|
Class |
Board/ University |
Division |
Subject |
|
MSc |
PUNJAB UNIVERSITY CHANDIGARH |
First |
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE |
|
Ph.D. |
PUNJAB UNIVERSITY |
|
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE |
|
UGC NET |
(ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE) |
||
|
SET HARYANA |
(ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE) |
Administrative Experience
Head, Department of Environment Science and Technology, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda - February 2019 - February 2022
Dean, School of Environment and Earth Science, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda
Audit officer (Additional Charge), Department of finance, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda
Purchase Officer (Additional Charge), Central University of Punjab, Bathinda
Nodal officer (Additional Charge), UGC Scheme of Community College, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda - June 2015 to June 2019
Teaching Experience: 15 Years
- Lecturer, Govt. College For Girls, Sec 11 Chandigarh
- Assistant Professor, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda March 2, 2010 to December 28, 2016
- Associate Professor at Central University of Punjab, Bathinda December 28, 2016 to December 28, 2019
- Professor at Central University of Punjab, Bathinda Since December 28, 2019
Research Experience: 15 Years
Administrative Experience: more than 8 Years
Industrial Experience: more than 1 Year
Water, Soil and Air Monitoring
Waste water treatment technologies
Development of bio-herbicides
Development of bio-sensors
Environmental nanotechnology
- Bioherbicide development
- Water Purification and Management Techniques
- Heavy Metal Stress Analysis on Plants
- Biosensor development
Ongoing
|
S. No |
Title |
Funding |
Amount |
|
1 |
Current inventory of heavy metal accumulations in vegetable crops grown in degraded soils and irrigated with metal-rich groundwater and the use of rice-husk biochar, rhizobacteria, and coal fly ash amendments to attenuate metal toxicity in vegetables: a study from the agri-intensive regions of Punjab, India (Co-PI) |
SERB |
27 |
| 2. | Re-examining the Socio-Economic Externalities of Ground Water Depletion in Central Punjab: Possibilities and Challenges (Co-PI) | SERB | 29 |
Completed
|
S. No |
Title |
Funding |
Amount |
|
1 |
Effect of arsenic toxicity and its accumulation potential in Oryza sativa L. varieties grown in Malwa region of Punjab |
UGC |
6.0 |
|
2 |
Bioherbicidal potential of immobilized (encapsulated/entrapped) formulations of essential oil from leaves of plant Callistemon viminalis |
DST SERB |
29.69 |
|
3 |
Under Mentorship grant approved for DST Women Scientist on “Development of Protein based biosensor for monitoring of Arsenic and Cadmium in drinking water”. |
DST |
25.86 |
|
4 |
UGC Community College Scheme |
UGC |
75 |
|
5 |
Spatial distribution of uranium and associated water quality parameters in groundwater/ drinking water of five Districts (Fatehgarh Sahib, Ludhiana, Barnala, Nawanshar, Rupnagar) of Punjab and Hanumangarh in Rajasthan |
BRNS |
24.49 |
|
6 |
To analyze the ground water quality and its correlation with incidence of colon cancer & other health parameters in rural areas of Bathinda and Muktsar district |
UBA |
8 |
|
7 |
Environmental Baseline Data Monitoring (Water and Soil) of Central University of Punjab, Main Campus Ghuda and its surrounding areas |
RSM |
3 |
|
8 |
e-PG Pathshala (Coordinator for the paper entitled "Environmental Management" ) |
UGC-MHRD |
|
| 9 | Environmental monitoring and assessment of climate change of tourism affected Himalayan sub regions of Shimla and Chamba (Himachal Pradesh) | NMHS | 35 |
- University Research Award - 2022
- University Research Award - 2017
- Best Teacher Award, Central University of Punjab -2017
- UGC JRF.
- Junior Scientist of the Year award from National Environment Science Academy, New Delhi.
