Departments

Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology

DR. KELECHUKWU CHRIS. ALIONU EGBUCHA

HOD

Welcome Message

The Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology (PSB) was carved out of the former Department of Biological Sciences in the College of Natural and Applied Sciences under the leadership of Professor Hilary Odo Edeoga. It is worthy to note that the Department of Biological Sciences which was made up of Zoology and Botany started as a programme in the College of Natural and applied Sciences (CNAS) since the inception of the University. The name change from Botany to Plant Science and Biotechnology was in response to modern trends in the field of Plant Science and to expose our student to plant biotechnology trends of the 21st century.

The Department offers a wide range of aspects in Plants Science and Biotechnology relevant to Environment, Agriculture and industry from the molecular level up to whole plant bases.

Our graduates acquire a sound background that is deeply rooted in laboratory and field based experience in the broad array of disciplines within Plant Science and Biotechnology. These include Economic Botany, Medicinal Plants and Pharmacognosy, Plant Pathology, Mycology, Bioremediation, Plant Anatomy and Taxonomy, Cytogenetics, Plant Physiology, Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics.

Our graduates are sought after by many leading employers. A degree in Plant Science and Biotechnology from Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike is your gateway to a career in Agriculture, Biotechnology, Environmental Management, Pharmacy, Research and Teaching etc. So you are welcome to take advantage of these by joining us.

Thanks Dr. Garuba Omosun (Associate Professor) Ag. Head of Department

Career Opportunities

The technical advancement of any country depends to a large extent on the scientific ability of her citizens with great analytical tools to finding solutions to economic problems of agriculture. The department will train the students to be able to manage their own farms efficiently and economically. Equip the students to become self-employable as scientists and agricultural management consultants and analysts. B.Sc Degree programme in Plant Science and Biotechnology will affords the graduates, the opportunity of rendering service in areas like Industrial standardization, Factory inspection, Transport, Agriculture, Teaching/Research in the Universities, Polytechnics and Research Institutes, Environmental Management and Biotechnology

Presently, Biotechnology is the in-thing globally and as such graduates of Plant Science and Biotechnology are valuable human resources in large Agricultural Biotechnology companies all over the world. In such companies, skills in tissue culture and transformation, Recombinant DNA technology and Molecular Biology, protein and nucleic acid biochemistry, genomics, proteomics and bioinformatics are particularly useful.