April 24th, 2018.
Vol. 02 NO 17
SCHOLARSHIP - PAGE 3
NEWS - PAGE 3
DBT INDIA BIOCARE PROGRAMME FOR WOMEN SCIENTISTS
NEWS - PAGE 8
NEWS - PAGE 10
POST DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS
INTERNATIONAL & NATIONAL BIOTECH SCHOLARSHIPS
By Diluxy Arya
70 BANTING POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS @ GOVT. OF CANADA | 140 AWARDS AVAILABLE The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships program provides funding to the very best postdoctoral applicants, both nationally and internationally, who will positively contribute to the country’s economic, social and research-based growth. The objective of the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships program is to: • • •
attract and retain top-tier postdoctoral talent, both nationally and internationally develop their leadership potential position them for success as research leaders of tomorrow
Areas of research •
Health research
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Natural sciences and/or engineering Social sciences and/or humanities
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MYSTERIOUS FLESH-EATING BACTERIA WREAKS HAVOC IN AUSTRALIA
JAWAHARLAL NEHRU MEMORIAL FUND SCHOLARSHIPS 2018 FOR PHD STUDY
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the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
Fellowship Amount : $70,000 per year (taxable) Duration : 2 years (non-renewable) Features The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships program is unique in its emphasis on the synergy between the following:
Eligibility Citizenship :
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Canadian citizens Permanent residents of Canada Foreign citizens
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Number of Fellowships Available :
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Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships 2018 Notification for International Candidates. al Fellowships program must complete their application in full collaboration with the proposed host institution. Eligibility Confirm that you and your proposed host institution meet the criteria below before you apply for a Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship. Applications that do not meet all of the eligibility criteria will not be accepted.
applicant – individual merit and potential to launch a successful research-intensive career host institution – commitment to the research program and alignment with the institution’s strategic priorities An applicant to the Banting Postdoctor-
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70 fellowships are awarded annually a total of up to 140 awards are active at any time. Fellowships are distributed equally among: • •
the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)
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080-395-34707 1
Vol. 02 NO 17
April 24th, 2018. Applicant eligibility
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Citizenship and location of host institution Canadian citizens, permanent residents of Canada and foreign citizens are eligible to apply with the following stipulations: •
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Applicants who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada may only hold their Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship at a Canadian institution. Applicants who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada and who obtained their PhD, PhD-equivalent or health professional degree from a foreign university may only hold their Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship at a Canadian institution. Applicants who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada and who obtained their PhD, PhD-equivalent or health professional degree from a Canadian university may hold their Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship at either a Canadian institution or an institution outside of Canada.
Eligibility window for degree completion Applicants to the 2018-19 Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships program must fulfill or have fulfilled all degree requirements for a PhD, PhD-equivalent or health professional degree: • •
between September 15, 2015 and September 30, 2019 (inclusively), and before the start date of their award.
Applicants who have not fulfilled all requirements for their degree at the time of application must submit proof no later than October 15, 2019. Allowable extensions to eligibility window The window of eligibility can be extended by a cumulative maximum of two years if the applicant had their career interrupted for the following reasons: • • •
Parental leave Illness Health-related family responsibilities
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Mandatory military serviceAdditionally, for health professionals who have engaged in post-degree non-research related clinical training (e.g. residency) – the eligibility window can be extended by the duration of this training.
“Career interruption” refers to a period of time when the applicant was not working (full-time or part-time) and when their research output was completely interrupted. Additionally, for health professionals who have engaged in post-degree non-research-related clinical training (e.g., residency), the eligibility window can be extended by the duration of this training. For other professions that require post-degree, non-research-related training to be certified by a professional body, please consult the Vanier-Banting Secretariat to confirm whether an extension to the eligibility window is allowable. No other exceptions will be allowed.
Other eligibility restrictions •
Interruptions used to extend the eligibility window for degree completion must have occurred after the fulfilment of your degree requirements and before the application submission deadline. Justification must be provided in the Special circumstances attachment. “Fulfilled all requirements of the degree” refers to the date that the applicant completed all the steps required for obtaining their degree. Although these requirements may vary by institution and degree type, they normally include thesis defence corrections and thesis deposition. Note that convocation is not considered a degree requirement.
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Host institution eligibility Institutions eligible to host a Banting Fellow include Canadian and foreign universities, affiliated research hospitals, colleges and not-for-profit organizations with a strong research mandate and capacity. Canadian governments (federal, provincial, municipal) and all for-profit organizations are not eligible to participate as host institutions. Questions regarding institutional eligibility should be directed to the Vanier-Banting Secretariat well in advance of the submission deadline.
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Applicants who currently hold or have held agency-specific (CIHR, NSERC, SSHRC) awards at the postdoctoral level are eligible to apply to the 201819 Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships program only if the term of that funding officially ends on or before September 30, 2019 and prior to the start of the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship. Early termination of the agency-specific postdoctoral award for the purpose of application to the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships program is not permitted. Applicants can apply for both the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships program and other agency-specific postdoctoral fellowships programs (whether to the same or a different federal granting agency) at the same time, provided that the research proposed in each application falls within the mandate of the federal granting agency to which the application is submitted. For more information, please refer to Identify area of research. *Applicants who are successful in both competitions will have to choose which award to accept. Applicants must not hold a tenure-track or tenured faculty position, nor can they be on leave from such a position. Only in rare circumstances will a Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship be awarded to an applicant who is staying at the
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same institution or within the same research environment where they completed their PhD, PhD-equivalent or health professional degree. If an applicant chooses to apply in collaboration with the same institution (or its affiliated hospitals, research centres and other laboratories) or within the same research environment from which they obtained their PhD, PhD-equivalent or health professional degree, a solid justification must be provided in the Special circumstances attachment. Examples of valid justifications are scientific reasons (e.g., availability of specialized equipment/infrastructure or expertise), family reasons (e.g., family obligations), health reasons (e.g., proximity to health care facilities) and/or reasons related to community or cultural responsibilities. Applicants can submit only one application per competition year to the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships program. Without exception, Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships: are tenable only at the institution that supported the original application for the program; must be taken up no earlier than April 1st and no later than October 1st following the year of application; are for two years; and can only be held once in a lifetime.
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April 24th, 2018.
INTERNATIONAL & NATIONAL BIOTECH SCHOLARSHIPS Email: biocare.dbt@nic.in
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Details of the scheme -guidelines are at DBT website www.dbtindia.nic.in and LOI is at http://dbtepromis.gov.in.
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Important Links: • • • •
BioCare LOI Advt. 2018 BioCARe Guidelines 2018 LOI template Word/PDF Last Date for Submission of LOI – 31st May, 2018.
DBT India BioCARe Programme for Women Scientists
“Biotechnology Career Advancement And Re-Orientation Programme For Women Scientists” BioCARe To enhance the participation of Women Scientists in Biotechnology Research, the Department of Biotechnology invites the Letter of Intents (LOIs) under the BioCARe scheme for women scientists. The programme is targetted towards Career Development of employed/unemployed women scientists. The scheme is open for all areas of Life Science / Biotechnology (including agriculture, veterinary science and medicine). Age limit for application has been kept as 55 to ensure maximum impact. The programme aims at providing support for Research project grants to women scientists (employed & unemployed) for whom it is the first extramural research grant (Women Scientists who have received any earlier grant from any Government Funding Agency as Principal Investigator are not eligible). The purpose is to build capacities for women scientists so as to help them undertake independent R&D projects. It would also be a good opportunity for Women Scientists who have had a Career Break to get into the main stream of research. How to Apply: Interested candidates may submit a Letter of Intent through e-PROMIS portal of DBT (http://dbtepromis.gov.in). For further assistance contact Dr. Suraksha S. Diwan, Scientist ‘D’, Department of Biotechnology, C.G.O. Complex, New Delhi – 110 003.
