Amity University Jaipur

Dr. Vinay Sharma is the Dean Research and Director at Amity School of Biotechnology, Amity University, Rajasthan. He has experience in the research and education sector for 35 years. He has been honored with many prestigious fellowships and awards in India and abroad. He is mentoring several young scientists for innovative research in Biotechnology.

When you first came to Amity, what was your vision for your department? What changes do you see now?

“Evolution is evident and leads the institute towards development”

My main vision when I joined Amity Institute of Biotechnology was to contribute to the promotion of multidisciplinary, cutting edge, innovative scientific development, and, strive for excellence in teaching with more emphasis towards practical application of theoretical knowledge so that the students are market/ industry-ready. The changes are evident by the upsurge in the total number of high-quality publications in the globally renowned like Lancet and projects currently running in the department. Both student placement and progression have improved. 

Being the Director of Amity School of Biotechnology, how do you plan activities and programs to enhance the skills of the students?

“Creating awareness about the sources and activity-based learning for personality development”

What I strive for the most is our students must have a basic understanding of how such activities will be helpful for them not just for academics but also for a professional career. The activities should be planned to bring the best out of each student. We often tend to resort to more pragmatic approaches to install more industrious value so that students would be more prepared to work individually as well as a member of a team when they face the corporate world.

How does the School of Biotechnology at Amityensure best practice of the industry?

“Collaborations with several industries for preparing students to be industry-ready”

We have a long history of strong collaboration with various industries in our field. We periodically call outside industry and academia experts who guide us regarding the best practices that meet the industrial standards. Our teaching staff carefully understands the qualities they are required to instill in their students so that progressively such shortcomings can be minimized. We take exceptional pride in having more interactive lectures where students find their freedom to ask as many questions as they like.

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How do you ensure that students get proper exposure to practical learning?

“Internships and several activity-based learning to bridge the gap between theory and practical knowledge”

As I said before, practical learning is of paramount importance as ultimately that’s what determines student’s growth when they initiate their career after graduating from college. Our long-standing history with a variety of industries has blessed us with their knowledge and experience from time to time. Students get access to hear from those who had a successful established career for themselves. Such interactions not only provide the exchange of the knowledge base of the students but polish them in their core and advanced skill-sets. 

What do you think are your role and responsibilities to the institute and the students?

“Facilitator holds the line of responsibilities to be fulfilled under the designation”

  • I act as a facilitator for the faculty members and the students, which would help the Amity Institute of Biotechnology to attain the highest standards in teaching-learning and newer heights in research endeavors.
  • Encouraged the faculty to incorporate innovative teaching methods, to help students easily understand the new online pedagogy, and
  • Initiated social media communication with not only the students but also their parents.

What is the future scope for students of the school of Biotechnology of Amity University, Rajasthan?

“Course has specified career options in research and several sectors of the country”

The subject Biotechnology is a multi-disciplinary field with immense opportunities. The students can pursue a job, or research, based on their interest. The Biotechnology graduates can pursue their career in Industries in many sectors (Healthcare Sector, Agricultural Sector, Horticultural Sector, Pharmaceutical Sector, Food Processing Units, etc.), Governmental Laboratories, and Organizations (IGIB, New Delhi; NCCS, Pune; CCMB, Hyderabad, etc.). 

What is your approach to making a healthy environment for your students?

“Development of holistic atmosphere and mutual respect among the members of the college”

A healthy environment for students is where everyone works together as a community. In the capacity of Director of the Institute, I encourage this community and convey the significance of working together to keep the society, the surrounding, and their classroom clean and healthy for living. Maintaining Healthy mental and emotional health, more so in this pandemic situation is equally important for the overall well-being of our students. 

What are the major challenges that you have faced in your professional career?

“Keeping up with the evolution of knowledge and facts”

Biotechnology is a challenging and constantly evolving area where the information content rapidly changes with new technology and research. One of the major challenges was to define a career path in the area of specialization that I was entering into with the newest updates. Defining the goal at the early stages of my career was even more challenging because within the academic line I had to clearly define what I had to become.

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What do you think the major focus of your department should be for the next few years?

“Collaboration and inclusive efforts should be the main focus”

 Gauging the need of an hour and keeping an open mind towards new ideas that opens the door of innovation should be acquiescence for the whole spectrum. We have seen that we were caught off guard with this global pandemic. And it isn’t the last of it that we would see or our future generation would see.

What suggestions would you like to give to the youth regarding their higher studies?

“Be subjective and make every decision with full guidance and research”

Higher studies are to be aligned with your career plan. What do you want to do in your professional endeavor is a direct implication to the subject or course that you take in your higher studies. The only caveat here is that whatever you choose as a subject, the realization and application may not start in the first year of your professional journey. It takes time, but you need to be patient.