An interdisciplinary subject biotechnology encompasses diverse areas of study, be it molecular biology, tissue culture, agricultural engineering, fisheries, genetics or even medicine. Biotechnological procedures apply themselves to a very wide variety of spheres more so because of a clearer understanding of DNA & Genesis. Hence students from a wide range of academic backgrounds can do postgraduate studies in this very specialized field.
The growth areas of this discipline are MTech/M.Sc. Biotechnology or Biochemistry with focus on Chemical Engineering or Agri Engineering. M.Sc. Biotechnology is a 2 year course after graduation (10+2+3) in Physical, Biological, Agricultural, Veterinary and Fishery Sciences. Graduates in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Engineering, Technology or Medicine can also do a post graduation in Biotechnology. For studying and applying Biotechnology to Agriculture or Animal Science, graduation in Agriculture/Horticulture/Forestry/ Fisheries/ Veterinary Sciences/ Agricultural engineering is required.
M.Tech. in Biotechnology can be done after Chemical/Bio- chemical engineering, Leather technology, Pharmaceutical Technology, Food Technology, B.Pharma and Dairy Technology. Post graduates in life sciences, Botany, Zoology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Genetics, Physiology, Pharmacology and Biophysics can also study for an M.Tech. in Biotechnology. The IIT’s at Kharagpur and Delhi conduct a 5 year integrated biotechnology course for the school leaver.
A number of educational and research institutions like the National Institute of Immunology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute and International Centre for Genetic Engineering, New Delhi, Bose Institute in Kolkata, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology etc. offer academic and research facilities.
Department of Biotechnology, CGO complex Lodhi Road, New Delhi - 110003 monitors the work going on in the field of biotechnology in India. This Department of Biotechnology (DBT) was set up in 1986 and spends nearly Rs. 7 crores annually on its various programmes for teaching and training and supporting a large number of research facilities in related fields. DBT has 63 universities and research institutions across the country. DBT encourages industrial houses to sponsor candidates for research and has also created the Biotechnology Consortium of India Limited (BCIL) for helping students in industrial experience after post graduate or doctoral courses.
Students of Class XII PCB who are in the first 20 merit of CBSE in biology are awarded (cash & medal) by the Department of Biotechnology to encourage them for a career in Bio tech. research.
DBT has also instituted National Bio science Awards for Career Development for scientists who are currently engaged in basic and applied research in bio science and biotechnology including biological, agricultural, medical and environmental sciences.
Courses/Institutions
Premier Courses
Combined Entrance Examination for admission to M.Sc.Biotech/M.Sc. (Agri.)/M.V.Sc. Biotech/ M.Tech. Biotechnology is conducted by Jawaharlal Nehru University and various participating Universities as per details given against each programme at the undermentioned centres :
Agartala, Ahmedabad, Aizawl,Allahabad, Amritsar, Bangalore, Bareilly, Bhubaneshwar, Calicut, Chandigarh, Chennai, Coimbatore, Dehradun, Delhi, Gangtok, Goa, Gorakhpur, Guwahati, Gwalior, Hyderabad, Imphal, Indore, Itanagar, Jaipur, Jammu, Katihar, Kohima, Kolkata, Lucknow, Madurai, Mumbai , Nagpur , Noida, Pantnagar, Patna, Pondicherry, Pune, Raipur, Ranchi, Sambalpur, Shillong, Shimla, Siliguri, Srinagar, Secunderabad, Thiruvananthapuram, Udaipur, Vadodra, Varanasi, Vijaywada, and Vishkhapatnam.
Eligibility -
M.Sc. Biotechnology
Candidates with bachelor’s degree under 10+2+3 pattern of education in Physical, Biological, Agricultural, Veterinary, Fishery Sciences, Pharmacy, Engineering, Technology, 4 years B.Sc. Physician Asst. courses, or Medicine (MBBS) or BDS with at least 55% marks are eligible to apply for M.Sc. Biotechnology at :
-- Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi;
-- Calicut University, Kerala;
-- Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Indore;
-- G.B.Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pant Nagar;
-- Goa University, Goa;
-- Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar;
-- Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla;
-- Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi;
-- M.S. University of Baroda, Baroda;
-- Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai;
-- Pondicherry University, Pondicherry;
-- Poona University, Pune;
-- Punjabi University, Patiala,
----Tezpur University, Assam
-- Jammu University
-- Univ. of Allahabad - Allahabad,
---Gulbarga Univ. Gulbarga
-- Guru Jambeshwar Univ, Hisar
-- Univ. of Hyderabad
-- Kumaon Univ. Nainital
-- Univ. of Lucknow, Lucknow
-- Univ. of Mysore, Mysore
-- Univ. of North Bengal, Siliguri
-- Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology, Patiala.
