Dr. Nandini Phanse is the Head of the Microbiology Department at PMB Gujarati Science College. She is an academician with 31 years of teaching experience. She pursued her graduation with a B.Sc. Honors (Microbiology) from Shivaji University, Kolhapur, post-graduation in Microbiology from the University of Poona, Pune, and her Ph.D. in Microbiology from VNSGU, Surat. She has published 25 research papers in peer-reviewed journals of national and international repute and is the author of 05 books on Microbiology. Dr. Nandini Phanse was the Principal Investigator of research projects funded by UGC. She has submitted partial gene sequences of industrially important microbial isolates to NCBI Gene Bank, USA, and has deposited bacterial cultures at MTCC, Chandigarh, and NCMR, Pune.

PMB Gujarati Science College

What is the latest program that you are offering in your institute/ department that will help students outperform and stand apart from the crowd?

B.Sc. Microbiology and M.Sc. Microbiology programs are offered by the institute since 1989 and 2007, respectively. Along with co-curricular activities, students are acquainted with current trends in the subject through industry-academia interaction by experts from the industry. This is achieved by organizing job-oriented, skill-development workshops, expert lectures, and industry visits. Communication skills enhancement workshops are organized. Co-curricular activities are organized for the overall development of students e.g. group discussions, debate competitions, poster competitions, etc.

What factors make this program the best for the students to opt for?

The well-equipped laboratory has state-of-the-art facilities to satisfy the curriculum needs. It is enriched with a wide range of basic and advanced instruments including a wide range of basic and advanced instruments including, microprocessor-controlled equipment like Shimadzu UV-Vis spectrophotometer, refrigerated centrifuges, lab scale fermentor, PCR unit (Thermocycler), electronic balances, and a trinocular microscope with a digital camera. Other important instruments include an ultra-sonicator, laminar airflow (biosafety cabins), gel documentation system, UV transilluminator, microcentrifuges, BOD incubators, orbital shaking incubators, Membrane filtration assembly, Electrophoresis setup, etc. The practical knowledge imparted to students helps them gain the technical skills required for jobs in the industry.

What are the best practices in the course you’re offering?

We offer activity-based teaching methods, computer literacy initiatives, and observation of the important days related to our subject such as World AIDS Day, World Handwashing Day, Antibiotic Resistance Awareness Week, organizing microbial food festival, etc. This help students to gain enhanced subject knowledge.

What are some valuable insights into the program you are offering at your institute/ dept.?

Emphasis is laid on practical skills by focusing on technical aspects of Microbiology. A conducive atmosphere for the overall personality development of the students. A platform to encourage good citizenship values in students. Sensitizing students and inculcating values of caring and sharing in them.

Check PMB Gujarati Science College Placement

How does the program ensure that students are being prepared for the future?

The Microbiology department runs job-oriented certificate courses in Pharmaceutical Techniques, Water Analysis Techniques, and Biofertilizer production methods. These certificate courses aim at enhancing employability skills and imparting practical exposure to industrial techniques to the students. The contents of these certificate courses are designed keeping in mind the needs of the pharmaceutical industry and analytical labs. External experts from the industry also share their expertise and guide students during the coursework. Career guidance seminars are organized. Communication skills enhancement workshops are organized.

How did you train yourself/faculty to deliver this program to the students?

Faculty members attend workshops and other faculty development programs to update themselves with the latest developments in the subject. They are encouraged to undertake such programs. The faculty members are actively engaged in research activities and have published their research work in peer-reviewed journals of international & national repute. Research projects sponsored by UGC are undertaken.

How do you tend to build an industry connection with this program?

Students are acquainted with current trends of the subject through Industry-Academia Interaction by experts from industry. This is achieved by organizing job oriented, skill development workshops, through MoU with industries, expert lectures, and industry visits. Certificate courses are conducted which aim at enhancing employability skills and imparting practical exposure of industrial techniques to the students. The contents of these certificate courses are designed keeping in mind the needs of the pharmaceutical industry and analytical labs. External experts from industry also share their expertise and guide students during the course work.

What are the types of projects that the students are working on through this program?

There are many projects in which our students are working. Some of these are projects on the biosynthesis of nanoparticles, microbial enzymes, drug resistance, biofertilizer production, etc.

What are the benefits and career options after pursuing this course?

Students gain knowledge of the use of microbes in applied fields and solve problems related to the fields of Microbiology. The laboratory training prepares them for careers in industry, agriculture, and applied research where the microbiological system is increasingly employed. Basics and current updates in the areas of Industrial Microbiology, Fermentation Technology, Agriculture and Environmental Microbiology, Medical Microbiology, Bioinformatics, and Bio-nanotechnology are included to train the students and also sensitize them to the scope of research.