SASTRA University responds to scientific challenges by launching research initiatives in thrust areas such as pharma technology, medical nanotech, drug design

The School of Chemical and Biotechnology at the SASTRA University is ranked as No.2 private biotech school in BioSpectrum BT School Survey 2010. In faculty score, SASTRA is ranked No.2 and in infrastructure score, it is ranked No.4.

The school offers under-graduate programs in bioengineering, bioinformatics, biotechnology and chemical engineering; post-graduate programs in bioinformatics, chemical engineering and industrial biotechnology; and PhD programs. With a focus on traditional strengths in engineering and with emphasis on experiential learning, the institute offers innovative academic programs and continuously upgrades its curriculum. The School of Chemical Biotechnology's goal is to provide the best under-graduate and post-graduate education in the domain of life sciences, with programs designed to prepare the candidates to meet the challenges that its graduates will face throughout their professional career. The institute runs medical and nanotechnology programs as well.

The school provides excellent infrastructure and student-friendly environment for learning and is equipped with state–of–the–art laboratories, experienced faculty and a curriculum tailored to suit industrial needs. The department has a total of 86 full time faculty members with 33 of them possessing PhD degree and with over 5 years of teaching experience. The department has made 44 scientific publications in national journals and 121 in international journals between 2007 and 10.

The department has more than 20 laboratories. The total investment in lab equipments and consumables was over 7 crore for the academic year 2009-10. The availability of excellent infrastructure coupled with an industry-oriented curriculum and expert faculty is reflected in the research output in the form of patents and publications and success rates of the students. The placement record of the students is greater than 90 percent. More than 63 students have already been placed in several life sciences companies and many students are pursuing research in premier research institutions across the world.

The school has continuously been responding to scientific challenges by launching research initiatives in strategic thrust areas such as pharmaceutical technology, medical nanotechnology, drug design and Indian system of medicine. The department has externally-funded research projects worth 22.30 crore from the government in various areas of biotechnology and industry-sponsored projects amount to 44 lakh.