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Department of Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology

Faculty Board Meeting (04/2018-19)

February 12, 2019

The 4th

Departmental Faculty Board Meeting of 2018-19 was held on 31st January 2019

at 3 PM in the Departmental Committee Room (I-230). The following members were

present:

1. Prof. Atul Narang Chairman

2. Prof. Saroj Mishra Member

3. Prof. A.K. Srivastava Member

4. Prof. Sunil Nath Member

5. Prof. T.R. Sreekrishnan Member

6. Prof. D. Sundar Member

7. Prof. Shilpi Sharma Member

8. Prof. Preeti Srivastava Member

9. Prof. Ravikrishnan Elangovan Member

10. Prof. Ashish Misra Convener

Item No. 1. Confirmation of minutes of 3rd

DFB meeting (2018-19)

The minutes of the meeting were confirmed as circulated.

Item No. 2. Matters arising from the above meeting

Item No. 6. High rate of attrition amongst department doctoral students

The faculty board recommended taking this up as a main agenda in a separate

DFB. The board also suggested taking up the issue of hiring graduate students in

the department along with this.

Item No. 3. RO supply to department labs and AMC

The HOD apprised the board of the possibility of installing centralized RO facility for the

department with an outlet provided to each individual lab and the estimated costs

[Installation (Rs 2.3 lakhs) and comprehensive AMC (INR Rs 72000 including parts)].

The faculty board debated the installation of the RO system and approved the installation

of the RO systems to provide RO access for all department labs.

Item No. 4. Feedback and marking of equipment spaces in 99B and 99C

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The faculty board discussed the email received from Dean (Infra) that had previously

been sent to all faculty members. The board recommended visiting Block 99C on 6th

Feb

2019 at 3 PM to tour the block and provide feedback on the building.

Item No. 5. BAP feedback on departmental courses

The board discussed the previously circulated feedback (received from BAP) regarding

modifications to 5 existing courses and floating of 4 new courses. The main concern of

the BAP was the presence of tutorial components in all the proposed PG level courses

which was not recommended based on the previous curriculum review. The faculty

coordinators for the courses were asked to write to Prof. Ravikrishnan Elangovan (who

kindly agreed to compile the data) with their clarifications regarding change of tutorial

components for BAP consideration.

[Action: Course coordinators]

Item No. 6. Departmental lab and office space

The HOD apprised the board about the possible joining of two new departmental faculty

candidates to the department and the requirement for allotting them refurbished office

and lab space. The board discussed the current status of office and lab space in the

department. The board recommended that Prof. Bisaria (who superannuated in June

2018) be asked to vacate his office by the end of the month. It was further recommended

by the Board that the lab space (I-31) currently occupied by Prof. G.P. Agarwal be

allocated to one of two new joinees and only the project equipments, if any, be moved by

Prof. G.P. Agarwal to the newly assigned space.

[Action: HOD]

Item No. 7. B. Tech/Dual Degree seat re-appropriation starting AY 2019-2020

Prof. D. Sundar informed the board of the presentation made to the institute seat re-

appropriation committee presenting the recommendations from the previous DFB

discussion namely (i) retaining B. Tech. program (ii) replacing dual-degree and MSR

with 2-year M. Tech. program. (Annexure 1). He also informed the board that the

committee was going to revisit the re-appropriation issue in light of the recent

government proposal increasing seat reservation.

Item No. 8. Allocation of DBT-HRD plan and non-plan funds

The DBT-HRD programme coordinator, Prof. Shilpi Sharma showed the board a

presentation made to the DBT evaluation committee for the departmental PG teaching

programme (Annexure 2). The HOD then mentioned about an informal communication

with a DBT programme manager about the awarding of a B grade to the departmental PG

teaching programme after the presentation. The faculty board expressed its surprise at the

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extremely poor grade compared to the A grade received in prior evaluations despite the

many excellent initiatives to improve lab training experience and coursework. The board

recommended writing a rebuttal challenging the grade awarded by the DBT evaluation

committee after official receipt of the grade.

