(a) Research Projects

• CSIR sponsored project, “Metal Speciation of River Yamuna Water and Sediments” – Dr. Ashok Kumar (1997–2000).
• CSIR sponsored project, “Atmospheric Budget of Formaldehyde” – Dr. Ashok Kumar (1999–2000).
• CSIR sponsored project, “Measurement of O₃, NO₃, and HNO₃ in Ambient Air at Agra” –Dr. Ajay Taneja (2002–2005).
• DST sponsored project, “Study of Indoor–Outdoor Air Quality Relationships in Residential Environment” – Dr. Ajay Taneja.
• Basant Devi Trust sponsored project, “Assessment of Acrylamide in Heat-Processed Foods and Evaluation of Heavy Metals and Pesticides in Food Products” – Dr. Ashok Kumar & Dr. Ajay Taneja.
• CSIR sponsored project, “Development of a Pyrocurrite-Type Sorbent for Ag, Cd, Hg, and Pb in Aqueous Solutions” – Dr. R. P. Singh
• UGC sponsored project, “Synthesis of Metal Diethyl Dithiocarbamates for Removal of Heavy Metals from Electroplating Wastewater and Use of Precipitates in Plant Disease Management” – Dr. Susan Verghese P.
• DST sponsored project, “Size and Chemical Composition Distribution of Particulate Matter in Indoor Microenvironments” – Dr. Ajay Taneja.
• UGC sponsored project, “Distribution of Particulate and Vapor-Phase Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Residential Environments and Assessment of Carcinogenic Potential” – Dr. Ajay Taneja
• UGC sponsored project, “Synthesis, Characterization, and Functionalization of MCM-41 for Removal of Cationic Dyes from Water” – Dr. Raju V. John
• UGC sponsored project, “Study of Physico-Chemical Parameters and Microbial Population of Municipal Water and Low-Cost Remedial Measures” – Dr. Anita Anand.

(b) Research Publications

The Department of Chemistry has a strong research output, with over 700 research papers published in reputed national and international journals. The faculty members have authored over 25 books on Chemistry and Environmental Science. The research work carried out at the department of chemistry has produced 142 Ph.D. students till date (view details).

(c) Collaborations

• Guru Angad Dev Teaching Learning Center, Ministry of Education (MoE), New Delhi (PMMMNMTT) SGTB Khalsa College, New Delhi.
• Society for Indoor Environment (SIE) –New Delhi

(d) Conferences, Workshops, and Seminars/Webinars

• The Department of Chemistry, St. John’s College, Agra, organized the International Conference & Exhibition on Recent Advances in Environmental Protection (RAEP 2009) from December 17–19, 2009, at Hotel Clarks Shiraz, Agra, with support from BRNS, DAE, BARC, DST, ONGC, CSIR, and UGC, attracting 665 participants from 14 countries including the USA, Germany, Sweden, and Taiwan. It was the first international conference organized in St. John’s College, Agra. Dr. Ashok Kumar (then Head, Department of Chemistry), chaired the conference while Dr. R.P. Singh served as the convenor.
• The Department of Chemistry, St. John’s College, Agra, organized the International Conference & Exhibition on Recent Advances in Environmental Protection (RAEP 2018) from November 27–29, 2018, at Hotel Clarks Shiraz, Agra, with 295 participants from countries including the USA, UK, Germany, Saudi Arabia, and India, featuring 140 abstracts, 75 oral presentations, 20 invited talks, and 60 poster sessions, supported by ONGC, St. John’s College, Agra, St John’s Senior Secondary School, Meerut, St George’s College, Agra, St Paul’s Church College, Agra, St Paul’s School Unit II, Agra. Dr. Hemant Kulshreshtha (then Head, Department of Chemistry), chaired the conference while Dr. R.P. Singh served as the convenor.
• The Department of Chemistry, St. John’s College, Agra, organized the International Conference on Recent Advances in Environmental Protection (RAEP 2019) in the Assembly Hall of St. John’s College, Agra, on November 1, 2019, on the theme “Environmental Protection Strategies for Sustainable Development,” covering areas such as climate change, eco-conservation, pollution control, waste management, biotechnology, eco-agriculture, disaster management, and social issues. The conference attracted nearly 400 participants from India and countries including the USA, UAE, China, and Dubai, highlighting its international academic significance. On the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of the Chemical Society, an Alumni Meet was also organized on November 2, 2019, at Holiday Inn, Agra, with the participation of around fifty distinguished alumni from different parts of the world who are excelling in their respective professional fields. Both events were organized under the leadership of Dr. Susan Verghese P., who also served as the convenor.

