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Department of Microbiology

About the Department

The Department of Microbiology is one of the oldest departments, established in 1993 and was integrated into the School of Life Sciences, VELS University during 2008. The department offers B.Sc. Microbiology and a novel job-oriented course, M.Sc. Immunology and Microbiology in addition to M.Phil. and Ph.D. programmes in research. The syllabus of these programmes is fortified with the latest developments to facilitate easy employability. The curriculum is based on Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) providing academic flexibility with Core and Elective courses enabling student community to prefer their electives of interest. Priority is also given to enhance the research ability among students and motivate them to become future scientists in the form of training/internship, group projects and dissertation works. This practice improves the analytical skill and logical reasoning of the student. Developing entrepreneurship skills among students is another priority given by the department. The department provides hands-on experience in microbiological techniques through two common  laboratories and one research laboratory, equipped with basic and modern equipments such as PCR, Gel Documentation, ELISA Reader, Cooling Centrifuge, BOD etc.

The department comprises of dedicated, experienced and qualified faculty members with teaching and research proficiency. In addition to teaching, faculty members are actively engaged in research by applying and carrying out funded projects.  Faculty members also have research publications of their research findings in reputed indexed journals. The thrust areas of research include Marine Bio products, Applied Immunology, Plant- Microbe Interactions, Molecular drug resistance mechanisms, Molecular interactions in biofilms, Medical and Applied Mycology, Bio-nanomaterials etc.

The department has organized many conferences/seminars/workshops/guest lectures for the benefit of the student community in providing opportunity to interact with scientists and delegates from other universities and industries.  Students are also encouraged to participate/present their research findings in International and National Conferences. The department is also actively linking up with industries of high repute in terms of short-term training and student projects. The department has signed an  MoU with Asian Enviro Labs for training of students. The alumni of the department are well placed in government and non-government sectors. The department along with a well functioning placement cell enables students to get good placements in healthcare, food, dairy, pharmaceutical industries. Overall, the department provides conducive environment to foster research led academic programs enabling students to be professionally competent.

Vision & Mission

Vision of the Department

To produce graduates with relevant education descriptors and hands-on skills in microbiology and related areas of life sciences plus holistic development of individuals that makes them responsible citizens of society.

Mission of the Department

• Imparting relevant knowledge and creating an atmosphere to develop innovative and critical thinking.
• Skill enhancement through hands-on training and value-added courses plus add on courses.
• Sustained focus on original high quality research encouraging scientific thinking and approach.
• Creating an environment for holistic development of individuals with emphasis on spirit of integrity, equity, professional ethics and social harmony through the exposure and participation in co-curricular, extracurricular and extension activities.

Programmes Offered

  • B.Sc MICROBIOLOGY 
  • M.Sc IMMUNOLOGY & MICROBIOLOGY, 
  • M.Phil, Ph.D

 

Faculty-Student Ratio:  1: 20

Program Educational Objectives (PEOs)

PROGRAM EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES (PEO)

PEO1: To provide the graduates with knowledge in microbiology and an overview of the processes that employ or deal with microbes that enables them to handle the safe and efficient use of microbiological applications with development of competence on par with global standards and helps the graduates for life-long learning.

PEO2 To prepare graduates by imparting skills to use technological developments related to current and advanced areas involving molecular diagnostics, immunotechnolgy, mass cultivation of microbes, downstream processing and nanotechnology with scope for upskilling in all potential future technologies so as to contribute effectively for Research & Development leading to patenting and publishing.

PEO3: To train graduates to choose a decent career option either as Entrepreneur or having a high degree of employability; or pursue higher education – by empowering students with basic interpersonal skills, ability to handle critical situations allowing them to be good team members as well as training to excel in competitive examinations.

PEO4: To impart a strong sense of social responsibility with awareness of professional and societal ethical values and scope to develop leadership capabilities.

PEO5 : To establish an environment that accentuates the requirement to fulfil life-long learning for the overall development of self and society at large.

Program Outcomes (PO) & Program Specific Outcome (PSO)

PROGRAM OUTCOMES (PO)

PO1- Microbiology knowledge: Graduates will acquire microbiology specific knowledge including molecular biology, immunology and rDNA technology coupled with hands-on skills and leadership skills for a successful career.

PO2- Problem analysis: Graduates will be able to analyse, solve and troubleshoot problems in implementation of microbiological protocols.

PO3- Design/development of solutions: Graduates will develop creative thinking and cooperate with each other to solve problems in the field of microbiology.

PO4- Conduct investigations of complex problems: Graduates will acquire practical skills – which help in planning and designing protocols to validate hypothesis and execute experimental techniques independently as well as assimilate, analyse and interpret subsequent data.

PO5- Modern tool usage and communication: Graduates will effectively be able to manage resources and time using ICT and computer enabled devices and accomplish ability to understand and communicate all ideas effectively.

PO6- Environment sustainability and Ethics: Graduates will get adequate knowledge to use information and implement solutions for environmental protection and remediation. Graduates will be aware of their role and responsibility in handling and use of microbes including genetically modified microorganisms.

