Research Activities
Research Empowerment Talk on ‘Ethics Involved in Animal Handling, Care and Disposal’
Date: 21 February 2026
The Department of Life Sciences, School of Biological and Forensic Sciences at Kristu Jayanti University organized its Monthly Research Day Empowerment Talk on 21st February 2026. The session was delivered by Dr. Vasundhara CCS, Assistant Professor, Department of Life Sciences, and was titled “Ethics Involved in Animal Handling, Care and Disposal.” The speaker emphasized that ethical responsibility in animal use is both a moral obligation and a scientific necessity, ensuring credibility, compassion, and sustainability in research. She discussed humane handling practices, stressing the importance of minimizing stress and pain, understanding species-specific behavior, and ensuring proper training for handlers. Ethical care was highlighted through the provision of food, water, shelter, veterinary oversight, and environmental enrichment to promote psychological well-being. The talk also addressed sensitive aspects of animal disposal, advocating for humane euthanasia methods, dignified handling of remains, and compliance with environmental and legal standards. Dr. Vasundhara introduced participants to global frameworks such as the 3Rs Principle—Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement—and the role of Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees (IACUCs) in safeguarding welfare. The session provided valuable insights into integrating ethical principles into daily research practices, motivating faculty and students to embrace interdisciplinary approaches that respect both scientific progress and animal welfare. The program successfully reinforced the institution’s dedication to nurturing a compassionate and responsible research culture.
Research Empowerment Talk on ‘Methodologies to Study Proteostasis in Cells’
Date: 31 January 2026
The Department of Life Sciences, School of Biological and Forensic Sciences at Kristu Jayanti University organized its Monthly Research Day Empowerment Talk on 31st January 2026 with a focus on fostering research awareness and interdisciplinary learning. This initiative reflects the institution’s commitment to nurturing a vibrant research culture and empowering its academic community to contribute meaningfully to scientific advancement. The event featured a Research Empowerment Talk delivered by Dr. Lakshmi Garimella, Associate Professor, Department of Life Sciences. The session, titled “Methodologies to Study Proteostasis in Cells,” explored the diverse approaches employed to investigate cellular proteostasis, a fundamental process that ensures protein quality control and cellular homeostasis. Dr. Lakshmi highlighted the importance of proteostasis in maintaining cellular health, the molecular mechanisms underlying protein folding and degradation, and the implications of proteostasis imbalance in diseases such as neurodegeneration and cancer. She emphasized cutting-edge methodologies, including imaging techniques and molecular biology tools, that enable researchers to study protein dynamics within cells. The talk offered valuable insights into emerging research areas, integrating concepts from cell biology, molecular biology, and biomedical sciences. Participants gained a deeper understanding of how proteostasis contributes to cellular resilience and how its disruption can lead to pathological conditions. The program successfully achieved its objective of motivating faculty to engage in interdisciplinary research and to explore innovative solutions.
Exploring the Research Ecosystem at KJU
Date: 09 August 2025
The School of Biological and Forensic Sciences at Kristu Jayanti University held its Monthly Research Day on August 9, 2025, with the theme “Exploring the Research Ecosystem at KJU.” The session was led by Dr. Dileep Francis, Dean of Research & Development, who delivered a Research Empowerment Talk focused on promoting a deeper understanding of research culture among students and faculty. The program began at 9:00 AM, with Dr. Francis explaining the importance of building a strong research ecosystem, highlighting institutional facilities, collaborative opportunities, and strategies to enhance research productivity and publications. His speech emphasized interdisciplinary research, ethical practices, and the importance of publishing in reputable journals. He also stressed the significance of publishing a research paper in a SCIE-indexed journal. Faculty members from Life Sciences and Forensic Sciences actively participated, gaining valuable insights into the university’s research framework and available resources. The session served as a vital platform to motivate and guide the academic community toward innovative, impactful, and ethically sound research practices. It effectively raised awareness of research opportunities and support systems at Kristu Jayanti University, paving the way for greater scholarly contributions.
Writing A Review Paper: Crafting Scientific Narratives
Date: 06 August 2025
A special session on Review Paper Writing and Structure in Life Sciences provided a clear and focused overview of training conducted for students in Biotechnology, Microbiology, and Biochemistry. The goal—to improve scientific writing skills—aligned well with the academic and professional needs of life science graduates, making it both relevant and timely. The report highlights key points covered by the resource persons, emphasizing the role of review articles in summarizing research, identifying knowledge gaps, and suggesting future directions. Introducing different review types—narrative, systematic, and meta-analysis—added depth, reflecting the session’s thoroughness. A major strength was the explanation of the standard review paper format (Title, Abstract, Keywords, Introduction, Thematic Main Body, Conclusion, and References), which offers a clear guide for structuring manuscripts. The focus on clarity, critical analysis, and proper citation showed that the session promoted both technical writing skills and intellectual rigor. The inclusion of ethical considerations, especially plagiarism avoidance, underscored the importance of scientific integrity. The session also encouraged the use of modern tools such as Mendeley for reference management, BioRender for creating scientific illustrations, and Grammarly for language refinement, promoting efficiency and professionalism. While the report effectively summarizes the core content, it could be further improved by including participant feedback, session duration, qualifications of the speakers, and examples of interactive elements like writing exercises or peer review. Overall, the session was a well-designed academic initiative that equipped life science students with both conceptual understanding and practical tools, ensuring skills that extend beyond the classroom and contribute meaningfully to scholarly literature.
Monthly Research Day - Research Empowerment Talk
Date: 26 July 2025
The School of Biological and Forensic Sciences organized its 1st Monthly Research Day on 26th July 2025 with a focus on fostering research awareness and interdisciplinary learning. The event featured a Research Empowerment Talk delivered by Dr. Shinomol George K, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Life Sciences, Kristu Jayanti University. The session, titled “Neurotoxicology of Mitochondria to Environmental Toxicology,” explored the intricate relationship between mitochondrial function, neurotoxic effects, and environmental toxicology. Dr. Shinomol highlighted the significance of mitochondria in maintaining neural health, the mechanisms through which environmental toxins disrupt mitochondrial function, and the broader implications for human health and ecological systems. The talk offered valuable insights into emerging research areas, integrating concepts from molecular biology, neuroscience, and environmental science. Participants gained a deeper understanding of the importance of mitochondrial health in preventing neurodegenerative diseases and mitigating environmental toxin impacts. The program successfully achieved its objective of motivating students and faculty to engage in interdisciplinary research and to explore innovative solutions to pressing health and environmental challenges.
