Departments
DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY
The Department of Biotechnology at the Oxford College of Science was established in the year 1998 to nurture young minds and to generate a pool of skilled manpower to cater to the ever-growing demands of this sector.
Scope of the subject
Biotechnology is an inter-disciplinary area of science which incorporates concepts from all the allied fields and therefore, students choosing Biotechnology as their area of study can definitely contribute to any one of the key developmental areas in healthcare, agriculture, multi-omic technologies, eco-friendly, sustainable technologies, etc. Students find an array of opportunities to employ their skills and innovative ideas to contribute to the welfare of the society. Biotechnology is an evergreen research area that is highly innovative and is on a strong upward growth trajectory. Sky is the limit to the vast applications biotechnology can offer to mankind. Some of the key areas and trends in this sector are summarized below
Courses offered:
Syllabus & Examination
As per Bangalore University CBCS syllabus
UG syllabus link:https://eng.bangaloreuniversity.ac.in/science-syllabus/
PG syllabus link:https://eng.bangaloreuniversity.ac.in/pg-science/
NEP Syllabus : https://eng.bangaloreuniversity.ac.in/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/NEP-UG-Syllabus-BIOTECHNOLOGY-III-IV-29.09.2022.pdf
Facilities
The Department houses sophisticated equipment’s like:
Student accomplishments
University Rank Holders
Competitive Exams Qualifiers
Extra-Curricular Achievers
Faculty Accomplishments:
Curriculum Supplimenting Programs
Add on Program:
Department of Biotechnology organizes Add on programs to hone the technical skill of the students in order to make them industry ready. The programs are designed to enrich the curriculum with market trends involving industry professionals and Senior Academicians to ensure the program meets the industry requirements and enhances the employability skills of students
Bridge Course:
Bridge courses are conducted to fresher’s to connect the student’s previous course with the ongoing course. During the course, students will be provided with an overview, scope and career opportunities in the subject. Department of Biotechnology offers Bridge course to UG and PG as well as PG Diploma students of BiSEP (Biotechnology Skill Enhancement Program). Topics covered under Bridge Course include Introduction to Biotechnology, Scope and Application of Biotechnology, Career opportunities in Biotechnology, Lab Safety measures & Instrumentation.
Guest Lectures:
Eminent Professors/Scientists are invited from University/Institute/Industry to provide exposure to latest developments in the Biotechnology discipline and to provide platform for interaction with experts in the field.
Industry/Institute Visits:
Industry/Institute visits are organized frequently to help student understand the functioning of industry, provide insight into real working environment, provide exposure about the application of knowledge in various industries and R & D laboratories and to provide opportunity to interact with experts.
Enrichment Programs:
Enrichment programs are organized to enrich their curriculum with additional information on the topic to ensure clarity of concept and to provide application-oriented exposure of the topic.
Workshops
Workshops are organized to provide hands-on experience to the students thereby providing clarity of concept and honing their technical skills in order to make them employable.
Problem Based Learning (PBL):
PBL is conducted regularly to inculcate innovative thinking, team building and problem-solving capacity. During this session, current practical problems are put forth to students and they are required to provide novel, best possible and feasible solutions.
Model / Poster making Competitions:
The department conducts various model and poster making competitions which helps to develop the develop critical thinking skills in the students, by providing them with a fun filled activity-based learning time.
Research
Conference/Seminars:
Conferences/Seminars are organized regularly to provide a platform for productive exchange of ideas, develop network, and get updated with emerging trends in the field and to hone presentation skills.
Funded Projects:
In-house Projects:
In house projects are encouraged among students to create research ecosystem, orient them towards research and provide exposure on research methodology.
Area Of Research:
Journal Club:
Journal clubs help improve the students' skills of understanding and debating current topics of active interest in their field. These help the students to become more familiar with the advanced literature in their new field of study. Students will present any or own Research article in their area of interest and explain to their peer members. Faculty members help students how to present and also train them in writing the Research article, Plagiarism and so on.
Value Added Program (VAP):
VAP on Research Methodology is conducted regularly for final year PG students in order to provide them insight on how to design research project, how to collect and analyze the experimental data, how to do statistical analysis, how to interpret the data and how to prepare the dissertation. VAP also focuses on how to write manuscript, reports, and review articles.
Placement
Skill Enhancement Programs:
The globalized world today is highly competitive, working on the 'perform or perish' policy in which only the best would sustain themselves. It is envisaged that technically qualified graduates with a sound knowledge of their core disciplines and expertise in a specific skill with continuous up-gradations will have more prospects in building their careers. To meet this situation, the college has launched The Oxford Science Skill Enhancement Centre (TOSSEC) to provide a platform to the students to pursue skill-oriented certificate programs parallelly with their UG or PG programs.
Under TOSSEC wide range of skill enhancement activities are offered like Add-on Programs, Hands-on Workshops, Lecture workshop series, Long-term and short-term projects. Additionally, skill competition, Skillathon, an annual event is also organized to stimulate students to learn new skill sets, ensure that the students stay up to date with current skill trends, as well as encourage them to explore new avenues, which will give them an edge over their counterparts in choosing their career options.
