The Institute is recognized for PhD programme under Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani, Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University, Chennai and Shanmuga Arts, Science, Technology & Research Academy (SASTRA) University Thanjavur.

The Ph.D degree programme was initiated in the year 1995 with affiliation to Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R University. Dr. A. R. Anand who was a CSIR fellowship recipient, registered under Dr. H. N. Madhavan was the first student awarded Ph. D for his research work entitled “Evaluation of Molecular techniques in the diagnosis of infectious endophthalmitis” from Medical Research Foundation, Sankara Nethralaya.

Among the 78 MS-MLT students who passed out during the years 1998-2009, 26 of them have obtained their Ph.D degree (15 Ph.Ds from BITS, Pilani and 11 Ph.Ds from Universities other than BITS, Pilani).

Currently there are 22 students are pursuing their PhD. Among them 15 candidates are pursuing their Ph.D degree at Medical Research Foundation - 2 in Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, 5 in Biochemistry,6 in Histopathology and 2 in Microbiology and 7 others in various other Universities in India and abroad.

The department is recognized for Ph.D by Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani and Shanmuga Arts, Science, Technology & Research Academy (SASTRA) University Thanjavur from the year 2009 onwards.

Dr. H. N. Madhavan (Professor and Director), Dr. K. Lily Therese (Professor & HOD) and Dr. J. Malathi (Reader) are the recognized guides

Name: Dr. A. R. Anand - 2001
Title: “Evaluation of Molecular techniques in the diagnosis of infectious endophthalmitis”
University: Tamil Nadu Dr. M. G. R Medical University, Chennai

Name: Dr. K. Priya - 2002
Title:“The role of Molecular biological techniques on Clinical specimens in Human Infections due to Herpes Simplex Virus(HSV), Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) and Cytomegalovirus (CMV)”
University: Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS, Pilani)

Name: Dr. J. Malathi - 2003
Title: “Molecular methods in the characterization of Adenoviruses and Chlamydia trachomatis detected in Clinical specimens”
University: Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS, Pilani)

Name: Dr. R. Bagyalakshmi - 2008
Title: “Role of nucleic acid based amplification technique in detection, characterization and species level identification of fungi in clinical specimens and a study of in vitro sensitivity pattern of ocular fungal isolates”
University: Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS, Pilani)

Name: Dr. G. Shyamala - 2008
Title: “Nucleic Acid based Amplification methods for the detection, Quantification and Characterization of Viruses in Clinical Specimen”
University: Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS, Pilani)

Name: Ms. B. Mahalakshmi - 2008
Title: “Role of Nucleic acid based–molecular biological techniques and evaluation of serological methods in the laboratory diagnosis of ocular toxoplasmosis and genotyping of Toxoplasma gondii”
University: Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS, Pilani)

Name: Ms. P. Deepa - 2008
Title:“Role of Nucleic Acid Based Amplification tests in the Detection & Identification of Mycobacterial Infections and Determination of Sequence Variation & Rifampicin Resistance Among Mycobacterium tuberculosis Isolates“
University: Tamil Nadu Dr. M. G. R Medical University, Chennai

Name: Ms. P. Sowmya - 2009
Title:“Nucleic acid based molecular biological methods for quantization and characterization of Human Cytomegalovirus in the clinical specimens from immunocompromised patients”
University: Tamil Nadu Dr. M. G. R Medical University, Chennai

Name: Ms. R. Gayathri
Title: Rapid detection of M. tuberculosis by molecular methods from clinical specimens and genotypic drug susceptibility testing of M. tuberculosis
University: BITS, Pilani

Name: Ms. M. Sowmiya
Title: Detection of drug resistance exhibited by Gram-negative bacteria isolated from clinical specimens to quinolones and ESBL group of drugs by molecular methods.
University: BITS, Pilani

Name: Mr. Y. Samson Moses
Title: Characterization of herpes simplex virus deducter – isolated from clinical specimens.
University: BITS, Pilani