[Action: DBT-HRD programme coordinator]

Item No. 9. Discussion of postdoctoral shortlisting criteria

The postdoctoral selection committee intimated the faculty board about the withholding

of negative recommendation letter for a shortlisted postdoctoral candidate by the

corresponding faculty mentor. The postdoctoral selection committee had forwarded the

candidate’s name to the dean’s office at the faculty mentor’s request without being made

aware of the negative recommendation letter in possession of the faculty mentor. The

committee had decided to reject the candidate’s application in light of these findings. The

faculty board recommended that henceforth, postdoctoral selection committee members

will shortlist promising candidates, and provide this list for further consideration by

faculty members.

Item No. 10. Any other issues

None

Ashish Misra

Convener, DFB

Distribution

All DBEB faculty by email

Cc: Office file

UG seats re-appropriation in Dept of Biochem Engg & Biotech

Atul Narang

Nov 19, 2018

UG Programs in the Department

Program Code Intake Inception

B.Tech in Biochem Engg & Biotech

BB1 45 2014 entry onwards

B.Tech and M.Tech (Dual Degree) in Biochem Engg & Biotech

BB5 15 1998 entry onwards

The Department earlier offered the following program: • An Integrated M.Tech program from 1989 – 1998 (admission through JEE)

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PG Programs in the Department

The Department (erstwhile BERC) offered the following program: • M.Tech program (2 year) from 1976 – 1988 (admission through GATE)

M.S. (Research) Ph.D.

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Summary

• Very few core placements in B. Tech and dual-degree. • Only one-year data for B. Tech. program.

• MSR: going for higher studies or joining core companies.

• B. Tech. ranks significantly better than dual-degree ranks.

Conclusions from analysis of placement data

Conclusion from analysis of JEE ranks

Recommendations

• Retain B. Tech. program • Higher JEE ranks and better placements.

• Replace dual-degree and MSR with 2-year M. Tech. • Likely to generate better pipeline for research.

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Analysis of placement data

Placement: B.Tech vs dual degree

2016 2017 2018

Appeared for placement 26 23 14

Placed 23 15 14

Core placement 0 1 2

Higher studies ~5 ~5 ~5

2016 2017 2018

Appeared for placement - - 19

Placed - - 19

Core placement - - 0

Higher studies

B Tech

Dual degree

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Analysis of JEE data

JEE ranks: B. Tech. vs. Dual Degree

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Range of ranks 2313-4073 2138-3547 2609-3718 2858-3860 1854-3650

Mean rank NA 3100 3300 3355 3332

Median rank NA 3232 3429 3417 3418

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Range of ranks 3490-4447 3697-4256 3787-4714 3058-4245 3849-4508

Mean rank NA 3916 4316 3868 4199

Median rank NA 3770 4332 3941 4219

B Tech: Open category

Dual degree: Open category

B. Tech. ranks are 500-1000 are lower than those of dual degree. 8

JEE ranks: B. Tech. vs Dual Degree B Tech: OBC NCL

Dual degree: OBC NCL

B. Tech. ranks are 300-500 are lower than those of dual degree.

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Range of ranks 1321-2200 1819-2443 1715-2207 1563-2131 1849-2574

Mean rank NA 2183 1989 1878 2247

Median rank NA 2183 2004 1886 2300

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Range of ranks

2287-2401 1980-2687 2028-2535 2003-2385 2552-3057

Mean rank NA 2447 2391 2253 2790

Median rank NA 2236 2500 2312 2782

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JEE ranks: B. Tech. vs Dual Degree B Tech: SC

Dual degree: SC

B. Tech. ranks are 200-400 are lower than those of dual degree.

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Range of rank 914-1286 601-1156 1116-1525 1054-1349 1065-1177

