About Head of the Department: Dr. Veena Pande did her M.Sc. (Biochemistry) from G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar in 1990. She earned her Ph.D. in 2004 in Plant Biotechnology from Dept. of Botany, Kumaun University, Nainital. She is the HoD, Department of Biotechnology and Coordinator, Microbiology Programme at the department. She has 22 years of experience in teaching and research. She has published over 236 papers in many renowned national/ international journals and also has a US patent to her credit. She also has several book chapters and papers presented in technical meetings and proceedings to her credit. Several students have been pursuing their Ph.D. research under the supervision of Dr. Veena Pande (21 awarded, 06 pursuing). She provides and supervises excellent projects in cutting-edge technologies to M.Sc. and Ph.D. students. She has received a number of prestigious academic awards including the Governor’s Best Researcher award twice. She has several administrative responsibilities in Kumaun University and other organizations, as the coordinator Bioinformatics Infrastructure facility (BIF) center, coordinator SC/SP Net Coaching centre, Vice Principal, Community College (KU), Asst. D.S.W. Bhimtal campus in Kumaun university and District Coordinator of Uttarakhand Council of Science & Technology (UCOST) Dehradun. She is a member of various national institute committee viz. advisory committee for BCIL, DBT; National Institute of Malaria Research; DRL Goraparao, Haldwani; RDC committee of RML Avadh University Faizabad; Institute of Animal Ethics committee, IVRI Mukteshwar; Institutional Bio-safety committee (IBSC) at DIBER, Haldwani; Commission for scientific and Technical terminology commission, Govt. of India, Advisory Board of Institute of Biotechnology & Allied Sciences, Training & Research Centre, Piprali road, Sikar (Raj.), DCFR, Bhimtal; Probation Clearance committee at BIAS, Bhimtal; Institute Technology Management Committee (ITMC),DCFR, Bhimtal; Ucch Shiksha Sudhar Samiti (RUSA), Govt. of Uttarakhand Police Mahila Aichyik Beaureu,Distt Nainital; Institute Body, PGIMER, Chandigarh and many more. She has also been nominated as nodal officer of Kumaun University by Hon’ble Vice Chancellor for Skill development project of DBT-Govt.of India. She is also the member of various International and National academics societies such as the Life member of SBC (INDIA), Indian Science Congress Association, CHEA, International Symbiosis Society USA, International Mycorrhizal Society, INTACH, Environment and Social Welfare Society, Khajuraho (India) among others. Courses offered

After achieving a milestone in the field of M.Sc. Biotechnology, the department has also initiated Ph. D. programme in Biotechnology in 2006 and the teaching of its subsidiary and important branch-Microbiology at post graduate level from 2010. The passed out students have more than 95% success rate in acquiring fellowships through competitions at National level for PhD in institutes of their choice. They have secured admission for Doctoral degree in prestigious institutions like IISc Banglore NIMHANS Banglore, IVRI Izatnagar, NDRI Karnal, IMTECH Chandigarh, ITRC Lucknow, CDRI Lucknow, G.B. Pant University Pantnagar, IIT Roorkee, NCCS Pune, PGI Chandigarh, JNU New Delhi, IGIB New Delhi and ICGEB New Delhi, NIMR New Delhi among other institutions. After completing their Ph. D. many of them are working as Post-Doctoral Scientists abroad.