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DURATION OF SCHOLARSHIP : up to 2 years. VALUE OF SCHOLARSHIP BOTH THE CATEGORIES
Great opportunity for women scientist via DBT India. BioCARe Programme for Women Scientists 2018 notification is out. Applications are invited for Letter of Intent for DBT India BioCARe Programme for Women Scientists. Government Of India The Department Of Biotechnology, Ministry Of Science & Technology Announces The Call For Letter Of Intent Under
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Hold a FIRST Class Post-graduate degree with a minimum 60% marks in aggregate in both graduate and post graduate level, Already be registered/admitted for Ph.D. degree with a recognized University/Institution in India. Those who have applied for registration and have not yet been registered at the time of submission of application, are not eligible to apply, Not be above 35 years of age, Be a full-time Ph.D. Scholar
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Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund Scholarships 2018 For PhD Study The Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund formally came into being when a National Committee consisting of 110 members was convened in New Delhi on 17 August 1964 under the Chairmanship of Dr S. Radhakrishnan, then President of India. This Committee unanimously adopted a Deed of Declaration of Trust and nominated the first Trustees, Holding Trustees and Members of the Executive Committee. CATEGORIES OF SCHOLARSHIPS The scholarships are available for Ph.D. study in India to the following categories of students: • •
Indian Nationals Nationals of other Asian countries
AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION/ SUBJECT A candidate may apply for scholarship in any one of the following areas of specialisation: • • • • • • •
Indian History and Civilization Sociology Comparative Studies in Religion & Culture Economics Geography Philosophy Ecology & Environment
ELIGIBILITY CONDITIONS
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Maintenance allowance including Tuition fee – Rs.18,000 per month Contingent expenses for study tours within India, purchase of books, stationery, etc. – Rs.15,000 per annum
What you need to apply for a JNMF Scholarship LAST DATE Completed application form together with all the necessary enclosures should reach Administrative Secretary, Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund, Teen Murti House, New Delhi-110011 on or before 31 May. The candidates are advised to send their applications as soon as possible. The Fund will not be responsible for any postal delays in reaching the application by the due date. The Selection Committee’s decision to call a candidate for interview or select a candidate for scholarship will be final and no representation in this regard will be entertained. ENCLOSURES 1) A passport size photograph of the applicant to be pasted on the form. 2) A synopsis of the proposed project as per the attached format. 3) Doctoral Monitoring Committee’s report or Supervisor’s report/recommendations. 4) Postal Order/Demand Draft for Rs.100. 5) Ph.D registration certificate. Incomplete and unsigned forms are liable to be rejected. Application Deadline – 31st May 2018
The Raman – Charpak Fellowship Program – 2018 | Official Notification The official notification for Raman – Charpak Fellowship Program – 2018 has been announced. Raman-Charpak Fellowship Program 2018 Notification. Indian nationals are eligible to apply for this fellowship program in areas of life sciences. Check out all of the details on the same below: RAMAN–CHARPAK FELLOWSHIP 2018 Call for Applications for Indian & French PhD Students The Raman–Charpak Fellowship program is in honour of two Nobel Laureates in Physics, Prof C.V. Raman, Indian Nobel Laureate (1930) and Prof Georges Charpak, French Nobel Laureate (1992). The Fellowship was launched during the State visit of the President of France, H.E. Mr. Francois Hollande, to India during February 14-15th, 2013. The aim is to facilitate the exchange of doctoral students between the two countries, in order to broaden the scope and depth of future engagements in Science, Technology and Innovation. The Raman-Charpak Fellowship is the only Indo-French bilateral Fellowship programme jointly funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India and the Sector for Science and Technology (SST), French Embassy in India, Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Development, Government of France. This programme implemented by the Indo French Centre for Promotion of Advanced Research (IFCPAR/ CEFIPRA) aims at improving the doctoral skills of Indian and French students by providing them an opportunity to carry out part of their research work in a University / Research & Development Institute based in France or India respectively. The scheme also provides an exposure and experience about the current research methods and trends in France/India, while discovering each other’s cultural context. Please note: Applicants must have a pre-determined project proposal that has been discussed and agreed upon by the
At the time of making the application for scholarship, a candidate should
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April 24th, 2018. student and the two supervisors (Indian and French) before applying. TARGET GROUP : This fellowship programme is dedicated to highly qualified PhD students registered in an Indian or French Research Institute / University, to offer them an excellent opportunity to carry out a part of their research project in France / India, to establish professional relationships, to promote new S&T cooperation, and to experience another cultural context.
cants) APPLICATION PROCEDURE & DOCUMENTS REQUIRED : •
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DURATION : Students can avail the fellowship for minimum of 2 months to maximum of 6 months FIELDS OF RESEARCH : • • • • • • •
Atmospheric Sciences, Earth Sciences and Environmental Sciences Chemical Sciences Engineering Sciences Biological Sciences, Life and Medical Sciences Materials Science Mathematical and Computational Sciences Physical Sciences
FELLOWSHIP SUPPORT
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For Indian Fellow: Fellowship Support of 1500 Euros per month for daily expenses, local travel, accommodation charges plus Social Security charges • For French Fellow: Fellowship support Rs. 40,000 per month for daily expenses, local travel etc. plus accommodation charges not exceeding Rs. 45,000 per month • To and fro air ticket in economy class between India and France • Insurance coverage (travel & health) wherever is required • Any administrative costs for Visa and Registration (if any) • Carte de Sejour (if any) • A Fellow may be provided with an additional support (up to Euro 500 for Indian Fellows and equivalent support in Indian Rupees for French Fellows) for participating in a Seminar/Workshop during their term of the fellowship and stay in their host countries. The same will be limited to registration fees (if any) b) Air/Train tickets for travel including TA/DA claim (if any) c) accommodation charges (if any) Please note that no support will be provided for the family members during the fellowship period.
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Only online submission will be considered, candidates have to register and apply at www.cefipra.org or log on to: http://www.cefipra.org/raman-charpak2017/ Detailed description of the research plan/proposal (maximum up to 5 pages) in the prescribed format (see link below), which notably asks for: the title and the research work plan, an explanation of the expected benefit from his/ her stay in the proposed Research Institute / University in France / India etc. A CV (maximum up to 2 pages) in the prescribed format (see link below) with recent photograph including summary of achievements and research interests, list of relevant publications (maximum 5 most important ones), etc. A letter of recommendation from the Ph.D. supervisor A letter of agreement from the proposed host supervisor in the fellowship lab (Foreign Research Institute / University) PhD synopsis or short summary of PhD work (up to 2 pages only) Research experience letter or publications if any (first author or co-author);(kindly combine the first page of all the publications and enclose as a single PDF file) No Objection Certificate from Head of the Institution. (Only for Indian Applicants) A scan copy of passport (both front and back) A recent photograph
Please note: • The documents enclosed must respect the lengths indicated above. It is strongly encouraged to apply early for timely processing rather than towards the end of the deadline. Please ensure that you completely fill the application form and then submit with all the requested documents/attachments. Incomplete applications will not be considered • The host institution/university of Indian applicants must be in France and vice versa for the French applicants. • If the application is successfully submitted, candidate should not apply again. • Applications received through post or submitted after the deadline will not be considered
ELIGIBILITY :
TIME LINE FOR APPLICATIONS :
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Applicants from India must be Indian citizens residing in India and have registered for a PhD in a recognized university or research institution in India Applicants from France must be residing in France and have registered for a PhD in a recognized university or research institution in France Age: Maximum 30 years as on 1st April, 2018 Students once supported by CEFIPRA, also in the framework of CEFIPRA projects, and students who have a permanent position in institutions/universities are not eligible Pre-authorization or prior consent from his/her Institute / University to applyfor a foreign fellowship program [No objection certificate from Head of the Institution] (Only for Indian Appli-
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Launching : 12th April, 2018 End of Deadline : 31st May, 2018 Result : End of August, 2018 (Tentative) Starting date of fellowship : October, 2018 onwards
Guidelines & Important Instructions: •
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Awarded fellows shall be invited to submit a valid travel itinerary according to their proposed duration of fellowship stated in his/her application form The travel itinerary for visit will be valid only after the declaration of results and an awarded fellow shall start his/her fellowship by 31st March, 2019 at the latest A request made by a fellow for reduc-
ing or increasing the duration of the fellowship may be accepted on following two conditions: • An increase/decrease of maximum 30 days from the proposed duration and within the • guidelines of the programme. • The fellow has to provide a justification for such request along with the recommendation • letters from their PhD & host supervisors. Hence, it is advised that candidates must carefully submit their proposed duration in their application form after consulting and discussing with their PhD and host supervisors. Please note that in total, the overall duration should not be less than 2 months and should not exceed 6 months. • A fellow may be supported to participate in a Seminar/Conference/Workshop during their stay in their host countries. For this purpose, the fellow should provide a proof of acceptance regarding selection of their paper/poster or their participation. CEFIPRA will consider providing support for their registration, travel and stay during that period. For any queries regarding the Raman-Charpak Fellowship 2018, please contact us at E-mail ID: ramancharpak@cefipra.org For any further information please contact: Dr. Mukesh Kumar Director, Indo-French Centre for the Promotion of Advanced Research (Centre Franco-Indien pour la Promotion de la Recherche AvancéeCEFIPRA) Core 5B, Ground Floor, India Habitat Centre Lodhi Road, New Delhi 110 003 (India) (Attn: Mr. Kunal Kasariya, Scientific Programme Associate, CEFIPRA; E-mail: kunal@cefipra.org) Office Tel. No.+91 11 24682251, +91 11 24682252
