One of the M.V.Sc student of Guru Angad Dev Veterinary & Animal Sciences University ,Ludhiana had made a mark on the national scene in Animal and Veterinary Biotechnology. A competitive All India Entrance Examination was held by National Dairy Research Institute, Deemed University, Karnal (ICAR), on 19/06/10, for admission to Ph.D in Animal Biotechnology. A total of 144 students, having Masters in various fields of Life Sciences, including Masters’ in Veterinary Science appeared in the examination for PhD in Animal Biotechnology, the result of which was declared. Syed Mohmad.Shah, an M.V.Sc student of the department of Animal Biotechnology, GADVASU topped the list of the successful candidates. The National Dairy Research Institute is a premier institute offering Masters and PhD degree in various fields of Dairy/Animal Sciences, and is amongst the first ones to establish a “Centre of Animal Biotechnology” in the country. Its Master’s and PhD programs are highly ranked in the country.

Dr. Syed, a native of Jammu & Kashmir, is currently an M.V.Sc. scholar in the Department of Animal Biotechnology, GADVASU. He is the university merit scholarship holder. He has also cleared CSIR-UGC National Eligibility Test with All India rank 74. His research on “Functional characterization of Toll like receptor 2 in buffalos”, has been completed under the guidance of Dr. G S Brah, Prof. & Head, Department of Animal Biotechnology, GADVASU.

It is pertinent to mention that the Department of Animal Biotechnology was established at GADVASU in 2008. Though the first batch of the students admitted to Masters in Animal Biotechnology is yet to complete their degree requirements. Dr.G.S.Brah Head of the Department revealed that Master’s programme of the Dept. for which an ‘All India Level Entrance examination is to be conducted on 24-7-10, has got a good response from the student community. The Deptt. has the state-of-the art laboratories with high end equipments, and has been able to win four projects from the Dept. of Biotechnology, DBT, Govt. of India including a prestigious HRD project in a short span of two years. The scientists of the Deptt. are involved in intensive research in various fields of Molecular biology/ biotechnology for enhancing livestock health and productivity. The deptt. has also been chosen to become a partner of the “Biotech Consortium India Limited” funded by DBT. Under this programme, the students following completion of their M.V.Sc/ M.Sc degrees from GADVASU shall be eligible to undergo six months ‘Practical Industrial Training’ in which each trainee shall be paid a stipend of Rs. 8,000 per month.

Dr Syed attributes his success, in addition to his hard work, to his teachers, and the congenial atmosphere and the training he obtained in the Department. Dr. Brah, congratulated him for bringing name to the Department and University, and advised other students to emulate his path of attaining excellence.