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B-TECH in Food Technology Biochemical Engineering at Jadavpur University
Kolkata, West Bengal
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About the Specialization
What is Food Technology & Biochemical Engineering at Jadavpur University Kolkata?
This Food Technology & Biochemical Engineering program at Jadavpur University focuses on the application of engineering principles to food processing, biotechnology, and biochemical industries. It addresses the critical demand for skilled professionals who can innovate and optimize production, ensuring food safety and developing sustainable bioprocesses in the burgeoning Indian food and biotech sectors. The program uniquely blends core chemical engineering with biological sciences.
Who Should Apply?
This program is ideal for fresh 10+2 graduates with a strong aptitude in science and mathematics, seeking entry into the dynamic food, biopharmaceutical, and bioprocessing industries. It also suits working professionals in allied fields looking to upskill in modern food science or bioprocess engineering, and career changers aiming for roles in food safety, product development, or biomanufacturing within India.
Why Choose This Course?
Graduates of this program can expect diverse career paths in India, including roles in food production, quality assurance, research & development, and biopharmaceutical manufacturing. Entry-level salaries typically range from INR 4-7 lakhs per annum, with experienced professionals earning significantly more. Growth trajectories are strong in areas like food safety management, process optimization, and developing novel food products aligning with FSSAI regulations and industry demands.
Student Success Practices
Foundation Stage
Strengthen Core Engineering Fundamentals- (Semester 1-2)
Focus intensely on Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and basic engineering subjects. Utilize online platforms like NPTEL for in-depth understanding, solve practice problems from standard textbooks, and participate in peer study groups to clarify concepts. A strong foundation ensures better comprehension of advanced topics later.
Tools & Resources
NPTEL courses, Khan Academy, Reference textbooks (e.g., Kreyszig, Resnick-Halliday), Study groups
Career Connection
Solid engineering fundamentals are crucial for problem-solving in any technical role, enabling you to grasp complex process designs and analytical challenges faced in food and biochemical industries.
Develop Programming and Engineering Graphics Skills- (Semester 1-2)
Master basic programming (e.g., C/Python) and engineering drawing. Practice regularly using software like AutoCAD for graphics and online coding platforms for programming. These are essential tools for process modeling, data analysis, and technical communication in engineering.
Tools & Resources
Online coding platforms (HackerRank, LeetCode), AutoCAD tutorials, JU Computer Centre labs
Career Connection
Proficiency in programming aids in process simulation and data management, while engineering graphics is vital for understanding and creating blueprints for equipment and plant layouts.
Engage in Interdisciplinary Exploration- (Semester 1-2)
Attend workshops or introductory sessions related to food science, biotechnology, or chemical engineering, even if outside direct curriculum. This broadens perspective and helps in identifying areas of interest early on. Participate in college technical fests and expos.
Tools & Resources
Departmental seminars, Tech fests, Introductory online courses on Coursera/edX
Career Connection
Early exposure helps align your interests with potential career paths, making future specialization and project selection more informed and impactful for your resume.
Intermediate Stage
Seek Early Industry Exposure through Internships- (Semester 3-5 (Summer breaks))
Actively search for summer internships (even short-term ones) in food processing units, breweries, dairies, or pharmaceutical companies. This provides practical insights into industrial operations and helps bridge theoretical knowledge with real-world application. Leverage alumni networks for leads.
Tools & Resources
LinkedIn, Internshala, Departmental placement cell, Alumni network
Career Connection
Internships offer invaluable hands-on experience, enhance your resume, build professional contacts, and can often lead to pre-placement offers in reputable Indian and multinational companies.
Participate in Departmental Projects and Competitions- (Semester 3-5)
Join faculty-led research projects or departmental initiatives in areas like food product development, waste valorization, or bioprocess optimization. Engage in national-level technical competitions like those organized by IIChE (Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers) student chapters.
Tools & Resources
Department research groups, IIChE student chapter activities, Food Tech fests
Career Connection
Project work and competitions develop problem-solving, teamwork, and presentation skills – highly valued by recruiters. It also provides strong talking points for interviews and showcases practical expertise.
Build a Strong Foundational Network- (Semester 3-5)
Connect with seniors, alumni, and industry professionals through seminars, workshops, and social media platforms. Join professional bodies like IIChE or AFST(I) (Association of Food Scientists & Technologists, India) as a student member to access industry events and publications.