such as communicable and non communicable diseases, basic medical sciences, reproductive health including nutrition, human resource developments etc. ICMR Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Scheme is being instituted to foster high quality research opportunities to promising fresh PhD/ MD/MS holders in the cutting edge areas of basic science, communicable and non communicable diseases, and reproductive health including nutrition at ICMR Institutes /Centers. Special focus will be on fundamental research in areas of science and other priority areas identified by ICMR from time to time. ICMR intends to offer fifty (50) such fellowships every year for working in ICMR Institutes/Centers with state-of-art R&D facilities. These fellowships will be allocated by Director General, ICMR, depending upon the needs of the Institute /Centre. Eligibility: Fresh PhDs/MD/MS within three years of completing their PhD/MD/MS and also those who have submitted PhD/MD/MS thesis. Postgraduate medical students are also permitted to carry out ICMR’s PDF in MCI recognized postgraduate medical colleges wherein minimum of three batches have obtained their postgraduate degree. ICMR Postdoctoral Research Fellowship is open to Indian nationals only. Tenure: Two years and extendable for maximum one more year based on outstanding performance and recommendations by the Director / Officer-in-Charge of the concerned ICMR Institutes/ Centers.In the event of his/her leaving before completing one year, he/she may be required to refund the stipend drawn by him/her from the date of joining to the date of leaving the fellowship. Maximum Age Limit: 32 years, relaxable upto 5 years in case of SC/ST/OBC/PH and women candidates, as on last date of application ( 30 June and 31 December ) . For deserving candidates age can be relaxed maximum upto maximum of 3 years based on earlier work done, publications, awards etc. along with the request by sponsoring Director /Director-in-charge. Director General may consider and relax on the recommendation of thee screening committee. Remuneration:
ICMR CENTENARY – Post Doctoral Research Fellow With Rs. 50,000/Fellowship INDIAN COUNCIL OF MEDICAL RESEARCH (I C M R) DIVISION OF HUMAN RESOURCE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT (HRD) ICMR CENTENARY -Post Doctoral Research Fellow (Scheme) ICMR, with its 26 state-of-the-art Institutes/ Centers, is amongst the foremost research organizations in the field of Bio Medical Sciences. Over the years, the Council has helped India user in a scientific milieu, creating and nurturing talent in many disciplines
ICMR Post Doctoral Fellows will be paid a consolidated fellowship of Rs.50,000/- per month plus House Rent Allowance (HRA), Non Practicing allowance (NPA) as admissible and a contingency grant of Rs.3.0 lakhs per annum. 25% of the contingency grant can be used for travel including per diem expenses. Mode of Selection: Selection of the “ICMR Centenary Postdoctoral Research Fellows” will be made through interview of short listed candidates by specially constituted Committees by Director General based on their publications, citation and its impact factor. The place of interviews will be decided by the Director
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Vol. 02 NO 17 General, ICMR. Eligible candidates must route their applications through the sponsoring ICMR Institutes/ Centers. Applicants coming abroad may also be considered in absentia, if eligible and found suitable by the committee.
April 24th, 2018. lope containing application form.
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Date’s for receiving application: Selection will be made twice in a year and this will be 31st December and 30th June every year.
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Accommodation and other benefits: Accommodation may be provided by ICMR Institutes/ Centers if available. However, in such cases HRA will not be paid. ICMR Postdoctoral Fellows will be entitled for medical benefits and leave as per the ICMR rules for JRF/Research Associates.
CSIR Raman Research Fellowships 2018-2019
Other relevant information: Fellowship amount will be paid to ICMR institutes/Centre every six months including contingency grant. All other rules and regulations as applicable to ICMR JRF/ Research Associate (can be seen at www.icmr.org.in) will be applicable to PDF’s. In all matters, the decision of ICMR shall be final. List of ICMR Institutes/ Centers and their Niche Areas/R&D activities are available on the ICMR web site. For more information about institute/centre, please visit the websites of the individual Institutes/ Centers. All correspondence pertaining to “ICMR CENTENARY -Postdoctoral Research Fellowship” should be addressed to : Dr N.C. Jain, Scientist-G & Head, Division of Human Resource Planning and Development, Indian Council of Medical Research, Ansari Nagar, Post Box No.4911, New Delhi-110029 Email: drencejain@gmail.com How to Apply: Please read the instructions, given at ICMR website carefully before filling the Application Form (Annexure-I ). The Application Proforma is also provided there (Annexure II). List of ICMR Institutes/Centers are available at ICMR web Page at icmr.org.in. Applications complete in all respect must reach on or before the closing date (twice in a year). Candidates are advised to contact the Director/ Officer-in Charge of ICMR Institutes/Centers where they are interested to pursue their PDF. Applicants can visit the site at icmr.org.in to know the activities of the Institutes/ centers and to know the their mandates. Application received without the recommendation of the Director /Officer-in charge of the sponsoring ICMR institutes/ centers will not be entertained. Where to Apply: Applications duly filled in the prescribed format and complete in all respect should be sent to : Director General Attention: Dr N.C. Jain, Scientist -G & Head, Division of Human Resource Planning and Development, Indian Council of Medical Research Ansari Nager New Delhi-110029 “Application for ICMR CENTENARY -Post- doctoral Research Fellowship” should clearly be written on top of the enve-
Biology International PhD Scholarship @ Australia National University Research School of Biology International PhD Scholarship Overview: Each year the ANU Research School of Biology (RSB) may offer one or more scholarships known as the Research School of Biology International PhD Scholarship to attract the highest calibre international students to pursue a PhD degree within the school. Field of study : Biology Value : $27,082 per annum 2018 rate Payments made fortnightly Payments made for 3 years Eligibility: The award will be available each year to a prospective student who is: • •
an International student enrolling full-time in a program of study for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at ANU in RSB.
Selection: Selection will be made on the basis of an assessment of the student’s research potential. This will take into account a measure of the applicant’s overall performance in undergraduate and (if any) Master’s coursework as well as an assessment of their most recent graded research writing (thesis) and accomplishments (research publications, awards, referee evaluation). Benefits: In addition to the fortnightly stipend, the scholarship also provides the following benefits: • • •
Dependant Child Allowance Relocation Allowance Thesis Reimbursement
How to Apply: There is no separate application for this scholarship. Students will be considered for the scholarship based upon their application for admission and on them meeting the eligibility requirements.
COUNCIL OF SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH Anusandhan Bhavan 2, Rafi Marg, New Delhi – 110 001 Applications are invited from CSIR institutes for the award of Raman Research Fellowships for the year 2018-2019. The Raman Research Fellowships are granted to the CSIR researchers for carrying out research in the emerging / high priority technology areas. It is tenable at foreign institutions / R&D Centres of Excellence. The entire cost is met by CSIR HQs. Salient Features of Raman Research Fellowship (RRF) Objective : The Fellowship is granted to the CSIR Scientists for carrying out research in the emerging/high priority areas in reputed foreign institutions/R&D Centres of Excellence to enhance their R&D skills/capability. The Fellowship is tenable abroad at CSIR cost. Eligibility : Regular Scientists of CSIR with high academic qualifications (Post graduate in Engineering and PhD in Engineering) and research experience, presently working in high priority areas, (FTT / Mission mode projects / NIMITLI projects / major programmes of Institute) who have completed minimum 5 years of service in CSIR on the last date for receipt of the applications. The applicant must have made commendable contribution to research / innovation in the proposed area, which should be of international level. Fellowship should not be sought for training or to carry out tests, etc. using facilities in the host institute. The RRF must be sought to further enhance the skills/capability and fill in technological gaps. The candidate should not be more than 45 year of age as on May 8, 2018.
Mode of Selection : Through interview by a duly constituted Selection Committee to be constituted by the DG CSIR. The candidate must furnish at the time of interview, letter of acceptance from the host-institution duly approved by the Director of the Institutes indicating the specific study work to be carried out abroad. The candidate can make Power point presentation (upto 5 slides) for 7 minutes, first four minutes for the present research activities and remaining 3 minutes for the proposed research work. Bond : The selected candidates shall execute a bond before proceeding abroad on Fellowship to serve the concerned Lab/Instt. for three years on his/her return. How to Apply : The candidates are required to submit 6 (six) copies of their application form. In addition, an electronic copy of the nomination summary as per Annexure-III may be sent to the undersigned (kamlesh@csir.res.in). The selection will be made through a mechanism of interview by the duly constituted Selection Committee. The interviews will be held in CSIR HQs., New Delhi sometimes in June / July 2018. The exact date and time of the interview will be intimated to all the eligible candidates about one month in advance. Terms and conditions governing “RAMAN RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP” • •
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Fellowship tenure : Two to Six Months (in one spell only) Area : Applied research topics in the high priority technology areas of the Laboratory/ CSIR and also any specific area under Basic Science of relevance and immediate importance. Terms : During the Fellowship period the Scientist will be called “Raman Research Fellow”. The Fellow will be sent abroad on deputation terms.
