Postgraduate course in Biotechnology:

The course was introduced by the University of Mumbai in the year 2002 – 2003.  With the growing demand for professionally qualified biotechnologists, St. Xavier’s Mumbai will be starting this course from the academic year June 2007. St. Xavier's College has begun this course from the academic year 2007-08. We have an allotment of 30 seats from the coming academic year 2008-09.

  Students with a B.Sc degree in Biotechnology (seven units of biotechnology) or 3 units of Biotechnology at the T.Y.B.Sc in combination with 3 units of any other major subjects are eligible for this course.  Admission to the course will be purely on marks obtained at the T. Y. B. Sc examination in the merit order.

            The annual fee for the course will be Rs. 25,000/= as recommended by the University. 

The M. Sc. Part I syllabus consists of 4 theory papers and 4 practicals. The theory papers consist of the following heads of 80 lectures each:

Paper I: Chemistry of Biomolecules

Paper II: Microbiology and Immunology

Paper III: Molecular Biology and Genetic engineering

Paper IV: Biophysics and Advanced Analytical Techniques

            The examination will be for  4 theory papers each of 75 marks and 3 hr duration,  and 4 practicals of 5 hrs duration of 50 marks each.

The M. Sc. Part II syllabus consists of 4 theory papers and 2 practicals.  The theory papers consist of the  following heads of 90 lectures and 75 marks each of 3 hrs duration:

Paper V: Computational Biotechnology

Paper VI: Plant and Animal Biotechnology

Paper VII: Environmental Biotechnology

Paper VIII: Social and commercial aspects of Biotechnology

Practicals of 50 marks each of 5 hr duration:

            Practical V: Biostatistics, Computer application and Bioinformatics

            Practical VI: Tissue culture, Environmental and Industrial Biotechnology

            In addition, each student shall perform a project carrying 100 marks.  The project will be evaluated on the basis of the project dissertation and presentation.

            The College is committed to providing in-depth training using the latest equipment, practical training, industrial visits and summer placements wherever possible.  The course will be taught by well experienced faculty of the biological sciences, physics and statistics, especially by those with experience in teaching the  M.Sc. biotechnology course.  The faculty teaching the course is as follows:

Dr. Vivien Amonkar, Reader, HOD off Microbiology & Vice Principal for Academic Improvement will be the Coordinator of the course and also will be involved in teaching the course.

Faculty from Physics: Dr. J. B. Mistry, Reader; Mr. Ajay Patwardhan

Faculty from Dept. of Life Science and Biochemistry: Dr. Samuel Namdas Reader and HOD, Dr. Sheela Donde, Reader,  Dr. Radiya Pacha Gupta, Reader; Dr. Nandita Mangalore, Reader, Biochemistry; Dr. Seema Das, Reader; Mr. Prashan Ratnaparkhi; Dr. Priya Sundarrajan; Dr. Sangeeeta Shetty

Faculty from Dept. of Microbiology: Dr. Vivien Amonkar, Reader, HOD, Vice Principal for Science; Ms. Miriam Stewart; Ms. Sangeeta Chavan; Ms. Karuna Gokarn

Faculty from Chemistry: Ms. Gulshan Shaikh

Faculty from Zoology: Dr. Madhuri Hambarde, Reader; Dr. Pushpa Sinkar

Faculty from Botany: Dr. Ujwala Bapat, Reader, HOD; Dr. Rajendra Shinde, Reader