Two Departments of Central University of Punjab get selected for DST-FIST 2020 Grant
Bathinda: The Department of Botany and the Department of Chemistry of Central University of Punjab, Bathinda (CUPB) have been selected for financial support under the ‘Fund for Improvement of S&T infrastructure in universities & higher educational institutions (FIST) Program-2020’ by Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India, for building optimal infrastructure and research facilities for post-graduate and higher research. The proposals from relatively small but active post-graduate S&T Department from State & Central Universities and degree awarding academic institutions for improving quality of teaching & research were invited by DST in 2020. For Life Sciences, out of 212 proposals received nationwide only 16 proposals have been recommended for Level-1 type support by DST. The proposals of Dept. of Botany and Dept. of Chemistry, CUPB are among the recommended ones.
Vice Chancellor Prof. Raghavendra P. Tiwair congratulated iDr. Vinod Pathania, HoD Chemistry and Dr. Felix Bast, HoD, Botany and the project implementation groups from both the departments, for this achievement. He added that this has been possible on account of the dedicated efforts of the faculty members of both these Departments.
While sharing the details, Prof. Anjana Munshi, Dean Research stated that this grant support is recommended by DST, New Delhi based on the excellent research and academic performance of the faculty members of these departments. She mentioned that research facility to be developed by utilizing this grant will support in setting high benchmarks in the field of education and research. She added that five departments of the university including Dept. of Environmental Science and Technology, Dept. of Human Genetics & Molecular Medicine, Dept. of Pharmaceutical Sciences & Natural Products, Dept. of Biochemistry and Microbiology (bifurcated into two departments later) and Dept. of Zoology have already earned the DST-FIST Grant worth Rs. 3.68 Crores. Now with the addition of two more departments of our university to qualify for this grant, total seven departments of CUPB have been supported with DST-FIST Grant.