The Department of Plant Molecular Biology was established in 1988 under the Faculty of Interdisciplinary and Applied Sciences to cater to the needs of students in frontier areas of plant biology and to carry out research on molecular aspects of plant biology and biotechnology. The Department was enriched by merger of the Unit for Plant Cell and Molecular Biology in 1988 (originally established by the DST), and award of COSIST grant by the UGC (1990-1995). The Department has been recognized for Special Assistance (DRS Phase I, Phase II & Phase III) by the UGC (2002-2018) to strengthen research/ teaching in the area of Functional Genomics. Since its establishment in 1988, Professor S.C. Maheshwari (1988-1992), Professor Akhilesh K. Tyagi (1988, 1992-95, 1998-2001), Professor Jitendra P. Khurana (1995-1998, 2001- 2004), Professor Paramjit Khurana (2004 - 2007), Professor Anil Grover (2007-2010) and Professor Indranil Dasgupta (2010 - to date) have served as Heads of the Department.
Major areas of research include:
Stress Molecular Biology
Reproductive Biology
Signal transduction and photobiology
Bioinformatics
Functional genomics
Genomics and proteomics
Transgenics for crop improvement
Small regulatory RNAs
Plant viruses
Plant biotechnology for human health
Intellectual property rights
Admission Process (M.Sc. PMBB):
Admission to the Master of Science in Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (PMBB) involves a written entrance examination followed by an interview. Candidates are called for interview based on performance in written examination and the final selection is based on the combined performance in written exam and the interview.
A total of 12 students are selected from general and reserved categories (Reservation as per University rules) for admission to the M.Sc. course in PMBB. Applications for this Post Graduate Program are invited through advertisement in major national newspapers in April/May every year.
The written test comprises of multiple-choice questions relating to
• biological sciences taught at undergraduate level,
• basic knowledge of physical and chemical sciences
• data interpretation and
• general awareness.
All admissions are made in the order of merit in each category, which is based on the total marks secured in the written test (maximum marks, 75) and the interview (maximum marks, 25).
Ph.D. Programme in Plant Molecular Biology
Total number of seats in Ph.D. programmes may vary according to the number of slots available with faculty members. Reservation will apply as per University rules.
Minimum Qualification:
A student seeking admission to Ph.D. course should have passed M.Sc./M.Phil. in the subject concerned or in a allied subject in biological (Botany, Zoology, Biochemistry, Genetics, Microbiology etc.) or physical (Physics, Chemistry etc.) sciences from recognized University, with at least 55% marks in the aggregate (in Master’s degree) or a minimum of 50% marks (in M.Phil. degree) with a good academic record or an equivalent qualification recognized by the Academic Council. Appropriate relaxation for candidates belonging to reserved category will be applicable as per the University norms.
Selection Procedure:
Eligible candidates will be short-listed for interview and final selection would be based on academic record and interview. Candidates who have cleared CSIR/UGC-NET, DBT-NET, ICMR, etc. with fellowship are encouraged to come personally and discuss their research interests with the faculty members or Head of the department.
At the moment there are thirty six research projects with the faculty members of the department, in the field of Stress Molecular Biology, Reproductive Biology, Signal Transduction and Photobiology, Bioinformatics, Functional Genomics and Proteomics, Transgenics for Crop Improvement, Small Regulatory RNAs, Plant Viruses and Plant Biotechnology for Human Health. These projects are funded by UGC, DBT, DST and ICAR.
Name: Dr Prasant Dansana
Contact Detail: Mobile No: 9810257224
Email: dpresant2001@yahoo.co.in
Name: Dr Susmita Moitra Majee
Contact Detail: Mobile No: 9971916591
Email: susmita_moitra@yahoo.com
Name: Dr Reema Khurana
Contact Detail: Mobile No:9873956546
Email: reema.khurana@gmail.com
Name: Dr Neelam Sarkar
Contact Detail: Mobile No: 9810432097
Email: neelamsarkar@gmail.com
Name: Dr Pravin Kumar
Contact Detail: Mobile No: 9891079525
Email: csinpravin@gmail.com
UTAs
Ms Amarjot Kaur
Contact Detail: Mobile No: 9968213913
Email: just_amar1988@yahoo.co.in
Ms. Saraswati Nayar
Contact Detail: Mobile No: 9818501627
Email: saraswatinayar@hotmail.com
Agni Shekhar Pandey
Contact Detail: Mobile No: 9953029827
Email: agnishekharpandey@yahoo.co.in
Ms Naini Burman
Contact Detail: Mobile No: 8826024537
Email: nainiburman21@gmail.com
Ms. Sushma Mishra
Contact Detail: Mobile No: 8860502400
Email: sushmamishra87@gmail.com
Mr. Dhruv Lavania
Contact Detail: Mobile No: 8010444229
Email: dvlavania@yahoo.co.in
Ms. Mutum Roseeta
Contact Detail: Mobile No: 7838963223
Email: roseeta.5@gmail.com
Ms. Bushra Saeed
Contact Detail: Mobile No: 9873683534
Email: bushra.saeed1@gmail.com
Ms. Fauzia Zarreen
Contact Detail: Mobile No: 9953146108
Email: fzarreen@rediffmail.com
Ms. Sonia
Contact Detail: Mobile No: 97117939484
Email: soniachhillar@gmail.com
Ms. Gitanjali Jiwani
Contact Detail: Mobile No: 9911006937
Email: geetanjali_jiwani@yahoo.co.in
Facilities in the department:
1. Cold rooms
2. Radioactive facility
3. Dark room
4. Arabidopsis Growth room
5. Laminar flows
6. Computer with internet access
7. Departmental library
Major Lab equipments available in the Central Facility and are supervised by Technical Officers of the Department.
1. RC5B Refrigerated Super Speed Centrifuges
2. L870M Ultracentrifuges
3. Confocal Microscope
4. Fluorescence Microscope
5. Spectrophotometer
6. Gel Documentation System
The Department held its XXVth Annual Symposium from February 13-15, 2013 in which students of the Department (M.Sc. and Ph.D.) gave talks on topics related to recent developments in Plant Molecular Biology. On this occasion, a booklet containing the abstracts of all talks was brought out and distributed to all participants. A total of 150 participants attended the event. A batch of 13 B.Sc. students from Ram Lal Anand College, and 10 students from Maitreyi College, University of Delhi attended the symposium. These students were nominated by the College authorities to attend the symposium.