Fellowship @ US $ 2500/- per month US$1000/- lump sum towards contingency and preparatory expenses US$1000/- Supplementary grant for participation in Conferences/visiting institutions of excellence in country of placement
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The individual availing this Fellowship would be called ‘Raman Research Fellow’ The Fellowship will be for a period of b months on deputation terms. It is awarded for research and training in the specific areas of priority identified by the CSIR (FTT / Mission mode projects / NIMITLI projects / major programmes of Institute). The Fellow should not deviate his research topic during the tenure of the fellowship from the proposed subject of work and also should not change the place of work without prior written approval of CSIR. Extension of fellowship beyond the period mentioned in para 2 above shall not be generally considered unless there are exceptional circumstances justifying such extension which could not be visualized at the time of submitting the final plan of work. Such a request should be received in CSIR from the Fellow through his/her guide and Director, at least one month before expiry of the sanctioned period, indicating specific recommendation of his/ her host institute and the Director of the Laboratory and confirming that the fellow has been submitting the quarterly Progress Report regularly on schedule. Rules governing payment of salary, leave, medical, gratuity, GPF, Pension, etc. of the Laboratory/Institute to which the Fellow belongs, would continue to
Financial Terms : •
International air fare to & fro by cheapest Economy class
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be applicable during the fellowship period and shall be the liability of the Lab./Institute concerned. He/She will be entitled to air passage in cheapest economy class both ways by Air-India only from his/her present place of duty to the place of training by the direct route. No other air-lines can be used for this purpose except in sectors where Air-India does not operate. In sectors where Air-India does not operate, air passage should be got booked through Air-India, and will be limited to Air India fares. The fellow will be entitled to fellowship in foreign exchange equivalent to US$ 2500/- (US dollars Two thousand and five hundred only) per month in the country of study in the appropriate currency depending on the place of the training, subject to RBI regulations. In addition to this he/she will be provided a supplementary grant of US$1000/for participation in Conferences/visiting institutions of excellence in country of placement. He/She will also be entitled to US$1000/- as lump sum contingency to cover expenses which may be directly related to his/her work. It will also cover the commission charged by the authorised Banks on the transfer of the foreign exchange to the Fellow’s account in foreign country, visa fee, etc. The Fellow would be required to get his medical insurance done from an appropriate Indian Insurance Company before proceeding abroad. The expenditure on the medical insurance will be borne by the Fellow out of the Contingency amount granted. The Institution in which the fellow will work do not generally charge any fee. The Director of the Institute presumably must have ensured that no fee is payable in this case. The Fellow is expected to take appropriate measures to protect the IPR likely to be generated during his/her stay at the host-institution. The Fellow shall be required to execute a bond before proceeding on Fellowship to serve the concerned institute for Three years on return from fellowship. If the Fellow does not return to India or gets job opportunities overseas on completion of the fellowship, the Institute will recover the entire expenditure from the fellow and remit it to the CSIR. In addition, the matter shall be taken up with host Institution and concerned Government through Indian mission abroad for suitable/legal action as deemed fit. The Fellow will devote his/her whole time on his/her chosen area of specialization during the tenure of his/her fellowship, and will not seek gainful employment elsewhere without the prior permission of CSIR. The Fellow shall submit a quarterly Progress Report on his/her research activities overseas during the fellowship abroad within 15 days on expiry of each quarter and a detailed Final Report on his/her return from abroad within a fortnight. The quarterly Progress Report or on the Final Report, as the case may be, will be forwarded to CSIR immediately alongwith `Critical Appraisal’ of the same by the Director of the Institute. The institute shall also send alongwith the Final Report, a statement of expenditure, duly certified by the F&AO
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of the laboratory indicating inter-alia, the name of the fellow, position held in Instt., period of fellowship, name of foreign Institute where fellowship was availed, Title of research, details of travel expenses to & fro, Fellowship and Contingency expenses (in foreign currency as well as Indian Rupees), salary paid in India and any other payment made to him/her. The fellowship should commence within the same financial year in which it is awarded i.e. April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2019.
The last date for receipt of the duly filled in applications, complete in all respects is May 8, 2018 Applications received after the last date will be summarily rejected.
The followings are the subject fields: • (for 6 or 9 months duration) i) Biology, ii) Architecture, iii) Physics, iv) Mathematics, v) Electrical Engineering, vi) Environmental Engineering, vii) Nanotechnologies and viii) Chemistry • (for 3 months duration) i) Italian Language and Cultural Course
Italian Government Scholarship 20182019 official notification for three (3), six (6) or nine (9) months duration. Biology candidates are eligible to apply for Italian Government Scholarship 2018-2019. Italian Government Scholarship 2018-2019 notification for indian nationals, with interest in Master’s Degree programme, Ph.D. Program and Research under academic supervision as per the details given below: No.F.13-1/2018-ES.5 Government of India Ministry of Human Resource Development (Department of Higher Education) OFFER OF ITALIAN GOVERNMENT SCHOLARSHIP 2018-2019 Last date of online application: 30.04.2018 by 2 pm (Central European Time) Online applications are invited from Indian nationals for 2018-19 Italian Government Scholarships three (3), six (6) or nine (9) months duration. The detailed information about the scholarships is annexed and also available on Ministry for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), Government of Italy website https://studyinitaly. esteri.it/en/call-forprocedure. Applicants are required to apply online both on the Ministry of Human Resource Development portal http://proposal.sakshat.ac.in/ scholarship/ and also on the website of MAECI (Government of Italy) https://studyinitaly. esteri.it/registrazione . The last date for submission of online application is 30.04.2018 by 2 pm (Central European Time). Note: The candidates who do not apply at both the websites, would not be considered for the scholarship.
Nomination and final selection: •
The course-wise eligibility conditions are as follows: Academic qualifications and age : Applicant must hold an appropriate academic qualification required to enroll to the Italian University/Institute. The details may be found at https://studyinitaly.esteri.it/en/Recognition-of-qualification. i) Master’s Degree : Admission to the first year of a Master’s Degree course in Italy requires the completion of a Bachelor’s degree in the applicants’ country of origin; admission to the second year is granted to applicants upon evidence to be on track with their first year studies. The age of the applicant should not be over 28 years as on 30.04.2018.
Italian Government Scholarship 2018-2019 – Official Notification
ernment of Italy. Please refer to the annexure for details regarding enrolment and tuition fee, university/institution etc. The travelling expenses is to be borne by the scholar himself/herself.
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Important Notes for the Applicants: • •
ii) Ph.D. Program : To be admitted to a PhD in Italy, applicants need to meet the entry requirements and academic qualifications established by the University; they are also required to provide a letter of acceptance on behalf of the relevant Italian University. The age of the applicant should not be over 30 years as on 30.04.2018.
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iii) Research under academic supervision : Applicants must submit a research project and the letter of admission on behalf of the host University/Institute; they are also required to provide the name and contacts (e-mail address) of their supervisors. The age of the applicant should not be over 40 years as on 30.04.2018.
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iv) Italian Language and Culture Courses : Applicants must provide a certificate of their proficiency in Italian language. The minimum level required is A2 within the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
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Eligibility : Applicants who will meet the following requirements by the deadline of this call (April 30th, 2018) may apply for a grant. Academic Qualifications: Applications must only be submitted by foreign students not residing in Italy and by Italian citizens living abroad (IRE)* holding an appropriate academic qualification required to enroll to the Italian University/ Institute. https://studyinitaly.esteri.it/en/Recognition-of-qualification Other Conditions: •
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Candidates who have already been abroad for study/training/specialization either on scholarship or on their own for a period exceeding six months are eligible to apply only if they have been in India for at least two consecutive years after returning from abroad as on 30.04.2018. Applications of candidates who are abroad will not be considered.
The selected candidate would be provided a stipend of 900 Euro per month by the Gov-
Only shortlisted candidates would be called for interview and the Selection Committee consisting of experts will interview the candidates. Nominations would be made purely on merit. The nominations will be sent to Embassy of Italy for the final selection. Nomination of a candidate by the Government of India does not, in any way, guarantee final selection or placement. The Government of Italy will make its own selection from the list of recommended candidates.
