THE BIOTECHNOLOGY CENTRE
Dr. Rupika Delgoda, D.Phil. (Oxon), B.Sc. (Hons.) – Director (Acting)
WORK OF THE CENTRE The Biotechnology Centre (BTC) witnessed a period a transition during 2022/2023 academic year. Our former Head Prof. Marcia Roye moved to lead the campus Office of Graduate Studies and Research, as well as Prof. Asemota retired. With an interim Head, Prof Rupika Delgoda, from the Natural Products Institute (NPI) the graduate students benefitted from the launch of a joint seminar series between NPI and BTC and an increased interactions with the NPI over technical skills enhancement. The training of MPhil and PhD students continued with support from Faculty members outside of the Centre, while communities, internationally and locally, continued as collaborative partners through research and training. The Centre also hosted the Summer Internship Programme in Biotechnology. Over the internship period, the interns learnt how to use the Centre’s laboratory instruments, participated in the extraction of nucleic acid from plants, bacterial cells (plasmid) and insects using various extraction techniques. The participants and BTC members also got an opportunity to work with the NPI where participating BTC members and interns benefitted from training in insecticide resistance assays. Academic members continued to be highly engaged in providing presentations and papers at various local and international fora. We are particularly proud of the recognition received by Prof. Marcia Roye as the S&T XXTORDINEERS JA 2022 Award by Scientific Research Council in recognition of Significant Scientific Achievements in Jamaica. The Centre’s long awaited infrastructure improvement was initiated towards the end of the academic year, to mitigate damage from extended rain and water. Members of the BTC has been engaged in discussions as part of the merger with several other units within the Faculty of Science and Technology, and we look for- ward to enhanced and vibrant engagements within a larger research community in the future.
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