Department of Food Science and Technology

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About the Department

The Department of Food Science and Technology at Pondicherry University is a hub for the emerging technologies and industry-standard best practices necessary for producing food that is not only safe but also delicious and nutritive. The department makes for an atmosphere that is pleasant and welcoming, as well as academically engaging and professional. Our work is very congruent with the requirements of the food market as well as the prerequisites of the community. Our academic members have years of professional expertise in their respective professions, and our facilities are among the most advanced. The achievement of the students is what motivates the department. Our Food Science courses are major for postgraduate students with hands-on science with real-world applications, robust internship experiences, a wide range of scholarship options, and good job placement. The degrees of master of science and doctor of philosophy are available through our program. Students at the post-graduate level get extensive instruction in the advanced areas of food science, including food chemistry, food processing, food engineering, food microbiology, food safety, and community nutrition.

The P.G. and Ph.D. program in Food Science and Technology and Food Science and Nutrition offered in the department encompasses research in different aspects based on the expertise of each faculty.

The Department is bestowed with faculty members actively engaged in fundamental and applied research in various food science subfields. Research is facilitated through core disciplines and the following collaborative multidisciplinary signature areas: Material characteristics of food, Food System solutions for enhanced health and microbial food safety, and underlying cross-cutting research themes of food fermentation and food quality.

The faculty members have successfully acquired extramural financing from various national bodies (including the UGC, DBT, DST, ICMR, Ministry of Food Processing Industry, and CSIR) to enhance the infrastructural facility and the level of research activity. The research papers the department is producing are evidence of the outstanding research being done in the department. Based on the funding from various agencies earned by the faculties individually and as a team, the research outcome is attested by the research publications and the citations of their research work.

Vision:

Innovating together to improve Health through food.

+91-413-2654-625

head.fst@pondiuni.ac.in

Vision and Message of Head of Department

Dr. Narayanasamy Sangeetha

Professor

Welcome to the Department of Food Science and Technology! Our department is committed to excellence in teaching, research, and innovation in the field of food science. We focus on the scientific principles that underpin the development, processing, preservation, and safety of food, while also addressing global challenges such as food security, sustainability, and nutrition.

We offer a comprehensive curriculum designed to equip students with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills, preparing them for successful careers in academia, industry, research, and public service. Our faculty members are engaged in impactful research across areas such as Food safety, Functional foods, Food engineering, and Food Processing.

At the heart of our department is a dedication to shaping the future of food through interdisciplinary collaboration and a commitment to improving public health and well-being.

We encourage you to explore our programs, connect with our research, and become part of a vibrant academic community that is passionate about food science and its role in society.

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Office Contact Details

+91-413-2654-620

Programmes Offered

M.Sc. Food Science & Nutrition

M.Sc. Food Science & Technology

Ph.D. Food Science & Nutrition

Ph.D. Food Science and Technology

Faculty

Dr. H. Prathap Kumar Shetty

Professor

Dr. S. Haripriya

Professor

Dr. Narayanasamy Sangeetha

Professor

Dr. G. Seghal Kiran

Professor

Dr. A. Annamalai

Professor

Dr. K. V. Sunooj

Associate Professor

Dr. Sanjay Pratap Singh

Assistant Professor

Dr. A. Sangamithra

Assistant Professor

Officers & Staffs

Lab Assistant

S. Chandra

Email: chandras@pondiuni.ac.in

Lab Assistant

R. Kolanchiammal

Email: kolanchiammalr@pondiuni.ac.in

Infrastructure

The Department is well equipped with spacious laboratories and sophisticated equipment. The Department has acquired state-of-the-art food processing pilot plant. The pilot plant facility house various food processing equipment of semi industrial scale such as canning and retort unit, spray drying unit, modified atmosphere packing unit, industrial baking unit, freeze drying unit, tray drier and fluidized bed drier in addition to other smaller equipment.

Thrust Area of Teaching & Research

Food Safety and Quality Assurance: Focused on developing and implementing systems to ensure the safety, hygiene, and quality of food from farm to fork.
Food Processing and Preservation: Enhancing shelf life and maintaining nutritional value through innovative processing techniques such as thermal processing, drying, fermentation, freezing, and novel technologies.
Food Chemistry and Microbiology: Studying the biochemical composition of foods and understanding the role of microorganisms in food spoilage, fermentation, and safety.
Nutrition and Public Health: Exploring the relationship between diet and health, addressing malnutrition, and promoting balanced diets through fortified and functional foods.
Product Development and Innovation: Designing new food products and improving existing ones to meet evolving consumer preferences, dietary needs, and market demands.
Sustainable and Smart Food Systems: Promoting eco-friendly technologies, reducing food loss and waste, and developing plant-based and alternative protein sources for a sustainable future.
Sensory Science and Consumer Behavior: Investigating consumer preferences, sensory evaluation, and behavioral aspects to optimize food appeal and acceptance.
Food Packaging and Storage Technology: Innovating in packaging solutions that ensure product safety, extend shelf life, and minimize environmental impact.

Achievements

Department of Food Science and Technology is awarded with several research grants from funding agencies such as DBT, DST, ICMR, SERB-CRG, MoFPI, CSIR and other consultancy.
The department is also supported by DST-FIST programme.

Placement & Internships

The placement avenues for our M.Sc students focuses on the following fields

Food Processing Industry: Quality control, production, R&D
Food Safety & Quality Assurance: Inspectors, auditors, regulatory roles
Research & Development: Product development, food innovation
Government Agencies: Food safety departments, research institutes
Agro-based Industries: Dairy, beverages, meat processing
Marketing & Sales: Food ingredient sales, FMCG marketing
Entrepreneurship: Food startups, consultancy
Academia: Teaching and research roles

Research Projects

List of Completed and Ongoing Projects in the Department

Srl No	Principal investigator	Title of the project	Funding agency	Period	Amount(in INR)	Status
1.	Dr.H.Prathapkumar Shetty	Evaluation of prebiotics and anti obesity properties of galactan exoploysaccharide	ICMR-NCD	2020-2023	51,15,000	Completed
2.	Dr.H.Prathapkumar Shetty	Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) producing lactic acid bacteria from fermented foods of South Indian tribals as psychobiotics for neurophysiological and neuroinflammatory disorders	SERB-CRG	2019-2022	38,83,000	Completed
3.	Dr.G.Seghal Kiran	Validation of PHB bioemulsifier fortified feed in shrimp aquaculture	DBT	2018-2021	49,00,000	Completed
4.	Dr.G.Seghal Kiran	Dissecting the urinary microbiome of UTI	ICMR	2023-2026	72,00,000	Ongoing
5.	Dr.S. Haripriya	Social Audit of Mid – Day Meal Scheme of Pondicherry Union Territory	Consultancy	2023-2025	7,08,000	Ongoing

Pondicherry University

Get in Touch with Us for world class Education.

The Registrar,
R Venkat Raman Nagar, Kalapet
Pondicherry - 605 014, India
registrar@pondiuni.edu.in
Tel : 0413 - 2655179 Fax : 0413 - 2655734

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Overview

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Others

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Campus Life

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