CHEMISTRY

 

 

PROFILE OF CHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT

The Department of Chemistry at Handique Girls´ College was founded in 1965 with the primary objective of cultivating a robust scientific temperament among its students. Dr. (Mrs.) Mridula Mazumdar was appointed as the first Lecturer, later assuming the roles of Head of the Department and Principal in charge of the College. In 1965, Pre-University classes were introduced, followed by the initiation of the Bachelor of Science (BSc) program in 1968 with the recruitment of Prof. Chandramal Kakati. The Honors Course in Chemistry was introduced in 1974, and the PG course in Chemistry commenced in 2016 under Gauhati University. Despite persistent challenges in opportunities, our commitment has always been focused on aiding deserving students in their pursuit of higher studies.

At present, the department comprises nine faculty members, with five in sanctioned posts and four in contractual positions. The faculty fosters a harmonious relationship among themselves and with the students, creating an environment where students feel comfortable approaching their teachers when needed. Actively engaged in cutting-edge research, faculty members have publications in peer-reviewed and WOS/Scopus-indexed journals of international repute. The departmental faculties collaborate with researchers in India and abroad, leveraging complementary expertise to enhance the quality and impact of research initiatives. They also serve as regular reviewers for prestigious journals published by American Chemical Society (ACS), Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), Elsevier, and Wiley. The permanent faculty members are approved research guides of Gauhati University, overseeing nine research scholars in their pursuit of quality research, with two scholars having already been awarded Ph.D. degree under the supervision of Dr. Akhtar Hussain.

Faculty members are actively involved in Major and Minor research projects funded by agencies such as UGC, DST, DBT, SERB, etc. The department is equipped with faculty-centric research laboratories and advanced analytical facilities housing sophisticated instruments, including FTIR, Vacuum-rotary evaporator, UV-visible spectrophotometer, Photoreactor, Fluorescence spectrometer, Electrochemical workstation, procured with funds from government funding agencies. External users can avail themselves of the analytical facility at a nominal cost.

The department provides two modern, well-equipped laboratories, offering adequate facilities for HS, B.Sc., and M.Sc. students. A computing facility for theoretical chemistry is available to both students and teachers. The department actively supports student research facilities, including project works, for both undergraduate and postgraduate students. Additionally, a Departmental Library with a substantial collection of books caters to the academic needs of both students and teachers. 

Courses offered by the Chemistry Department under Gauhati University include HS, BSc (Chemistry Honours), M.Sc. (Chemistry), and Ph.D (Faculty of Science).