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Candidates who do not possess the essential eligibility criteria need not apply. Canvassing in any form will lead to disqualification Employed candidates must obtain ‘No Objection Certificate’ from their employer. In case of Government servant, cadre clearance is a must. The applicant in employment (to which he/she wishes to return) should have an assurance from his/her employer that he/she will be granted sufficient leave during the scholarship period. All announcements will be available on the Ministry of Human Resource Development website i.e. www.mhrd.gov. in/scholarships. The shortlisted candidates will be informed through the mail and public notice on the MHRD website. THE DECISION OF THE SELECTION COMMITTEE SHALL BE FINAL. No correspondence will be entertained in this regard. For applying at Ministry of Human Resource Development portal http:// proposal.sakshat.ac.in/scholarship , candidates are required to upload documents. It must be ensured that the size of a single document does not exceed 530 kb. No TA/DA would be provided for attending the interview.
Submission of Applications: Applicants must complete and submit the online application form available upon registration at the following link: https://studyinitaly.esteri.it/ Access the registration form : https:// studyinitaly.esteri.it/registrazione Applications must be submitted by 2 pm (Central European Time) April 30th, 2018. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered.
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McDonald Fellowships 2018 @ MS International Federation McDonald Fellowship 2018 notification is out. MS International Federation has the McDonald Fellowships call announced for international candidates. If you want to know more details on the McDonald Fellowships 2018, then check all of the details that have been given below: McDonald Fellowships The McDonald Fellowship marks the memory of Professor Ian McDonald The McDonald Fellowship enables young researchers from emerging countries to work in a research institution outside of their own country. Following the award, we expect applicants will be able to use the newly developed expertise and networks, continuing to undertake MS research and/or patient care in emerging countries. The fellowship consists of a two-year grant, around UK £30,000 per year, to cover travel and living costs, and an additional contribution of UK £2,000 per year to the host institution. We anticipate that part of the second-year grant to the host institution will be used to cover the expenses of the candidate attending the annual congress of ECTRIMS, the European Committee for Treatment and Research in MS. One fellowships is in partnership with ECTRIMS and is known as the MSIF-ECTRIMS McDonald Fellowship. One fellowships is in partnership with the ARSEP, The Fondation pour l’Aide à la Recherche sur la Sclérose En Plaques. Who is eligible?
April 24th, 2018. This is a joint application from the applicant and host. Before nomination, candidates need to have identified a suitable project and host supervisor at an institution outside of their own country. Candidates are encouraged to identify a suitable host institute and supervisor, and to develop their project proposal. Candidates are expected to return to their own countries at the end of the study period where they will contribute to advancing care and research in MS. The fellowship may also be used as a supplement for work related to MS by a candidate who has been accepted for training in a recognised institute (within the six months prior to nomination) but who doesn’t have enough money to cover the total cost. Candidates need to provide the following to apply: • •
A joint McDonald Fellowship application form from the applicant and host. Testimonies (references) from three people, including one from the applicant’s current supervisor or employer.
The McDonald Fellowship application form can be downloaded by filling out the form at the bottom of this page. What is the deadline? All completed McDonald application forms should be attached to an email, along with the required references, and submitted to research@msif.org by the 30th of June. Result will be announced in late September. How are grants awarded? MSIF’s McDonald Fellowship panel considers and selects successful candidates. What evidence of results is needed? A short report must be submitted at the end of the first year of the fellowship. Second-year funding depends on the submission of this report. Upon completion of the fellowship, a final report is required. Electronic copies of reports, papers, abstracts and posters resulting from the visit should also be submitted. Papers produced as a result of or in connection with McDonald Fellowship-funded research should acknowledge the fellowship and include the address of the MS International Federation’s website.
All candidates must: • • •
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Working or studying in an emerging country (all countries with a low, lower middle or upper middle income as defined by the World Bank) at the time of nomination Working or studying in another country on a project which started within the six months prior to nomination Studying in another country on a project supported by an MS International Federation grant
2019-2020 Fulbright-Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Fellowships The Fulbright-Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Fellowships aim to provide Indian faculty, researchers, and professionals the opportunity to teach, conduct research, or carry out a combination of lecturing and research at a U.S. institution. Depending on the U.S. host institution, it is likely that the grantee may contribute towards developing curriculum and conducting workshops and seminars. These fellowships are for four to nine months. If you are applying for a Flex Award, the minimum length of the total grant is four months and the maximum is six months. Applications are invited in the following fields only: Agricultural Sciences; Anthropology; Bioengineering; Climate Change Sciences; Computer Science (including, but not limited to, cyber security, digital economy, quantum computing, artificial intelligence, machine learning and big data analytics); Economics; Education Policy and Planning; Energy Studies; History; International Law; International Security and Strategic Studies; Materials Science (with emphasis on environmental applications); Mathematical Sciences; Neurosciences; Performing Arts; Physical Sciences; Public Health; Public Policy; Sociology; Urban and Regional Planning (with emphasis on smart cities and waste management); Visual Arts; and Women’s and Gender Studies. Research Applicants must demonstrate the relevance of the proposed research to India and/or the U.S., its benefit to the applicant’s institution, the feasibility of accomplishing the research goal within the stipulated period, and the need to carry out the research in the U.S. Lecturing Indian academics and professionals contribute to the internationalization of the curriculum at their U.S. host institutions and the understanding of recent developments not just in India but globally. The recipient will be affiliated as a visiting scholar at a U.S. institution, and will teach courses individually or team-teach. Lecturing applications are especially welcome.
Be under 35 at the time of application Be educated to post graduate level in an area relevant to multiple sclerosis (MS) Be citizens of an emerging country (all countries with a low, lower middle or upper middle income as defined by the World Bank) Focus their research in an area relevant to MS
Candidates must also be in one of the following situations:
of Biosciences and Agricultural Sciences, as per the details that are given below:
Research and Lecturing
Fulbright-Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Fellowships 2019-2020 Fulbright-Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Fellowships 2019-2020 official notification is out. Indian nationals are encouraged to apply for the Fulbright-Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Fellowships 2019-2020 in areas
Applicants will carry out a combination of teaching and research activities at the U.S. host institution. Please specify the percentage of the grant for each activity and define this in your project statement. For instance, if you plan to spend 60% of your grant duration for research and 40% for teaching, your project statement should demonstrate this allocation. Teaching could include courses (individually or team-taught) or a series of seminars at the U.S. institution. Flex Awards are designed for scholars who require multiple visits to the U.S. and for those who find it difficult to leave their home institutions during the academic year. This option allows grants to be conducted over short segments, preferably during the fall and/or spring semesters. Interested applicants should clearly indicate plans for Flex in their project statement, including a project timeline.
Flex grant parameters: • •
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Minimum length of the total grant is four months and the maximum is six months; The grant must have two segments. Minimum length for any grant segment is one month and the maximum is three months; Applicants may propose one-month segment only once; Grant segments may be spread over two consecutive years; Grants may begin any time from August 2019. Grants must begin by March 31, 2020; Grant activities must be completed by August 31, 2021; and Only offered for research grants.
No more than 25% of the total Fulbright-Nehru Academic and Professional Awards will be considered for the Flex option. USIEF will consider up to six Flex Grants. A maximum of two round-trip economy class air tickets for the grantee only will be provided (one ticket per trip). In addition to their research activities, Flex scholars agree to undertake activities recommended by USIEF, including: engaging with the host institution academic community, participating in seminars, giving public talks, and mentoring students. Applications that propose grant periods during the host institution’s academic year are preferred. Scholars who wish to visit the host institution outside of the academic year will need to demonstrate clearly how they will engage with the host institution community. Affiliation: You will be affiliated to one U.S. host institution for your grant. USIEF strongly recommends all applicants to identify institutions with which they wish to be affiliated and to correspond, in advance, with potential host institutions. If you have secured a letter of invitation from a U.S. institution, please include it as a part of your online application. Grant Benefits: The fellowships provide a J-1 visa support, a monthly stipend, Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges per U.S. Government guidelines, round-trip economy class air ticket (two round-trip economy class air tickets for Flex), a modest settling-in allowance, and a professional allowance. Subject to availability of funds, in case of grantees on eight or nine month grants, a dependent allowance and international travel may be provided for one accompanying eligible dependent provided the dependent is with the grantee in the U.S. for at least 80% of the grant period. Flex grantees are not eligible for dependent benefits. Eligibility Requirements: In addition to the General Prerequisites: •
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Faculty/researchers should have a Ph.D. degree or equivalent published work with at least five years of relevant teaching/research experience; professionals outside academe should have a master’s degree or equivalent published work with recognized professional standing and at least five
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April 24th, 2018. • •
years relevant experience; you should upload a recent significant publication (copy of paper/article) in your online application; and If employed, at the time of submitting the application, please follow the instructions carefully regarding Letter of Support from Home Institution. The employer must indicate that leave will be granted for the fellowship period. Please obtain the endorsement from the appropriate administrative authority on the Letter of Support from Home Institution. You can download the Letter of Support from Home Institution from the USIEF website.
