Prof. (Dr.) Vaibhav D. Bhatt
In Charge Vice Chancellor, Gujarat Technological University (GTU)
Prof. (Dr.) Vaibhav D. Bhatt is a distinguished academician, researcher, innovator, and higher education administrator, currently serving as the In Charge Vice Chancellor of Gujarat Technological University (GTU), Ahmedabad, since August 2026. He also serves as Professor and Director, School of Applied Sciences and Technology, GTU.
Prof. Bhatt holds a Ph.D. in Biotechnology from Sardar Patel University, Vallabh Vidyanagar, along with M.Sc. and B.Sc. degrees in Microbiology. With over 18 years of experience in higher education, scientific research, innovation, and institutional administration, he has held academic and research positions at Anand Agricultural University and Saurashtra University, before joining Gujarat Technological University.
Prior to assuming his present leadership role, Prof. Bhatt served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Atal Incubation Centre, Gujarat Technological University (AIC-GTU), where he contributed to strengthening innovation, entrepreneurship, technology development, and startup ecosystems. Since joining GTU, he has played an active role in advancing the University’s research, academic, innovation, and institutional development initiatives.
Prof. Bhatt’s research interests encompass Microbial Biotechnology, Metagenomics, Bioinformatics, Molecular Biology, Nanotechnology, Molecular Diagnostics, Drug Delivery, One Health, Sustainable Biotechnology, and interdisciplinary technology development.
He has authored/co-authored 125+ research publications in national and international journals and has contributed to books and book chapters. His research has resulted in multiple patents and registered designs, with applications spanning healthcare, diagnostics, biotechnology, agriculture, environmental technologies, and scientific instrumentation.
He has successfully led major externally funded research projects supported by DST, GSBTM, Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), DBT, and the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF). His research portfolio includes projects in deep-ocean exploration, antimicrobial resistance and One Health, bacteriophage therapy, molecular diagnostics, oral cancer biomarkers, sustainable agriculture, algal biotechnology, and wearable healthcare technologies.
Prof. Bhatt is a strong advocate of integrating research, innovation, entrepreneurship, and societal impact within higher education. Through his leadership roles at GTU, he has contributed to strengthening institutional mechanisms for technology development, incubation, startup promotion, interdisciplinary research, and industry–academia collaboration.
He has also been associated with several academic, research, regulatory, and institutional bodies, serving on Boards of Studies, Research Councils, Doctoral Research Committees, expert committees, academic inspection committees, innovation and incubation committees, and other university-level bodies.
Prof. Bhatt has received several recognitions for his contributions to science, research, and innovation, including the WAAH Science Laureate Award, Senior Scientist Award in Microbial Biotechnology, Outstanding Researcher Award in Microbial Biotechnology, and the DST-INSPIRE Faculty Award. He has also received international travel support for presenting his research at international scientific forums.
He has been actively engaged in scientific outreach and academic capacity building, having organized more than 150 seminars and academic programmes and delivered over 50 invited talks. He has also mentored Ph.D. scholars and post-doctoral fellows.
As In Charge Vice Chancellor of Gujarat Technological University, Prof. Bhatt is committed to strengthening GTU as a globally connected, research-intensive, innovation-driven, and socially responsive technological university. His vision emphasizes excellence in teaching and learning, cutting-edge research, interdisciplinary collaboration, entrepreneurship, industry-academia partnerships, technology transfer, and student innovation.
His leadership is guided by the belief that universities must not only create and disseminate knowledge but also transform knowledge into innovation, entrepreneurship, sustainable solutions, and meaningful societal impact. Through this vision, he seeks to further strengthen GTU’s contribution to Gujarat’s technological advancement and India’s journey towards a knowledge-driven and innovation-led economy.