Dr. Anil K Mantha, Department of Zoology, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda
Dr. Monisha Dhiman, Department of Microbiology, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda
Dr. Pankaj Bhardwaj, Department of Botany, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda
Dr. Sandeep Kaur, Department of Economics, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda
Dr. Harminder Singh, Department of Chemistry, Lovely Professional University, Kapurthala
Research Papers
|
S.No. |
Author |
Title |
Journal |
Impact Factor |
|
1. |
Anjali Kerketta · Hemant Kumar · Mike A. Powell · Prafulla Kumar Sahoo1,· Harmanpreet Singh Kapoo · Sunil Mittal | Trace Element Occurrence in Vegetable and Cereal Crops from Parts of Asia: A Meta‑data Analysis of Crop‑Wise Differences (2023) | Current Pollution Reports | 8.097 |
|
2. |
Sukhchain Kaur, Satveer Kaur, Amandeep Kaur, Sandeep Kaur, Sushil Gupta, Sunil Mittal, Monisha Dhiman |
A cross-sectional study to correlate antioxidant enzymes, oxidative stress and inflammation with prevalence of hypertension (2023) |
Life Sciences |
6.78 |
|
3. |
4Rimzim Jasrotia, Jandeep Singh, Sunil Mittal, Harminder Singh |
5Synthesis of CTAB modified ferrite composite for the efficient removal o6f brilliant green dye (2022) |
7International Journal of Environmental Analytical Chemistry |
2.731 |
|
4. |
Prafulla Kumar Sahoo, Hardev Singh Virk, Mike A Powell, Ravishankar Kumar, Jitendra Kumar Pattanaik, Gabriel Negreiros Salomão, Sunil Mittal, Lokesh Chouhan, Yogalakshmi Kadapakkam Nandabalan, Raghavendra Prasad Tiwari |
Meta-analysis of uranium contamination in groundwater of the alluvial plains of Punjab, northwest India: Status, health risk, and hydrogeochemical processes (2022) |
Science of The Total Environment |
10.75 |
|
5. |
Prafulla Kumar Sahoo , Mike A. Powell , Sunil Mittal , and V.K. Garg |
Is the transmission of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) weather dependent (2021) |
Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association |
2.235 |
| 6. |
Sunil Mittal, Ravishankar Kumar, Prafulla Kumar Sahooa, and Sunil Kumar Sahoo |
Geochemical assessment of groundwater contaminants and associated health risks in the Shivalik region of Punjab, India (2021) |
Toxin Reviews |
4.266 |
| 7. |
Vijay Jaswal, Ravishankar Kumar, Prafulla Kumar Sahoo, Sunil Mittal, Ajay Kumar, Sunil Kumar Sahoo & Yogalakshmi Kadapakkam Nandabalan |
Multi-parametric groundwater quality and human health risk assessment vis-à-vis hydrogeochemical process in an Agri-intensive region of Indus basin, Punjab, India (2021) |
Toxin Reviews |
4.266 |
| 8. |
Sahoo, P. K., Powell, M. A., Martins, G. C., Dall'Agnol, R., Salomao, G. N., Mittal, S. & de Siqueira, J. O |
Occurrence, distribution, and environmental risk assessment of heavy metals in the vicinity of Fe-ore mines: a global overview (2022) |
Toxin Reviews |
4.266 |
| 9. |
P. K. Sahoo, N. Salomão, J. da Silva Ferreira Júnior, D. de Lima Farias, M. A. Powell, S. Mittal , V. K. Garg |
COVID‑19 lockdown: a rare opportunity to establish baseline pollution level of air pollutants in a megacity, India (2021) |
International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology |
2.860 |
| 10. |
Sunil Mittal & Prafulla Kumar Sahoo1, & Sunil Kumar Sahoo & Ravishankar Kumar & Raghavendra Prasad Tiwari |
Hydrochemical characteristics and human health risk assessment of groundwater in the Shivalik region of Sutlej basin, Punjab, India (2021) |
Arabian Journal of Geosciences |
1.827 |
| 11. |
Kumar, R., Mittal, S., Sahoo, P. K., and Sahoo, S. K. |
Source apportionment, chemometric pattern recognition and health risk assessment of groundwater from southwestern Punjab, India (2020) |