International e-webinar series-2020:

• Sustainable Bio composites for Structural Applications-Challenges and Opportunities; Delivered by Prof. Kuruvilla Joseph, Dean, Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, Trivandrum; On May 14, 2020.
• COVID-19, Society, Environment: The Challenge Ahead; Delivered by Dr. Arun Kumar Sharma, Medical Doctor, Epidemiologist, New Delh; On May 20, 2020.
• Importance of Sustainable Development; Delivered by Dr. Dipankar Saha, Former Additional Director, Central Pollution Control Board, New Delhi and Expert Member, Environmental Appraisal Committee, MoEF& CC, New Delhi; On June 1, 2020.
• Biodiversity and Conservation Challenges; Mr. MM Sharma, IFS, Principal Conservator of Forests, Gujarat & Chairman, Gujarat Biodiversity Board; Delivered by Dr. Girish Maheswari, Head, Department of Zoology and Entomology; Dr. Samuel Gordon Singh, Head, Department of Botany, St. John’s College, Agra.
• Immune System and Computational Drug Design; Delivered by Dr. Alim Husain, CEO, Sheath Life & Visiting Professor, Taibah University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA); Dr. Arshi Naqvi, Chemistry Department, Taibah University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA); On June 11, 2020.
• Environment Protection Strategies for Sustainable Development and Replenishment; Delivered by Dr. J. S. Sharma, Environmental Expert & Distinguished Member of National Committees of Govt. of India, Former Group General Manager, ONGC and STA Fellow, METI, Japan; On June 19, 2020.
• Planning Ahead for Sustainable Development; Delivered by Mr. Dinesh Jain, President of U Flex Ltd, Noida; On June 25, 2020.
• Sustainable Development Goals: Importance to India and Impact of COVID-19 on Indian Industry; Delivered by Dr. A K Balyan, Former Director BD & HR, ONGC, Former MD & CEO, Petro net LNG Ltd, Former CEO (Oil & Gas), Reliance Group Chairman, Carmine Energy Pvt. Ltd, On July 1, 2020.
• Engineering at the Nano scale: A Strategy for developing high Performance Functional Material from Agro Waste; Delivered by Prof. Sabu Thomas VC, MG University, Kerala; On July 8, 2020.
• The impact of Covid-19 on India: Risk factors, Sustainable Development and Climate Action; Delivered by Dr. Sanjay Chaturvedi, Fellow at the University of Washington Shoulder & Elbow, and a distinguished medical professional; On July 15, 2020.
• Searching for Light at the End of the Tunnel: Speculations on Sustainable Education; Delivered by Dr. Vinti Gupta, Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, Sri Tikaram Kanya Mahavidyala, Aligarh; On July 16, 2020.
• Chemist’s Guide to Mental Well-Being Through COVID Times; Delivered by Dr. Juliet Miranda, H.O.D. of Chemistry at the Royal College of Arts, Science, and Commerce, Mumbai University; On July 17, 2020.
• Learning and Practicing Sustainability in Science and Agriculture; Delivered by Dr. Seema Bhadauria, Associate Professor, Department of Botany, RBS College, Agra; On July 23, 2020.

Programs carried out with collaboration:

• National workshop on” Indoor Air Monitoring” in association with Society for Indoor Environment (SIE), New Delhi on October 23rd 2019 in Multipurpose Hall
• Two-Day National Webinar (For Chemistry Higher Education Teachers) on Empowering Chemistry Teachers for 21 Century Higher Education.
• One-week Online FDP on Development of Career in Higher Education in India in the June 21st Century 23rd to 30th 2020.
• National Seminar on Indoor Air pollution in association with Society for Indoor Environment, (SIE), New Delhi, on February 17th 2021 at Multipurpose Hall.
• Online interactive national seminar on Environment, Health and Sustainable Development on 15 September 2021, in association with the Society for Indoor Environment (SIE), New Delhi.
• The Department of Chemistry, St. John’s College, Agra, organized the Round-Table Conference on “Taj Trapezium: Rethink for Growth and Sustainability”, held on 25 November 2021 in collaboration with IAAPC, New Delhi.
• 3^rd National Conclave on Indoor Environment Quality (IEQ – 2026), hosted at St. John’s College, Agra by SIE on 27 February 2026.

