Centre for Biodiversity Research
Cotton University · Department of Zoology
Centre for
Biodiversity Research
A premier platform for research, teaching, documentation and policy support on the biological heritage of Northeast India — established within one of the region's oldest Departments of Zoology.
Mandate
A focal point for evidence-based conservation in the Northeast
The Centre for Biodiversity Research (CBR) has been established in the year 2026, in the premises of the Department of Zoology, Cotton University, pursuant to the approval of the Executive Council vide Resolution No. EC/2025/41/08. Its establishment reflects the University's commitment to advancing excellence in biodiversity research, conservation, environmental sustainability and interdisciplinary scientific innovation.
Given the extraordinary biological richness of Northeast India — recognised globally as part of the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot — the Centre promotes scientific understanding and conservation of the region's flora, fauna, ecosystems and traditional ecological knowledge, integrating classical taxonomy with modern scientific approaches.
Established 2026 · Resolution No. EC/2025/41/08
Approved by the Executive Council of Cotton University for the establishment of the Centre for Biodiversity Research within the Department of Zoology.
National Education PolicyNEP 2020
Convention on Biological DiversityCBD
Global Biodiversity FrameworkKunming–Montreal
National Biodiversity Action PlanNBAP
Research Approach
Classical taxonomy, integrated with modern science
The Centre functions as an interdisciplinary research hub, combining field-based natural history with contemporary molecular and computational methods to generate evidence for conservation and sustainable development.
MOL·01
Molecular Biology & Genomics
BIO·02
Bioinformatics
GEO·03
Geospatial Technologies
EDN·04
Environmental DNA (eDNA)
ECO·05
Ecological Modelling
CLI·06
Climate Vulnerability Assessment
FOR·07
Wildlife Forensics
GEN·08
Conservation Genetics
TAX·09
Classical Taxonomy & Field Ecology
Focus Region
The Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot
Northeast India sits within one of the world's most biologically significant regions — home to exceptional levels of endemism across flora, fauna and traditional ecological knowledge systems. The Centre serves as a repository of biodiversity information and scientific expertise for this landscape.
25.5788°N, 91.8933°E — GUWAHATI, ASSAM
36
Global biodiversity hotspots — Northeast India within Indo-Burma
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Institutional Collaboration
MoU with the Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata
The Centre for Biodiversity Research has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Kolkata — the premier national organisation for faunal taxonomy and survey under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The collaboration is aimed at strengthening scientific cooperation in faunal documentation, taxonomic identification, and biodiversity research across Northeast India.
Under this partnership, the Centre and ZSI Kolkata will work jointly on species inventorying and taxonomic verification, exchange of expertise and reference material, joint field surveys and biodiversity assessments, and capacity building of students and researchers through training programmes and access to ZSI's collections and technical expertise.
Memorandum of Understanding
Centre for Biodiversity Research, Cotton University
Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata
01Faunal documentation & species inventorying
02Taxonomic identification & verification
03Joint field surveys & assessments
04Training & capacity building
The Centre
On the Cotton University Campus
The Centre is housed within the Department of Zoology, one of the oldest and most distinguished departments in Northeast India.
Capacity Building
Developing skilled human resources
01 — RES
Postgraduate & Doctoral Research
Supervised research programmes spanning taxonomy, molecular ecology, and conservation science.
02 — TRN
Specialized Training & Workshops
Skill-building programmes for students, researchers, government officials and community stakeholders.
03 — FLD
Field-Based Learning & Internships
Hands-on exposure to biodiversity documentation and ecological monitoring in the field.
04 — ENT
Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Technology transfer in ecological restoration and sustainable bioresource management.
05 — POL
Consultancy & Policy Advocacy
Environmental impact assessments, wildlife monitoring, and evidence-based policy support.
National & Global Commitments
Bridging science, policy and society
CBD
Convention on Biological Diversity
Supporting India's national commitments toward global biodiversity conservation targets.
GBF
Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework
Contributing scientific evidence toward internationally agreed conservation goals.
NBAP
National Biodiversity Action Plan
Aligning regional research priorities with India's national biodiversity strategy.
People & Governance
Centre Committee
Constituted vide Notification No. CU/Acad/Orders and Notices/2017/052-EXT/181, dated 23 March 2026, issued by the Office of the Academic Registrar, Cotton University, with the approval of the Hon'ble Vice-Chancellor.
Chairperson
Prof. Ramesh Chandra Deka
Hon'ble Vice-Chancellor, Cotton University
DIRECTOR
Prof. Arup Kumar Hazarika
Dean, Faculty of Life Sciences & Professor and Head, Dept. of Zoology
PHONE+91 98640 44453
Executive Members of Centre
01Dr. Hiren Deka, Registrar i/c, Cotton University
02Prof. Rakhee K. Moral, Dept. of English
03Prof. Santanu Sarma, Dean, R&D, Cotton University
04Prof. Daisy Das, Dept. of Economics
05Prof. Eeshan Kalita, Dept. of MBBT
06Prof. Manjit K. Bhattacharyya, Dept. of Chemistry
07Prof. Kalyan Das, Dept. of Geography
08Dr. Rahul Mahanta, Centre Head, C4R
09Dr. Narayan Sharma, Dept. of EBWS
10Dr. Abu Mohd. Pharhad Hussain, Dept. of Physics
11Dr. Himu Roy, Dept. of Botany
12Dr. Ruma Talukdar, Dept. of Statistics
13Dr. Dulumoni Das, Dept. of Statistics
14Dr. Mayuri Chabukdhara, Dept. of EBWS
15Dr. Phunu Das Sarma, Dept. of Education
16Dr. Akunthita Borthakur, Dept. of History
17Dr. Jilly Sarkar, Dept. of Political Science
18Dr. Mala Dutta, Dept. of Geography
19Dr. Bagmita Sandilya, Dept. of Sanskrit
20Dr. Kusum Kunja Malakar, Dept. of Hindi
21Dr. Rajiv Acharjya, Dept. of Political Science
22Dr. Moitrayee Banerjee Chakraborty, Dept. of Botany
23Dr. Sayanika Dutta, Dept. of MCJMS
24Dr. Ambeswar Gogoi, Dept. of Assamese
25Dr. Parijat Borgohain, Dept. of Geography
26Dr. Raysul Hoque, Dept. of Arabic & Persian
Members — Teaching
MEM / 03
Dr. N. Sushindrajit Singh
MEM / 04
Dr. Binita Basnet Baruah
Members — Non-Teaching
MEM / 05
Jintu Rajbongshi
Scientific Personnel
AD
MEM / 06
Abeg Pratul Deka
MTS
Faculty and staff photographs sourced from the official Department of Zoology, Cotton University website. Committee constituted vide Notification No. CU/Acad/Orders and Notices/2017/052-EXT/181, dated 23 March 2026.
Get in Touch
Contact the Centre
For research collaborations, consultancy enquiries, training programmes, or general information, reach out to the Centre for Biodiversity Research.
AddressDepartment of Zoology, Cotton University, Guwahati, Assam, India
Directorarup.hazarika@cottonuniversity.ac.in · +91 98640 44453
Coordinatordevajitbasu@yahoo.com · +91 94357 33182