Gujarat University

Department of Microbiology was established in 1976. Department offers M. Sc. Degree in Microbiology with specialization in Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology. Department is also have the facility for M.Phil. and Ph.D. degrees in various field of Microbiology and Microbial technology. Department is engaged in active research and have completed many research projects funded by government as well as industries the brief outline is given below :

No.	Title of Project	Principal Investigator	Funding Agency	Duration		Cost (Rs.) lakhs
No.	Title of Project	Principal Investigator	Funding Agency	From	To	Cost (Rs.) lakhs
1.	Biohydrotechnology of minerals	S. R. Dave	UGC	1990	1993	1.80
2.	Bioleaching of GMDC concentrate	S. R. Dave	GMDC	1993	1996	4.0
3.	Development of biofertilizer	N. K. Yadav	GUJCOMASOL	1994	1998	1.34
4.	Scale-up study on GMDC concentrate	S. R. Dave	GMDC	1996	1999	10.0
5.	Soil microbial diversity of Balaram	S. R. Dave	Sristi, IIM	1998	2000	2.0
6.	Microbial diversity of semi-arid soil of Tharad region	S. R. Dave	Sristi, IIM	1999	2001	2.0
7.	Microbial Inventory	S. R. Dave	DBT	2002	2003	1.29
8.	Diversity of iron and sulphur oxidizers	S. R. Dave	DBT	1999	2003	20.85
9.	Two stage bioleaching	S. R. Dave	GMDC	2000	2005	10.0
10.	Biotransformation of arsenic and arsenopyrite	S. R. Dave	DBT	2004	2007	19.25
11.	Studies of biotechnology of heavy metals	S. R. Dave	GSBTM	2005	2008	24.0
12.	Microbiology of lignite mines for environmental and commercial applications, Narmada Window	S. R. Dave	DST	2006	2009	7.78
13.	Analysis of DNA of pesticide resistant mutants	Meenu Saraf	UGC	1995	1997	0.40
14.	Role of PGPR in Crop Productivity	Meenu Saraf	UGC	1999	2001	0.40
15.	Management of Soil Resources in Saline Lands	Meenu Saraf	UGC	2006	2009	3.70
16.	Effect of PGPR on Growth of Jatropha	Meenu Saraf	British Petroleum (UK)	2007	2011	45.00

The department is having 5 faculties with specialization in various area of microbiology and microbial technology the detail is given below

Research facilities are available for the major thrust area in the field of metal bioleaching, bioremediation of organic and inorganic pollutants such as metals, petroleum hydrocarbons, synthetic dyes etc., microbial diversity, extremophiles, microbial polymers, biofertilizers, PGPR, pesticide degradation, microbial enzymes. Till date 22 students have obtained Ph. D., 50 students have obtained M. Phil and more than 1000 students have obtained M. Sc. from the department. Department is one of the biggest department in

India

with having the student intake capacity of 50 students per year. Prof. S. R. Dave is recognized by Saurashtra University, Rajkot, Gujarat Vidhyapith, Ahmedabad and Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University, Nanded as a Ph. D. research Guide.

Department is having separate laboratory facility and classrooms for M.Sc., M. Phil and Ph. D. students. Departmental Library is equipped with more than 750 books along with additional books in the central library of the University. Department is having various audio visual teaching aids useful in effective teaching. Equipments necessary for research studies in the field of Microbiology and Biotechnology are available in the department. The list of the major equipments is as follows.

No.	Major Equipment
1.	Biolog software system for Microbial Identification
2.	Epifluorescence Research Microscope
3.	UV-Vis Spectrophotometer
4.	Gel documentation system
5.	Elisa Plate reader
6.	Polarograph
7.	Autoclaves
8.	PCR
9.	AAS
10.	Lab-scale Fermenters
11.	Pilot scale Bioreactors
12.	Bio-spectrophotometer
13.	Refrigerated and high speed Centrifuges

The Department of Microbiology, Gujarat University was established in the year 1976 and since then the major thrust areas of the Department are Systematic Bacteriology, industrial and environmental microbial technology. Departmental faculty have guided Ph.D. students in major field such as environmental microbial technology, plant and soil microbiology, microbial metal leaching and remediation, microbial diversity. Even at Postgraduate level since last 20 years department offers the special paper on Environmental Biotechnology. In M.Sc. final the major thrust is on Bioprocess and Industrial Microbiology. Nearly 1000 students have successfully completed their Masters Degrees, 50 M. Phil and 21 Ph.D. from this Department. Department has developed some promising strains of Biofertilizer which are used by GUJCOMASOL. Unique Metal Bioleaching consortia are developed which are efficiently used for metal extraction from polymetallic ores and concentrates by ecofriendly process for GMDC and other sulphidic mines of

India

. Dr. Vikram Sarabhai Biotechnology award for the year 2003-04 has been awarded for this research work. Students of this department are holding valuable positions in various Universities, Industries and Research Laboratories in

India

and abroad and also in Indian Army as scientist.

Gujarat University was inducted as a part of the National Biotechnology M.Sc. Course in the year 1999. From the year 2005 Gujarat University has also introduced self financed Biotechnology Course for Masters Degree. These courses are currently conducted in the premises of Microbiology Department. The main thrust areas of this Biotechnology course are Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology.

Subjects offered / Specialization : Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology.

Placement/Future career Opportunity : Department is arranging campus interview for the

employment of the student in various pharmaceutical, Enzymes, Food and food products industries, research laboratories engaged in microbial analysis, molecular biology , waste water assessment , clinical and environmental assessment and control works. Every year considerable no of students are going abroad and they have been absorbed in further study or job.

As the course in emphasizing on industrial, environmental, microbial technology microbial diversity and microbial physiology students from this department have very good career opportunity at State, National and International levels.

Subjects offered / Specialization : Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology.

Placement/Future career Opportunity : The major thrust area are bioprocess technology

industrial biotechnology environmental biotechnology and microbial diversity . Students will have job opportunities in Industry as well as environmental sectors in Gujarat and out side Gujarat.

Areas of Specialization : Ind. Microbiology, Microbial technology, Environmental Microbiology

Areas of Specialization : Microbiology, Agrimicrobiology, Soil and Environmental Biotechnology

Areas of Specialization : Microbiology, Applied & Environmental Microbiology