(e) College Prize, Awards and Scholarships

Following prizes are awarded in the college annually based on proficiency in college and university examination:

• Lakshmi Ram Pandya prize: For the best student of B.Sc. (Part III) in chemistry
• Lakshmi Ram Pandya prize: For the best student of B.Sc. (Part I) in chemistry
• Prof. N. M. Antani Memorial Prize: For the standing 1^st in the college in Inorganic Chemistry at M.Sc. (P) Examination
• Smt. Shanti Devi Bhalla Memorial Prize: For the standing 1^st in the college in Inorganic Chemistry at M.Sc. (P) Examination
• Dr. K. L. Garg Memorial Prize: For the student of M.Sc. (F) Organic Chemistry securing highest marks.
• Swami Saran Seth Memorial Prize: Highest marks in M.Sc. (P) Chemistry Theory
• Smt. Uma Devi and Sri Om Prakash Kulshrestha Memorial Prize: For the student securing highest marks in M.Sc. (P) Physical Chemistry
• Lal Chand and Shanti Devi Bhalla & Madhu B. (Sarin) Bhalla Memorial P Prize: For the best student securing highest marks in B.Sc. Part I, B.Sc. Part II (Chemistry).
• Smt. Basanti Devi and Sri Chakkan Lal Garg Education Trust Scholarship: (i) For the students securing highest marks in Analytical Chemistry in M.Sc. (P) exam. (ii) For the students securing highest marks in Analytical Chemistry in M.Sc. (F) exam.
• Alumni of 1978-80 Batch of M.Sc. Chemistry Prize: For the student securing highest marks in M.Sc. (P) Chemistry.

(f) Instrumentation Laboratory

The Instrumentation Laboratory of the Department of Chemistry was established as part of the department’s modernization initiative launched in 1999 under the leadership of Dr. Ashok Kumar, then Head of the Department. A major contribution to this development came from Dr. O. P. Garg and Shri S. P. Garg through the Smt. Basanti Devi and Shri Chakkan Lal Education Trust, with the vision of promoting advanced research and postgraduate studies in chemical sciences. In collaboration with the college administration, faculty members, and particularly Dr. Ajay Taneja, this initiative helped create a modern research environment and significantly strengthened the department’s academic infrastructure. The trust equipped the laboratory with advanced analytical instruments such as Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR), Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS), Gas Chromatography (GC), UV-Visible Spectrophotometer, and Dehumidifier systems. These facilities had greatly enhanced research capabilities and supported the work of numerous research scholars and postgraduate students. The trust also contributed towards research fellowships, technical support, and the establishment of a dedicated Electrochemistry Laboratory, making the Instrumentation Laboratory an important center for scientific research and innovation.

(g) Consultancy / Extension Activities

      (i) Some of the Institutions/Departments which have benefited from our Sophisticated Instrumentation Lab

• R.B.S. College, Agra (Chemistry & Botany Departments)
• DEI, Dayalbagh, Deemed University (Chemistry, Zoology & Botany Deptt.)
• Agra College, Agra (Chemistry & Zoology Departments)
• Institute of Basic Sciences, Khandari, Agra University (Chemistry, Zoology, Environmental & Life Sciences)
• S. N. Medical College, Agra
• IIT, Kanpur
• AMU (Aligarh)
• Air Force Station, Agra
• Citizens of Agra region (Water Testing), Air-Force

      (ii) Inspiring scientific curiosity and nurturing young talent through educational exposure visits organized for students from government schools of Sadhabad and Hathras to the Department of Chemistry.
      (iii) Faculty Members as IGNOU (Indira Gandhi National Open University) Councilors for Distance Education Program (view details).
      (iv) The Biotechnology Department uses Chemistry laboratory facilities for practical work and research, promoting collaboration between disciplines and effective sharing of resources.

