Department of Zoology — Profile

 Department Profile

Dr. Sr. Dona was the founder of the Department of Biology in 1935. The Department of Biology was segregated and stemmed to function with B.Sc. Degree in Zoology in 1960 and Post Graduate Programme in Zoology in 1973, under Madras University. Affiliation was granted for M.Phil. and Ph.D. programs in 1982, elevating the department status to PG & Research Department of Zoology.

 Our Journey

The department has expanded its academic repertoire and research status over the decades:

 Academic & Research Highlights

Since 2006, fourteen Doctorates have been produced and 20 M.Phil. scholars since 2014. During 2014, two UGC-sponsored Major and Minor Projects were sanctioned. Since 2014, ten MoUs have been signed with renowned educational and research institutions. One DST-SERB-National Post Doctoral Fellowship (N-PDF) was completed in the department.

Faculty have received 14 awards since 2014 from Bose Science Society, ‘India International Friendship Society’, New Delhi, Universal Society for Research and Development in association with Science Publications, Youth ExNoRa International, and Rotary International 3000.

From 2012 onwards, fourteen Undergraduate and Postgraduate students secured Top Five positions in the University rank examinations. An appreciable number of Postgraduate students have cleared CSIR NET (3), SLET (5), and other competitive examinations to shape their future.

 Uniqueness

The unique facilities annexed with the department instigate a culture for higher education and research and an ambience for employment:

• Undergraduate program: B.Sc. Zoology with Specialization in Biotechnology
• Animal House facility with ethical clearance (CPCSEA number issued)
• Museum with 500+ specimens and 300+ microscopic slide collections
• Animal Cell Culture Facility
• Departmental library with reference books and copies of M.Sc., M.Phil., and Ph.D. dissertations

The Department has undertaken diverse research activities in various fields of Life Sciences viz., Phytotherapeutics, Diabetology, Vermitechnology, Reproductive Biology, and Biodiversity. Faculty members have contributed 200 Research Publications in renowned National and International Journals with a cumulative Citation Index exceeding 800.

Syllabus revision to meet current advancements and to align with CSIR NET / SET Syllabi and other reputed Universities at National & International levels is carried out annually. Individual and group projects for Undergraduate final-year students, individual projects for Postgraduate final-year students, presenting research work through PowerPoint presentations, publishing in reputed journals, compulsory internships, and industrial visits are core highlights of our academic curriculum.

Educational tour programs are an integral part of both UG & PG degree programs. First-year UG students visit Rameswaram for studying marine biodiversity. Other educational tours have visited Ooty, Munnar, Kodaikanal, Coorg, Mysore, Cochin, Hyderabad, and Goa, including institutes such as CMFRI, National Parks and Sanctuaries, Mysore University, CCMB, ICAR, and CSIR National Institute of Oceanography. Field visits to the Tropical Butterfly Conservatory in Upper Anicut Reserve forest, poultry farms, pet clinics, aquaculture, apiculture, and vermiculture units are organised annually.

The Aristotle Club of the department organises guest lectures, seminars, conferences, symposia, wildlife week celebrations, and intercollegiate meets every academic year. The Department keeps in active touch with its Alumnae, who have pursued higher studies and secured prominent positions across India, the USA, Taiwan, Singapore, Finland, Switzerland, Malaysia, and Australia.

 Vision & Mission