Soft Skill Programs:
Soft skill Programs are conducted regularly to improve the students writing skills and groom them in Interpersonal Skills. Placement training is also given to the students which help students to crack their interview.
Placement Record:
Career Path:
The Oxford Biotechnologists Society (TOBS):
The Oxford Biotechnologist’s Society (TOBS) was incepted in 2003 with the main aim of creating a platform for the Biotech family at Oxford to exhibit their talent in co-curricular and extra-curricular activities. UG and PG students of Biotechnology and faculty members of the department were appointed as office bearers to uphold, promote, and support the Society with all their will and power abiding by the rules and regulations to conduct various activities and keep updated with the latest approaches of Biotechnology globally. Since 2004, TOBS is releasing its In-house magazine ‘Biovistas’ with an annual issue in which students are encouraged to display their creative scientific writing skills and publish their in-house project work. On the whole, the Society functions to bring together the alumni, eminent scientists, students and faculty members under one roof by conducting seminars, workshops, quiz, enrichment programs, awareness programs, fests etc., to instil scientific temperament among students and encourage holistic development of the students, which in turn can benefit the society. With this concern The Oxford Biotechnologist’s Society presented “Bioinformatics facility to the Chairman of The Oxford Educational Institutions and President of TOBS to commemorate the silver jubilee of The Oxford College of Science on 11th October 2019.
Entrepreneurship Development Cell
Entrepreneurship Development Cell was established in the Department of Biotechnology, The Oxford College of Science in the year 2016. The cell was inaugurated by Dr. Jitendra Kumar, Managing Director, Bangalore Bioinnovation Centre, Bangalore on the 18th November, 2016. Since then, various entrepreneurial development programs are being conducted for all the post graduate students of the college in order to instill the seeds of innovation and entrepreneurship in the young minds. Various other activities like quiz, proposal writing and poster presentation are included as a part of the workshops.
Eco Club
Eco club conducts various awareness programs related to environment and to sensitize students about the need to protect our environment. The programs organized include guest lectures, awareness campaign on rain water harvesting and so on.
World Water Day
World Water Day an annual event is observed on 22nd March under the aegis of Eco club. The day focuses on creating awareness on the importance of fresh water in the campus by organizing guest lectures by eminent speakers, performing mimes & skits, organizing flash mob in quadrangle and displaying posters in corridors and reception area that advocates sustainability of freshwater resources.
Fest:
ATGC, the department Fest is organized annually by the department to hone the leadership skills, to encourage team work, to provide platform to exhibit their talents thereby ensuring holistic development of a student. Both UG and PG students participate in the event. Major Events conducted include sport competitions, quiz, Dairy of the dead and On-Stage Events dancing, singing, fashion show and so on.
Magazine:
BIOVISTA, the department magazine is released annually since 2004 by The Oxford Biotechnologists Society (TOBS). The magazine comprises of article on career guidance prepared by interviewing leading Scientists from industry, review articles, synopsis of in-house project work, crosswords and bio-diagrams. All the UG, PG and PG Diploma (BiSEP) students of the department contribute to the magazine.
Extension Activities:
The department is proactive in inculcating social responsibility among students and accordingly organizes programs on Swachh Bharat Abhiyan initiatives and health camps. Swachh Bharat Abhiyan initiatives: The students along with faculty visit villages near Bengaluru wherein they carry out various awareness programs on health and hygiene. They also visit schools and display posters to create awareness among school children,
Health Camp:
Health Camps are organized regularly in association with Immunotiet Labs Pvt. Ltd and other labs.
Awareness Programs:
Awareness programs are conducted regularly to create awareness among students and faculty in the campus. World DNA day, World Hepatitis Day, World Mental Health Day and World Kindness Day are observed as awareness programs.
World DNA Day:
World DNA Day an annual event is observed on 25th April. The day commemorates the completion of Human Genome Project in 2003 and the discovery of DNA’s double helix in 1953. Department of Biotechnology organizes lecture series, quiz and various other competitions to all PG Life Science students to commemorate the World DNA Day.
World Hepatitis Day:
World Hepatitis Day is observed on 28th July every year. Graduate and post graduate students of Biotechnology involve in awareness campaign by conducting quiz, mask painting, snake and ladder to create awareness on each type of the hepatitis infections spread and treatment.
World Mental Health Day:
The World Mental Health Day is observed on 10th October every year by the department with the objectives of rising awareness of mental health issues and mobilizing efforts in support of better mental health. The Department organizes extension program on mental health and well-being.
World Kindness Day:
World Kindness Day is observed on 13th November every year by the department to highlight good deeds in the community focusing on the positive power and the common thread of kindness for good which binds us. The department organizes extension activity and sensitizes students on joy of giving.
Open Day:
The departments organize open day to showcase the infrastructural facilities available in the department. On open day activities like providing Information on Instrumentation, crossword and puzzle solving are organized for all the students who walk in.