PO7- Lifelong learning: Graduates will carry on to learn and adapt in a world of constantly evolving technology.

PROGRAM SPECIFIC OUTCOME (PSO)

PSO1: Microbiology skills: The ability to understand the basic concepts related to the relevant fields of microbiology which will enable them to analyse and develop solutions to microbiology related problems.

PSO2: Microbiology related employability skills: The ability to use the acquired hands-on skills in microbiology, molecular biology, immunology, medical microbiology and screening for useful biomolecules within employment areas.

 PSO3: Successful Career and Entrepreneurship:  The ability to gainfully become an entrepreneur by using microorganisms to produce biofertilizers, mushrooms and pharmaceutically important biomolecules as well as using practical hands-on training to become employed in diagnostic, industrial, pharmaceutical, food and research and development laboratories.

 

Curriculum & Syllabus

CURRICULUM & SYLLABUS

MINIMUM CREDITS TO BE EARNED: 140

Hours/weekMaximum Marks
Code No.CourseLectureTutorialPracticalCreditsCASEETotal
SEMESTER 3
LANGTamil III/ Hindi III/ French III 30034060100
ENGEnglish – III30034060100
CORE 7Introduction to Environmental Microbiology40044060100
CORE 8Basic Food Microbiology30244060100
CORE 9Introduction to Virology40044060100
AECCEnvironmental Studies20024060100
COREPractical in Environmental microbiology00424060100
SECSoft Skills - II / Sector Skill Council Course20024060100
SECSwayam / NPTEL / Value Added Course-------
Total210624

 

View full course curriculum

Program Educational Objectives

PROGRAM EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES (PEOs)

PEO 1:To provide the candidates with in-depth knowledge in immunology and microbiology and afirm grasp of the processes that employ or deal with microbes plus adept use of immunological techniques in relevant technologies that empowers them to deal with the safeand efficient use and monitoring of microbiological and immunological applications with development of competence on par with global standards and helps in the life-long learningof candidates.

PEO 2:To enable candidates by imparting updated analytical and hands-on skills to use andimplement technological developments related to advanced and potential areas involving molecular diagnostics, automated systems of diagnosis, immunoblotting technology,upstream or downstream processing and nanotechnology with scope for upskilling upto future technologies so as to contribute effectively for Research & Development leading topatenting and publishing.

PEO 3:To train candidates to choose a decent career option either as Entrepreneur or having a high degree of employability; or pursue research – by providing training in interpersonal skills,sense of social responsibility, ethical and administrative acumen, ability to handle critical situations allowing them to be good team members and leaders as well as training to excel incompetitive examinations.

PEO 4:To impart a strong sense of social responsibility with awareness of professional and societal ethical values and scope to develop leadership capabilities with the continuous need for lifelong learning.

 

Eligibility Criteria

ProgramProgram Duration (Year)EligibilityCriteria for Merit
B.Sc Micro-Biology3 Years (6 Semesters)A pass in higher secondary with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/ Botany/ Zoology/ Vocational – Agriculture or any Life SciencesMerit based on the percentage of marks secured in the qualifying examination

Programme Outcomes & Programme Specific Outcomes

PROGRAM OUTCOME (PO)

PO-1: Life Sciences knowledge: Successful candidates will apply current/recent specific knowledge in the respective discipline with proficiency in practical skills and leadership skills for a successful career.

PO-2: Problem analysis: Successful candidates will be able to apply the knowledge in microbiology to design standards, resolve and troubleshoot problems in implementation or standardization of protocols.

PO-3: Design/development of solutions: Successful candidates will develop creative and cognitive thinking and cooperate with each other to solve problems in the field of Life sciences.

PO-4: Conduct investigations of complex problems: Successful candidates will acquire capabilities to plan and design protocols and utilize practical skills to validate hypothesis by executing experimental techniques independently coupled with the ability to assimilate, apply, analyze, interpret and accurately evaluate subsequent data.

PO-5: Modern tool usage: Successful candidates will effectively be able to choose and manage resources including time using ICT and other computer enabled devices.

PO-6: Ethics: Successful candidates will be aware of their role and responsibility in proper handling, use and safe disposal of microbes including genetically modified microorganisms.

PO-7: Communication: Successful candidates will have the ability to understand and communicate all ideas and concepts effectively.

PO-8: Environment sustainability: Successful candidates will get adequate knowledge to use information and implement solutions for environmental protection, safeguards and remediation.

PO-9: Lifelong learning: Successful candidates will carry on to learn, adapt and disseminate knowledge in a world of constantly evolving technology.

 

PROGRAMME SPECIFIC OUTCOMES (PSOs)

The overall outcome of graduates specific to M.Sc. in Immunology & Microbiology programme at VISTAS can be summarized as:

PSO 1:The ability to understand, implement and troubleshoot the concepts related to the fields ofmicrobiology and immunology which will enable them to analyse and develop solutions tomicrobiology, immunology and rDNA related problems using knowledge and hands-on skillsin microbiology, molecular identification, immunodiagnostics, screening for useful biomolecules and nanotechnology in the interpretation of data in relevant protocols.

