Profile

The department of Biochemistry, Andhra University was established in the year 1971 with Prof. B. Naganna as the founder head of the department. The department offers a two-year M.Sc course, and Ph.D. full-time/part-time in Biochemistry. Thus far 50 batches of M.Sc. students have completed the program successfully. The Alumni of the department occupied several key positions within India and Overseas. Students admitted in the Ph.D. program undertake coursework as per UGC guidelines, which include a mandatory paper on research methodology. Thus far 52 students have obtained their Ph.D. degrees, from the department of Biochemistry. During the past five decades, the department has witnessed an unparalleled transformation both in teaching and research to meet the present-day requirements with the ongoing scientific advancements in the field of Biochemistry. The department is funded by DST-FIST (level 1) (2007-2012), UGC NON-SAP (2009-2011), UGC-SAP (DRS-1) (2011-2016), and individual faculty also received several research projects from UGC, CSIR, DST, DBT, and ICMR. The major research activities in the department include Protease Inhibitors of high economic value, Bioprospecting of bioactive compounds, Plant secondary metabolite production through in vitro culture, Immunology, Nanotechnology, Isolation & Characterization of bioactive compounds of both marine & terrestrial origin and their therapeutic potential etc. The department is well equipped with several sophisticated instruments. With the established facilities in the department, it has organized hands-on training programs benefiting both bachelor's and master's students from various constituent colleges. The department organised 25 international/national conferences and workshops to dissipate the scientific knowledge to the students, teaching staff, and research community. Department has been organizing several guest lectures by faculty from IISC Bangalore, AIIMS, New Delhi, Scientists from Industry and R & D labs. The department also extends its research facilities and services to other life sciences departments in the university, affiliated colleges, research centers, government/private hospitals and medical colleges around Visakhapatnam. Faculty and research scholars of the department have published several research articles in Scopus indexed national and international scientific journals.