i3C BRIC-RCB Ph.D. Programme in Biosciences Structure, Courses, and Internships

The i3C BRIC-RCB Ph.D. Programme in Biosciences

Introduction: The i3C BRIC-RCB Ph.D. Programme in Biosciences is a collaborative initiative aimed at promoting cutting-edge, multidisciplinary, and collaborative research in biosciences. Powered by Grand Challenges India, this programme brings together leading institutions to offer a transformative educational experience for highly talented Ph.D. scholars.

Participating Institutions:

• Regional Centre for Biotechnology
• International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology
• National Institute of Biomedical Genomics
• Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine
• National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute
• National Institute of Plant Genome Research
• Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology
• National Brain Research Centre
• National Centre for Cell Science
• National Institute of Animal Biotechnology
• Institute of Life Sciences
• National Institute of Immunology
• The Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics
• Institute Of Bioresources And Sustainable Development
• Translational Health Science and Technology Institute

Eligibility & Selection

The i3C BRIC-RCB Ph.D. programme welcomes highly talented individuals from diverse backgrounds in biotechnology, medicine, and engineering. There are two tracks of entry into the programme:

Track I:

• Number of Seats: Up to 70
• Fellowship Emoluments: As per the extant fellowship norms of the respective funding agency.
• Educational Qualification: Indian/international students with an MSc/MTech in Life Sciences, Chemistry, Physics, MPharm, MVSc, MBBS, or an equivalent degree are eligible to apply. A minimum aggregate score of 55% or an equivalent grade in the preceding qualifying degree examination is required, with a 5% relaxation for SC/ST/OBC-NCL/differently-abled candidates as per statutory norms. Four-year undergraduates from the mentioned disciplines are also eligible as per UGC guidelines.
• Selection Criteria: Admission requires qualification in a national-level fellowship examination such as DBT-BET, CSIR-JRF, UGC-JRF, ICMR-JRF, or similar, providing a five-year valid fellowship for pursuing a Ph.D. Eligible applicants will undergo screening and shortlisting for interviews conducted around June-July each year.

Track II:

• New G.N Ramachandran Fellowship: (10 seats) This track aims to encourage engineering (BTech/BE) and medicine graduates (MBBS) to apply to the programme.
• Educational Qualification: Undergraduates in any branch of engineering (BTech/BE) or medicine (MBBS) with 55% aggregate marks in the preceding qualifying degree examination are eligible, with a 5% relaxation for SC/ST/OBC-NCL/differently-abled candidates as per statutory norms.
• Selection Process: Involves a separate written examination and/or an interview.
• Emoluments:
  • JRF: INR 43,000 pm + HRA (years 1-2)
  • SRF: INR 50,000 pm + HRA (years 3-5)
  • Contingency: INR 1,00,000 Per Annum

Allotment of Institution and Ph.D. Supervisor: Selected students will receive counselling at RCB and be assigned institutions and Ph.D. supervisors along with their admission offer. The assignment will be based on interview merit scores and students’ preferred research areas and supervisors. Each iBRIC is requested to provide a list of available supervisors before each admission cycle.

Registration and Enrolment: Selected students will register with RCB immediately after admission and activate their Ph.D. fellowships. A one-page broad description of the Ph.D. project, prepared in consultation with the assigned supervisor, needs to be submitted along with registration. Students will activate their fellowships directly through their respective parent iBRICs.

During the first semester, students will be accommodated at RCB-administered facilities and provided with all campus amenities, including accommodation, transport, meals, medical and counselling facilities, library access, IT facilities, and sports facilities.

Programme Structure

The i3C BRIC-RCB Ph.D. programme is structured to provide a comprehensive learning experience through a combination of coursework, immersive internships, and advanced technology training. Here’s an overview of the programme structure:

First Semester Courses:

• Duration: Approximately August to December
• Course Content: Taught by RCB and iBRIC faculty members along with external experts.
• Credit Requirement: Students are expected to complete 12 mandatory credits during this period.
  • Compulsory Courses (9 credits):
    • Research Methodology (4 credits) – Theory
    • Science Communication and Ethics (2 credits) – Theory
    • Biostatistics with Computation (3 credits) – Theory
  • Optional (Elective) Courses (3 credits Mandatory):
    • Biochemistry (3 credits)
    • Molecular Biology (3 credits)
    • Cell and Developmental Biology (3 credits)
    • Microbiology (3 credits)
    • Basic Neuroscience (3 credits)
    • Basic Immunology (3 credits)
    • Basic Plant Biology (3 credits)
    • Selection of Online Courses

Immersive Field Internships:

• Duration: Three months following the first semester of coursework.
• Objective: To provide practical exposure to students in areas of societal need.
• Requirement: Students must submit a report to RCB and the respective iBRIC at the end of the internship.

High-end Platform Technology Courses:

• Focus: Training on advanced instrumentation facilities at the Advanced Technology Platform Centre (ATPC) of RCB and iBRIC facilities.
• Purpose: To familiarize scholars with the latest technology platforms used in modern biosciences, including protein purification, optical imaging, flow cytometry, mass spectrometry, data analysis, and next-generation genomics.
• Instructors: Dedicated, qualified technical personnel recruited for this purpose.

Monitoring Ph.D. Research Progress:

• Thesis Supervision: Conducted by designated Ph.D. supervisors at iBRICs, RCB, or ICGEB.
• Thesis Committee: A student advisory committee (SAC) will be constituted for each student as per RCB norms to regularly monitor research progress.

Annual Conclave:

• Purpose: To facilitate scholarly exchange and recognition of research work.
• Frequency: Held at iBRICs, RCB, or ICGEB in rotation.
• Participation Requirement: Each registered scholar must participate in two conclaves during the third and fifth years of their Ph.D. tenure.
• Activities: Third-year students will present posters of their research, while fifth-year students will make oral presentations. Poster and oral presentation prizes will be awarded to recognize meritorious work. Participating students may utilize fellowship contingency funds to cover conclave-related expenses.

Application opens: May 3, 2024 APPLY HERE

Application Deadline: June 2, 2024

Apply here