Tools & Resources
LinkedIn, Professional body memberships (IIChE, AFST(I)), University career fairs
Career Connection
Networking is key for mentorship, job referrals, and staying updated on industry trends. Strong connections can significantly aid in securing desirable placements and future career growth.
Advanced Stage
Undertake a Comprehensive Research Project- (Semester 7-8)
Dedicate significant effort to your final year project, aiming for novel contributions or practical industrial solutions. Focus on in-depth research, experimental execution, data analysis, and report writing. Consider presenting at national conferences or publishing in student journals.
Tools & Resources
University research labs, Faculty guidance, Research databases (Scopus, Web of Science)
Career Connection
A high-quality project demonstrates your research aptitude, problem-solving capabilities, and technical expertise, making you a strong candidate for R&D roles or higher studies in India or abroad.
Intensive Placement Preparation and Skill Refinement- (Semester 6-8)
Actively prepare for campus placements by honing interview skills, resume building, and practicing aptitude tests. Focus on technical questions related to core subjects and soft skills like communication and leadership. Participate in mock interviews and group discussions.
Tools & Resources
Placement cell workshops, Online aptitude tests (IndiaBix), Mock interview platforms, Career counselors
Career Connection
Dedicated preparation is crucial for converting placement opportunities into job offers. Strong performance in technical and HR rounds directly impacts your ability to secure a desired role in the competitive Indian job market.
Explore Advanced Certifications and Specializations- (Semester 7-8)
Beyond the curriculum, consider pursuing certifications in niche areas like HACCP, FSSC 22000, Lean Six Sigma for process improvement, or specific software skills (e.g., Aspen Hysys, MATLAB). This adds specialized value to your profile for specific industry roles.
Tools & Resources
Online certification platforms (Coursera, edX), Industry certification bodies, Specialized software training
Career Connection
These certifications make you stand out to employers by demonstrating expertise in in-demand skills, leading to better job prospects and potentially higher starting salaries in the Indian food and biochemical sectors.
Program Structure and Curriculum
Eligibility:
- Passed 10+2 (Higher Secondary) or equivalent examination with English, Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics, with a minimum aggregate of 60% marks (55% for SC/ST/PWD). Selection based on rank in West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination (WBJEE) or JEE Main.
Duration: 8 Semesters / 4 years
Credits: 134 Credits
Assessment: Internal: 30% (for theory subjects), External: 70% (for theory subjects)
Semester-wise Curriculum Table
Semester 1
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BS101 | Mathematics I | Core | 3 | Calculus of one variable, Calculus of several variables, Matrices, Vector spaces, Ordinary differential equations |
| BS102 | Physics I | Core | 3 | Wave Optics, Quantum Mechanics, Statistical Physics, Electrodynamics, Solid State Physics |
| ES101 | Basic Electrical Engineering | Core | 3 | DC circuits analysis, Single-phase AC circuits, Three-phase systems, Transformers, DC and AC machines |
| ES102 | Engineering Graphics | Core | 3 | Orthographic projections, Sectional views, Isometric views, Machine drawing conventions, Introduction to CAD |
| HS101 | Communicative English | Core | 2 | Grammar and usage, Reading comprehension strategies, Business and technical writing, Oral communication skills, Presentation techniques |
| BS191 | Physics I Lab | Lab | 2 | Experiments on optics phenomena, Experiments on electricity and magnetism, Experiments on mechanics, Data analysis and error estimation, Report writing for experiments |
| ES191 | Basic Electrical Engineering Lab | Lab | 2 | Verification of circuit laws, Study of DC and AC circuit components, Transformer characteristics, Performance of electrical machines, Power measurement in circuits |
| ES192 | Workshop Practice | Lab | 2 | Fitting operations, Carpentry tools and joints, Welding techniques (Arc, Gas), Foundry processes, Sheet metal work and operations |
Semester 2
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BS201 | Mathematics II | Core | 3 | Linear Algebra, Vector Calculus, Probability Theory, Statistical Methods, Numerical techniques for equations |
| BS202 | Chemistry I | Core | 3 | Chemical Thermodynamics, Reaction Kinetics, Electrochemistry principles, Organic reaction mechanisms, Polymer chemistry fundamentals |