Environmental Geochemistry and Health |
3.47 |
| 12. |
Kumar, R., Mittal, S., Peechat, S., Sahoo, P. K., and Sahoo, S. K. |
Quantification of groundwater-agricultural soil quality and associated health risks in the agri-intensive Sutlej River Basin of Punjab, India (2020) |
Environmental Geochemistry and Health |
3.47 |
| 14. |
Mittal, S., Kumar, R., Sahoo, P. K., and Sahoo, S. K. (2020). |
Geochemical and health risk assessment of groundwater contaminants in Shivalik region of Punjab, India. Toxin Reviews (2020) |
Toxin Reviews |
2.85 |
| 15. |
Vaid, U., Mittal, S., Babu, J. N., & Kumar, R. |
Amido-amine derivative of alginic acid (AmAA) for enhanced adsorption of Pb (II) from aqueous solution (2020) |
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules |
5.16 |
| 16. |
Sahoo, P. K, Mike A Powell, Sunil Mittal, V.K. Garg |
Is the transmission of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) weather dependent? (2020) |
Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association |
2.24 |
| 17. |
Sharma, S., Kumar, R., Sahoo, P. K., & Mittal, S |
Geochemical relationship and translocation mechanism of arsenic in rice plants: A case study from health prone south west Punjab, India (2020) |
Groundwater for Sustainable Development |
Cite score: 3.7 (Scopus Indexed) |
| 18. |
Kaur, G., Kumar, R., Mittal, S., Sahoo, P. K., & Vaid, U |
Ground/drinking water contaminants and cancer incidence: A case study of rural areas of South West Punjab, India (2019) |
Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal |
2.3 |
| 19. |
Shilpa Sharma, Anuradha Bhagat, G.S. Vishwakarma and Sunil Mittal |
Physicochemical characterization of the inclusion compounds of eugenol and β-caryophyllene in β-cyclodextrin (2019) |
Nanotechnology Perceptions |
(Scopus Indexed) |
| 20. |
Sunil Mittal, Shweta Thakur, Anil Kumar Mantha, Hardeep Kaur |
Bio-analytical applications of nicking endonucleases assisted signal-amplification strategies for detection of cancer biomarkers -DNA methyl transferase and microRNA (2019) |
Biosensors and Bioelectronics |
10.25 |
| 21. |
Vishwakarma, G. S., Sharma, S., & Mittal, S |
Herbicidal Potential of Callistemon Viminalis Essential Oil Against Echinochloa Crus-Galli L., Amaranthus Viridis and Phalaris Minor (2017) |
Current Agriculture Research Journal |
NAAS Score 4.36 |
| 22. |
Bibekananda Sarkar, Monisha Dhiman, Sunil Mittal, Anil K Mantha |
Curcumin revitalizes Amyloid beta (25–35)-induced and organophosphate pesticides pestered neurotoxicity in SH-SY5Y and IMR-32 cells via activation of APE1 and Nrf2 (2017) |
Metabolic Brain Disease |
2.73 |
| 23. |
Sunil Mittal , Hardeep Kaur , Nandini Gautam a , Anil K. Mantha |
Biosensors for Breast Cancer Diagnosis: A Review of Bioreceptors, Biotransducers and Signal Amplification Strategies (2016) |
Biosensors and Bioelectronics |
10.25 |
| 24. |
Kaur, H., Kumar, R., Babu, J. N., & Mittal, S |
Advances in arsenic biosensor development–A comprehensive review (2015) |
Biosensors and Bioelectronics |
10.25 |
| 25. |
Vishwakarma, G. S., Gautam, N., Babu, J. N., Mittal, S., & Jaitak, V |
Polymeric Encapsulates of Essential Oils and their Constituents: A Review of Preparation Techniques, Characterization and Sustainable Release Mechanisms (2016) |
Polymer Reviews |
7.3 |
| 26. |
Singh, H.P., Mittal, S., Kaur,S., Batish, D.R. and Kohli, R.K |
Chemical composition and antioxidant activity of essential oil from residues of Artemisia scoparia (2008) |
Food Chemistry |
6.03 |
| 27. |
Singh, H. P., Kaur, S., Mittal, S., Batish, D.R and Kohli, R.K |
