Department Profile

The department was established in 1990 and was first in the state to start interdisciplinary program. Since its inception department have been engaged in research activities in advanced materials and time to time recognized by various government bodies.

It is recognized by UGC for SAP Program DRS II and III for the year 1993 to 2003 with a total grant of Rs.85 lakhs. Then it was promoted to CAS Phase I with a grant of Rs.86 lakhs from 2004-2009 and also successfully completed CAS Phase II program in 2014 with a grant of Rs.106 lakhs.
GUJCOST has recognized the Department as a Centre for Excellence in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology.
DST New Delhi has recognized the Department at FIST level II program during the year 2005-2009 sanctioning a grant of Rs. 83 lakhs.
We have been also recognized under State government under innovative program during 2009-2011, received Rs.63 lakhs.
Department has completed numbers of projects funded by various national agencies like UGC, DST, DAE, BRUS, BRFST, NSF-IPR, etc…Department has also completed numbers of project sponsored by international funding agencies like DST-NSF, IFCPAR, TIT Japan, BMBF-DST etc.

Present Status of the Department

Department of Materials Science has been recognized by the
1) UGC as Centre for Advanced Studies Phase II
2) GUJCOST as Centre of Excellence in Nanomaterials
3) DST as FIST level II department

Pursuits

The Department aims at:

Providing higher education, training and research in Materials Science
Industrial Consultancy
Test and Evaluation facilities
Problem Solving
Collaborative research

Research and Development of advanced materials for space applications, energy and environmental sectors including polymeric, ceramic and composite materials

History of the Department

The Department of Materials Science was established in 1990 as an Institution providing Interdisciplinary post-graduate course in Materials Science and Technology and to foster Research and Development of High Performance Materials. To start with, the Department was giving a course PG Diploma in Materials Science to M. Sc. Qualified students. Later on it was changed to M.Sc (Materials Science). In 2006 M.Sc., Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, a post graduate course was introduced. In a short span the Department has achieved an excellent research progress record and is reflected from the number of Frontier Areas of Research Projects, it has bagged in the last twenty years. It has been recognized by The University Grants Commission, Delhi as Centre for Advance Studies in Carbons and Composites. It has also accorded its continuance for the IInd Phase i.e. 2009-2014. The Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi has recognized it at FIST level II program. State Govt (Gujarat Council on Science and Technology, GUJCOST) has recognized the Department as Centre for Excellence in Nanoscience and Nanomaterials and under Innovative Programme. The research program of the Department has been further strengthened by collaboration between other Science and Technology Departments of this University as well as state Universities and many industrial and government organizations in India and abroad. The financial assistance for research in India is being received from various agencies like Department of Science and Technology (DST), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE), and University Grant Commission (UGC), Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), BRNS etc. The Department has already successfully completed several sponsored research projects at national and international level. The international collaboration is promoted through visits of faculty members abroad as well as by visits of number of overseas faculty and scientists. Collaborative Research projects are sponsored by International agencies like National Science Foundation (USA), Indo French Center for Promotion of Advanced Research (IFCPAR), International Collaboration Research Cell of Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan, NSFBMBF, Germany, DST-RFBR,Russia etc.

Heads of the Department

L.M. Manocha December 1990 to December 2008
(Mrs.) S. Manocha January 2009 to June 2009
L.M. Manocha June 2009 to February 2012
(Mrs.) S. Manocha February 2012 to August 2013
L.M. Manocha August 2013 to June 2014
(Miss) R.H.Patel June 2014 to August 2020
N.M. Batra August 2020 to October 2021
(Miss) R.H. Patel October 2021 continuing

Extension Activities

Open house for school students and college students on the day of National Science Day
Poster presentation and Scientific model demonstration by M.Sc. students
Organizing workshop on materials processing and characterization, advanced characterization techniques for materials analysis etc.
Celebration of Gandhi Jayanti by the arrangement of Swachhta Divas
Students taking part in Blood donation camp in the campus
Organize academic/industrial visit for M.Sc. students
Organize Get together of Alumni members in the Department
Arrange summer internship for interested students
The Department had successfully organized refresher courses for college and university teachers, training programs, workshops, seminars and conferences at state, national and international level.

Future Plans

The Department plans to strengthen its research activities in the areas of Nanostructured materials including Polymers, Carbon and ceramic materials and undertake new research programs in the area of,

Flame retardant polymers for water borne coatings
Oxidative resistant coating using PECVD technique
Biomass derived porous carbon for waste water treatment
Materials for the prevention of environment
Development of Carbon Nanomaterials, Nanoclays, Porous materials
Nanomaterials reinforced Composites for Biomedical applications
Graphene and nanoceramics as heterogeneous catalytic materials