Mean rank NA 1003 1250 1253 1108

Median rank NA 1046 1179 1276 1105

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Range of rank 1076-1084 1222-1395 1485-1563 1373-1559 1575-1578

Mean rank NA 1308 1524 1466 1576

Median rank NA 1308 1524 1466 1576

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JEE ranks: B. Tech. vs Dual Degree B Tech: ST

Dual degree: ST

B. Tech. ranks are 0-200 are lower than those of dual degree.

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Range of rank 319-652 529-634 803-885 639-675 309-743

Mean rank NA 582.33 833.33 660.67 575.67

Median rank NA 584 812 668.01 675

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Range of rank 707-707 702-707 843-843 773-773 314-314

Mean rank

NA 702 843 773 314

Median rank NA 702 843 773 314

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Research output from our dual degree and MSR programs

• Research output from dual degree is not good

• Research output from MSR program is good

• Research output from the previously run 2-year MTech was even better

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Summary

• Very few core placements in B. Tech and dual-degree. • Only one-year data for B. Tech. program.

• MSR: going for higher studies or joining core companies.

• B. Tech. ranks significantly better than dual-degree ranks.

Conclusions from analysis of placement data

Conclusion from analysis of JEE ranks

Recommendations

• Retain B. Tech. program • Higher JEE ranks and better placements.

• Replace dual-degree and MSR with 2-year M. Tech. • Likely to generate better pipeline for research.

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Progress of DBT sponsored PG Teaching Programme

Programme Coordinator: Shilpi Sharma

Dept. of Biochemical Engineering & Biotechnology, IIT Delhi

Name of the programme

5 years Dual Degree Programme

(B.Tech & M.Tech)

Year of start 1989 (/1998)

No. of seats 45

No. of seats filled in three years

(2015-16-17-18)

45 each year

Mode of selection IIT-JEE Advanced

1 No. of core faculty strength (approved)

18

2 Existing core faculty 13

3 No. of extramural projects (completed and on-going)

Ongoing: 39

Completed: 47

4 Name of agency

DBT, SERB, DST, MHRD, Min of Health and Family Welfare, DRDO, GAIL, SAIL, IITD etc

5 Quantum of support Ongoing: ~34 crore

Completed: ~19 crore

FACULTY DETAILS

PUBLICATIONS DETAIL

2015 2016 2017 2018 No. of

publications 41 38 36 32

S.No Workshop / Conference Title Period Sponsoring Agency

1. Expert Meeting on AMR Dx,

Coordinator RE Sept 18, 2018 IITD-DOSA

2. Bioinformatics Retreat, Coordinator DS April 28, 2018 DBT, Govt of India

3. Microbial diversity for human welfare,

Coordinators: PS, SS April 9-11, 2018 TEQIPIII

4.

Short Term Course on Bioinformatics -

Workshop on Molecular Docking,

Virtual Screening and Biologics

Discovery, Coordinator DS

Oct 30-31, 2017 DBT, Govt of India

5.

Explore Biotechnological Interventions

on River Cleaning Program

Coordinator: SM

14-15 January

2016 DBT, Govt of India

6.

Indo-German Seminar on 'Modeling

Chemical & Biological (Re)activity' -

MCBR, Coordinator DS

Nov 07, 2015

University of Heidelberg,

Heidelberg Center South

Asia (HCSA) and DBT, Govt

of India

7.

