The Department of Biotechnology, Savitribai Phule Pune University (formerly known as University of Pune) was established in 1994. Prior to this, the teaching programme of M.Sc. Biotechnology was initiated at the Department of Zoology in 1985 along with few other such centres in the country, with financial support from the Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of INDIA, New Delhi. In course of time, the Department of Biotechnology, Savitribai Phule Pune University came up as one of the best centres of teaching & learning in Biotechnology in the country.

The Department has been attracting students from all over the country and abroad for Masters and Ph.D. programmes. Students from all over the country enrol through the entrance examination (GRADUATE APTITUDE TEST-BIOTECHNOLOGY (GAT-B)) conducted by the Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB), Faridabad for the DBT-supported PG Programmes in Biotechnology. In addition to the core faculty, department also appoints Faculty under various Govt. schemes namely, DBT Ramalingaswamy Fellow, DST Inspire Faculty, UGC Faculty under Faculty Recharge Programme, etc. Faculty members from other related Departments and Scientists from various National Institutes of eminence such as: National Centre for Cell Science (NCCS), National Chemical Laboratory (NCL), National Institute of Virology (NIV), Indian Institute of Science, Education & Research (IISER), National AIDS Research Institute (NARI) and Agharkar Research Institute (ARI) contribute to the teaching programme. This support has been an asset to enhance the quality of the M.Sc. teaching programme according to the syllabus designed by Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of INDIA.

The Department faculty has also been contributing to high quality research in the front line areas of Biotechnology including but not limit to Cancer Biology, Neurology, Nanobiotechnology, Parasitology, Life-style diseases, Microbiology, etc. Faculty members also collaborate with scientists from National Institutes in India and abroad. Their research component further strengthens & enrich the teaching programme. Owing to the best academic practices for the teaching programme, this Department has been able to generate excellent human resources in Biotechnology. Every year as many as 50 students complete their Ph.D. in Biotechnology (Savitribai Phule Pune University). Since several years many of the alumni of the Department are well placed in various premier Institutions as scientists, teachers & entrepreneurs in various parts of the country and abroad.

The Department of Biotechnology has regularly been conducting various National and International Conferences/ Workshops/ Hands-on summer trainings for providing a common platform for the students & scientist who are involved in studying & pursuing research in molecular mechanisms of different human diseases, diagnosis, drug development against variety of human ailments. These events also aimed at building a network, sharing expertise, and facilities in Biotechnology and pave ways for human disease alleviation.

The Department of Biotechnology also promote the students to participate at various competitive events e.g. AVISHKAR, ANVESHAN, etc. to present their hypothesis or preliminary results and get an exposure of cutting-edge futuristic technologies.

As the students in the Department are from different cultural backgrounds, we celebrate various festivals and cultural programs to make students learn Biotechnology in a joyful way.