Department of Microbiology

DFF is a trust initiated in the year 1991 and is Registered under the Bombay Public Act 1950; Regd. No. E-13215. It was initiated with a corpus of 1.0 Lakh, contributed by Dr. Dhala’s students & faculty of the department to provide a platform for the research students to showcase their research work, providing a substantial allowance to the students to carry through their rigorous Ph.D. work, establish a merit scholarship in the University of Mumbai for the students standing first in the M.Sc. (Paper) Microbiology Examination, purchase and maintain laboratory equipment for UG and PG students.

The corpus for the DFF Trust was built up through the efforts of students, friends, colleagues and well wishers of Dr. Dhala with the aim to preserve and perpetuate high quality research the field of Applied Microbiology. Dr. Dhala’s Felicitation Fund [DFF] was registered as the DFF Trust under “The Public Trust Act [1950] and granted income tax exemption under Section 80-G in 1991. This trust has been fulfilling its Four Objectives for the last two decades as follows:

• Institution of DFF-Eureka Forbes Scholarship to the student standing first in the M.Sc. Examination in Microbiology at Mumbai University every year.
• Institution of DFF-Hi-Media Award for the best research work in the field of Applied Microbiology at Ph.D. level adjudged at an Annual Research Paper presentation [RPP].
• Establishment of a Research Reference collection in Applied Microbiology Journals at Bhavan’s College.
• Supporting Research in Applied Microbiology at Bhavan’s college with respect to upgrade specialized Instruments and their maintenance.

• BAM was formed in 1987
• Named by Ms Poonam Sehdev and Nimish Shah
• Logo designed by Ms Asha Dharmarajan and Sudhir Saudankar
• B A M is an association of the students, by the students and for the students
• The Objectives of BAM are:
  • To create widespread awareness about the scope of Microbiology
  • To provide opportunities to explore and recognize the inherent and acquired potentials of students
  • To inculcate a healthy and effective spirit of teamwork
  • To promote and provide an interactive platform for academic and cocurricular activities impacting society and environment through a team of dedicated faculty on one hand and an enthusiastic, aware and sincere, range of students (from first year to Ph.D. levels) on the other
• The above objectives are met through various activities organized through the spectrum of BAM Committees including:
  • Bulletin
  • Career and Counselling
  • Contest and Competition
  • Finance
  • Exhibition
  • Guest Lecture
  • Wall Paper
• Each year just before the inaugural function, the above Committees are formed, care being taken to include student members from F.Y., S.Y., T.Y., and P.G. levels and headed by a faculty member for guidance
• The faculty nominate students for the posts of the Secretary and Joint Secretary.
• One of the faculty is the Treasurer to guide the financial proceedings
• The Head of the Microbiology Department is the BAM Chairperson
• The Principal of the College is the President of BAM
• Financially BAM is a self-financing association with its annual income being raised from nominal memberships and through advertisements/sponsorships from philanthropic donors
• During the membership drive the relevant details logged in ledger/computer for future use in preparation of Alumni List
• The following activities are a regular feature of BAM:
  • Inaugural Lecture
  • Prize distribution
  • Documentation and release of BAM activity reports
  • Display of advertisements for higher studies, training programmers, and jobs
  • Organization of Exhibition
  • Organization of various Competitions
  • Display of relevant news clippings on current topics
• Besides these, creative and innovative ideas of BAM members result in organizing varied activities to meet the objectives of BAM In this millennium, BAM has its website at http://members.rediff.com/MicroBAM/index.htm particularly for the benefit of alumni to enable them keep in touch with their alma mater!