In vitro screening of essential oil from young and mature leaves of Artemisia scoparia compared to its major constituents for free radical scavenging activity (2010) |
Food and Chemical Toxicology |
4.68 |
| 28. |
Kaur,S, Singh, H.P., Mittal, S. Batish, D.R. and Kohli, R. K |
Phytotoxic effects of volatile oil from Artemisia scoparia against weeds and its possible use as a bioherbicide (2010) |
Industrial Crops and Products |
4.24 |
| 29. |
Joshi, G., Nayyar, H., Alex, J. M., Vishwakarma, G. S., Mittal, S., & Kumar, R |
Pyrimidine fused derivatives: Synthetic strategies and medicinal attributes (2016) |
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry |
3.34 |
| 30. |
Prashant Kumar, Mohammad Aslam, Neetu Singh, Sunil Mittal, Ajay Bansal, Mithilesh Kumar Jhab and Anil Kumar Sarma |
Characterization, activity and process optimization with a biomass-based thermal power plant's fly ash as a potential catalyst for biodiesel production (2015) |
RSC Advances |
3.07 |
| 31. |
Sharma, Archana Kumari, Rabindra Kumar, Sunil Mittal, Shamima Hussain, Meenu Arora, Ramesh Chand Sharma, and J. Nagendra Babu |
In situ reductive regeneration of zerovalent iron nanoparticles immobilized on cellulose for atom efficient Cr (vi) adsorption (2015) |
RSC Advances |
3.07 |
| 32. |
Singh, H. P., Kaur, S., Mittal, S., Batish, D.R. and Kohli, R.K |
Essential oil of Artemisia scoparia inhibits plant growth by generating reactive oxygen species and causing oxidative damage (2009) |
Journal of chemical Ecology |
2.12 |
| 33. |
Singh, H.P., Mittal, S., Kaur,S., Batish, D.R. and Kohli, R.K |
Characterization and Antioxidant Activity of Essential Oils from Fresh and Decaying Leaves of Eucalyptus tereticornis (2009) |
Journal of Agric. Food Chemistry |
4.19 |
| 34. |
Vaid, U., Mittal, S., & Babu, J. N |
Influence of anion induced proton abstraction on Cu (II) adsorption by alginic acid (2015) |
Reactive and Functional Polymers |
3.33 |
| 35. |
Kumar, R., Kumar, R., Mittal, S., Arora, M., & Babu, J. N |
Role of soil physicochemical characteristics on the present state of arsenic and its adsorption in alluvial soils of two agri-intensive region of Bathinda, Punjab, India (2016) |
Journal of Soils and Sediments |
2.77 |
| 36. |
Gautam N, Mantha A and Mittal S. |
Essential Oils and Their Constituents as Anticancer Agents: A Mechanistic View |
BioMed Research International |
2.13 |
| 37. |
Mittal S., Kaur G. & Vishwakarma G.S |
Effects of Environmental Pesticides on the Health of Rural Communities in the Malwa Region of Punjab (India): A Review (2014) |
Human and Ecological Risk Assessment |
1.3 |
| 38. |
Mittal, Sunil, Upma Vaid, Gh Nabi Najar, and J. Nagendra Babu |
Removal of hexavalent chromium from aqueous solution: a comparative study of cone biomass of “Picea smithiana” and activated charcoal (2015) |
Desalination and Water Treatment |
1.27 |
| 39. |
Vaid U., Mittal S. & Babu J. N. |
Removal of hexavalent chromium from aqueous solution using biomass derived fly ash from Waste-to-Energy power plant. (2014) |
Desalination and Water Treatment |
1.27 |
| 40. |
Singh, H.P., Kaur,S, Mittal, S. Batish, D.R. and Kohli, R. K |
Phytotoxicity of Major Constituents of Volatile Oil from Leaves of Artemisia scoparia Waldst. & Kit (2008) |
Zeitschrift fur Naturforsch |
0.88 |
| 41. |
GS Vishwakarma and S Mittal |
Bio herbicidal potential of essential oil from leaves of Eucalyptus tereticornis against Echinochloa crus-galli L.(2014) |
Journal of Biopesticide |
0.53 |
| 42. |
Singh, H.P., Batish,D.R., Kohli, R.K., Mittal, S |
Chemical composition of essential oil from leaves of Chenopodium ambrosioides from Chandigarh, India (2007) |
Chemistry of Natural Compound |
0.65 |
| 43. |