| ES201 | Basic Electronics Engineering | Core | 3 | Semiconductor diodes and applications, Bipolar Junction Transistors (BJT), Field Effect Transistors (FET), Operational Amplifiers, Digital logic circuits |
| ES202 | Computer Programming | Core | 3 | Programming fundamentals (C language), Control structures and loops, Arrays, strings, and pointers, Functions and modular programming, Structures and file handling |
| HS201 | Value Education & Human Rights | Core | 2 | Human values and ethics, Professional ethics, Fundamental rights and duties, Social justice and equality, Environmental ethics and sustainability |
| BS291 | Chemistry I Lab | Lab | 2 | Volumetric and gravimetric analysis, Instrumental methods of analysis, Synthesis of organic compounds, Water quality parameters determination, pH and conductivity measurements |
| ES291 | Basic Electronics Engineering Lab | Lab | 2 | Diode characteristics and rectifier circuits, Transistor amplifier design and analysis, Verification of logic gates, Op-amp applications, Power supply circuit design |
| ES292 | Computer Programming Lab | Lab | 2 | C language programming exercises, Implementation of algorithms, Debugging and testing programs, Basic data structure operations, Problem solving using programming logic |
Semester 3
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTE301 | Mathematics III | Core | 3 | Partial Differential Equations, Complex Analysis, Laplace Transforms, Fourier Series, Numerical methods for differential equations |
| FTE302 | Material and Energy Balances | Core | 3 | Conservation laws in process engineering, Material balances without chemical reaction, Material balances with chemical reaction, Energy balances (enthalpy, heat capacity), Recycle, bypass, and purge operations |
| FTE303 | Fluid Mechanics | Core | 3 | Fluid properties and concepts, Fluid statics and manometry, Fluid flow phenomena (laminar, turbulent), Flow through pipes and fittings, Fluid moving machinery (pumps, compressors) |
| FTE304 | Physical Chemistry & Reaction Kinetics | Core | 3 | Thermodynamics of solutions, Phase equilibria and diagrams, Homogeneous reaction kinetics, Heterogeneous reaction kinetics, Catalysis and reaction engineering principles |
| FTE391 | Fluid Mechanics Lab | Lab | 2 | Flow measurement techniques, Determination of friction losses in pipes, Pump performance testing, Fluidization characteristics, Viscosity measurements of fluids |
| FTE392 | Physical Chemistry Lab | Lab | 2 | Phase diagram construction, Kinetic studies of chemical reactions, Spectroscopic analysis techniques, Conductivity measurements of electrolytes, pH metric and potentiometric titrations |
Semester 4
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTE401 | Heat Transfer | Core | 3 | Heat conduction principles, Convection heat transfer (forced, natural), Radiation heat transfer, Heat exchangers design and analysis, Boiling and condensation phenomena |
| FTE402 | Mass Transfer I | Core | 3 | Molecular diffusion in fluids, Convective mass transfer theories, Interphase mass transfer principles, Gas-liquid absorption operations, Distillation (binary and multicomponent) |
| FTE403 | Biochemistry | Core | 3 | Structure and function of carbohydrates, Proteins, amino acids, and their properties, Lipids and biological membranes, Enzymes: kinetics and regulation, Metabolic pathways (glycolysis, respiration) |
| FTE404 | Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics | Core | 3 | Laws of Thermodynamics in chemical systems, Thermodynamic properties of fluids, Phase equilibria (VLE, LLE), Chemical reaction equilibria, Power and refrigeration cycles |
| FTE491 | Heat Transfer Lab | Lab | 2 | Experiments on thermal conductivity, Forced and natural convection experiments, Radiation heat exchange studies, Heat exchanger performance evaluation, Boiling curve determination |
| FTE492 | Biochemistry Lab | Lab | 2 | Qualitative analysis of biomolecules (carbohydrates, proteins), Enzyme assay and kinetics, Chromatographic separation techniques, Spectrophotometric methods in biochemistry, Protein estimation techniques |
Semester 5
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTE501 | Mass Transfer II | Core | 3 | Humidification and dehumidification operations, Drying of solids (batch and continuous), Crystallization processes, Liquid-liquid extraction, Membrane separation processes |
| FTE502 | Food Processing Technology I | Core | 3 | Principles of food preservation, Thermal processing (canning, pasteurization), Refrigeration and freezing technology, Drying and dehydration of foods, Food packaging materials and methods |
