PG AND RESEARCH DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY
BRIEF HISTORY
The Science section at B. Borooah College started in the year 1964 offering one year Pre-University Science course. Later, Zoology was offered as a general subject in the degree course from 1971. Following this, Honours (major) course in the subject was started from the academic session 1980-81 with a strength of 12 students. All of them secured honours in the final examination held in 1982. The Department of Zoology was continuing in the old building of the college since its inception till 2001. In the year 2001, the Department was shifted from the old building to its present new R.C.C. building. The PG course was introduced from 2014 (Vide letter No.GU/AFF/2013/4241 dated 21-10-2013). Since then, the Department had produced numerous graduates who now hold several portfolios in government and non-governmental sectors. The Department proudly boasts of several students who have cleared NET, GATE and SLET conducted by UGC/CSIR, ICAR, IIT and SLET Commission. The 4-year FYUGP programme as per NEP 2020 guidelines started from 2023.
FACULTY
The department has a group of well qualified faculty members specialized in their own fields. The Department boasts of more than 100 paper publications in both national and international journals by the faculty members of the Department. Several faculty members have also published books and book chapters from the syllabus and other diverse topics.
1. Dr. Mridul Kumar Borthakur, Ph.D., Head and Associate Professor (Ecology and Wildlife Biology)
2. Dr. Janardan Pathak, B.Ed., Ph.D., Associate Professor - (Fish Biology and Fishery Science)
3. Dr. Sabina Langthasa, B.Ed., Ph.D., Assistant Professor (Entomology)
4. Dr. Archana Borah, Ph. D., SLET., Assistant Professor - Senior Grade (Biochemistry)
5. Dr. Amar Deep Soren, Ph.D., SLET, Assistant Professor - Senior Grade (Genetics)
6. Dr. Anurupa Goswami, Ph.D., SLET, Assistant Professor (Cell and Molecular Biology)
7. Mr. Sahil Zaman Seikh, M.Sc., NET-JRF, Assistant Professor (Ecology)
8. Ms. Barsha Sarma, SLET, GATE, Assistant Professor (Cell and Molecular Biology) (Ph. D. ongoing)
9. Mr. Bijay Basfore, SLET, GATE, Assistant Professor (Animal Ecology and Wildlife Sciences) (Ph. D. ongoing)
10. Ms. Manjusha Choudhury, GATE, SLET, Assistant Professor (Animal Physiology and Biochemistry)
11. Mr. Kodieswaran M, M.Sc., PMRF, DST INSPIRE (Visiting faculty from IIT-Guwahati) (Microbiology) (Ph. D. ongoing)
NON-TEACHING STAFF
1. Mr. Manoj Deka, Laboratory Bearer
2. Mr. Bitul Gogoi, Laboratory Bearer
COURSES OFFERED
Zoology is offered as a subject in General course. In addition, the Department offers Zoology in the following courses.
1. Higher Secondary - Section A: 130 seats; Section B: 130 seats
2. B. Sc. (Honours) - 40 seats
3. M. Sc. - 15 seats (Specializations: i) Ecology, ii) Animal Physiology and Biochemistry). iii) Entomology
4. Ph. D. - As per vacancy
LABORATORY
The Department has a well-equipped UG and PG laboratory. The lab houses several sophisticated instruments, some of which are, Gradient PCR, Gel Doc. System, -20 degree Celsius Deep Freezer, Horizontal Electrophoresis, Refrigerated Centrifuge, Phase contrast microscope, Compound microscope, Dissecting microscope, Binocular microscope, SDS PAGE electrophoresis equipment, Digital balance, Electronic single pan balance, Digital Colorimeter, Digital pH meter, Digital Spectrophotometer, Double distilled water plant, Microtome, Serological water bath, Rotary Vacuum evaporator, Paraffin wax bath, Centrifuge, Magnetic stirrer, Hot air oven, Water analyzing kit, Occular micrometer, Kymograph, Electric shaker, Binoculars, B.O.D. incubator, Paper chromatography, Thin layer chromatography, Column chromatography, Dissection microscopes, Chromatographic apparatus, Chromatographic plate drier, Altimeter, GPS, Hair Hygrometer, Conductivity meter, Dissecting magnifier, Soil thermometer, Atomic Absorption Spectrometer, FT-IR Spectrophotometer, and UV-Vis Spectrophotometer
LIBRARY
The Department has a separate library for UG and PG students and the library houses more than 1000 books in the various fields of Zoology. These include important publications on General Zoology, Genetics, Cell Biology, Molecular biology, Developmental Biology and Embryology, Evolution, Physiology, Biochemistry, Endocrinology, Parasitology, Entomology, Ecology and Wildlife Biology, Fish and Fishery Science, Biotechnology, Biostatistics, Taxonomy and Animal behaviour. The Department has also subscribed to various journals as well, such as, Indian Journal of Experimental Biology, Resonance, Science Reporter, Bijnan Jeuti, Bijnan Prasar, Indian Journal of Biotechnology, Indian Journal of Entomology, Bioscience, Current Science, and Indian Journal of Environmental Biology. The department has also been publishing an annual Newsletter (Zoon) since 2002 and an annual wall magazine (Sakhiotee) since 1998.
