SCHOOL OF BIOTECHNOLOGY
National Institute of Technology Calicut
Calicut-673601, Kerala, INDIA
Profile and History
The school of Biotechnology at National Institute of Technology
Calicut is venturing into cutting edge science and technology
through its teaching and research activisities. As such,
biotechnology has evolved as an interdisciplinary area of science
and technology having linked with many engineering fields like
chemical engineering, computer science, electrical engineering,
mechanical engineering and so on. Highly qualified, motivated and
dedicated faculty members and research scholars including the
B.Tech students are engaged in quality research work in different
areas, like neuroscience, cancer biology, bioprocess technology,
fuel cell technology, plant biotechnology and genetic engineering.
The school of Biotechnology at National Institute of Technology
Calicut came into being as an independent entity in 2009. The
school started its Ph.D. programme in 2009 itself and faculty
members jumped onto the research arenas of cutting edge science
and technology
Academic Programmes
Doctoral degree programme
Candidates with Master’s degree in biotechnology or life sciences can do research work under
this programme leading to Ph.D. All the research scholars are entitled to receive stipend from
Govt. of India once they join the programme. Generally, it takes 3-5 years to get Ph.D.
degrees after registration.
Bachelor of Technology ( Biotechnology)
Candidates with 10+2 after clearing AIEEE can join this programme like any other
engineering programme. The interesting point of this programme is that all other engineeirng
techniques will be used to unravel different biological phenomena and also to produce lot of
essential products for medical science, food industry, agricultural needs etc.
Major research areas
Dr. Md. Anaul Kabir
Gene regulation in yeast, Protein folding in
yeast and higher eukaryotes, Genomics and
Proteomics of microbial organisms, Drug
resistance in fungal pathogens.
Dr. A Santhiagu
Microbial production of useful enzymes,
polymers, antibiotics and genetic
manipulation, Novel Drud delivery systems,
Biological evaluation of phytochemicals.
Major research areas
Dr. Rajanikant G. K.
• Neuropathology (Ischemic stroke, Multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Brain tumors) –
disease mechanisms & therapy.
• Mechanisms of skin repair and regeneration (Normal & infectious wounds, Burn injury,
Diabetic ulcers).
• Drug discovery & development – Herbal medicines, Synthetic compounds, Computer
Aided Drug Design (CADD).
• Novel drug delivery systems – Nanotechnology, Prodrugs, Biodegradable systems etc.
Dr. PremRaj Pushparakan
• Epigenetic regulation of intestinal alkaline phosphatase gene
•. Role of lipophilic vitamins in gut metastasis
• Novel anti-tubercular drugs through bio-pospecting
Major research areas
Dr. R. Aswati Nair
Functional genomics of NBS-LRR resistance
gene, Secondary metabolite pathway
engineering, Fungal elicitor identification
Dr. Suchithra T.V.
Microbiology: oxidative stress, antibiotic resistance,
strain improvement of industrially important
microbes and microbial fuel cells
Dr. K. Rathinasamy
Cell biology, Cancer research, Apoptosis,
microtubule cytoskeleton and the mitotic kinesins
interacting with the microtubules
Biotechnology laboratories
1. Microbiology laboratory
2. Biochemistry laboratory
3. Bioprocess laboratory
4. Molecular biology laboratory
5. Immunology laboratory
6. Plant biotechnology laboratory
7. Downstream processing laboatory
Extramural research funding
Faculty name
Funding agency
Amount
Status
Dr. Md. Anaul Kabir
DST
32.32 lakhs
Ongoing
Dr. A. Santhiagu
DST
17.93 lakhs
Ongoing
Dr. Rajanikant G. K.
DST
27.0 lakhs
Ongoing
DBT
14.0 lakhs
Ongoing
DBT
20.0 lakhs
Ongoing
DBT
21.01 lakhs
Ongoing
DST
16.85 lakhs
Ongoing
DB T
19.56 laksh
Ongoing
DST
38.05 lakhs
Ongoing
Dr. R. Aswati Nair
Dr. K. Rathinasamy
Publications (2010 and 2011)
Journal
11
National Conf.
08
International Conf.
11
Conferences/Summer/Winter School/Short
term Courses/ Workshops
School of Biotechnology conducted the following programmes on its
own and also in association with the Department of Computer
Science and Engineering in 2010 and 2011.
1. Biotechnology Teaching Excellence Program 2010 (BTEP 2010)
2. International Conference on Genomics and Proteomics
3. International Symposium on Biocomputing (ISB 2010)
4. Indo-US Workshop on Biocomputing (ISB-2011)
Ph.D .students
Currently School of Biotechnology has 20 Ph.D. students pursuing their
Ph.D. in the field of protein folding, gene regulation, overproduction of
biologically products, drug design, neuroscience, caner biology, plant
molecular biology etc.
Junior Research Fellows
Three JRFs are currently working on different DST,
DBT projects.
Post Doctoral Fellow
One Post Doctoral Fellow is currently
Equipment-Gel Doc
PCR Machine
Vacuum Evaporator