BIOLOGY AT NCBS, BANGALORE AND DBS, MUMBAI (PhD/Int-PhD/ M. Sc.-by-Research/ M. Sc. in Wildlife & Conservation)

(Please check the websites: ‘Admissions’ at www.ncbs.res.in; http://www.tifr.res.in/~dbs/web/Home.html & http://msc.wcsindia.org/ for additional information and updates).

The National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Bangalore, is a part of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), which operates under the aegis of the Department of Atomic Energy. The Department of Biological Sciences (DBS) is located at TIFR in Mumbai. Both units have been set-up with a mandate to pursue basic research in the frontier areas of biology.

FACILITIES

NCBS and DBS offer state-of-the art facilities for modern biology (Research Infrastructure at http://www.ncbs.res.in and http://www.tifr.res.in/~dbs/web/Home.html). Housing is provided for students selected into the programs. We provide opportunities for our students, to interact with students and faculty from other research institutions and Universities in the country and abroad. Student participation in international meetings and workshops both within the country and outside is actively encouraged. Libraries subscribing to a large number of journals covering the various fields of research are available at both Bangalore and Mumbai campuses. Internet access, e-mail and bibliography search support are also provided.

ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

Both NCBS and DBS offer academic programs leading to the award of PhD or Integrated PhD degrees. The M. Sc.-by-Research Program is only offered at DBS and the M. Sc. in Wildlife & Conservation only at NCBS.

The PhD program accepts candidates with a Masters in any Basic Science discipline or a basic degree in any applied science such as Medicine, Engineering etc. The Integrated PhD program and M. Sc.-by-Research Program (the latter only at DBS) seeks students with an excellent academic record at the B.Sc. level, strongly motivated to pursue a career in research. Students register for a PhD at the TIFR Deemed University typically 1.5-2 years from the date of joining, after meeting course requirements and qualifying a comprehensive examination. Students enrolled in the M. Sc.-by-Research program are registered on completing course requirements (typically one year from admission) and have to submit a thesis at the end of the third year.

Programs at both campuses encourage interdisciplinary research. The Integrated Biology (iBio) program at NCBS provides a stimulating environment for students with strong physical sciences backgrounds. This initiative encourages students with backgrounds in physics, chemistry and mathematics to apply their knowledge to understanding concepts in biology. Students who are interested in iBio research projects must first be accepted into the PhD or integrated-PhD program at NCBS through the standard application procedure. Preference for this program is indicated at the time of the interviews.

M. Sc. in Wildlife Biology & Conservation (only at Bangalore) offered by NCBS and the Centre for Wildlife Studies (CWS), is open to Indian graduates (less than 35 years of age) from any field, with at least 50% marks in the core subjects. The entrance test and selection process for this program is separate from the PhD programs and is described in the following section.

THE SELECTION PROCESS

PhD/ Int-PhD/ M. Sc.-by-Research Programs

All applicants for any of the aforementioned programs (except the M. Sc. in Wildlife and Conservation) are required to take a written test conducted jointly by NCBS and DBS on December 13, 2009. The test assesses basic analytical skills and +2 level mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology. There is no specified syllabus, nor do we give out sample question papers.

The DBS and NCBS admission processes for the PhD/Int-PhD/M. Sc.-by-Research Programs are common up to the Entrance Test stage. DBS invites students for interviews based on the performance in the entrance exam. NCBS sends out an application package to students who qualify the written test for the next phase of the selection procedure. Performance in the written test, together with the information requested in the application package is used to short-list candidates for interviews at Bangalore in May/June 2010.

Interviews for the PhD/Int-PhD programs at NCBS and DBS typically comprise two rounds. The details of these will be provided to candidates short-listed for the interviews. Interviews are conducted at Bangalore (May/June 2010) and Mumbai (February/March 2010). There is some overlap in the list of candidates invited to interview at DBS or NCBS and it is possible that some candidates are offered admission both to DBS and to NCBS. Candidates are however expected to accept the offer at only one centre. Information on the interview for the M. Sc.-by-Research Program is provided on the DBS-TIFR website.

M. Sc. Wildlife Biology & Conservation

The entrance test for M. Sc. Wildlife Biology & Conservation will also be conducted on Dec 13, 2009. The test will consist of multiple choice questions that assess language skills (English), analytical skills (GRE type), mathematics and statistics (+2 levels), general knowledge, and knowledge about wildlife and conservation issues. The test also included one essay question on a conservation related issue. Short-listed candidates are selected on the basis of an interview conducted at NCBS, Bangalore.

RESEARCH GROUPS AT NCBS, BANGALORE

Upinder S. Bhalla Computational neuroscience of olfaction and memory Sumantra Chattarji Plasticity in the amygdale: Implications for stress disorders and mental retardation Gaiti Hasan Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate signaling in cellular and systemic physiology Sandhya P Koushika Regulation of axonal transport Sudhir Krishna The role of papillomaviruses and Notch signaling in the progression of human cervical cancers Yamuna Krishnan Structure and dynamics of nucleic acids K.S. Krishnan Cell biology of the synapse M.K. Mathew Exploring the architecture and function of transmembrane ion channels Only Connect: How cells tune-in via multiple mechanisms of endocytosis Deepak T. Nair Structural biology and macromolecular crystallography M.M. Panicker Gene regulation in the mammalian nervous system Mrinalini Puranik DNA damage and repair mechanisms: Insights from Raman spectroscopy and computational modeling Suhel Quadar Evolutionary ecology and environmental conservation Uma Ramakrishnan The genetic heritage of South Asia: Tracking its history, conserving its future Veronica Rodrigues Architecture, development and cell biology of the olfactory system Sanjay P. Sane Neural and physical basis of insect flight Mahesh Sankaran Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, plant herbivore interactions Apurva Sarin Mechanisms of apoptosis Dominik Schwudke Bioanalytics, linking biological phenotypes to their chemical basis G.V. Shivashankar Cellular mechanobiology of genome regulation Genetic analysis of chemosensory perception in Drosophila R. Sowdhamini Computational approaches to protein science Mukund Thattai The dynamics and evolution of living networks Jayant B. Udgaonkar How do proteins fold, unfold and misfold? K. VijayRaghavan Developmental genetics and neurobiology of flight and locomotion

RESEARCH GROUPS AT DBS, MUMBAI

Gotam Jarori Structure-activity relationship in malarial proteins A.S. Rama Koti (also at DCS, Mumbai) Single-molecule protein mechanics and mechanochemistry Biophysics of molecular motors and motor complexes Maithreyi Narasimha Cell adhesion, epithelial morphogenesis and cellular reorganization B.J. Rao Molecular mechanisms that repair genetic instabilities Krishanu Ray Cell biology of motor proteins in Drosophila Veronica Rodrigues (also at NCBS) Architecture, development and cell biology of the olfactory system Ullas Kolthur Seetharam Sirtuins: linking metabolism to aging and cancer Shobhona Sharma Biology of the malarial parasite Himanshu Sinha Functional genomics and quantitative traits in yeast Mahendra Sonawane Genetic analysis of cellular adhesion in developing zebrafish epidermis V. Sriram Real-time whole organism mitochondrial demographics Genetics mechanisms and signaling pathways in developing brain Subrata Tripathi Membrane biophysics Vidita Vaidya Neurobiology of stress and depression