RESEARCH
The laboratory of the Department has been recognized as a research lab to carry out Ph. D. level research under Gauhati University (vide Memo No.GU/Acad/Ph.D/Recog.lab./2012/1854-56 dated 5.12.2012). Two faculty members of Zoology Department has been recognized as Ph. D Guides by Gauhati University. The Department has produced 7 Ph. D. scholars and currently 11 scholars are working towards their Ph. D. degree. Several projects have been completed by faculty members of the Department, and a few projects are still undergoing completion. The Department has been sanctioned DBT-BUILDER by the Department of Biotechnology.
Ph. D. GUIDES
1. Dr. Mridul Kr. Borthakur
2. Dr. Amar Deep Soren
RESEARCH AREAS
1. Reproduction and fertility
2. Toxicology
3. Parasitology
4. Ethnopharmacology
5. Sericulture
6. Antimicrobial activity
7. Endocrinology
8. Diabetes
9. Ecology
Ph. D. AWARDED
1. Dr. Parag Moni Baruah
Thesis title: Toxicity evaluation and analysis of caffeine profile of unprocessed and processed tea marketed in Sonitpur (Tezpur) and Biswanath (Gohpur) districts of Assam
Guide: Dr. Sunayan Bardoloi
2. Dr. Asha Rani Borah
Thesis title: Studies on the effects of Genistein on endocrine pancreas in albino rat (Rattus albicans)
Guide: Dr. Kamal Choudhury
3. Dr. Palki Hazarika
Thesis title: Effects of Saraca indica Linn. bark extracts on reproductive system of Levonorgestrel treated female Rattus albicans
Guide: Dr. Kamal Choudhury
4. Dr. Pramathesh Kalita
Thesis title: A study in toxicological impact of herbicide Pendimethalin on hepato-gonadal functions in Channa punctata (Bloch)
Guide: Dr. Kamal Choudhury
5. Dr. Angana Das
Thesis title: Hepatoprotective effect of Chenopodium album Linn. in albino rats
Guide: Dr. Mridul Kumar Borthakur
6. Dr. Alisha Nasreen
Thesis title: Studies on the effect of Enhydra fluctuans Lour. on alloxan induced diabetic albino mice
Guide: Dr. Kamal Choudhury
7. Dr. Anjumani Ojah
Thesis title: Effect of methanolic root extract of Persicaria hydropiper (L) Delarbre on fertility in albino mice
Guide: Dr. Mridul Kumar Borthakur
Co-guide: Prof. Jogen Chandra Kalita (Gauhati University)
8. Dr. Sanghamitra Saharia
Thesis title: Effect of selected plant extracts against the white muscardine disease in muga silkworm, Antheraea assamensis Helfer
Guide: Dr. Sunayan Bardoloi
9. Dr. Shibani Kalita
Thesis title: Studies on Bacillus thuringiensis induced low molecular weight peptides of Antheraea assamensis Helfer for their potential antimicrobial activity
Guide: Dr. Sunayan Bardoloi
Ph. D. ONGOING
1. Ms. Barsha Sarma
Thesis title: A study on the effect of methanolic leaf extract of Manihot esculenta Crantz in Streptozotocin induced diabetic mice
Guide: Dr. Mridul Kumar Borthakur
2. Ms. Dimpi Moni Kalita
Thesis title: Isolation, characterization, identification and pathogenicity assessment of gut microbes of diseased eri silkworm, Samia ricini (Donovan)
Guide: Dr. Sunayan Bardoloi
3. Mrs. Sanjana Sharmin
Thesis title: A study on the effects of juvenile hormone analogue Methoprene on the biochemical and commercial parameters of silkworm Antheraea assamensis Helfer
Guide: Dr. Sunayan Bardoloi
4. Mr. Kunal Chanda
Thesis title: Breeding biology of stump tailed macaque in Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary
Guide: Dr. Mridul Kumar Borthakur
5. Ms. Kakali Deka
Thesis title: Study on the effects of methanolic leaf extract of Streblus asper on the fertility status in female albino mice
Guide: Dr. Mridul Kumar Borthakur
6. Ms. Tapashi Sutradhar
Thesis title: Ameliorative effect of methanolic extract of Heliotropium indicum in adenine induced chronic kidney disease in Wistar rat
Guide: Dr. Mridul Kumar Borthakur
7. Mr. Sonot Deori
Thesis title: Studies on limnological aspects of Boroidam Bilmukh Bird Sanctuary (IBA) with special reference to plankton diversity
Guide: Dr. Mridul Kumar Borthakur
8. Ms. Tanushree Biswas
Thesis title: Efficacy and toxicity validations of anthelmintics traditionally used by the tribal communities of Assam
Guide: Dr. Amar Deep Soren
9. Ms. Mrigakhi Das (newely admitted)
Guide: Dr. Amar Deep Soren
MISSION AND VISION
The Department takes pride in encouraging all-round personality development of its students. It is a living and vibrant Department where young souls are nurtured and trained for becoming worthy citizens. It provides a platform for academic and cultural excellence for the students.
Mission: To see an overall development of the society through teaching Science
Vision: To impart good quality education and to prepare the students for service to the society through transmission of knowledge from one generation to another.