Biotechnology, in recent years has created unprecedented opportunities for the genetic manipulation of biological system for the benefit of mankind, and to understand the fundamental life processes. It is the world’s fastest growing and most rapidly changing technology. With a view to train manpower in this technological area, a strong infrastructure/ training and research needs to be established. Integration of biological sciences with other disciplines particularly chemistry and process engineering has resulted in the emergence of novel concepts and technologies with applications in and consequences for agriculture, medicine, health care, industry, environmental pollution cleaning of oil spills in the seas, development of safe and environment-friendly bio insecticides, energy generation and several other sectors of activity. The common denominator which links these areas together are cells and products derived from them. The use of bio-cellular materials in conjunction with chemical and process engineering have ushered in a new kind of revolution wherein it is possible to create transgenic animals, plants and microbes which otherwise could not have come into being in the foreseeable future.
 
For that matter without Biotechnology it would not be possible to create bio-degradable plastics or try to replace defective genes with good ones in patients afflicted with potentially or certainly fatal hereditary diseases. The pivotal role in the unfolding biotechnological revolution is of the recombinant DNA technology popularly known as Genetic Engineering.
 
Biotechnology can be viewed as a group of useful, enabling technologies with wide and diverse applications. It has large, highly profitable, modern industrial outlets of great value to society e.g. DNA recombinant technology, most revolutionary branch of the modern science and have a profound impacts on medicine, contributing to the diagnosis and cure of hereditary defects and serious diseases. The development of new biopharmaceutical drugs and vaccines for human and animal use. The modification of microorganisms, plants and farmed animals for improved and tailored food production and to increased opportunities for environmental remediation and protection. New technologies dealing with plant and animal breeding are much faster and have lower costs. Genetically modified crops are growing exponentially. The field is further exemplified with the industrial production of enzymes like proteases, amylases, cellulases, lipases etc. Industrial manufacturing plants for milk and milk products, alcohols, organic acids, antibiotics, vitamins, growth promoting factors, monoclonal antibodies etc.

This list is just a sampling of jobs for biotechnology majors.
 
Research:
Lab Assistant, Research Associate, Postdoctoral Research Scientist, Scientist, Associate Scientific Director, Scientific Director, Project Manager, Technical Services Manager
 
Quality control:
QC Inspector, QC Analyst, QC Engineer, Safety Specialist, Safety Manager, QC Supervisor, QC Manager, QC Director
 
Clinical research:
Clinical Programmer, Clinical Data Specialist, Clinical Research Associate, Biostatistician, Clinical Research Manager, Clinical Data Systems Manager, Associate Director, Director, Clinical Research, Animal Handler, Animal Technician,Toxicologist,Technical Writer

Administration:
Technical Recruiter, Patent Attorney
 
Regulatory affairs:
Documentation Coordinator, Documentation Specialist, Regulatory Affairs Specialist, Regulatory Affairs Manager, Director, Regulatory Affairs
 
Manufacturing & Production:
Manufacturing Technician, Assay Analyst, Manufacturing Research Associate, Instrument/Calibration Technician, Chemical Engineer, Process Development Scientist, Process Development Engineer, Process Development Manager, Pilot Plant Manager Facilities Manager, Manufacturing Manager, Associate Director, Manufacturing, Director, Manufacturing
 
Information systems:
Assistant Librarian, Librarian, Scientific Programmer Analyst, Scientific Systems Manager, Director, Scientific Info. Systems

Marketing & Sales:
Market Research Analyst, Market Research Manager, Product Marketing Manager, Director of Marketing, Sales Representative, Regional Sales Manager, National Sales Manager, International Sales Manager, Customer Service Representative, Technical Service Representative, Development Research Analyst, Development Manager, Development Director

The Department of Biotechnology was established in the year 2001 with the Post graduate programme to cater to the needs of the first batch of 25 students. In the subsequent year, an undergraduate programme in Biotechnology and a postgraduate programme in Bioinformatics were initiated with 40 and 18 students respectively. Master of Philosophy in Biotechnology under regular stream was initiated in 2007 and Postgraduate Diploma in Bioinformatics was introduced in 2008. At present there are 217 students (81 UG, 131 PG and 5 M.Phil) belonging to Kerala, Andra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry.

