It is indeed a proud moment that Dr Zarine Bhathena Professor and Head of Microbiology Department of Bhavan’s College has been appointed as Principal of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavans : Bhavan’s College, Mumbai This is an another accolade for Zarine in her long and fruitful 32 years tenure in the education sector. She joined as a lecturer at Bhavan’s college where she has remained to the current time; teaching undergraduate and post graduate students. She has guided 12 students for their M.Sc and Ph.D research dissertations besides 4 JRF scholars. She has published extensively in the field of natural colorant and in the areas of bio fuels, Microbial carbohydrates, Biosurfactants, Biofilms, Myxobacterial metabolites and Anti quorum sensing molecules of microbial origin. . Her research has been the recipient of financial grants- in- aid totaling to Rs 159 lakhs from various acclaimed funding bodies like DBT, DST, BRNS-DAE, and UGC and University of Mumbai. She has published over 32 research papers and 33 poster presentations since 1995 and is a regular speaker at various national scientific meetings and UGC sponsored refresher course for microbiology teachers. She has supervised the research projects of more than 25 postgraduate students, many of whom have now established their own academic research groups in USA and UK..
A staunch Zoroastrian she firmly believes that education is the key to innovation and change which will only happen if you have the courage to challenge the known and embrace the unknown.