Singh, H.P., Batish, D. R., Mittal, S., Dogra, K. S., Yadav, S., Kohli, R. K |
Constituents of leaf essential oil of Mentha longifolia FROM INDIA (2008) |
Chemistry of Natural Compounds |
0.65 |
| 44. |
Kamboj, R., Sharma, S., Vishwakarma, G., & Mittal, S |
Arsenic induced physiological changes in improved varieties of rice grown in Malwa region of Punjab (2015) |
International Journal of Farm Sciences |
NAAS Rating – 3.54 |
| 45. |
Vishwakarma, G., Sharma, s., & Mittal, S |
Phytotoxic selectivity analysis of Eucalyptus tereticornis essential oil against rice, Oryza sativa and its weeds, Echinochloa crus-galli and Cyperus rotundus (2015) |
International Journal of Farm Sciences |
NAAS Rating – 3.54 |
| 46. |
Ritu Kamboj, Shilpa Sharma, Gajendra Singh Vishwakarma, Sunil Mittal |
Arsenic induced alteration in macromolecule concentration and antioxidant system in two improved rice varieties (2016) |
Indian Journal of Natural Sciences |
- |
Book Chapters
|
S.No |
Title with Page No/Year |
Book Title editor & Publisher |
ISSN/ISBN No. |
Authors |
| 1. | Arsenic Contamination in Groundwater and Its Removal Strategies with Special Emphasis on Nano Zerovalent Iron (2023) |
Hydrogeochemistry of Aquatic Ecosystems John Wiley & Sons, Ltd |
9781119870531 | Shivani Thakur, Harminder Singh, Umakant Chaudhari, Sunil Mittal, Prafulla Kumar Sahoo |
| 2 |
Biofiltration in wastewater treatment plants: An overview (2022) |
An Innovative Role of Biofiltration in Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) Elsevier |
978-0-12-823946-9 | KN Yogalakshmi, Avimanu Sharma, Sunil Mittal |
|
3 |
Groundwater resources and management in Brazil: current status and Challenges for its sustainable utilization (2020) |
Global Groundwater/ Abhijit Mukherjee Bridget Scanlon Alice Aureli Simon Langan Huaming Guo Andrew McKenzie Elsevier |
9780128181720 |
Sahoo, P.K., Pontes, P.R., Salomao, G., Powell, M.A., Mittal, S., SouzaFilho, P.W., Guimar~aes, J.T.F. |
|
4 |
Water security and human health in relation to climate change - an Indian perspective (2020) |
Pollutants and Water Management: Resources, Strategies and Scarcity Willey Publication |
Accepted |
Ravishankar Kumar, Sunil Mittal, Prafulla Kumar Sahoo |
|
5 |
Water crisis: issues and challenges in Punjab. In Water resources management (pp. 93-103) (2018) |
Water Resources Management. V. P. Singh et al. (eds.) Springer Nature Singapore |
978-981-10-5710-6 |
Kumar, R., Vaid, U., & Mittal, S |
|
6 |
Oxidative Stress Events and Neuronal Dysfunction in Alzheimer’s Disease: Focus on APE1/Ref-1 Mediated Survival Strategies (2014) |
Free Radicals in Human Health and Disease, Oxidative Stress and Human Health by Springer publishers, India |
978-81-322-2034-3 |
N Kaur, B Sarkar, S Mittal, M Dhiman, G Taglialatela, Regino J, A Mantha et al. |
|
7 |
Indian herbs and their therapeutic potential against Alzheimer’s diseases: What makes then special |
Neuroprotective effects of phytochemicals in neurological disorders Willley-Blackwell |
Accepted |
Navrattan Kaur, Bibekananda Sarkar, Iqbal Gill, Sukhchain Kaur, Sunil Mittal, Anil K. Mantha et al |
|
8 |
Equilibrium and kinetic studies for the adsorptive removal of copper from aqueous solution using natural polymer (2015) |
Proceedings of the TEQIP-II sponsored National Conference on Latest Developments in Civil and Environment Engineering2015 (LDCEE’15) GZS Campus College of Engineering & Technology, Bathinda |
978-93-5254-071-6 |
Upma Vaid, Shilpa Thakur, Sunil Mittal and J. Nagendra Babu |
|
9 |
Comparative analysis of physiological and biochemical parameters of triticum aestivum under arsenic exposure. Proceedings of the TEQIP-II sponsoredNational Conference on Latest Developments in Civil and Environment Engineering 2015 (LDCEE’15) |