How to Apply: •
Applications must be submitted online at: https://iie.embark.com/apply/visitingscholars • Please carefully review the FNAPE Applicant Instructions before starting your online application • Please refer to FNAPE Applicant Checklist before submitting the application. • In addition, you must complete and upload the following documents on your online applicaiton: 1. FNAPE Applicant Annexure 2. FNAPE Letter of Support from Home Institution Application Due Date: July 16, 2018, 23:59:59 hrs (IST)
NEWS
Mysterious Flesh-Eating Bacteria Wreaks Havoc In Australia Buruli ulcer is caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium ulcerans (M. ulcerans) and often results in long-term disability and cosmetic deformity. It starts out in form of a small, painless lump- but within weeks, it’s eating away the skin and tissue underneath, and unless treated with strong antibiotics, it could grow into a gaping ulcerated wound that may take a year to heal and even need surgical reconstruction. A rare tropical disease caused by bacteria related to leprosy and tuberculosis, it now, in Australia’s temperate south eastern Victoria state is neither rare nor tropical. In 2016, there were 182 new cases in Victoria, which, at the time was the highest number ever reported. But the number of cases reported in 2017 (275) have further increased by 51%, compared with 2016 (182). The cases are also becoming more severe in nature and occurring in new geographical areas. In an article published in the Medical Journal of Australia (MJA) on Monday, authors led by associate professor Daniel O’Brien from Barwon Health said incidents of Buruli ulcer were on the rise but researchers were baffled as to why Victoria was being particularly affected. There have been no reported cases in New South Wales, South Australia or Tasmania. It’s a difficult diease to curb, experts say,
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because it’s unknown how people get the Buruli ulcer. However, some believe mosquitoes may be to blame, as most ulcers are located on people’s arms or legs. “One possibility is that the disease is passed to humans from some insects that are found in water,” the CDC states, though that’s just one theory. The bacterium is a particularly “nasty and clever” one, says Associate Professor O’Brien. It produces a toxin that not only kills the skin, it suppresses the immune system and contains an anaesthetic that means the initial infection is often painless and can go unnoticed. The good news is that it is readily treatable, and the need for amputation in severe cases is very rare. However, the cure and recovery can be highly traumatic. The antibiotic treatment takes two months and comes with significant possible side effects such as inflammation of the liver, rashes, nausea and diarrhoea. It can take six months to a year for serious wounds to heal, and surgery and rehabilitation is needed in severe cases. The team emphasizes that “efforts to control the disease have been severely hampered because the environmental reservoir
By Disha Padmanabha A severe Buruli ulcer on the knee of an 11 year old boy, a visitor to the Mornington Peninsula. It took six months to heal, including plastic surgery. Picture: Medical Journal of Australia
and mode of transmission to humans remain unknown.” This uncertainty is epitomized by the World Health Organization (WHO), which notes that the type of people that are infected, and the fact the disease specifically manifests itself in a case-by-case way, “[varies] considerably within and across different countries and settings.” The authors of the article called for urgent government funding to research the bacteria and to carry out an exhaustive examination of the environments it is found, including looking at local animals and any interaction with
people. “The time to act is now, and we advocate for local, regional and national governments to urgently commit to funding the research needed to stop Buruli ulcer,” the authors wrote in the conclusion of the study. “We … need an urgent response based on robust scientific knowledge acquired by a thorough and exhaustive examination of the environment, local fauna, human behaviour and characteristics, and the interactions between them.”
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April 24th, 2018.
Algae-Forestry Could be the Solution to Climate Change Bioenergy carbon capture and storage (BECCS) has been proposed to reduce atmospheric CO2 concentrations, but concerns remain about competition for arable land and freshwater. Further, the synergistic integration of algae production, which does not require arable land or freshwater, with BECCS (called “ABECCS”) can reduce CO2 emissions without competing with agriculture. Now, researchers from Cornell, Duke University, and the University of Hawaii at Hilo have concocted a plan to help power and provide food protein to large regions of the world – and simultaneously remove a lot of carbon dioxide from Earth’s atmosphere. “Algae may be the key to unlocking an important negative-emissions technology to combat climate change,” said Charles Greene, Cornell professor of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences and a co-author of new research reported in Earth’s Future, published March 24 by the American Geophysical Union. “Combining two technologies – BECCS and microalgae production – may seem like an odd couple, but it could provide enough scientific synergy to help solve world hun-
ger and at the same time reduce the level of greenhouse gases that are changing our climate system,” Greene said. Based on an idea first conceptualized by co-author Ian Archibald of Cinglas Ltd., Chester, England, the scientists call the new integrated system ABECCS, or algae bioenergy with carbon capture and storage. The new system – which the paper’s authors call ABECCS, or algae bioenergy with carbon capture and storage – integrates the protein- and biofuel-producing capabilities of industrial-scale microalgae production with the energy output of conventional bioenergy systems that burn wood to generate electricity and then capture and store the resulting carbon dioxide underground. “BECCS is proposed as a key technology for the planets future and it will not work unless something is done about reducing its negative effects upon natural forests and agricultural land,” says Bruce Mathews, dean of the UH Hilo College of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resource Management (CAFNRM), who served as the facilitating
By Disha Padmanabha Algae, pictured here under a microscope, may be a key to unlocking an important negative-emission technology to combat climate change. Credit: CSIRO
principal investigator at UH Hilo. “And micro algae are crucial to the proposed potential solution. If the problems with BECCS can be resolved then an important technology for reaching climate change mitigation goals is enabled while also offering the world a nutritious new foodstuff.” Their analysis showed that the experimental ABECCS facility could yield as much high-quality protein as the original 7,000acre soybean field, while simultaneously
generating 17 million kilowatt hours of electricity and sequestering 30,000 tons of CO2 each year. “In the future, as the price of carbon increases, ABECCS will have even greater potential to reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere in an environmentally sustainable and profitable way,” says Charles Greene, professor of earth and atmospheric sciences at Cornell.
ANTIBIOTICS PERSISTING IN MANURE LEACHING INTO ENVIRONMENT: STUDY Manure treatment technologies are rapidly developing to minimize eutrophication of surrounding environments and potentially decrease the introduction of antibiotics and antibiotic resistant genes (ARGs) into the environment. While laboratory and pilot-scale manure treatment systems boast promising results, antibiotic and ARG removals in full-scale systems receiving continuous manure input have not been evaluated. The effect of treatment on ARGs is similarly lacking. Now, a new study reveals that even the “elite” of the waste disposal treatments available today on farms do not fully remove antibiotics from manure. Both technologies — advanced anaerobic digestion and reverse osmosis filtration — leave behind concerning levels of antibiotic residues, which can include both the drugs themselves and molecules that the drugs break down into. Researchers found that this solid matter may contain higher concentrations of antibiotics than unprocessed manure, a discovery that is particularly disturbing because this material is often released into the environment when it’s used as animal bedding or sold as fertilizer. “We were hoping that these advanced treatment technologies could remove antibiotics. As it turns out, they were not as effective as we thought they could be,” says Diana Aga, PhD, Henry M. Woodburn Professor of Chemistry in the University at Buffalo College of Arts and Sciences. She does offer some hope, however: “On the positive side, I think that a multistep process that also includes composting at the end of the system could significantly reduce the levels of antibiotics. Our earlier studies
on poultry litter demonstrated that up to 70 percent reduction in antibiotics called ionophores can be achieved after 150 days of composting. Testing this hypothesis on dairy farm manure is the next phase of our project, and we are seeing some positive results.” Specifically, researchers analyzed two types of antibiotics: Tetracycline, which in humans helps treat conditions ranging from acne to chlamydia, is used to treat a variety of ailments in livestock. Ionophores, which promote growth in dairy cows and treat a parasitic disease called coccidiosis, was also analyzed. Both liquid and solid waste was found to contain genes that showed resistance to these antibiotics. “Neither of the treatment systems we studied was designed to remove antibiotics from waste as the primary goal,” Aga says. “Advanced anaerobic digestion is used to reduce odors and produce biogas, and reverse osmosis is used to recycle water. They were not meant to address removal of antibiotic compounds.” “This problem is not limited to agriculture: Waste treatment systems today, including those designed to handle municipal wastewater, hospital wastes and even waste from antibiotic manufacturing industries, do not have treatment of antibiotics in mind. This is an extremely important global issue because the rise of antibiotic resistance in the environment is unprecedented. We need to start thinking about this if we want to prevent the continued spread of resistance in the environment.” “Both of the systems we studied are a good
By Disha Padmanabha
first step in reducing the spread of antibiotics and potentially reduce resistance in the environment, but our study shows that more must be done,” Aga says. “We need to look at different waste management practices that, maybe in combination, could reduce the spread of antibiotic compounds and resistance in the environment.”
