DCT’s Dhempe College of Arts and Science offers a self-financed programme in B.Sc. Biotechnology affiliated to Goa University. The Department of Biotechnology came into existence in the year 1997 and it is known for its standard of education. The College is one of the first colleges in Goa to offer Biotechnology to undergraduate students. Today, all over the world Biotechnology occupies a prime position in the academic field along with a rapid growth in Biotechnology based industries.

Biotechnology is an interdisciplinary science that involves use of technology to exploit living organisms and their processes for the betterment of humankind. In the coursework of B.Sc. Biotechnology programme, substantial weightage is given to hands-on training and development of skills which are essential for a career in Industries and Research Organizations. Due emphasis is given to relevant areas like Microbiology, Cell Biology Plant Biotechnology, Animal Biotechnology, Immunology, Molecular Biology and Recombinant DNA Technology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Environmental Biotechnology, Industrial Biotechnology and Food Biotechnology which represent the core areas of this science.

The department of Biotechnology has a large laboratory space which includes five laboratories viz. General Laboratory I and II, Molecular Biology Laboratory, Plant Tissue Culture and Animal Tissue Culture Laboratory. Other facilities include Washing Room, Sterilization Room, and Departmental Library, E-books and Internet Facility for students. The students are exposed to many advanced techniques and are trained in the use of sophisticated instruments. The State-of-the-Art instrumentation includes UV-Vis Spectrophotometers, High speed cooling centrifuges, Rotary Vacuum Evaporators, Laminar Air Flow cabinets, Microscopes (Epifluorescence, Inverted and Binocular), Pilot Fermenter, Electrophoresis Units, Incubators, Deep Freezers(-20 ºC), pH meters, automated micropipettes etc.

The Generic Elective Courses such as Food Science and Nutrition, Entrepreneurship Development and Skill Enhancement Courses in Urban Gardening , Bakery offered is a distinctive feature of the department. The department also organizes courses for encouraging students towards self-employment such as Bakery and Winemaking. Students are also encouraged to actively take part in various competitions and fests where they can showcase the skills learned. The students are also urged to undergo ‘Summer Training’ in industries and research organisations during vacations. Training acquired at the workplace is a valuable addition to curriculum vitae of the students. Our students have interned at various institutions and industries around the world such as : Sup biotech (Paris), Kaushalya Hospital (Mumbai), Indoco Remedies (Verna), Goa University (Taleigao), Goa Medical College, etc. The T.Y.B.Sc. students project work is based on a variety of investigatory topics.

Biotechnology students are encouraged to enhance their scientific, language and social skills through the departmental club ‘OPERON’. The club which meets weekly also organizes training for the students to prepare for various entrance tests after graduation. This has resulted in students clearing the National JNU entrance examination for M.Sc., NET, GATE and MBA entrance tests. Our students are pursuing higher education at prestigious Universities in India and abroad such as Vellore Institute of technology (Tamil Nadu), Symbiosis School of Biological Sciences (Mumbai), University of Bern (Switzerland), University of Glasgow (UK), University of Copenhagen (Denmark) etc The department also organizes ‘Chiasma’ an annual event cum exhibition for Higher Secondary Schools and undergraduate science students. The exhibition remains open to the public giving them a peek into the world of Biotechnology.

The department focuses on academic excellence and personality enhancement of its students. We conduct regular seminars, value addition courses, personality development workshops, guest lectures by eminent scientists/ personalities in the field. The students are encouraged to attend intercollegiate competitions, seminars, and workshops organized by other educational institutions and Industries.

The department also conducts an intermittent Online International certificate course on Advanced Immunology, in collaboration with Dr. Srinivas Kaveri, Director, CNRS, New Delhi, Co-ordinator ICMR-INSERM, Paris, France and a state level workshop on Bioinformatics in association with IIT Kharagpur. The department is comprised of a team of hardworking, devoted and qualified teachers with academic excellence and research experience.