PSO 2:The ability to gainfully become an entrepreneur by using microorganisms to mass producebiofertilizers, mushrooms or any other edible forms of SCP, fermented productsand pharmaceutically important biomolecules as well as using knowledge, communication andpractical hands-on training to become employed in diagnostic, industrial, pharmaceutical, food and research and development laboratories.

PSO 3:The ability to understand the principles and concepts underlying immunology and microbiology, including the interactions between microorganisms and the immune system and to Possess proficient laboratory skills in techniques relevant to immunology and microbiology, including culturing microorganisms, performing immunological assays, and molecular biology techniques such as PCR and sequencing etc.,

PSO 4:The ability to critically analyze the research in Immunology and Microbiology and to evaluate experimental design, methodology and interpretation of results and to understand the regulation of immune responses which includes the roles of different immune cells, cytokines and signaling pathways in health and disease.

PSO 5:For the effective scientific communication and to relate microbes and their role in ecosystem and public health research with wide opportunities and career prospects.

Career Prospects

CAREER PROSPECTS

 

  • Clinical Laboratory Scientists
  • Food Scientists and Technologists
  • Immunologists
  • Mycologists
  • Parasitologists
  • Personal Care Product and Cosmetic Scientists and Technologists
  • Pharmaceutical Scientists and Technologists
  • Science Writers
  • Technical Support Specialists
  • Virologists
  • Water Quality Laboratory Technicians

Curriculum & Syllabus

CURRICULUM & SYLLABUS

MINIMUM CREDITS TO BE EARNED: 90

Hours/weekMaximum Marks
Code No.CourseLectureTutorialPracticalCreditsCASEETotal
SEMESTER 1
CORE 1 Cell Culture and Fermentation
Technology
40044060100
CORE 2Immunology40044060100
CORE 3General Microbiology 30244060100
COREPractical Immunology and
Systemic Bacteriology
00424060100
DSEMedical Bacteriology and
Virology
40044060100
DSEIndustrial Microbiology40044060100
SEC Soft Skill 1 20024060100
Total210624280420700

 

View full course curriculum

Alumni Testimonials

Eligibility Criteria

ProgramProgram Duration (Year)EligibilityCriteria for Merit
M.Sc Immunology & Microbiology2 Years (4 Semesters)Degree in B.Sc., (Microbiology/ Biotechnology/ Biochemistry/ Bioinformatics/ Botany/ Zoology or any Biological Sciences)Merit based on the percentage of marks secured in the qualifying examination

Fee Structure

Tuition Fee 2024 - 2025 (Per Sem)Other Fee (Per Sem)
Total Fee 2024 - 2025 (Per Sem)
17,00013,00030,000

Career Prospects

CAREER PROSPECTS

 

  • Clinical Laboratory Scientists
  • Clinical or research laboratory manager
  • Biotechnologists
  • Biosafety officer
  • Food Scientists and Technologists
  • Immunologists
  • Teachers and Professors
  • Mycologists
  • Parasitologists
  • Personal Care Product and Cosmetic Scientists and Technologists
  • Pharmaceutical Scientists and Technologists
  • Research associate
  • Science Writers
  • Technical Support Specialists
  • Virologists
  • Water Quality Laboratory Technicians

Faculty of the Department

Sl. No.
Name of the Faculty
Designation
Educational Qualification
Area of Specialization
Experience in Years
Vidwan IDPhotos
1Dr.AK.KathireshanProfessor & DirectorM.Sc., M.Phil., SLET, Ph.DMolecular Drug Resistance, Plant Microbiome and Bioprospecting of Marine Algae29 years 1 month234065
2Dr.Gayathri.GAssociate Professor & HeadM.Sc., M.Phil, SET, Ph.DMicrobial Biofilms, Nanomaterials, Immunotherapeutics25 years 2 months173799
3Dr.Suresh DhanarajAssociate ProfessorM.Sc.,M.Phil, Ph.D,NET.Microbial Nanotechnology, Fermentation Technology24 years 2 months290392
3Dr.Prabha.S.BAssistant ProfessorM.Sc., Ph.DApplied Microbiology8 years2 months234101
5Dr.Raj Yoganandh.S.VAssistant ProfessorM.Sc., Ph.DMycology, Antimicrobial resistance5years,0months234082
6Dr.Murugan.KAssistant ProfessorM.Sc, Ph.DBioremediation, Biodegradation, Waste water treatment using VBNC Bacteria1years,1months469422
7Dr.Sudharsan.KAssistant ProfessorM.Sc, Ph.DIndustrial microbiology, Biopolymer production7 years 10 months469400

Alumni Testimonials

Fee Structure

Tuition Fee 2024 - 2025 (Per Sem)Other Fee (Per Sem)
Total Fee 2024 - 2025 (Per Sem)
25,00020,00045,000