Aga points to composting as one area to explore. The team further, wants to study how advanced anaerobic digestion can be used in conjunction with composting of solid materials to remove antibiotics and their breakdown products from manure.
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Vol. 02 NO 17
April 24th, 2018.
CRISPR Undergoes Dramatic Improvement by Guide Molecule Replacement More than ever, we can view the genomes of humans and other organisms as drafts—not final and canonical texts, but rough copies to be tweaked and refined. Although scientists have been able to edit genomes for many decades, the tools were often cumbersome to work with, expensive to hire, or sloppy in their efforts. Eventhough CRISPR is far superior in comparison to its predecessors, scientists are racing to improve it even further. “We’ve discovered a way to greatly improve the accuracy of gene-editing technology by replacing the natural guide molecule it uses with a synthetic one called a bridged nucleic acid, or BNA,” said Basil Hubbard, Canada Research Chair in Molecular Therapeutics and an assistant professor in the University
of Alberta’s Department of Pharmacology, who led the study. “It allows bacteria to store information about previous infections and then use it to seek out and destroy the DNA of new invaders by cutting it,” Hubbard explained. “What researchers have realised is that this system can be programmed to cut a specific DNA sequence in a human cell also, allowing us to edit our genes. One of the main issues, however, is that the system is not perfectly specific — sometimes it cuts a similar but incorrect gene.” “However, given that there are trillions of cells in the human body, even one percentage off is quite significant, especially because gene editing is permanent. One wrong cut
NIH Reports Single Dose HIV-Resisting Vaccine Success In the absence of an effective and safe vaccine against HIV-1, the administration of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) represents a logical alternative approach to prevent virus transmission. And now a team of researchers working with new, lab-mutated versions of these antibodies has reported that a single injection of their altered antibody protected monkeys from HIV infection for an average of more than six months — and in some cases as long as 8.5 months. Two genetically modified broadly neutralizing antibodies(link is external) (bNAbs) protected rhesus macaques from an HIV-like virus, report scientists at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health. “We think this approach might be an important way to prevent transmission in humans, particularly in regions of the world where HIV is endemic,” says Malcolm Martin, chief of the viral pathogenesis and viral section of the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases and a senior author of the paper. “This is not a vaccine but a way to prevention.” Emilio Emini, director of the Gates Foundation’s HIV program, a funder of the new research, agrees the approach is worth pushing. “The potential is there for the development of a neutralizing antibody cocktail that could be injected to provide many months of protection against HIV infection,” Emini says.
After introducing genetic mutations into two potent HIV bNAbs, researchers prepared intravenous infusions of two bNAbs known as 3BNC117-LS and 10-1074-LS. Single infusions of each modified bNAb protected two groups of six monkeys each against weekly exposures to simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) for up to 37 weeks, compared with a median of three weeks in 12 monkeys receiving no antibody. SHIV is a manmade virus commonly used in HIV nonhuman primate studies. One of these bNAbs, a strain called VRC01, is already being tested on humans as part of a Phase 2 clinical trial that includes participants in five sub-Saharan African nations, where 70 percent of the world’s current HIV-positive population is found. If bNAbs effectively block HIV in people, they could provide a life-saving prophylactic treatment in the absence of a permanent vaccine. However, one of the drawbacks of prophylactic injections with VRC01 is that the protection only lasts for eight weeks, after which you need a new injection to keep the antibodies in the bloodstream. This approach joins other candidate drugs and biomedical technologies that aim to provide long-term protection against HIV in the absence of an HIV vaccine. Among ongoing studies are two large Phase 3 trials in Africa and the Americas known as the AMP Studies, for antibody-mediated prevention.
By Disha Padmanabha
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By Disha Padmanabha
and a patient could end up with a serious condition, like cancer.” The approach uses synthetic guide molecules known as bridged nucleic acids (BNAs) in place of the system’s native guide RNAs (gRNAs) to direct the Cas9 enzyme to its target DNA sequence, and so reduce off-target DNA cleavage. The Alberta team’s BNA guide molecule was more stable and stringent seeking the right DNA to cut.”Our research shows that the use of bridged nucleic acids to guide Cas9 can improve its specificity by over 10,000 times in certain instances – a dramatic improvement,” Hubbard said. “Overall, these findings unveil a strategy for improving the specificity of the CRIS-
PR-Cas9 system and illustrate the application of recently developed synthetic nucleic acid technologies to solving problems in enzyme specificity,” the researchers conclude. “We anticipate that these findings will directly contribute to the ongoing goal of improving the specificity and safety of genome-editing agents for a wide variety of experimental and clinical applications.…In addition to describing a robust technique for improving the precision of CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing, this study illuminates an application of synthetic nucleic acids.” Hubbard and his team have now filed a patent on their discovery and further hope to partner with the pharmaceutical industry to incorporate it into a therapeutic.
MINIMALLY INVASIVE MICROBIOPSY COULD REVOLUTIONISE SKIN TESTS Skin biopsy is one of the most essential techniques in dermatology for accurate diagnosis of neoplastic or inflammatory skin diseases through histopathological assessment. The technique is performed under local anaesthetic by trained medical personnel, normally a dermatologist, to remove a skin sample 2–4 mm in diameter that is then preferably sent to a dermatopathologist for histopathological diagnosis. With at least two in three Australians diagnosed with skin cancer before the age of 70, monitoring moles and skin is vital in detecting skin cancer early for a generation of people who spent much of their upbringing in the sun (often with little to no protection). To meet the massive unmet need in this area, Research Professor at UniSA’s Future Industries Institute, Professor Tarl Prow led the team that has created a new needle device that will revolutionise how doctors test patients for rashes and diseases. “The innovation for this device comes from the idea of a diabetic test. We can easily take small skin samples which makes it much easier to use on children and allows us to take multiple samples over time to monitor a patient’s situation,” Prof Prow says. “Given a
standard biopsy is a significant procedure, we wanted to help make that process easier.” “With many parasitic diseases in Africa, where people don’t have access to a hospital, researchers at Hebrew University undertook a study in northern Ethiopia testing hundreds of children and adults using the device,” he says. Skin cancer being more prevalent in Australia, doctors can spend up a significant amount of time checking a patient’s skin (including moles and pink spots). The team aims to develop cancer biomarkers, so the device can take samples and evaluate (and reveal) the results instantly. With clinical trials (unrelated to skin cancer) in the final stages, the team is monitoring feedback with thousands of devices already sold worldwide and is patented in the US, Australia and Europe. “We are planning to test the efficacy and safety for microbiopsy in skin cancer diagnosis that will start in early 2019 so some patients may be asked to be a part of this study. We hope to launch the approved diagnostic test in 2023,” Dr Prow says.
By Disha Padmanabha
Vol. 02 NO 17
April 24th, 2018.
