Prof. & Head
e-mail  : ajjoshi2@yahoo.co.in
1.   About the Department :
          The Department of Life Sciences was established in 1985, with emphasis on interdisciplinary teaching and research in closely related Biological Sciences. The premises is located very close to the administrative building, which was inaugurated by Dr. S. Z. Qasim, the then secretary, DOD, New Delhi. Since its inception the faculty members have worked relentlessly to achieve high standards of teaching and research leading to the Department being recognized at the National level. The Department offers post-graduate programs in Botany, Microbiology and Zoology and conducts research in various fields. Equal emphasis is given to PG teaching and research.

          Due to the university’s coastal location, the Department runs one of the nine National OASTCs, granted by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, New Delhi with Marine Coastal Ecology as the thrust area. About 16 research projects worth Rs. 1.3 crore have successfully been completed and 6 more worth Rs. 2.5 crore have been sanctioned. The generous funding by MoES, has enabled the Department to prosper and keep pace with advances in biological sciences in general and coastal ecology in particular.
 
2.   Faculty Members


  1. Dr. A. J. Joshi
    Prof. and Head.
    e-mail: ajjoshi2@yahoo.co.in

  2. Dr. S. K. Patel
    Professor in Zoology
    e-mail : drskpatel2u@yahoo.com

  3. Dr.(Ms) Bharti P. Dave
    Professor in Microbiology
    e-mail : bharti_dave@hotmail.com
 
3.   Course Description

            
            Since its inception, the department had a semester pattern upto 2002. Since then, annual pattern has been introduced. From 2007 onwards, the Department again would be initiating a semester pattern.

            There are 30 available seats. Students with minimum 48% marks in B.Sc. Botany, Microbiology or Zoology are eligible to apply. Selection is strictly based on merit. The syllabus has been framed to prepare the students to appear for NET/SLET exams.

M.Sc. Part I constitutes intergrated syllabus with papers on :

  1. Cell Biology and Genetics
  2. Molecular Biology and Radiation Biology
  3. Quantitative Biology and Imunology
  4. Environmental Biology and Biotechnology
  5. Biochemistry and Tools and Techniques

            M.Sc.  Part II : The students are regrouped as per their specialization at the graduation level. The papers at M.Sc. II are: 

Botany
  1. Taxonomy and Diversity of Plants
  2. Plant Physiology – Metabolism
  3. Plant Development and Reproduction
  4. Plant Ecology
  5. Salt stress Physiology and Forest Botany
   
Microbiology
  1. Environment Microbiology
  2. Microbial Genetics
  3. Microbial Taxonomy
  4. Microbial Physiology and Biochemistry
  5. Industrial Microbiology
   
Zoology
  1. Comparative Anatomy
  2. Developmental Biology and Histology
  3. Entomology
  4. Animal Ecology and Ichthylogy
  5. Physiology and Endochrinology

          Recently the Department has introduced practicals in Recent Techniques in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology to keep the students abreast of the modern experimental skills.

          As the Department is running an Ocean Science and Technology Cell, to lay due emphasis on Marine Ecology, a new paper on Marine Botany, Microbiology and Zoology would be introduced from July, 2007. The Department also plans to expand its area to Marine Biotechnology.
 
4.   Major Infrastructure Facilities


         The Department has a well equipped laboratory for M.Sc. I and three laboratories  each  for Botany, Microbiology and Zoology for M.Sc. II. The Department also has well equipped research laboratories, 2 in Botany, 2 in Microbiology and 1 in Zoology.

Central Instrumentation Facility (CIF) :

         Two laboratories CIF-1(AC) and CIF-2 have been created. The major sophisticated instruments available are:-

AAS
UV-Vis Spectrophotometers,
Environmental Shakers,
Electronic Balances
Laminar Flow.
Microscopes (sophisticated compound, stereo, phase contrast)
Refrigerated Centrifuge.
Equipments for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology.
Culture Room.

Departmental Library

         The Department has a rich collection of about 1200 books covering subjects as diverse as Botany, Microbiology, Zoology, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Microbial Biotechnology etc. Each year the library is being enriched by procuring new Journals and Books of recent publications based on grants received from the UGC- New Delhi.
 
5.   Research and Development


        The three faculty members Prof. A. J. Joshi, Prof. S .K. Patel and Prof. Bharti. P. Dave are recognized guides for Ph.D. degree in their respective areas as:-

1 Prof.  A. J. Joshi Plant stress physiology
Biodiversity of Coastal flora
2 Prof. S. K. Patel Arachnology, biodiversity.
3 Prof. Bharti P. Dave

Microbial Siderophores, Bioremediation  and Extreme Halophiles

                                       

        As the Department is running an Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences & Technology Cell, faculty members are also engaged in researches on marine flora, fauna, microorganisms, pollution control etc.
 
6.   Publications


        The faculty members publish their work regularly in International and National Journals of reputes as

International :

  • Flora
  • Aquatic Botany
  • Z. Pflanzenphysiol
  • Environmental and Experimental Botany
  • Canadian Journal of Microbiology
  • Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology
  • Journal of Morphology and physiology

National

  • Indian Journal of Plant Physiology
  • Journal of Indian Botanical Society
  • Annals of Arid Zones
  • National Acadamy of Sciences
  • Indian Journal of Microbiology
  • Indian Journal of Experimental Biology
  • Advances in Biological Sciences
  • National Journal of Life Sciences
  • Journal of Marine Sciences
 
7.   Research Students


No. of students who obtained PhD   : 102
No. of students working at present   : 10
 
8.   Research Achievements

  • Study of halophytes growing along Gujarat coast, their Ecophysiology and utility.
  • Isolation and identificaton of microorganisms capable of degradation of lignin, PAHs, Bioremediation technology, Biodiversity and PHB production by extreme halophilies.
  • Identification of spider fauna at national level, spider silk Biochemistry.
 
9.   Jobs and Placements

        The students are well placed in research institutes, academics, Industries in India and abroad