(h) Analytical Instrumentation Training Course (AITC: 2006 – 2017)

Under the leadership of Prof. F. M. Prasad, with Dr. Ashok Kumar (then Head of the Department) as Director and Dr. R. P. Singh as Chief Coordinator, the department initiated structured training programs for research scholars and postgraduate students. A notable achievement is the “Analytical Instrumentation Training Course” (AITC), which provides hands-on experience in operating advanced instruments, thereby enhancing research capabilities and improving students’ employability. This training not only enhanced students’ research skills but also improved their employability, making it a notable milestone for the Department of Chemistry at St. John’s College, Agra (view details).

(i) Introduction of Industrial Chemistry in the Department

           In response to the economic reforms introduced in the country, St. John’s College launched Industrial Chemistry as a vocational subject at the undergraduate level in the academic session 2001–2002, with support from the University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi. The introduction of Industrial Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry was made possible through the constant encouragement, guidance, and support of several distinguished individuals, including Dr. G. C. Saxena, Former Vice-Chancellor of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University; Rt. Rev. S. R. Cutting, Former Chairman of the College Governing Body; and Prof. G. M. Ram and Dr. F. M. Prasad, Former Principals of the College. Dr. D. S. Seth served as the founding Coordinator and mentor of Industrial Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry from 2001 to 2005 (view details).

(j) Chemical Society (CHEMSO)

           In 1969, the Chemical Society, popularly known as CHEMSO, was established owing to the efforts of some distinguished chemists like Dr. P. I. Ittyerah, (then Principal of the college), Prof. M. L. Bhambhani, the officiating Head of the Chemistry Department, Dr. K. B. Lal, the founder of the society and Dr. Ashok Kumar, the Founder Director and mentor of the society. Since then, all the Chemistry teachers, students and the non-teaching staff have been continuously associated with the activities of the CHEMSO. CHEMSO has provided a sound forum for stimulating the multidimensional talents of young students which otherwise would have remained dormant. Interactive activities like preparing models, charts, quiz, hobby exhibition, cartoon contest, essay contest, photography contest, wall magazine, dumb charades, picnic, excursion to different institutes and industries, questionnaires, seminars, debates, guest lectures, etc. encouraged not only the students of Science Faculty, but the entire spectrum of student community of the college (view details).

(k) Student Activities

The Department actively promotes a vibrant academic and co-curricular environment to encourage the overall development of students. The Ittyerah Cup Cricket Match is organized annually between M.Sc. Previous and Final Year students in memory of Dr. P. I. Ittyerah, former Head of the Department of Chemistry (1952–1968) and Principal of St. John’s College, Agra (1968–1978). Students enthusiastically organize Fresher’s and Farewell Parties, fostering camaraderie and a sense of belonging within the department. Under the guidance of faculty mentors, students also engage in research-based learning by writing research articles, many of which are published in the form of books. They regularly present their research work through seminars and presentations, enhancing their academic and communication skills. The department encourages active participation in various co-curricular and academic activities conducted under CHEMSO, aimed at broadening students’ knowledge and developing a deeper interest in the subject of Chemistry. In addition, students are taken on informative industrial visits that provide valuable exposure to real-world industrial processes, professional practices, and technological advancements.

(l) Student Achievements

Students of the Department of Chemistry consistently demonstrate academic excellence and strong research aptitude. Many have successfully qualified national-level examinations such as CSIR-NET, JRF, GATE, JAM, and SET, securing admission to premier institutions including IITs, IISERs, Central Universities, and National Laboratories for higher studies and research. Several alumni are presently contributing in diverse roles across academia, industry, and reputed organizations such as the University of Delhi, Mumbai University, Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Agra, IISER, DRDO, ONGC, IOCL, SBI etc. (view details).

(m) Alumni

The Department takes pride in its distinguished alumni, who have excelled across a wide range of fields including academia, research, industry, and government. Our graduates have pursued diverse career paths in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, energy, environmental science, and education. Many alumni have made significant contributions to research and innovation through scholarly publications and patents, while others have demonstrated entrepreneurial leadership by establishing ventures that generate employment and advance the chemical and allied industries. We sincerely acknowledge the generous contributions and support extended by the alumni, Dr. A. K. Balyan, Dr. J. S. Sharma, Mr. Dinesh Jain and Dr. Jamson Masih. The Department also sustains a strong alumni network, with regular reunions and engagement initiatives that promote meaningful connections and professional opportunities among graduates (view details).