Study Finds Yeast Genome Evolution through Sequencing Since their origin of an alpha-proteobacterial endosymbiont, mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) have undergone substantial reduction in gene content, but adopted radically different shapes and sizes with highly variable intronic and intergenic sequences. Studies on these radically different mitogenomes are important for mitochondrial genetics and evolutionary biology, but also important for the understanding of mitochondrial DNA mutation and maintenance, which are crucial in areas such as pathogenicity, ageing, and diseases. The budding yeast S. cerevisiae is a powerful model system for understanding eukaryotic biology at the cellular, molecular and genomic levels. S. cerevisiae has recently emerged as a model in population genomics, because it can be found worldwide in a broad array of human-associated (for example, wine, sake, beer and other fermented bever-
ages) and wild (for example, plant, soil and insect) biotopes. However, the number of available sequenced genomes from natural isolates remains limited and stands in contrast to the wealth of data on Arabidopsis thaliana and humans; this small sample size for yeast genomes has not fully captured the global evolutionary processes relevant to the species. Now, researchers, in order to better understand them sequenced over 1,000 yeast genomes, ranging from the usual sources such as baker’s or brewer’s yeast to those found in sewage, oil-contaminated asphalt, termite mounds, sea water, one infected nail from a 4-year-old Australian girl. Taking a genomic global survey of yeast allowed the researchers to create a map of the evolution of the fungus. The work consisted of performing whole-genome sequencing on 1,011 samples of yeast which yield-
Estonia Launches First State-Sponsored Genetic Testing for Residents The Estonian government has now chalked up plans to provide free DNA-based lifestyle advice for 100,000 of its 1.3 million residents. It will be the first nation to provide a state-sponsored personal genetic information service – but some have warned that this might cause unnecessary worry for those who find out they have an elevated risk for certain diseases. Lili Milani, a researcher with the Estonian Genome Center at the University of Tartu, has now issued a statement saying the scheme kicked off in March and will initially cover some 100,000 volunteers in the Baltic country of 1.3 million. Participants are required to donate DNA samples from blood and give consent to storing their data to the Estonian Biobank, which has collected health records and biological samples from Estonians since 2000. “Cardiovascular diseases are the No. 1 killer in Estonia,” Milani said, adding that authorities and scientists were hoping that the genetic screening data could answer questions on living habits and diet for better health care prevention. “Lifestyle always outweighs genes,” she told The Associated Press. “Today we have enough knowledge about both the genetic risk of complex diseases and the interindividual variability of the effects of medicines in order to start using this information systematically in everyday healthcare,” said Jevgeni Ossinovski, Minister of Health and Labour. “In cooperation with the National Institute for Health Development and the University of Tartu, we will enable another 100,000 people to join the Estonian biobank, in order to boost the development of personalized medicine in Estonia and thus contribute to the advancement of preventive
healthcare.” Andres Metspalu, Director of the Estonian Genome Center at the University of Tartu, welcomes the initiative of the Ministry of Social Affairs to increase the number of biobank participants. “We are glad that with the support of this project the results of the long-term work of the Genome Center will be transferred into practical medicine, and it will also give a further boost for our future research. The university will also contribute to the creation of a feedback system for the biobank participants, and to training healthcare professionals to give patients feedback based on genetic information.” Milani said DNA samples will be analyzed for more than 600,000 genetic variants linked to common diseases such as heart diseases, diabetes and cancer. Family doctors will then tell participants about the results. However, participants can choose in advance how much information they wish to receive to avoid unnecessary anxiety. The Estonian government has allocated 5 million euros ($6.2 million) for the project this year.
ed 1,625,809 high-quality reference-based SNPs. The researchers report that theories of an out-of-China migration of the yeast appears to be true. They also found that yeast has undergone extensive change due to human intervention related to fermentation for making beer, wine and sake. They noted also that the number of chromosome sets (ploidy) in the yeast cells had an impact on fitness across all of those species tested. In order to trace the origins of variable ORFs, the team inspected the evolution of each individual ORF. Defining 1,380 ancestral segregating ORFs with sequencing-similarity levels, the researchers identified 913 introgressed ORFs linked to a Saccharomyces paradoxus origin. In addition, they saw that 183 ORFS were likely caused by horizontal gene transfer in highly divergent yeast species, but were restricted to species present in domestic fermentative environments. While domesticated isolates exhibited high variation in ploidy, aneuploidy, and genome content, the researchers believe that genome evolution in wild isolates occurred through addition of single nucleotide polymorphisms. The researchers found that among the 1,011 genomes, there was higher SNP density and lower genome content frequency in wild versus domesticated clades. The largest num-
bers of variants identified by genome-wide association included copy-number changes, which have a greater effect on phenotype than SNPs. The team noted that the study has established the foundation for genome-wide association studies in S. cerevisiae. In addition, the study revealed a previously undescribed evolutionary history as well as the driving forces of genome evolution for the yeast species. They believe that the collection of genetic and phenotypic variants will guide future population genomics and genotype-phenotype studies.
By Disha Padmanabha
SCIENTISTS ENCOUNTER IMMUNE SYSTEM’S “SECRET WEAPON” The immune system, as a result of biological evolution, protects higher organisms against a multitude of possible invaders. To do this, it develops remarkable abilities during the lifetime of an individual. For the last three decades health authorities thought that antibodies known as B cells- a type of immune cell- had no purpose and were actually dangerous, causing autoimmune disorders. They were considered “Bad Apples” of the immune system. And guess what? Turns out this couldn’t be any further from the truth. Australian scientists from the Institute of medical research Garvan, through their study have now suggested that these immune cells can become a weapon against microorganisms that can “trick” the immune system. Usually autoreactive lymphocytes are “sleep mode”, but no useful role they have not been able to find, so for scientists it remains a mystery why the body does not get rid of these cells completely. The authors of the new scientific work in experiments on mice concluded that the DNA of these cells can be slightly modified, thus opening their unexpected potential. Far from remaining silent, the cells can be rapidly ‘redeemed’ – and then activated to attack – when the body is faced with a disease threat that other immune cells cannot tackle. In the process of this ‘redemption’, each cell rapidly acquires changes to the antibody gene it carries. Together, the changes mean that the cells can produce antibodies that no longer threaten the body – but instead be-
come highly potent weapons to fight disease. Importantly, antibodies from the redeemed cells are equipped to attack some of the trickiest microbes that the immune system faces: those that evade detection by disguising themselves to look like normal body tissue. Campylobacter, HIV and other microbes disguise themselves as ‘self’, and are problematic targets for the immune system, which systematically avoids attacking ‘self’. Professor Chris Goodnow, who co-led the new research, says the new findings will fundamentally change thinking about how the immune system protects us. “We once thought that harmful immune cells were discarded by the body – like a few bad apples in the barrel. Likewise, no one had any idea that you could start with a ‘bad’ antibody and make it good. From these new findings, we now know that every immune cell is precious when it comes to fighting invading microbes – and we’ve learned that the immune system recycles, conserves, and polishes up its ‘bad apples’ instead of throwing them away.” “We’re excited about the impact of this new understanding on vaccine development,” adds A/Prof Christ. “Our findings indicate that there’s a whole class of B cells out there – the silenced B cells – that might be accessible for vaccine development, and that have so far largely been ignored.”
By Disha Padmanabha
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Vol. 02 NO 17
April 24th, 2018.
ALGORITHM-AIDED SYNTHESIS OF SUPERIOR ANTIMICROBIALS
By Disha Padmanabha
Hospital-acquired infections are a major global health concern and represent the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, with an estimated cost of ~$10 billion annually. Infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria have been associated with more than 60% of pneumonia cases and more than 70% of urinary tract infections in intensive care units. Besides, such bacteria are highly efficient in generating mutants and sharing genes that encode for mechanisms of antibiotic resistance. It has been recently estimated that 30 million sepsis cases occur worldwide each year, and potentially 5 million deaths occur as a result of antibiotic-resistant infections. Unfortunately, in the past two decades only two classes of antibiotics have reached the market, oxazolidinones and cyclic lipopeptides, and both of these drugs are limited as they only target Gram-positive bacteria.
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Now, scientists at the MIT and Catholic University of Brasilia have come up with a streamlined approach to developing antimicrobial peptides as potential drugs to fight antibiotic-resistant bacteria. “We can use computers to do a lot of the work for us, as a discovery tool of new antimicrobial peptide sequences,” says Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez, an MIT postdoc and Areces Foundation Fellow. “This computational approach is much more cost-effective and much more time-effective.” The researchers applied Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection to their algorithm, which then generated thousands of variants from a peptide sequence and tested the variants for desired traits specified by the researchers. The team began with an antimicrobial peptide found in the seeds of a guava plant, known as Pg-AMP1, and asked the algorithm
to produce peptide sequences which tend to form alpha helices and have a particular level of hydrophobicity, both features that help peptides penetrate bacterial membranes.
that make the peptide much more potent, especially against Gram-negative bacteria, a category which includes species responsible for pneumonia and urinary tract infections.
The algorithm can start with any peptide sequence, generate thousands of variants, and test them for the desired traits that the researchers have specified. “By using this approach, we were able to explore many, many more peptides than if we had done this manually. Then we only had to screen a tiny fraction of the entirety of the sequences that the computer was able to browse through,” De la Fuente-Nunez says.
The team then tested this out by employing animal models- testing guavanin 2 in mice with a skin infection caused by a type of Gram-negative bacteria known as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and found that it cleared the infections much more effectively than the original Pg-AMP1 peptide. De la Fuente-Nunez and his colleagues now plan to further develop guavanin 2 for potential human use, and they also plan to use their algorithm to seek other potent antimicrobial peptides. There are currently no artificial antimicrobial peptides approved for use in human patients.
The algorithm then generated and tested tens of thousands of peptide sequences, and human scientists tested the top 100 candidates against bacteria grown in lab dishes. The best performer, guavanin 2, contains 20 amino acids and is rich in arginine, features