The North Bengal University has launched post-doctoral (PhD) courses in pharmaceutical technology and food technology.

A few months ago, the varsity had introduced MSc courses in the two subjects.

“We have introduced higher studies in pharmaceutical technology and food technology. Twelve students have already been admitted to the post-doctoral (PhD) course in pharmaceutical technology, while two others have enrolled for PhD in food technology,” said Pranab Ghosh, the head of the department, pharmaceutical technology.

“The scholars will carry out researches on the molecular level involving natural products, their isolation, characterisation and possible application in medicine,” he added.

As the departments of pharmaceutical technology and food technology have been approved by the All India Council for Technical Education and Pharmaceutical Council of India , the research scholars will receive fellowship from the AICTE, said sources.

“At the NBU, we have a good number of instruments in the lab to take up such researches. Some more instruments would be brought in soon,” an official said.

The varsity has 18 seats for the masters’ course in pharmaceutical technology and 24 seats for MSc in food technology. In total, 12 faculty members teach these courses.

From the coming academic session, the NBU plans to introduce BPharm course.

The tea science department at the NBU has decided to send its experts to small tea plantations in the Siliguri subdivision, Jalpaiguri district and Islampur subdivision to provide field training to small growers. “We will organise camps to make the growers aware of different techniques of tea cultivation,” said Pranab Ghosh, the head of the tea science department at the NBU.

“We will also speak to youths in those areas and encourage them to take up undergraduate courses in tea science.”