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
Satyajit Mayor 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
Obaid Siddiqi 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
Roop Mallik 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
Shubha Tole Genetics mechanisms and signaling pathways in developing brain
Subrata Tripathi Membrane biophysics
Vidita Vaidya Neurobiology of stress and depression