Ms. R. SASIDHARA  M. Sc., M. Phil., PGDBI

Ms.Sasidhara.R. is serving as Lecturer since July 2000 and as Head of the Department since July 2004. She had her Master of Philosophy in Microbiology from Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli and Post graduation in Microbiology from Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai. At present she is pursuing doctorate in Microbiology at Bharathidasan University. Her fields of specialization are Microbial Genetics, Animal Biotechnology and Fermentation technology. She underwent a skill development training programme in Bioinformatics at Oncophyta labs, Madurai during March 2003. She has successfully completed training on “Internal Audit” as per ISO 9001:2000 International Standards for Quality Management System. To her credit she has got a paper entitled “Activity phosphomonoesterase of wild and mutant strains species” published in Current Science (2002) 2 (2): 257-260 and a book entitled “Animal Biotechnology” published by MJP Publishers, Chennai in 2006. She has organized National Level Seminars and Workshops as a part of departmental activities. Also, she has co-ordinated training programmes on “Mushroom Cultivation” and “Vermicomposting”, to the student community and self help group women. Till date more than fifty post graduate students have successfully completed their project dissertations under her able guidance.

Mrs. P. SEETHALAKSHMI M.Sc., M.Phil.

She joined the College in July 2003. Her fields of interests include Sequence Analysis, Protein modeling, and Agri Bioinformatics. She has attended four National Level Symposia and one International Workshop and Conference.  In addition to this she has attended in the State Level Workshop at Sai’s Biosciences, Chennai in 2003.  She has attended training programmes in Protein Engineering and Structure Based Drug Design, GENOCLUSTER from Bharathidasan University to update her practical skills and PHYLIP from iPower Solutions Private Ltd, Chennai. Till date, under her assistance 66 post graduate students in both Biotechnology & Bioinformatics have submitted their dissertation.  She is the ISO Co-ordinator of the college and an examiner in the University Examination Board of Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli.

Mrs. BABY JOOJU M. Sc., M. Phil., PGNBT.

Mrs.Baby Jooju was appointed as lecturer in the Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics on 02.07.2007.  Her field of interest is on Plant Biotechnology.  During her post Graduation she had gained experience in dissertation work on “RAPD” analysis in Piper Nigrum and identification of true hybrids. She had undergone a special training on “Basic aspects of plant tissue culture in spices”.

Ms. S. AMALA M. Sc., M. Phil., PGNBT.

Ms.S.Amala was appointed as lecturer in the Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics on 23.07.08. Her fields of specialization include Genomics, Proteomics & Database Creation. She has undergone inplant training in Vermicompost and Mushroom cultivation.  She presented the Poster in the Title “Green Synthesis Stabilization & Characterization of Silver nano particles” at Anna University, Trichy.

Mrs.J.NISHA M.Sc. PGNBT

Mrs.J.Nisha was appointed as lecturer in the Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics on 5.8.2009. She had participated in various workshops at the state level and national level. She has undergone inplant training in Vermicompost and Mushroom cultivation and biofertilizers production. She is also proficient in various molecular biology techniques. 

Ms.R.MADURA M.Sc., M. Phil., PGDBI.

Ms.R.Madura was appointed as lecturer in the Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics on 01.10.2009. Her fields of interest include Spectrophotometric analysis, PCR, Blotting techniques and handling of all lab animals, collection of blood by various routes, collection of tissue for tissue culture experiments. She has undergone training on Molecular Biology& Genetic Engineering in 2006. Till date, more than five students have been successfully completed their Project dissertations under her able guidance.

Ms. P. SUVETHA M. Sc., M. Phil

Ms.P.Suvetha was appointed as lecturer in Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics on 01/07/2010. She has undergone training in Indian institute of Spices Research. She has participated in International conference on Genetics and molecular diagnostics in modern medicine. She has also presented a poster in role of iron in different forms of cancer (ICEB 2009) at Alagappa University. She is proficient in various immunological techniques and molecular biology techniques. She is good in cell culture techniques like monolayer culturing, suspension culturing and culturing of T and B lymphocytes.

Ms. G. SUBASHINI M. Sc., M. Phil., PGDBI.

Ms. G. Subashini has been appointed as lecturer in the Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics since 01/07/2010. She has participated in vaccine production training at Pasteur institute. She has completed her PGDBI from Bioinformatics Institute of India, Noida. She is proficient in molecular biology, biochemical and microbiological techniques. She is computer proficient with DCA. She has two years of teaching experience.

