The Department of Biochemistry was established in 1986 and was renamed in 2025 from its former name, Department of Biochemistry and Agricultural Chemistry. The Department originated from the erstwhile Chemistry and Biochemistry Section, which was bifurcated from the Department of Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science under the Faculty of Agriculture during 1982–83. Since its inception, the Department has been committed to excellence in teaching, research, and capacity building in agricultural biochemistry. Over the years, it has contributed to the development of skilled human resources and advancement of biochemical research addressing contemporary challenges in agriculture, food, nutrition, and allied sciences.
The Department functions with the following major mandates:
The Department has established itself as a leading centre for teaching, research, and human resource development in North East India. It provides quality education at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels while promoting interdisciplinary research to address emerging challenges in agriculture, food and nutrition.
Academic programmes
At the undergraduate level, the Department offers Biochemistry courses for B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture, B.Sc. (Hons.) Community Science, B.Sc. (Hons.) Sericulture and B.Sc. (Hons.) Food, Nutrition and Dietetics students. The Department also offered Biochemistry courses to the B.Sc. (Hons.) Horticulture programme until 2023, after which it is discontinued following the relocation of the College of Horticulture to Nalbari. In addition, it offers elective Biochemistry courses under the B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture curriculum, thereby strengthening the biochemical foundation of students from diverse agricultural disciplines. At the postgraduate level, the Department contributes to multidisciplinary teaching through collaboration with the Departments of Agricultural Biotechnology, Horticulture, Plant Breeding and Genetics, Plant Pathology, Crop Physiology, Tea Husbandry and Technology, Food Science and Technology Programme of College of Agriculture and Food and Nutrition of College of Community Science. These collaborations strengthen the application of Biochemistry in crop improvement, food quality and sustainable agricultural production. Under the IDEA (Innovation, Development, Entrepreneurship and Application) Programme, M.Sc. students are encouraged to participate in industrial training, collaborative research projects, hands-on learning, skill development programmes, and expert interactions, thereby strengthening industry–academia linkages.
In 2019, the Department introduced a bridge-course-based admission pathway, alongside the existing admission system, enabling graduates from general science disciplines to pursue the M.Sc. programme.The initiative has attracted many students and significantly broadened access to higher education. Building upon this success, a similar admission pathway with no preparatory course works, has been introduced for admission to the Ph.D. programme from the academic session 2026–27, promoting interdisciplinary research and expanding opportunities for aspiring scholars. The Department emphasizes continuous faculty development by encouraging regular participation in faculty development programmes, training workshops, seminars, conferences, and other capacity-building initiatives to enhance teaching, research, and professional competencies. The Department extends continuous laboratory support to government and private organizations while facilitating internship programmes for undergraduate and postgraduate students in accordance with the National Education Policy (NEP).
The Department has developed strong research expertise in Agricultural Biochemistry, with special emphasis on the rich plant biodiversity of North East India. Its research activities integrate fundamental biochemical studies with applied research to improve crop productivity, nutritional quality, value addition, and sustainable agricultural development. The Department has secured and successfully implemented several externally funded research projects supported by funding agencies such as ICAR, DBT, DST, and other national organizations. The Department provides analytical services to research projects across various disciplines and serves the farming community of Assam through the analysis of agricultural samples, diagnostic services, and extension activities.
The major thrust areas of research include:
The Department has generated valuable baseline information on indigenous crop germplasm and underutilized plant resources of North East India, contributing to crop improvement, nutritional enhancement, and biodiversity conservation. Research outcomes have been published in reputed national and international journals, presented at scientific conferences, and supported through collaborative and externally funded research projects.
With experienced faculty, strong academic programmes, interdisciplinary collaborations, and a region-specific research focus, the Department is steadily progressing towards becoming a Centre of Excellence in Agricultural Biochemistry. It continues to contribute to agricultural innovation, food and nutritional security, and the sustainable utilization of the rich bioresources of North East India.