BITS, Pilani increases Research Students

Updated on: Saturday, September 26, 2015

bits With B.Tech. students showing a desire to innovate, emphasis on research becomes more relevant to engineering colleges.

The management of Birla Institute of Technology and Science, BITS, Pilani, has made a conscious decision to have a sharper focus on research. It has proposed to double the number of research students in its four campuses by 2020. Currently, it has 650 research students, and hopes to increase this number to 1,500 in the next five years.

Acting Vice Chancellor V. Sambasiva Rao, of BITS, Pilani in a recent telephonic interview, said that the institute wanted to focus on research, entrepreneurship and innovation. “

According to him, only collaboration between various departments would improve research and increase the flow of funds from the industry and government departments. “Essentially we don’t want to depend on public FUNDING,” he said.

At present, the BITS, Pilani receives grants from the Departments of Science and Technology, Biotechnology, Information Technology and Atomic Energy and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and the University Grants Commission.

Supporting healthcare at BITS, Pilani three projects that were launched by its tech-business incubators have been successful. The institute is involved in two projects in biotechnology and one in pharmacy.

The biotechnology project is involved in creating a diagnostic device to test for blood sugar and urinary tract infection. The Department of Pharmacy in BITS, Pilani is collaborating with the industry to create a drug for tuberculosis.

On whether the BITS, Pilani would absorb all the research students after they graduate, Prof. Rao said that the students are encouraged to work in the outside world but that some of them do stay back to pursue their research. To another question on whether all students who take up Ph.D. end up finishing the course work, he said that 99 per cent of the students do complete the programme.

The BITS Pilani also offers a direct Ph.D. programme after their undergraduate degree for students who demonstrate an ability to do research. Though many of them do enter research, a large number leave for countries that offer better atmosphere.

BITS, Pilani increases Research Students

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