Inauguration of DAILAB and Indo-

Japan Symposium on Advanced

Biomedicine, Coordinator DS

Nov 04, 2015 DBT, Govt. of India

STUDENTS’ DETAIL

Year No of

students

admitted*

No. of

drop

outs

No. of

students

passed

out

Gender

M/F

Mode of

exam

Annual /

semester

Fee

charged

per

annum**

(in Rs)

No. of students in

DBT sponsored /

University

sponsored

2015-16 48 7 41 M 37,

F 10

Semester 100000 DBT: 10,

remaining IITD

2016-17 39 7 32 M 28,

F 11

Semester 116000 IITD

2017-18 43 10 33 M 35,

F 8

Semester 116000 IITD

WEIGHTAGE OF THEORY VS. PRACTICAL

LEARNING OUTCOME

Learning Out Come of Theory

Learning Out Come of Hands on Training imparted

Application Value of learning

Outcome and Skill Sets

Theory Paper

Code and Paper

Title

Knowledge Acquired by Students Practical Course Based

on the Theory Paper

Hands on Skill Set

learnt by Students

BBL735, Genomics

and Proteomics

(L-T-P: 2-0-2)

Introduction to -omes and -omics;

GENOMICS-Genome sequencing and

assembly; Next-generation sequencing;

Studying gene expression and function;

High throughput gene expression and

analysis. PROTEOMICS-Sample

preparation; Separation methods; Mass

Spectroscopy and de novo sequencing;

Comparative Proteomics; Protein-

protein interactions

BBL735 (Practical

component)

Isolation of metagenomic

DNA, Single Nucleotide

Polymorphism (SNP)

analysis Mutagenesis,

Protein -DNA Interaction by

co-immunoprecipitation, Two

Dimensional Gel

Electrophoresis (IEF-2 hrs;

PAGE = 2 hrs; Analysis = 2

hrs),Protein identification by

Mass Spectroscopy ESI-

MS,,Protein-Protein

Interaction by Two Hybrid

System,

Protein-Protein Interaction by

FRET, Protein-Protein

Interaction by Far Western

The course teaches the

students handling of Big Data

sets, and hands on with high-

end equipments which trains

them for higher studies and

jobs in core sectors. This

increases their employability

skills.

Learning Out Come of Theory

Learning Out Come of Hands on Training

imparted

Theory Paper Code

and Paper Title

Knowledge Acquired by

Students

Practical Course

Based on the Theory

Paper

Hands on Skill Set

learnt by Students

BBL737, Instrumentation

and Analytical Methods in

Bioengineering

(L-T-P: 2-0-2)

Introduction to methods used in Analytical

Bioengineering, Electrophoretic methods,

Principles and applications of

chromatography (GC, HPLC, FPLC, HPTLC),

Spectrophotometry (UV-visible),

Fluorescence methods, FTIR, Circular

dichroism, Mass spectrometry (GC-MS, LC-

MS, ICP-MS), Immunology based analytical

methods (ELISA), qPCR, Advanced

Microscopy techniques (Electron Microscopy,

Confocal Microscopy)

BBL737 (Practical

component)

On line measurement of metabolic

activities by flurorescence

measurements in bioreactors,

Spectrofluorimeter, Atomic

absorption spectrophotometer, RT-

PCR, Dionex HPLC with ECD and

CD, Agilent HPLC with UV and RI,

GC with FID and TCD, Denaturing

gradient gel electrophoresis, 2D-gel

electrophoresis, Fast protein liquid

chromatography, GC-MS, LC-MS,

Elemental analyzer

LEARNING OUTCOME

• Academics

• Industry

#Non-core Industry, *T&P not involved

Training & Placement Cell conducts campus interviews in the 1st week of Dec each year

PLACEMENT DETAILS

Year of passing

No. of students (no of students who appeared

for placement)

