Siba Prasad Adhikari

Bhubaneswar, May 19: Siba Prasad Adhikari is the new vice-chancellor of Fakir Mohan University at Balasore.

Governor S.C. Jamir, who is also the chancellor of state universities, today selected Adhikari, who is heading the department of biotechnology at Visva-Bharati University in Shantiniketan, for the post. Two other academics — Nihar Ranjan Patnaik (director, higher education) and Bishnu Charan Barik (Sambalpur University vice-chancellor) — were also in the race for the post.

Speaking to The Telegraph Adhikari said: “I am delighted at the news. I have got a chance to go back to my home state and contribute for the benefit of the student community.”

Adhikari, who hails from Ganjam, had been a professor of biotechnology at Utkal University for 23 years before joining Visva-Bharti in 2009. He was instrumental in starting the department of biotechnology at Utkal University.

His research areas include bio-fertilisers and seaweed liquid fertiliser technology, biodiversity and bio-prospecting of fresh water and marine algae and bio-detoriation of stone monuments and their conversation. The new vice-chancellor’s specialisation includes microbiology and microbial technology.

Around 70 academics had applied for the post. The three-year tenure of outgoing vice-chancellor Kumar Bara Das ended on May 8.

Das was also among the applicants seeking a second term of three years. Several professors from Utkal University, including Samson Maharana, (commerce), Satyaban Jena (chemistry), Prafulla Mishra (Sanskrit), Kshiti Bhusan Das (commerce), Ranjan Bal (commerce) and L.N. Sahoo (statistics), had also applied for the position.

In another development, scientist Ashok Kumar Das, who has been appointed as the new vice-chancellor of Utkal University, said he would join in a month.

“I am winding up the assignments here, and once I get my relieve orders, I will join immediately. It will take about a month’s time,” he said.

Das, a former Utkal University student, is working with Bhaba Atomic Research Centre as the head of its laser and plasma technology division.