---Annamalai University, Tamilnadu
------University of burdwan, Gopalbag
-----HNB Garhwal University, Garhwal
-----RTM Nagpur University, Nagpur
----Sardar Patel University, Gujerat
----Utkal Univ. Bhubaneshwar
----Vishwa Bharti Univ Santiniketan.
M.Sc. (Agri.)/MVSc Biotechnology Programme
Eligibility-Graduates under 10+2+3/4/5 Pattern with 55% marks
(a) Chaudhary Charan Singh Agricultural University, Hisar- Veterinary Sciences, Animal Husbandry
(b)Ch. Sarwan Kumar HP Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Palampur : Bachelor's degree in Agriculture/Horticulture/Forestry
(c) G.B. Pant University of Agri & Technology, Pant Nagar ; Bachelor's degree in Agriculture. Veterinary Sciences, Horticulture, or Forestry
(d) Indira Gandhi Agricultural University, Raipur; Bachelor's degree in Agriculture, Veterinary, Dairy technology. Horticulture, Forestry.
(e) Marathwada Agricultural University, Parbhani; Agriculture, Horticulture, or Forestry
(f) Orissa University of Agriculture & Technology, Bhubaneshwar: Agriculture, Horticulture, OR Forestry
(g) Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore : Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry OR ,
or BTech Biotech/ Horticulture
(h) Jawahar Nehru Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Jabalpur Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry
(i ) Kerala Agricultural Univ.Thrissur Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry
(j)Univ. of Agricultural Science, Dharwad- Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry.
M. Tech (Biotechnology) Programme at Anna University, Chennai &West Bengal Univ. of Technology, Kolkota.
Eligibility -
Minimum 60% marks or equivalent grade in any one : B.Tech/B.E. in Chemical/Biochemical Engineering, Industrial Biotechnology, Leather Technology, Biotech, Biomedical Engineering,B. Pharma , Chemical technology ; OR M.Sc. in Biotechnology, Life sciences, Botany, Zoology, Biochemistry, Microbiology , Biophysics, Microbial Genetics, , BioinformaticsOR Genetics.Also B. Tech/ BE in Electrochemistry, Bioengineering and M. Sc in Chem & Phy in case of Anna Univ. and M. Sc in Bioengineering in case of WB Univ.of Technology.
Scholarship/fellowship
Candidates selected for admission in participating Universities are generally eligible for scholarship at the rates indicated below : M.Sc. Biotechnology Rs. 800; M.Sc. (Agri.) Biotechnology Rs. 1200; M.Tech. Biotechnology Rs.5000.
Reservations
SC/ST candidates (15% for SC and 7½% for ST) and 3% for the Physically Handicapped Candidates.10% marks for Kashmiri migrants.
Other courses
-- MSc/MVSc in Veterinary Biotechnology is a 2 year course at the Indian
Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar (UP)
-- Medical Biotechnology (PG course) is offered at All India Institute of
Medical Sciences New Delhi and University of Delhi (PG/MPhil/PhD)
(Dr. B R Ambedkar Centre for Biomedical Research)
-- Marine Biotechnology (M.Sc.) can be studied at Goa University
-- MTech in Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology is available at
Jadavpur University, IIT Delhi and Kharagpur, Anna University, Madras.
Research Options
-- Ph.D. and Post-Doctoral Research in Biotechnology is offered at JNU, Delhi; IIT, Delhi; National Instt. of Immunology, Delhi; International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Delhi; National Instt. of Immunology, Delhi, Indian Instt. of Science, Bangalore, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad; Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Delhi; Bose Instt., Kolkata.
-- Post-graduate teaching programmes are available at the Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai; Pondicherry University; Punjab University, Chandigarh. These three universities receive a one-time grant from the DBT.
Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
DBT-Postdoctoral Fellowship in Biotechnology & Life Sciences is offered for pursuing research in frontier areas of Biotechnology and applied biology.
The fellowship is tenable for Research interests in Biotechnology and life Sciences and requires a good academic record. It is offered for a maximum period of 2 years extendable for one more year. Those who have already submitted the Ph.D thesis are also eligible to apply.
The applicants should preferably be below the age of 40 years. Persons already employed are also eligible to apply and their applications should be routed through their employers.
A stipend in the range of RS.8,400-10,400 per month and a research contingency grant of Rs.50,000 per year, is paid to the host institution. Candidates who are yet to be awarded the Ph.D.Degree if selected, are paid Rs.6,500 per month till the award of the degree.
Selection
The candidates are selected on the basis of their C.V. and performance in the interview. The interview is held at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.
