History
The Department of Nanotechnology, founded in June 2009 under the guidance of Hon. Vice Chancellor Prof. Nagnath Kottapalle, has an intake capacity of 20 postgraduate students specializing in various fields of nanotechnology and interdisciplinary sciences. It currently has three faculty members, including Dr. Bhaskar Sathe as the Head of the Department, Dr. Ketan P. Gattu, and Dr. Dipak A. Tonpe (Assistant Professor), along with two supporting office staff. The department's research facilities are available for postgraduate and Ph.D. programs, with plans to relocate to a new building currently under construction.
The Department, officially inaugurated on February 16, 2010, has a strong interdisciplinary character and aims to flourish in the coming years through national and international collaborations. It is actively seeking new teaching and research staff to fulfill its Nanovision. Financial support comes from the University Grant Commission (UGC) and the Government of Maharashtra, with an initial startup fund of Rs. 2 Crore and expectations of additional funding from various competitive projects submitted to different agencies.
Nanotechnology, considered a revolutionary discipline with significant industrial applications, offers potential solutions to various problems through emerging nanotechniques. The Department of Nanotechnology is inspired by these possibilities and strives to achieve international standards through collaboration and funding. The current location is within the Department of Physics, awaiting relocation to the new building for expanded capabilities. Additional funds for basic facilities are being pursued through research projects submitted to funding agencies such as DST, BRNS, CSIR, UGC, DRDO, IMA, DIT, etc.