Visiting faculties are assets

Improving its industry interactions over the last year, Oxford College now looks at investing in infrastructure development

The Oxford College of Science offers a number of courses in the biotechnology space affiliated to different universities. The MSc biotechnology program affiliated to Bangalore University saw 40 students being admitted in the last academic year, most of whom were either JNU or CSIR NET qualified. The M Phil in biotechnology is affiliated to both Bharathidasan University and Periyar University. The PhD in molecular biology and biotechnology is affiliated to Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University and has a total of five students currently pursuing it.

Almost half of the faculty members possess a PhD with more than five years experience. The unique selling proposition of the institution is that a number of eminent industry and academicians serve as visiting faculties on a regular basis. Last year the students were taught by 23 visiting faculty.

The institute has in the past collaborated with various other institutes such as Indian Institute of Science, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore University and Gulbarga University. The college has tie-ups with different companies such as Avesthagen, Bhat Biotech, Xcyton Diagnostics, Apollo Hospitals, Biocon, and Syngene for the industry projects. The management also has plans to invest in expanding the existing infrastructure, especially in the areas of molecular diagnostics.

Since 2008, the college has published 54 papers in international journals, with 65 in national journals. A lot of emphasis is laid on the mandatory industry projects for students, as a consequence of which, last academic year saw 10 papers being published as a result of the students' thesis dissertation.

Since 2009, the institute has secured industry sponsored projects worth 41 lakh and government sponsored projects totalling 2.87 crore. The institute also receives 5.75 lakh through the royalties obtained on the bioinformatics product transferred to the industry.

Since 2008, the institute has filed for four Indian patents and three international patents, related to bioinformatics software developed by the teaching staff. The institute has invested in improving the infrastructure as evidenced by the 2.36 crore spent for improving the lab facilities.

Fact file | Name of the Department: Department of Biotechnology
Courses: MSc and MPhil in Biotechnology; BTFS Program
Head: Prof. Vedamurthy A B
Website: www.theoxford.edu

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"We insist on students doing research during their projects and encourage them to publish papers based on that."

Prof. Vedamurthy A B HoD, department of biotechnology, The Oxford College of Science

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