Employment details in numbers

Academic/Teaching* Industry# Govt. Self

Employed /

Entrepreneur

Core

2015-16 41 (26) 3 23 0 0

2016-17 32 (23) 5 13 1 1

2017-18 17 (14) 2 12 1 2

Year of Graduation

Student Current program Current Institution

2018 Kshitij Rai PhD RIce University, USA

Sparsh Agrawal MS University of Illinois, USA

2017 Avijeet SIngh Jaiswal JRF IIT Delhi

Aashika Sekhar PhD Oxford, UK

Abhineet Sain PhD University of Toronto, Canada

2016 Anirudh Mittal PhD UIUC, USA

Kalki Kukerja PhD Hardvard, USA

2015 Aayushi Jain PhD University of Wisconsin, USA

Spandan Madan MS/PhD MIT/Harvard, USA

Rohit Satija PhD University of Texas at Austin

Deepshikha Dogra PhD MIT, USA

Anirudh Patir PhD Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, UK

Suruchi Sethi PhD Max Planck, Germany

2014 Charu Mehta PhD University of Wisconsin, USA

Shruti Singla PhD Cambridge University

Surabhi Yadav MS/PhD University of California, Berkeley

Kanika Khanna PhD UCSD, USA

Shachi Mittal PhD UIUC, USA

2013 Jyothi Adlaka PhD Max Planck, Germany

C. S. S. Pavan PhD

Saurabh Kumar Ram PhD INRS, University du Quebec, Canada

Harshal Prasad PhD University of Canterbury, Newzealand

Phurpa Dema Thungon PhD IIT Guwahati

Tanvi Saxena PhD Harvard Medical School, USA

Krishna Choudhary PhD UC Davis, USA

ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING HELD IN LAST THREE YEARS

Held on 8th May 2017 Expert from Academia: Prof Rakesh Bhatnagar (Currently: VC,

BHU)

Expert from Industry: Dr Goutam Ghosh, Panacea Biotech 1 To make the integrated M.Tech program (in Biotechnology) more

attractive and career-oriented for students, DBT may consider

awarding Industrial Training fellowship for the fresh graduates of

M.Tech. programme so that they can take up assignments in

mainstream Biotech companies.

2 DBT could consider converting the fellowship funds to consumables

since IIT Delhi already has enough MHRD fellowships for the M.Tech.

program.

3 Additional funds may be provided to purchase 4 bioreactors for the UG

lab

• New course, Biotechnology Entrepreneurship, put forth for approval by the Institute. We expect to float it from 2019-20 onwards.

• Industry Day initiated by the Institute for enhancement of industrial interactions

• Regular support to our students for participating in competitions such as International

Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM), and the results are already promising (they won the Silver Medal in the 2016 competition, bronze in 2017 and 2018).

• Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT) at IIT has started offering a suite of courses aimed at introducing students to entrepreneurship.

• Seminar program made mandatory for M.Tech students in which industrial scientists are

invited to provide insights into the challenges and opportunities in the biotech industry. • We will also seek to appoint industrial researchers as Adjunct Faculty, a policy that is

being actively promoted by the Institute.

IMPACT OF THE PROGRAM

1. Our department has produced, and continues to produce, large

percentage of students pursuing post-graduate studies in India

as well as abroad.

2. Our students have performed well consistently in competitions

such iGEM (International Genetically Engineered Machines)

which require a strong emphasis on product development. This

includes a Silver medal in the last competition.

3. We have been able to leverage the entrepreneurial talent of the

students toward development of (biotech) start-ups. To

strengthen it further, we have developed state-of-the-art labs

accessible to the students 24/7.

Students Yearof

graduation

Start-up Area

AmbarSrivastava 2008 Wrignanosystems MedTechDevices

VikasPandey&

SaurabhSingh

2015 ValetudePrimus

HealthcarePvtLtd

MedTechDevices

PawanSamdani 2013 EumentisInformaticsPvt.Ltd

Bioinformatics

SamyakJain 2019 MyWays Student-LifeCoach

AbhayTanksali 2017 KvayatMedical Medicaldevices

UtsavChawla 2019 Astanite SmartWatch

SatyamNatani 2019 BharatPay Finance

SUGGESTIONS / COMMENTS FOR IMPROVEMENT

• Lucrative fellowships from DBT for students who engage in Industrial training will go a long way in fostering such interactions

• DBT may come up with a calendar for its activities related to the programme (including report submission).

• Timely release of funds (planned and non-planned for its efficient management

THANK YOU