University of Madras, Department of Zoology
Life Sciences Building, Guindy Campus
Chennai – 600 025.

The Department of Zoology, the first science Department of the University of Madras, was founded in 1927 as Zoological Research Laboratory with Sir K.Ramunni Menon as the Honorary Director to promote and train scientific personnel in the marine sciences. Prof. Gopala Iyer (1933-44) was the first full-time Director of this research laboratory. His successors were Prof. G. Mathai (1944-45), Prof. N.K. Panikkar (1945-46), Prof. C. P. Gnanamuthu (1946-63), Prof. G. Krishnan (1963-72), Prof. K. Ramalingam (1973-86), Prof. G. Durairaj (1986-96), Prof. Jayapaul Azariah (1996-2000) and Prof. T. Subramoniam (2000-2001). At present, the Department is headed by Prof. M. Arumugam.

The Department has had a distinguished band of alumini who occupied coveted positions in various National and International Institutions: Prof. K. Subramaniam (IISc, Bangalore), Prof. K. Pampapathi Rao (Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupathi), Dr. T.V. R. Pillai (FAO, United Nations), Prof. N. Balakrishnan Nair (University of Kerala), Dr. E. G. Silas (CMFRI and Kerala Agricultural University), Prof. S. Krishnasamy, Prof. M. K. Chandrasekaran, and Prof. T.J. Pandian (Madurai Kamaraj University).

Academic Programmes

• M.Sc Special Zoology - Credit-Based Semester System
• P.G Diploma Course on Stem Cell Biology
• P.G Diploma Course on Immunotechnology
• Ph.D (Research)
  
  
• (i) Comparative Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Immunology
• Nutritional biochemistry of mammalian and marine model systems
• Eyestalk neuropeptides and control of reproduction in crustaceans
• Cryobiology of crustacean gametes and embryos
• Immunobiology of cultivable and economically important invertebrates
• Physiology and biochemistry of parasitic and viral diseases of shrimp
• Biomagnification and residual toxicity of heavy metals and pesticides in various animal models
  
  
• (ii) Environmental Sciences
• Biology of living resources
• Pharmacological and biochemical aspects of bioactive compounds from marine organisms
• Aquaculture of economically important live-feed organisms
• Coastal monitoring and management
• Microbes and Environmental Management

Faculty