| FTE503 | Microbiology & Fermentation Technology | Core | 3 | Microbial growth kinetics and factors, Sterilization and pasteurization techniques, Bioreactor design and operation, Upstream processing in fermentation, Downstream processing for product recovery |
| FTE504 | Process Control & Instrumentation | Core | 3 | Process dynamics and mathematical modeling, Control system components and sensors, Feedback control systems, Controller tuning methods (PID), Advanced control strategies and applications |
| FTE591 | Mass Transfer Operations Lab | Lab | 2 | Batch and continuous distillation experiments, Gas absorption column performance, Drying characteristics of materials, Liquid-liquid extraction studies, Humidification and dehumidification operations |
| FTE592 | Microbiology Lab | Lab | 2 | Microbial staining techniques, Preparation of culture media, Sterilization and aseptic techniques, Isolation and enumeration of microorganisms, Antibiotic sensitivity testing |
Semester 6
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTE601 | Food Processing Technology II | Core | 3 | Dairy processing technology, Meat, poultry and fish processing, Cereal and pulse processing, Fruits and vegetables processing, Beverage technology |
| FTE602 | Biochemical Engineering | Core | 3 | Enzyme kinetics and enzyme reactors, Bioreactor design and scale-up, Cell growth kinetics and mass transfer, Bioseparations and purification processes, Immobilized enzyme and cell systems |
| FTE603 | Food Chemistry | Core | 3 | Composition and properties of food components, Food additives and their functions, Food colors and flavors, Nutritional aspects of food chemistry, Food spoilage and preservation chemistry |
| FTE604 | Chemical Reactor Design | Core | 3 | Homogeneous reaction rate theories, Batch reactor design equations, Continuous stirred tank reactors (CSTR), Plug flow reactors (PFR), Heterogeneous reaction engineering |
| FTE691 | Food Processing Technology Lab | Lab | 2 | Drying and dehydration experiments, Canning and thermal processing studies, Freezing and refrigeration applications, Milk processing and product development, Basic baking and confectionary practices |
| FTE692 | Biochemical Engineering Lab | Lab | 2 | Enzyme activity determination and kinetics, Cell growth and fermentation studies, Bioreactor operation and monitoring, Downstream processing techniques, Immobilization of enzymes/cells |
Semester 7
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTE701 | Food Quality Control & Assurance | Core | 3 | Food safety management systems (FSMS), Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), Quality management standards (ISO series), Food laws and regulations in India (FSSAI), Sensory evaluation of food products |
| FTE702 | Process Equipment Design | Core | 3 | Design of heat exchange equipment, Design of distillation and absorption columns, Design of evaporators and dryers, Material selection for process equipment, Pressure vessel design considerations |
| FTE703 | Environmental Engineering & Safety | Core | 3 | Air pollution control technologies, Water and wastewater treatment, Solid and hazardous waste management, Industrial safety and hazard analysis, Risk assessment and management |
| FTE71X | Elective I | Elective | 3 | Advanced Food Analytics, Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods, Food Supply Chain Management, Food Biotechnology, Nano-biotechnology in Food |
| FTE791 | Project Work Part I | Project | 2 | Literature review and problem identification, Development of project objectives, Methodology design and experimental planning, Preliminary data collection and analysis, Interim report preparation |
Semester 8
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTE801 | Food Engineering Operations | Core | 3 | Rheology of food materials, Mechanical separation operations, Extrusion technology in food processing, Homogenization and emulsion technology, Spray drying and encapsulation |
| FTE802 | Industrial Management & Entrepreneurship | Core | 3 | Principles of industrial management, Financial management in industry, Marketing and sales strategies, Entrepreneurial skills and innovation, Business plan development and startup ecosystem |
| FTE81X | Elective II | Elective | 3 | Waste Utilization and Management, Biofuel Technology, Bioremediation, Advanced Fermentation Technology, Food Product Development |
| FTE82X | Elective III | Elective | 3 | Process Optimization, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), Supply Chain Management, Sustainable Food Systems, Quality Engineering |
| FTE891 | Project Work Part II | Project | 4 | Execution of experiments/simulations, Comprehensive data analysis and interpretation, Final report and thesis writing, Project presentation and defense, Scientific communication of results |
