Tirupati: SPMVV excels in research with DST-CURIE grant

Tirupati: The financial support extended by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), New Delhi under the 'Consolidation of University Research for Innovation and Excellence in Women (CURIE) has proved to be a stimulus for research activity in Sri Padmavati Mahila Visvavidyalayam (SPMVV). The University could establish state of art infrastructure under this DST-CURIE grant and procured advanced equipment and facilities in its laboratories for carrying out quality research in science and technology.

Four laboratories were established out of the CURIE grant of which Rs.6 crore they have received till now in its two phases since 2009. Leaving aside the minor equipment 40 plus major instruments are there in these laboratories which has resulted in significant improvement in qualitative research produced by the University by its various departments. Explaining the salient features of the project through which the varsity has been progressing, the Coordinator of the DST-CURIE centre Prof V Kalarani told The Hans India that the grant has proved extremely useful for advanced research in the campus itself. Before establishing such labs, students, scholars and faculty had to go other universities with their samples to test them and derive results which involves huge expenditure and risk. Now they can complete every research activity flexibly and within their time frame.

DST has given six CURIE grants in the country and SPMVV was one among them. So far 5000 members including faculty, scholars and Masters students were offered the services and trained, she said. Any University will earn distinction by the quality research it produces. From this perspective, SPMVV was fortunate enough they could secure many research awards, thanks to the modern facilities it offers to its family members, she explained.

The research in terms of publications, PhDs awarded and research grants have improved both in terms of quality and quantity with the support of Curie grant in terms of publication with high impact factor. The grant also brought in significant contributions in the frontier areas of research related to the departments of Applied Microbiology, Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical technology, Sericulture etc., It was also helpful in imparting hands on training and enhance skill development to students and research scholars and pursuing research in emerging thrust areas.

Prof R Nagaraju who was associated with the project in the early stages of phase – II has said that after reviewing the performance of DST-CURIE centre in the varsity, DST itself asked them to submit a proposal for a grant for research in Artificial Intelligence. The proposal was accepted and the University got Rs.30 lakhs for the purpose. Prof S Jyothi of Department of Computer Science has been working on that as co-convenor.