Proceedings of the TEQIP-II sponsored National Conference on Latest Developments in Civil and Environment Engineering2015 (LDCEE’15), GZS Campus College of Engineering & Technology, Bathinda |
978-93-5254-071-6 |
Shilpa Nag, Shilpa Sharma, Sunil Mittal, Ravishankar Kumar and Gajendra Singh Vishwakarma |
|
10 |
Adsorption Studies for the Removal of Cr(VI) using Activated Charcoal (2016) |
Proceedings of the International Conference on Latest Developments in Materials, Manufacturing and Quality Control (MMQC-2016) GZS Campus College of Engineering & Technology, Bathinda |
978-93-5212-858-7 |
Upma Vaid, Gh Nabi Najar , Ravishankar Singh , Sunil Mittal |
|
11 |
Current status of alternative energy resources in Punjab, India: A review (Volume 15) 2011 |
Emerging Trends in Civil Engineering Excel publish |
Excel publish/9879382062301 |
GS Vishwakarma and Mittal S |
|
Sr. No. |
Program |
Total Enrolled |
Working |
Submitted |
Awarded |
|
1 |
Post Doc |
2 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
|
2 |
Ph.D. |
11 |
5 |
-- |
6 |
|
3 |
M.Phil. |
11 |
0 |
0 |
11 |
|
4 |
M.Sc |
26 |
3 |
23 |
23 |
National
- 11th Punjab Science congress organized by Thapar University, Patiala, India from 7-9 Feb. 2008.
- 2nd Chandigarh Science Congress organized by Panjab Univ. Chandigarh, India from March 14-15, 2008.
- National seminar on “Physiological and biological approaches to improve plant productivity”, held at CCSHAU, Hisar, India from March 15-17, 2008.
- 1st Chandigarh Science Congress organized by Panjab Univ. Chandigarh, India from March 10-11, 2007.
- XX Annual conference Of National Environment Science Academy New Delhi, India held at Jamia Hamdard University, New Delhi from December 28-30, 2007
- National Seminar on environment and Health at Central Univ. of Punjab, Bathinda 2011.
- Biodiversity Significance: Methods in preparation of peoples Biodiversity Register, PSCST Chandigarh,2013
- Water Pollution: Issues and solutions Water Resources: Need Potential and Challenges IET, BHadhal, Ropar 2013.
- Green technology and Sustainable Environmental Management Doon University Dehra Doon. 2013
International
- 5th International Conference on Environmental & Social Sustainability, University of Technology, Mauritius, from 5 - 7 January 2009.
- International Conference at PU on plant invasion and forest ecology, 16-18 march.
- 5th Malaysian conference on Flavor and Fragrance held at Kaula Lumpur, Malaysia from Oct. 28-31.
- **Weed Science Society of America conference, Orlando, Florida, USA to be held from Feb. 8-15th. Invited and granted travel award to attend it. Could not attend due to visa problem.
- Waste to Energy in India, CSIR-NEERI, Mumbai, 24-25/8/2012.
- 4th Bio-pesticide International Conference at St Xavier College Palamkottai, TamilNadu.
- Awareness Programme on Environment Day every year since 2015 to 2022
- Biodiversity Day seminar/Workshop every year Since 2012- 2022
- Seminar on ‘Evolving importance of Intellectual Property Rights’’ on 30 January, 2016
- National Conference ‘Training for Trainer, Water Quality and Health’ on 11 Feb, 2015
- Innovator Day in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
- Awareness program on Biodiversity day 2013 to 2016 with funding from BAI.
- Seminar on Earth Day 2012 to 2016
- Awareness programme on E- Waste Management with collaboration with Punjab Pollution Control Board on 4 Nov 2015
- Organic Farming and Water Management on 21 March 2016
- J. S. Yadav Memorial lecture on 9th November, 2015
- Organizes expert lectures continuously in the Department