.:.GC University Lahore

The Department of Zoology, GC University Lahore is the oldest seat of learning and imparting knowledge of Zoology at the undergraduate and postgraduate level in Pakistan. The postgraduate programme at the department was launched in 1908. In addition, it was the first centre to start teaching Zoology in this part of the Subcontinent until 1920 when the University of the Punjab established its Department of Zoology. The same department of the University of the Punjab was also housed in the building of the Department of Zoology at the then Government College Lahore and continued functioning here till 1963. During these years, the Zoology faculties of Government College Lahore and the University of the Punjab jointly managed the Postgraduate Programme.

In 1963, the Department of Zoology initiated its independent MSc Zoology Programme as a result of the untiring efforts of Dr. Nazir Ahmad (who was the Principal, Government College Lahore), Prof. Naseer-ud-Din Ahmad (Professor and Chairperson, Department of Zoology) and Dr. Ahsan ul Islam (Professor of Zoology).

After attaining the status of an autonomous institution in 1997, and that of a University in 2002, curricula were upgraded and modernized in accordance with international standards.

Life Sciences Library

The GC University Life Sciences Library located in the building of Institute of Biotechnology GC University Lahore has a rich and updated collection of books related to different fields of life sciences like Botany, Zoology, Bio-technology and Environmental Sciences etc, in addition to research journals including several volumes of the Linnasan Society. The Library holds exclusive research material on various subjects like Plant Morphology (bryophytes and angiosperms), Genetic Engineering, Crop Improvement and Environmental Studies, etc.

In the central and postgraduate libraries of the University, networked PCs are linked to a wide range of software, communication and print services. There is speedy access to the Internet that links the GCU libraries to many digital information networks connecting national and international universities.

Stephenson Natural History Museum

The Department of Zoology has one of Asia's oldest natural history museum; the Stephenson Natural History Museum, established by Dr. Lt. Col. Stephenson in 1906. It has more than 5,000 preserved specimens. This museum is used for teaching and research purposes at various levels.

Research Groups

The Department has an experienced faculty actively involved in research activities and has also established the following Research Groups:

Entomology
Microbiology
Immunology
Paleontology
Molecular Biology
Physiology
Fisheries

Research Journal

The Department has been publishing a scientific journal, "The Biologia", which is an internationally refereed research journal, for the last 50 years. This journal is an organ of the Biological Society of Pakistan, headquartered at the Biological Laboratories of GC University Lahore.

Research Laboratories

There are six general laboratories for undergraduate and postgraduate students. In addition, there are six research laboratories for conducting research at the postgraduate level. The department procured modern sophisticated apparatus like fluorescent microscope with photographic attachment, tissue processing plant, Cryostat, Atomic Absorption, Spectrophotometer Visible and Ultraviolet, Ultracentrifuge, PCR and Gene Manipulator for conducting research activities.

The department has an Insectary, a Frogery, a Fish Farm, a Rabbit House and Controlled Environment Rooms for conducting experiments under controlled conditions.

An International link has been developed between the Fish Immunology Laboratory of the Department and the Fish Immunology Research Centre, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, UK, through the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan and the British Council. Under this Programme, faculty members and PhD scholars will conduct research jointly in the field of Fish Immunology.

A national link has also been established between Medical Entomology and Disease Vector Control Laboratory of Zoology Department and Health Services Academy (HSA) of the Ministry of Health, Islamabad with the support of World Health Organization (WHO). Under this link exchange of faculty members and senior students (Mphil, PhD) will take place. This interinstitutional collaboration will be valuable to exchange technical knowledge and skills with respect to Medical Entomology and Disease Vector Control already scarce in our country.

Degree holders are usually absorbed in the market as lecturers, medical representatives and researchers at research organizations. They also get jobs at fisheries, wildlife and public health departments, etc.

M.Phil Zoology

Name	Designation	Area of Interest
Prof. Dr. Nusrat Jahan * PhD University of Keele, (U.K) Post-Doctorates: Florida University, (USA) Georgia University (USA)	Chairperson	Vector Biology, Molecular Entomology, Microbiology, Environmental Sciences
Dr. Abdul Qayyum Khan Sulehria PhD (GCUL)	Assistant Professor	Aquaculture, Rotiferology & Microbiology
Dr. M. Fiaz Qamar, * PhD (UVAS)	Assistant Professor	Parasitology
Dr. Iram Liaqat * Ph.D. (PU) Post-Doctorates: University of Western, Austerlia LUMS (PAK)	Assistant Prof. (TTS)	Biofilms, Microbiology, Molecular Biology
Dr. Dil Ara Abbas Bukhari PhD (PU) Post-Doctorates: School of Biological Sciences, PU	Assistant Professor	Cell and Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Proteomics & Enzymology
Dr. Nazish Mazhar* PhD (GCUL)	Assistant Professor	Microbiology
Dr. Atif Yaqub* PhD (GCUL)	Assistant Professor	Environmental Studies, Wildlife, Ethology
Ms Ayesha Shuja MPhil (GCUL) (on study leave)	Assistant Professor	Developmental Biology and Environmental Toxicology
Mr. Chand Raza MPhil (GCUL)	Lecturer	Environmental Microbiology
Mr. Tariq Zahid MPhil (GCUL)	Lecturer	Cell & Molecular Biology, Biotechnology
Ms. Mehwish Faheem MPhil (GCUL)	Lecturer	Endocrinology, Immunology
Mr. Imran Sohail MPhil (GCUL) (on study leave)	Lecturer	Immunology
Ms. Naila Malkani MPhil (GCUL)	Senior Curator	Natural History Museum Studies
Ms. Noreen Mumtaz BSc Hons. (GCUL)	Assistant Curator	Vector Biology
Distinguished Professor
Dr. Azizullah PhD (Hull) Area of Interest: Physiology, Microbiology, Muscle Biology
Visiting Faculty
Amina Shahid MPhil (GCUL) Area of Interest: Entomology, Immunology
Rabia Faiz MPhil (GCUL) Area of Interest: Microbiology/Molecular Biology

The department publishes a scientific journal "Biologia: Pakistan" which is nearly 51 years old. This journal is an organ of Biological Society of Pakistan, with its headquarter at GC University, Lahore. The department has good collection of international journals in the GCU Life Sciences Library.

BSc (Hons.) Zoology

MPhil Zoology

PhD Zoology

M.Phil Zoology