VJ Philip, former professor of botany and founding head of the Department of Biotechnology, University of Calicut, died at a private hospital in Kottayam on Saturday (October 18).
Born in Mannakkanad, Kottayam district in 1938, he received his post-graduate degree in botany from Loyola College, then Madras, in 1958 and his PhD from Madras University in 1965. Mr. Philip joined the University of Calicut (CU) in 1968 and established the Department of Biotechnology there in 1959. The department was approved as a biotechnology centre, the sixth in the country, under the Ministry of Biotechnology of the Union Government in 1995. He is survived by his wife Mary Philip, one son and two daughters.
A release from the university said Mr. Philip visited Venezuela in 1996 and Sri Lanka in 1997 as a UNESCO designated expert. He has also published research papers in various international journals. Mr. Philip retired from service in 1999, edition added.
Published – 18 Oct 2025 21:08 IST