Mrs. KALAIVANI SRINIVASAN M. Sc., M. Phil., PGDBI., Ph. D (Pursuing)

Kalaivani Srinivasan has joined as lecturer in the Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics on 15.06.2011. She had her Post graduation in Biotechnology in Seethalakshmi Ramasamy College, Tiruchirapalli and Master of Philosophy in Lifesciences in Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Thirunelveli. She also did her PGDBI in Meenakshi Ramasamy Arts and Science College, Thathanur affliated to Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirapalli. She is pursuing her Ph. D in Bharathiar University, Coimbatore. She is having four years of teaching experience. She attended two workshops. She has organized a seminar on Frontier areas in Biotechnology and a workshop on Production of Biofertilizers, Vermicompost and Mushroom Cultivation in Meenakshi Ramasamy Arts and Science College. She has presented a poster in International conference in Hindustan College, Chennai and also in ICFAN a International conference in Periyar university, Salem. She presented a paper at State level seminar in A. V. College, Mayiladurai and also in National level seminar in Muthayammal College of Arts and Science, Rasipuram. She attended the DST sponsored STTP Programme on Modern Biotechnology and Entreprenurship at Periyar Maniammai University, Thanjavur. She has taken classes and offered training proghramme organized by M. R. college, Thathanur to the PG Biological science teachers from various Government Higher Secondary schools at Udaiyarpalayam taluk. More than 25 students did their PG research projects under her guidance.

Dr.P.Nithiya M. Sc., M. Phil., Ph.D

Dr.P. Nithiya has joined as lecturer in the Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics on 15.6.2011. She had her post graduation in Botany from St. Joseph’s college, Trichirappalli affiliated to Bharathidasan University, in the year 2003. She has completed her M.Phil in Botany in Bharathidasan University, in the year 2006. She did her Ph.D from St. Joseph’s college, Trichirappalli affiliated to Bharathidasan University, and she got award in the year 2010. Her field of interest is Plant biotechnology and Microbiology. She published 4 papers (2 international Journals) and 1 book article. She participated in 4 National level seminars. She got two overall best presentation awards for her presentation.

Non Teaching

Mrs.S.SASIPRIYA M.Sc.,

Mrs.S.Sasipriya joined as Lab Assistant in 2006.She had her under graduation in microbiology at Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan College of Arts & Science for Women, Perambalur in 2005. She assists the teaching faculty in B.sc laboratory Classes.

Mrs.M.JAYALAKSHMI M.Sc., B.Ed

Mrs.M.Jayalakshmi joined as Lab Assistant in 2006. She had her under graduation in Microbiology at Srimad Andavan Arts & Science College, Trichy in 2001. She has completed Advance diploma in Computer Application.

Mrs. L. MANIMEKALAI M. Sc.,

Mrs.Manimekalai has been appointed as Lab Assistant in the Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics on 07.7.2009. Her areas of interest includes Biochemistry, Clinical and plant biochemistry, Enzymology. Her knowledge in the field of computer applications includes C, C++, and Bioinformatics.

Ms.P.SUDHA B. Sc., B. Ed.,

Ms.P.Sudha has been appointed as Lab Assistant in the Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics on 25.8.2010. Her areas of interest includes Plant biotechnology, R-DNA Technology. Her knowledge in the field of computer applications include PCP (Tally).

Programmer:

Ms.G.ABINAYA, MCA.,

Ms.G.Abinaya has been appointed as a programmer in the Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics on 02.07.2010. Her areas of interest include Core Java, C, C++, and VB6.0. She is computer proficient in operating Systems such as MS-DOS, Windows 2000, and XP, MS-Access.

Ms.S.LAVANYA, MCA.,

Ms.S.Lavanya has been appointed as a programmer in the Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics on 16.07.2010. Her areas of interest include OOPs Concepts. She is computer proficient in Programming languages in C, C++, ASP.Net and operating Systems such as MS-DOS, Windows 2000, XP.

We have well established and well equipped state of Bio Chemistry lab for conducting UG and PG practicals.The Lab facilities are also extended to Microbiology students for their Allied practicals.

S.SUDHA:

B.Sc BIOTECHNOLOGY:

P.G. DIPLOMA IN BIOINFORMATICS:

M.Phil BIOTECHNOLOGY: