Biotecnika Times 14th May 2019 Edition

May 14th, 2019.

Vol. 03

NO 78

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7 Points To Remember Before You Start Your Ph.D. So, you’ve finally decided to take up Ph.D. Well, that is good for you.

GETTING A PH.D. DEGREE IS A REALLY GOOD IDEA UNLESS YOU KNOW COMPLETELY WHAT EXACTLY YOU ARE GETTING INTO.

By Preety Suman

I assume you’ve already received a lot of advice from your friends and colleagues, including the internet.

However, it is just hard to focus on who is right and which advice will work in the long run that is why you’re here.

Before sending your application to your dream university here are seven things you should give serious thoughts on. One or more of these tips will save you from disillusion and help you prepare before getting a Ph.D. Tip 1: The option to choose a Ph.D. program is yours Your career center will not set plans for you. What you’ll get depends on your earnest efforts in finding a Ph.D. program that suits you best. So take the initiative and consult your professor or colleagues who have graduated from your desired Ph.D. program.

Leverage your school website for a list of graduate school options and apply online if possible.

As far as I know, different universities offer varying Ph.D. programs focusing on particular subjects like biology, chemistry, or engineering.

Depending on what you’re passionate about, it is up to you which field to focus on. If you’re lucky, you’ll find scholarship offers that cover full tuition fee and provide school allowance.

Either way, please free to check out BioTecNika’s Ph.D. scholarship offers.

Tip 2: Getting a Ph.D. is all about doing an independent research study Many students don’t realize the importance of a Ph.D. thesis until they

fall head-first during their meeting with the supervisor. A Ph.D. program is not just a mere extension of your undergraduate course. It’s where you concentrate on your area of expertise by developing an original research study with the goal of publishing it in the school journal.

thinking what lies beyond. So why the rush? I keep saying that getting a Ph.D. is not a 50-meter sprint, it is a marathon.

“Why have you chosen this research study?” Your answer should not be, “because I’ve worked so hard in this study for many years now.”

Many successful Ph.D. graduates have worked for five years before going back to college. So why don’t you take a break? It will help you gain Since you’ve decided to take up a new perspective and ponder about Ph.D., you should have a vision of life-changing decisions. what topic you’re going to focus.

While it is true that the longer you As you embark on your Ph.D. jour- stay out of college the harder it is to ney, expect that your supervisor will get back, you can always choose a caask about your potential field of a re- reer path that still involves the applisearch study. To avoid embarrassment, cation of science. Say, for example, a make sure that you’ve researched private organization, policy, and conabout your topic well enough to get sulting. positive inputs from your supervisor.

Tip 4: You don’t have to stick to Tip 3: Taking a break after grad- your current area of study uating from your undergraduate course gives you time to think it Just because you’re working on a over computational analysis of a new medical formula to cure HIV does not You’re in your senior and your class- mean you can’t explore other areas of mates are asking if you want to take your Ph.D. studies. up post-graduate studies. Most of them are getting a Ph.D. after gradua- Your undergraduate course does not tion so you’re feeling a bit of pressure. dictate the direction of your Ph.D. So you told them, “Yes, I also want to program. While many students optget a Ph.D. degree since it’s also my ed for the safer path of pursuing their dream to become a professor.” previous studies, a lot of others have explored the undiscovered areas of But wait… Is it really what you want science. So if you’re doing a field reright now or didn’t you just felt chal- search, you can switch to lab-based lenged because your friends are get- research. ting Ph.D. and you’re not?

The best thing about Ph.D. is that What I’m sure of is that many peo- you are in control of your research ple ended up tramping through their and you can do what you’re passionPh.D. journey after taking off without ate about. So when you’re asked,

Try to be more creative and expand your horizon when necessary. Your passion is always worth the risk.

Who knows you might stumble upon a unique topic that incorporates both research.

Tip 5: The location of your University is very important One of the few things you’ll have to think about should be, “Where do I want to study?” Getting a Ph.D. takes at least four to five years which means that you must choose your school wisely.

If you’re the type of person who is always home-sick, then your best option is your local university. Your next move is to inquire whether your local university offers the Ph.D. program that you are passionate about.

What if your dream program is not listed in the options? Are you willing to compromise and settle for a different study?

For those who dream of studying abroad, think about your comfort zone. Do you want to study in big universities in the city or do you prefer working in remote areas? Imagine

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your life in these locations. Can you envision yourself studying in the area When you apply for work, the acafor five years? Are you prepared to demia will give more value to your go through the different cultural chal- experience and achievements than the lenges that you may encounter as you cost and name your university. push through your studies?

So just think it over. Don’t be disTip 6: Your finances matter more couraged if you can’t join major universities because of your financial stathan the University’s prestige tus. Show them who is through your It’s probably everyone’s dream to work and ethics instead of hiding bestudy in big universities in the U.S. or hind the veil of your school’s popuAustralia. However, you also need to larity. Nevertheless, you can always consider your finances. Do you have check out BioTecNika’s scholarship the resources to sustain your interna- programs. tional studies? Are you currently enrolled in a scholarship program or are Tip 7: Getting a Ph.D. will test you going on a self-funded journey? your survival skills Contrary to popular belief, your character is not dependent on how expensive your school is. While most people admire students who have graduated from prestigious universities, in graduate school, your reputation as an individual is what matters more.

How many times can you stay late at night to finish an experiment? How long can you manage to write a decent research report only to realize it is subject to revision?

Well, these are just a few of the many questions you’ll encounter once

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you start your Ph.D. studies. If you So these are the 7 things I want you think you’ve mastered the ability to to think about before taking up PhD. squeeze in work and academic after I’m sure you’re feeling a little scared surviving college, getting a Ph.D. will right now. But that’s just how it is. have you think again.

Getting a PhD is a long and winding In a Ph.D. program, time manage- journey. It’s a commitment that can ment will be three times worse than hardly live up to your expectation – your college. You’ll have to attend but what makes it worth trying is the classes, joint seminars, and meet with chance to reach your dream. your supervisor. Plus you must have extra time to conduct your research, If you are really zealous about it, then go for it. Don’t be afraid on analyze data, and write your thesis. something that can make you happy Of course, if you are working you 20 years from now. Good luck! need to divide your time wisely while sparing a little time for sleep. If you Still not sure whether to go for a think you lack organizational & Time Ph.D. or not, read our Career Advice Management skills, learn them and Section. start practicing them. Else drop your Ph.D. plan right now because even if For Pharma & Chemistry Jobs / you get admission into best univer- Scholarship Updates visit Rasayanisities you will end up getting your ka.com schedule skewed and will be willing to let go off Ph.D. plan after investing 1-2 precious year of your career.

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Common Myths about Doing PhD and the Truth Behind There are a lot of myths and fallacies surrounding the world of PhDs. Some of them may have advantages, but some of them are just plain myths. In this article, we will tackle ten of these myths and try to explain the advantages and disadvantages, if any.

IF THESE MYTHS HAVE NO TRUTH AT ALL, WE WILL ALSO DISPEL THEM AND PROVIDE YOU WITH REAL INSIGHT INTO THE REAL WORLD OF BECOMING A PH.D. AND WHAT IT TRULY MEANS.

By Shekhar Suman

Myth 1: You’ve got to be intelligent This is perhaps the most common myth everyone believes. With the likes of Steven Hawking, Albert Einstein, and Niels Bohr dominating the world of Ph.D., it is no wonder that the standards are immensely set high. Given these names alone, many would come to believe that intelligence is one of the main requirements for a person to become a Ph.D. student, let alone graduate with the degree. However, this is not true.

Intelligent is not the right word for it, at least. It isn’t even close to that. The main ingredient to becoming a Ph.D. student and graduate is diligent. One has to be diligent in taking this path. It is far off more vital than what’s inside your brain – which by the way can be obtained and mastered if you have the diligence to study regularly and read on materials and other readings vigilantly.

To add, if you are not intelligent, how would you even get past your master’s program – or even undergraduate course? Something else must have been there, and we bet it’s your diligence.

Myth 2: It’s the road to becoming only an inventor/scientist While it is true that most Ph.D. degree holders go out and become successful inventors or scientists, it is false to assume that you need to be an inventor or scientist if you ever take the Ph.D. road. In fact, have you ever wondered if any of them started inventing life-changing ideas during their studies? High chances are there are none.

Remember that the main goal of a Ph.D. program is to improve, develop, or boost your research skills, thus turning you into an exceptional re-

searcher. Ph.D. isn’t just about greatness or striving hard to make that overambitious idea a reality. Having this mentality will only make you look bad in the eyes of the people who will mentor you – your supervisor and the examiners. On the contrary, having this mindset will make you look like you are not in sync with reality.

Just remember one thing: Your time to shine will come. For now, just be patient and do your best to get a stable academic position.

ner.

Myth 4: It’s all about grades

Remember one thing, this is not your high school and it’s not mandatory for you to be a topper or an extraordinarily outstanding student to get a Ph.D. degree. It isn’t just about grades. It’s all about persistence. If you are determined that you want a Ph.D. degree, you can get it. But of course be it your Bachelors, Masters or Ph.D. you need to put in some effort, genuine effort Myth 3: Only A Ph.D. dissertation from your end. will ensure your academic career Myth 5: Your Ph.D. thesis should We cannot deny that a lot of Ph.D. be a priority students give high regards for their dissertations. This is especially true if Ph.D. candidates often get confused you want a career in the academia or in prioritizing their task. They think the Industry. For them, such disserta- that a Ph.D. thesis is their priority. tions would pave the way for them to And in this process, they ignore the the academic world. actual research which they are pursuing.

This is partially true since a high-quality dissertation containing The entire purpose of doing a Ph.D. strong publication material is an as- is to innovate and find out something set. BUT. This is only just a piece of which nobody has done it ever. Many the puzzle. It is not your ticket to a ca- a time even a small breakthrough may reer. Entering the academia or indus- seem silly to you, but actually, it can try requires so much more than just a be a stepping stone to the next redissertation, even if you regard it as searcher who will refer to your Ph.D. your masterpiece. thesis, that’s why you should priorOther points that could help you get itize your research first. in that career path are making solid Of course, write your thesis but you connections with other researchers in should understand, that the purpose your field, working on your attend- of your thesis is to progress in your ance and appearances (e.g., attending research work and that is where this conferences), and continuously work- myth should be broken. Now your reing toward publishing new material search should be at priority & Ph.D. during your Ph.D. program. Having thesis definitely should follow next. all these might just make you a win-

Myth 6: University rankings should be taken seriously when deciding where to study Most of those who go for Ph.D. programs choose schools that have high rankings, especially those who don’t have so many ideas about the schools from far-flung places. While this is the first step, this should be always the deciding factor.

Choosing a university based on ranking is a flawed strategy.

On the contrary, what you should be looking for is the quality and the reputation of your potential supervisor in the academia. Remember that it is your supervisor who will be writing recommendation letters to future employers and who will be helping you get your funding. So instead of choosing a highly ranked institution, go for a highly ranked supervisor instead. Having that supervisor in a great-ranking university is just the bonus.

Myth 7: Ph.D. graduates who are jobless become “post-docs” The usual notion of many people is that Ph.D. graduates often go for post-doctoral positions if they are unable to find jobs, either inside or outside academia. This is not the case.

The truth is that becoming a postdoc is actually a prerequisite for landing a stable academic or Industry

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position. Those that go for post-doctoral positions are those who have made it their goal to stay in the same research filed without experimenting with their career by going for Management degrees. In fact, you need to invest more than usual in terms of your Ph.D. research project as well as in creating connections with high-caliber researchers.

Myth 8: Having a Ph.D. is enough Now, here comes the best part. People think having a Ph.D. is enough.

And they always go for a non-funded Ph.D. The truth is if they do not have a scholarship, even if they finished the Ph.D., that Ph.D. is not enough.

You must go for a scholarship funded Ph.D. The benefit you get in case of a scholarship funded Ph.D. is you get your Ph.D. for virtually free and someone else is paying for your Ph.D. Once you’ve got your Ph.D. And if you have qualified CSIR net OR GATE exam, that becomes an added advantage and you stand out of the crowd. So even if you’re going for a Ph.D., go for a funded Ph.D., take a scholarship, write CSIR NET exam.

It’s not a big deal every year so many Ph.D. degree completion takes a decpeople qualify and even you can. ade and you end up wasting 10 years of your life.

So make up your mind and always go for a funded Ph.D., not a non-fund- No, it’s not, the fruits of success beed one. yond Ph.D. is huge. It cannot be easily gotten. So you must go for a Ph.D. Myth 9: Getting a Ph.D. Degree is and try to finish it within three to four a lifelong process. years and enjoy your life beyond that.

Getting a Ph.D. is not at all a lifelong process. People think you are going to work for seven to nine years on the same thing. And at the end, all you get is just one degree, a Ph.D. First of all, you need to understand that Ph.D. is not a degree, it’s an on the job training. Rather, I can say it’s a job. So if you are in a job, you’re getting paid and you are doing something which you love, there’s no harm in pursuing it. And as a job is a lifelong process, so why not Ph.D.?

When it comes to seven to eight years, it flys by so quickly that you will feel that it was just yesterday that you started your Ph.D. And trust me if you are really good at your research, you have taken the right research topic, your guide is good and your institution is good, You may finish your Ph.D. degree in three years too. This is the biggest myth we all have that

Myth 10: Ph.D. is Boring Is it true? Is getting a Ph.D. degree really boring?

Well, for those who have not been into this side of the world, it is not common to hear them say that those who take up Ph.D. programs are only boring people. For them, it’s all about reading, reading, and reading.

It’s about sitting in that dark corner, reading some materials and writing research or dissertations.

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experiment on many things. In fact, the Ph.D. community is surrounded by vibrant students, and it is a pure joy to watch – it’s like watching a magic potion do its work. Of course, if you are among those who are pursuing Ph.D. out of passion and interest it can definitely never be a boring journey, but those who got into Ph.D. just because peers & friends suggested then sorry to say, you will definitely oppose my point.

So there you have it. Ten myths that many people have come to believe, especially those who have no idea whatsoever with regard to getting a Ph.D. or the events that take place in an academic community. We hope that these ten myths would somehow change the way you perceive Ph.D. students or yourself (if you are one).

May this article serve as a mind opener for most of us “outsiders”.

We’re sorry to disappoint you every- Confused about your Career? Read one, but getting into a Ph.D. program Our Career Advice Section & Clarify is not boring at all – not even close. all your doubts.

Why? Because you’ve got a challenge take on and that is to let your creative For Latest Chemistry Jobs & Pharma Job Visit Rasayanika.com juices overflow nonstop.

Plus, when that brilliant idea surfaces, you tend to even work hard and

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Smart Strategies To Finish Ph.D. Degree Faster Without Delays One of the things most Ph.D. students worry about is how long will it take them to finish everything – from doing their research and writing their dissertation to defend it and graduating.

WHILE OTHERS FINISH EVERYTHING ON TIME OR SHORTLY AFTER THE EXPECTED, THERE ARE THOSE WHO STRUGGLE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, OR EVEN YEARS, LONGER. MANY OTHERS EVEN CHOOSE TO QUIT DUE TO FRUSTRATION.

By Preety Suman

This is what this article is all about.

Outlined here are some of the common pitfalls that prolong a Ph.D.’s completion years, including the difficulties. In this article, steps and ways to avoid delays and graduate faster is outlined. takes place during this stage.

Before we move forward to the tips to graduating faster, let us first tackle the three stages of a Ph.D. Early Stage This is considered to be the first twelve to eighteen months. This is where research-related activities are done. Reviewing the literature, discussing important research questions, and coming up with a proposal for the Ph.D. research are just some of the foci of this stage.

Middle Stage

REASONS FOR DELAYS The reasons for delays are varied, but for the purpose of this article, we will only tackle research-related and dissertation-production issues.

Slow start. This is the most common reason for a delay. Some students do not get to work as early as they should, and if this happens, other activities, as well as the timeline, is compromised.

The solution? Do not procrastinate.

Satisfaction issues. Another common reason for the delay is not being satisfied with anything. It could be on the student or supervisor side. Because of this, projects are never concluded; they might never even commence. Perfectionism should be left behind in terms of progress.

This refers to the second, third, and, in some cases, part of the fourth years.

Mostly, these years involve data collection. This is where healthy eating and sleeping habits are disrupted.

In other words, this is also the time Another major reason is the distracwhere you need that determination tion from everything else that’s hapand discipline to avoid its adverse ef- pening in your life. This could be anfect on performance and wellness. ything that is not related to your Ph.D. goal. Temptations, curiosity, and Final Stage other life events are just some of the distractions. This could also refer to This is the last years of Ph.D., the spending too much time on tasks that fourth or fifth year or longer. hamper their progress – and growth.

It is important to note though that these time frames vary from one person to another and between disciplines. Ideally, this is when the research is completed. Most of the times are spent in making sure loose ends are tied and a final version of the dissertation is created. Then, of course, the defense, above all, also

STRATEGIES FOR AVOIDING DELAYS So now that we have gathered some of the reasons for the delay, it’s about time that we discuss some of the strategies for avoiding these delays. The following are just some of the strategies. It may be effective for some

while it may not totally work for Be always on top of your game and some. Nonetheless, it is still impor- do not expect anyone else to do it on tant that you get the idea. your behalf or take over. In fact, it is advisable that one should set up a regUSE THE PH.D. COMMIT- ular progress-report meeting with the TEE, NOT JUST YOUR SUPER- Ph.D. committee. When many people VISOR are involved, it is less likely the student will fall behind without anyone In many doctoral programs, Ph.D. noticing. students often do not use all the resources that are available to them, WRITE EVERY DAY including the efficient use of a Ph.D. committee. Some just go straight with Even when you don’t’ feel like it or if their supervisors when planning their you’re in the somehow experiencing thesis and monitoring their progress. a “mental block” or a “writer’s block” In fact, this has been referred to as it is crucial that you write every day. the normal way of doing things in the This cannot be emphasized enough as Ph.D. world today. The truth is that it is one of the most important habone could really make use of other its you need to develop. One does not faculty members to help with whatev- become a good writer overnight; it er they are doing at the moment. Do takes a lot of practice. On the other not be contented with just working hand, every student knows you can side by side with your supervisors. always find something to write about; On the other hand, the supervisors there is always something in need of can also make the first step and in- being written up. troduce their students to their faculty colleagues. Gain knowledge, advice, Practicing and developing some and feedback from every possible good writing habits will come in person who you think are capable of handy as you go your way up the docproviding one. toral program. It will smoothen too as you progress year by year.

For the resourceful ones, it is important to note that they usually create As Dave G. Mumby, Ph.D. would their Ph.D. dissertation committees as say, “Writing frequently will reveal early as possible. This usually takes gaps in one’s knowledge or underplace after deciding on the general standing. Vague and disorganized aims or scope of their research. To writing often reflects vague and dismake it clearer and to jumpstart the organized thinking. Writing about process, it is best that everything is a complex arguments or concepts helps written proposal and has it evaluated most people understand them more by the committee, including, but not limited to, a supervisor.

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deeply.”

DON’T BE PASSIVE

come to you and dictate your steps.

Make the initiative to make things happen and avoid losing so much The degree of self-reliance is one time. For instance, arrange the necof the striking difference that can be essary meetings with your supervisor noticed between undergraduate and and members of your Ph.D. commitgraduate. They should realize that tee as early as possible. it is totally up to them to teach and train themselves. The sooner they get The point here is that you should this, the sooner they start with work- take matters into your own hands ing their way up and getting things and give a good impression to others. done. They should keep in mind that People will see this as a positive valthe graduate supervisor’s primary ue and they might just put out good role is just to track and facilitate their words for you in the future. self-education. Again, no one will do it for you. You might also consider To sum it up, spoon-feeding is not seeking knowledge and advice from a a thing for this stage in your life. A slow start, even though a start, is still professor. It’s all up to you. equal to the time lost. So avoid this at Do not waste much of your time – all cost. whether weeks or months – waiting for your supervisor to make the first KNOW WHO YOUR POTENstep. Do not dilly dally and procrasti- TIAL SUPERVISORS ARE BEnate, hoping that your supervisor will FORE MAKING A COMMIT-

MENT

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will help. You can ask around too, but make it subtle. Doing this will avoid This is much more applicable for the inevitable and will save you from those who are just entering the gradu- losing more of your precious time. ate school as compared to those who are already in the Ph.D. program.

These are just four of the strategies you can do to avoid delays. RememBelieve it or not, but interpersonal ber, in this path you are taking, eyes problems that arise between a stu- will be on you. They will watch you dent and a supervisor usually account every step of the way and will notice for a large percent of dropouts in the just how you handle difficult situprogram. A graduate student and su- ations and challenges. Just always pervising professor cannot continue have that positive mindset and continto work together if they can’t have ue to do your best at all times. Also, mutual respect, let alone have the pa- learn to be patient with yourself and tience to face and talk with each other. allow yourself to grow. There will be stumbling blocks along the way; use The best alternative to avoiding this them for your own good. Work closeis to check your potential supervisors ly and diligently with your supervisor and learn as much as you can about and other professors. Just put in mind them. It is not necessary (and advis- that you might be needing letters of able) that you go up to them and ask recommendation from them in the futhem yourselves. This might just give ture. off a negative impression. Looking for clues and maybe observing from afar

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7 Advantages of Having a Ph.D. Over Non-Ph.D. Candidates Having a Ph.D. will give you a more significant advantage than regular job candidates. Don’t let others doubt your self-worth.

IT TAKES A WHILE TO COMPLETE A PH.D. DEGREE. SO MOST PEOPLE WILL TELL YOU THAT IT IS JUST A WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY.

By Preety Suman

At some point in your journey, you’ll feel pressured seeing others having a family and getting content with their regular jobs.

But here’s the catch –bigger rewards await for those who have put up so much hard work. Getting a Ph.D. is a long-term investment. When you get into the real world, you’ll find out PhDs believe that failure is just a that the world is in need of trained part of the challenge professionals who can create new information and not just repackage it.

How many clinical trials have you failed before getting the right anSo if you’re feeling doubtful at com- swers? You’ve probably made 30 atpleting your Ph.D., here are some of tempts to no avail but you still wake the significant advances of complet- up stalwartly in the effort to conduct ing your journey. another research.

PhDs can identify real problems In short, you are not a quitter. Indusand provide customized solutions tries like people who don’t stop what they’re doing just because they fail.

Different industries have high re- When you’re a Ph.D., you develop an gards for Ph.D. graduates because of open mind and a wider perspective their ability to think critically, solve which industries look for in a certain complex problems, and lead decision applicant. making.

Most people who fail for the first Since PhDs excel in these three are- time eventually quit their job. But you as, they are often more preferred than don’t. You’ve taken up Ph.D. which regular candidates. Considering the have trained you to face hurdles and rapidly growing demand of skilled maintain a strong heart. workers, you as a Ph.D. graduate can be the next person to sit in top indus- PhDs know how to rise above their try positions. career amidst negativity Never take for granted the fact that you’re a researcher. In case someone mocks your achievements, think of all the time you spent trying to find the answers to the world’s toughest question, no one has ever solved but you.

Remember this – other people will simply skim through the internet to gather information. But you have a different way of approaching questions and a more reliable way of searching for answers through data gatherings, testing, and experimentation.

Life of a Ph.D. candidate is full of ups & downs. One faces challenges everywhere, but a Ph.D. candidate can tackle them more efficiently.

Don’t believe me yet?

strive harder.

Rather, they discover things to create new information. This is one of your All the rigorous processes which most valuable assets that makes you you’ve gone through was just a part of outstanding. the training to face a greater challenge in the future. Sooner, you will realize Anyone can learn how to work and that getting a Ph.D. has made it very replicate products. However, the abileasy for you to deal with hard-hearted ity to discover technology and inpeople. So be thankful! novate products to resolve rare conditions is only acquired when you PhDs maintain positive thinking pursue a Ph.D. amidst uncertainty Don’t assume that you’re lesser than Ph.D. graduates don’t see uncertain- anyone. If your colleagues tell you ty as a hindrance. They view it as an that Ph.D. is just a “title.” Tell them opportunity to discover something that is not. If you’re a Ph.D. degree new. If uncertainty ends, then there holder, you’re a leader and an innovawould be nothing more to discover. tor whether you work in an academic or non-academic career.

As a Ph.D. graduate, you’ve probably spent many years of your life do- PhDs can collaborate both with ing experiments to resolve the gray PhDs, non-PhDs & PostDocs areas in this world. For many times, you didn’t have an idea whether your If you have a Ph.D., you’ve worked experiments would yield good re- very closely with many colleagues sults. Yet here you are. You’ve passed and students, be it your Research all the challenges.

Guide, Your Colleagues & Fellow Researchers, Juniors and many more.

So there is no way you can’t handle You’ve already have shared resourcwhatever uncertainty the real world es with different people and mingled brings. This quality is something that with several field experts. No one is many regular workers don’t have. more qualified to work with a team Most people want assurance and re- than you are. When it comes to being assurance, which is why they are easy a team player, no one is better than to break. Since you can work through you. uncertainties, you are more likely to excel.

PhDs are never overqualified for an industry position PhDs create information, not just replicate Try to imagine yourself as the em-

Remember the times when experimentation results were not appropriate and you felt worthless? Or You had to redo your Ph.D. proposal from scratch? It was absolutely a degrading experience, isn’t it? But still, you made an effort to complete your Ph.D. Every word & situation of discouragement and rejection sim- PhDs don’t just replicate what has ply turned into a challenge for you to already been written in the books.

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ployer. If you want your company to thrive and you’re looking for the best person on board, would you turn down someone who has a Ph.D.? Exactly, The answer is NO. But still, many employers turn down the best candidates for several reasons. Sometimes, the best way to say you are “wrongly” qualified is to say that you’re “overqualified.”

If you experience this scenario, don’t

lose hope. Simply, change your approach. Before you apply to another company, research on the employer’s working environment. Do not complain about the system going against you, rather try to adjust yourself to the situation and present a solution on how you can help the company.

You must show how your Ph.D. can help advance their interest. The key is to position yourself correctly. After all, you are a Doctor of Philosophy.

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No one is ever more knowledgeable fied. Just follow where your passion in your field than you do. may lead you.

But don’t be too proud of yourself.

Refrain from bragging and doing a litany of achievements. Avoid any instance that would lead your employer to think wrongly about you.

So these are the seven advantages of being a Ph.D. graduate over regular candidates. Don’t be afraid to transition into a non-academic career just because you think you’re overquali-

Whenever you’re in doubt just think of this, “Why do you think people pursue a Ph.D. program even if it will take a lot of years?” Probably because there is something good in it like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Remember, good things take time.

Good Luck!

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How To Get Into PhD Programme After Completing Bachelors

Surveys and studies have shown that the United States of America has maintained being the number one destination for those who are looking to pursue Ph.D. and other degrees abroad. One of the reasons for this is that several, if not all, US universities have the variety and extreme coverage in terms of researches related to their subjects of interest.

IN OTHER WORDS, THE STUDENT WHO WISHES TO PURSUE PH.D. CHOOSE THE USA BECAUSE THE COUNTRY HAS BEEN KNOWN TO INVEST TIME, EFFORT, AND MONEY IN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.

By Preety Suman

Another reason is the fact that most universities offer Ph.D. programs to students who are more than willing or have dreamt of pursuing a Ph.D. in the USA shortly after their achieving a bachelor’s degree. What’s even appealing is that these universities have offers that a student cannot resist: getting a master’s degree while also trying to finish his or her Ph.D. degree.

To give you a picture, here is a table of the top universities in the USA This article talks about the nature of which offer Ph.D. after a bachelor’s applying for Ph.D. after completing degree: your bachelor’s degree. To start, it is important to lay down important facts Take note, however, that not all US and answer questions. Some of these universities that offer Ph.D. programs questions are as follows: cover the combined MS and Ph.D. It is your personal responsibility and Can you apply for Ph.D. after a discretion to check websites of the bachelor’s degree in the USA? universities of calling the registrar’s office for more information.

It may not be the norm, but there are US universities that are now allow- How Should one apply for a Ph.D. ing students to pursue a Ph.D. degree degree after bachelors? after achieving a bachelor’s degree.

However, there’s a catch in this set- What can you do then? Take a look ting. While pursuing a Ph.D. degree, at the factors below and take them you also need to work your way up into consideration when applying for the ladder and obtain a master’s de- Ph.D. after a bachelor’s degree: gree.

1.Strong GPA – Those who have What do a combined MS and strong grade point averages have Ph.D. degree Mean? higher chances of qualifying for the program. If you are from abroad and In other words, most of these uni- have different grading systems, you versities only allow you to enroll in can ask for help or you can undergo a Ph.D. program if you agree to also an assessment. work on achieving a master’s degree.

To explain further, this means that a 2. Standardized test scores – Be student is able to achieve a master’s sure to ace your standardized test degree for two to three years and then scores as candidates as these scores the student is given the permission to can definitely have an impact in your continue with his Ph.D. studies. What application. The following are some makes this setup interesting is that of the required standardized tests you there are universities that automati- are asked to take. cally discuss a master’s degree upon a student’s admission; some make it 3.GRE: This test is mandatory for tougher for the students by requiring everyone who wishes to pursue any them to take a few extra credits of Ph.D. program in US universities. coursework that eventually leads to Whether you are applying for manthe master’s degree. agement studies or others, you have to take this after obtaining your bach-

elor’s degree. For doctoral programs, you might also be required to present GRE subject scores of the course as well.

in detail how committed you are to the Ph.D. program and should also contain information about your goals in life.

4.TOEFL: TOEFL is an English proficiency test and is only applicable for non-native English-speaking countries. Meaning to say, foreign students need to take this and they are required to get a high score in order to be admitted to Ph.D. courses.

8.Resume: Although this is not applicable to all US universities, there are those who require the student to submit a resume along with the application. It should, in a glimpse, provide their basic information, including, but should not be limited to, date of birth, academic qualifications, achievements, and details of employment, if any.

5.IELTS: IELTS is also accepted for international students’ admission to Ph.D. programs. This is similar to TOEFL in the sense that this is also an English proficiency test that is designed for students who belong to the non-native English-speaking countries. This is to test your command over the English language. It has four parameters, namely: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking.

6.Letter of Recommendation(LOR): A LORis one of the most crucial requirement when getting an admission to Ph.D. programs. This letter is another person’s independent assessment and outlook when talking about the candidate’s potential. There are several universities who require three LORs while there are those who only need one. Here’s a tip for Freshers: Have your letters of recommendation written either by your professors or employers, it will give you that additional leverage.

7.Statement of Purpose(SOP): Another vital requirement is your Statement of Purpose. This should explain

9.Research Projects: Most importantly your portfolio of research projects can come in handy when aspiring to be admitted into a Ph.D. program. So be sure to keep records and copies of any research that has been written and/or published.

10.Interview: Most of the universities in the USA offering direct Ph.D. hold a separate interview round for the aspirants. As in most cases, the Ph.D. interviews are conducted by invitation only. The questions are general as well specific to the subject the candidate wants to pursue.

There you have it, everyone. We hope this article will be able to help you prepare for your journey to Ph.D. Good luck on your way to getting that Ph.D. degree.

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Is Ph.D. Degree Necessary for Career Progress in Bio-Pharma Industry?

We’ve been receiving a lot of questions whether getting a Ph.D. Degree would be useful & advantageous for a career in Biotech & Pharma Industry. Well, this question comes up frequently especially for those who are highly interested in making their career biotech, who really have the belief that there is future in Biotech unlike those who blindly follow the crowd.

IN TRUTH, PH.D. PROVES AN ACCREDITED LEVEL OF MASTERY, BE IT ANY FIELD. GETTING A PH.D. DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU DEFINE AS A “GOOD CAREER”.

By Preety Suman

You can begin working as a researcher without studying Ph.D. but if you want to get a higher rank in the future, having a doctorate degree in biotech is your “Ticket to Promotion”.

In this article, we’ve compiled seven good reasons why you might need a Ph.D. in biotech or pharmaceutical industries.

Reason 1: You want to have a The average annual income of a higher chance for promotion to an Ph.D. fresh graduate with less than a year of experience is $80,000. Someexecutive level one with a Ph.D. in Biotech earns up There are many success stories to six-figures after three to five years about how ordinary employees get of experience. to executive positions without studying Ph.D., and they’re very interest- At first, you may think that studying ing. But most of these people have Ph.D. is a waste of time and money. worked so hard for 20 to 30 years be- But don’t fall for this trap. Think of it fore they’ve reached their peak, no- as a long-term investment. You may not realize its benefits within a short body talks about this fact. span of time but you’ll reap its greatWhen you’re vying for a promo- est results in the long run. tion, sometimes the easiest way to get around it is to study Ph.D., have a Industry Aspect: For pharmaceutiPh.D. degree. Of course, there will be cal and biotech industries, candidates a different set of struggles along the with a Ph.D. are very attractive hires. way, but it could help you get a pro- In return, you will have a more advanmotion less than the time needed for tageous position and a higher monthly payout – plus the opportunity to non-PhDs. work something extra like teaching in Industry Aspect: Biotech industries a university. can also be very specific. For example, companies that focus on inno- When you’re a Ph.D., it means that vation technology research projects you have a higher level of discipline would prefer to have at least one and specialized knowledge. Biotech Ph.D. who can oversee the project. In companies will be running after you other words, a Ph.D. on a resume can for these things, which a typical unmake a difference between getting a dergraduate do not have. promotion from a simple researcher to a technical expert and remain in a Reason 3: You want a unique career option, which a normal Bachlow position. elor’s or Master’s degree holders Reason 2: You want to have a does not have higher salary grade than non-PhD Many people will probably tell you candidates that studying Ph.D. is useless because According to a report in the journal you will have a job anyway, whether Science, Ph.D. holders in science can you’re a Bachelor’s degree or a Masearn as much as $20,000 more per ter’s degree holder. year than non-PhD holders.

However, we all know that for peo-

ple who want to have multi-level carrier options this is not true. There are golden opportunities that are only exclusive to Ph.D. holders. For example, if you work in the academia, you can transition to industry position or vice versa.

Other career options include working as a market research analyst, competitive intelligence analysts, business development manager, or product manager. If you can picture yourself in these career 10 years from now, then getting a Ph.D. degree will be your best shot.

Industry Aspect: Aside from that, the Biotech industry is such a bias business. Hiring managers often overlook talented candidate with a Bachelor’s degree and award a unique job to someone with a Ph.D. degree.

We’re not saying this to discriminate the industry but because of the tough competition, this scenario is likely unavoidable these days.

Reason 4: You want to have a certain level of confidence and a job satisfaction Higher education attracts people who have high expectations for themselves. Thus, if you ever experienced having low self-esteem because of not being satisfied with what you have right now, it means you might want to pursue a Ph.D. Getting a Ph.D. will give you self-satisfaction in the most meaningful way. In fact, this will help you

earn respect from your Biotech peers like no one else has given you before.

If you want to vie for a high-ranking position in biotech, this could double your chance at getting it. In fact, at least 70 percent of Ph.D. graduates have found self-confidence and job satisfaction after getting what they’ve wanted.

The path of higher education is rough, but if you want confidence and job satisfaction, then getting a Ph.D. will help you do that.

Reason 5: You want to improve your writing skills, and eventually publish your research in a popular science journal Well, most of the popular authors you’ve seen in scientific journals did not start as expert writers.

If you want to have your name included as one of the most influential people in biotech, getting a Ph.D. can be your best training ground to become an awesome writer.

When you study Ph.D. in Biotech, you will master the hardest part of the writing process – that is sitting down and getting started. You will learn to collaborate with other PhDs and learn valuable skills.

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So even if you do not want to work in the academia, your writing skills will give you a more competitive edge to land a good industry position.

Industry Aspect: The good news is that the biotech industry is desperate to hire writers. They spend at least $3 billion every year to get the most talented writers on board just to get the ball rolling. If you want to be a part of this workforce, a Ph.D. will definitely give you more advantage.

Reason 6: You want to cope with your timid personality, develop strong interpersonal skills, and become a leader in the academia Just because PhDs work alone for most of their student life doesn’t mean they’re shy. If you only know, Ph.D. holders are the best communicators because most of them work as a teamwork.

It’s where you can work with colleagues in a laboratory testing with

sheer persistence. You will discover every person’s strength, weaknesses, If you want to become a respectable and levels of experience which will person and a leader that everyone can help you learn how to control and follow, getting a Ph.D. will truly be project yourself when you’re with worth it. people.

Reason 7: Govt Has Made Ph.D. Furthermore, when you study Ph.D. Degree Mandatory for Teaching in Biotech, you will meet prestigious Post, In future, it is to be implepeople. It could be a science author mented in other sectors as well. or a popular biotech innovator. When you graduate from your doctoral de- Govt is known to change rules gree, you’ll come out with the best abruptly, I hope you remember deversion of yourself. monetization, Aadhar declared Mandatory and what not. The day is not So how does this give you a career far when a similar circular will be readvancement in biotech or pharma- leased stating that a Ph.D. Degree is ceutical? The answer is simple. Both Mandatory to be at a Scientist Post in the academic and industry positions Govt Research laboratories and even in biotech require great interpersonal private ones too. So why you want to and professional skills, which can be take the risk with your future self. only learned after studying Ph.D. Ph.D. helps you raise the ceiling and The level of emotional intelligence get a better impression from biotech and cooperation that it takes to work companies. In fact, there are people, with a research team is higher with who after working for 10 years, have PhDs. It’s all about great attitude and ended up studying Ph.D. in their late how you handle yourself with a team. 40s just to have a good research ca-

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reer.

Many people will say that Ph.D. holders have a similar level with people who have more than 10 years of experience in biotech. But one thing that is not common with experienced professionals and Ph.D. holders is the wide array of unique skills that the latter learn while completing a Ph.D. These include having strong analytical skills, being able to communicate complex ideas both written and verbally and having multiple technical skills.

To summarize, getting a Ph.D. strongly depends on what you want to happen in your professional career. If you want all of the things mentioned here, then getting a Ph.D. Degree will give more advantage in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries.

In any case, you can always refer to this article as your guide. All the Best!

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What Ph.D. Supervisors Expect In Their Ph.D. Students?

When we do a Ph.D., we expect a lot from our Ph.D. supervisor. A Ph.D. supervisor must be professional, supportive and expert in their subject area. But, what do Ph.D. supervisors expect from their research students? Let’s Find Out! A SUPERVISOR PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN YOUR PH.D. YOUR PH.D. SUPERVISOR ACTS AS YOUR ACCESSIBLE ADVISOR, GUIDING YOU FROM THE BEGINNING TO THESIS SUBMISSION AND BEYOND.

By Shekhar Suman

They encourage and assist you to develop achievement standards that will eventually result in a thesis of merit.

That’s why it is important to possess the imperative skills that a supervisor expects in their Ph.D. students. Here are the top 10 most important skills for Bioscience Ph.D. students, that will reap the greatest benefit while limit. You never stop learning, and you pursue your research degree. you can experiment and research as much as you want.

Ability to Work Independently A Ph.D. supervisor wants their students to be able to work and think Passion and willpower are two independently. They should be con- things that make the scientists burn fident, and willing to take initiatives the midnight oil to find a solution to an interesting new problem. and responsibilities.

Though the supervisor remains available in labs and meetings as and Ability to Find and Answer Diffiwhen required, the students should cult Questions be able to work with minimal super- Most university degrees focus on vision. The sky is the limit on what, answering questions that we’re alhow and when you perform your re- ready familiar with. We know we can search. More work with more con- do this and our degrees train us to centration means getting the answers answer those questions appropriately to your questions quickly. Doctoral and with expertise. students should develop their own questions and be able to find answers But, things are different when you do research! Doing a Ph.D. is not just with little assistance. about finding solutions to the existing problems. In fact, it’s about findOpen-Mindedness to Creativity Bioscience is a field that requires ing the new puzzles, questions, and deep and creative thinking. This field problems that are interesting and are keeps on changing according to the not easy to answer. However, these latest findings. So, in order to make questions are worth answering! Ph.D. their students succeed, supervisors supervisors look for the spark in their expect them to adapt their thinking to students to find an answer to such the new information. They should be questions. able to respond creatively to complex Solid Communication Skills and new questions.

For pursuing a Ph.D., people who can communicate effectively are very Enthusiasm Ph.D. students should be enthusias- important. It’s because eventually tic about their field of research. They you’ll become a scientist, write a theshould be willing to push the frontiers sis and talk to people about their exof knowledge in that particular field periences and your work. and share it with others. You have You must be able to present your into be passionate about the pursuit of formation to both a lay as well as an scientific knowledge and have a gen- expert audience. You should practice uine desire to learn and discover new presenting orally, making presentathings. When you undertake a Ph.D. tions and participating in debates to in Bioscience, the sky is really the get the most from your studies.

Time management skills When you pursue a research degree, no one will stand over you, time-manage your classes and experiments.

You have to plan everything out and set up milestones and timelines for yourself.

An ideal research degree student knows how to hit all deadlines. They can plan their work, meet deadlines, stay in touch with the supervisor and pay attention to detail. They plan their weeks and semesters for researching and working on the assessments.

They have the ability to see interest in their research topic and then write precisely about what they’ve discovered.

Professionalism There are several kinds of students and supervisors, and so, the different kinds of supervisor-student relationships.

You may end up forming a friendly relationship with your supervisor.

You may have frequent meetings in a coffee cafe, travel to conferences together and stay in touch even after you’ve graduated. Alternatively, you may end up getting fined or have fewer chances to meet your supervisor.

Supervisors expect their students to be professional, no matter what kind of relationship form with them. After all, your Ph.D. supervisor is a professional academic researcher, and he will help you to become one too.

Motivation Good research students are highly

motivated and ambitious to learn new things. Students that take too much time to complete their research degree are probably the students with a wrong reason to pursue a Ph.D. degree. Self-motivation is the key ingredient to complete your Ph.D. successfully.

High-intelligence and good marks are required as you commence graduate research. But, to accomplish your research degree, motivation is paramount.

Strong Academic Background Having the skills mentioned above doesn’t mean much if you don’t have a strong academic record. You can do a lot in high school and as an undergraduate to increase your chances of acceptance into a Ph.D. program.

So, these are the core skills or things that Ph.D. supervisors look into their students.

To survive and ideally enjoy your doctoral degree, you need to master all these skills. If you disagree with any of the qualities mentioned above, then even simpler things will appear dull and challenging to you.

Pursuing and accomplishing a research degree requires a lot from you.

You need to stay focused, dedicated, and directed to complete your research degree successfully.

So, make sure you respect and practice these skills and your path to success with your research degree will be a hurdle-free journey.

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Guideline For Pursuing PhD in State Universities of India Planning for a PhD in State Universities of India? Then you must go through these essential guidelines before you start.

STATE UNIVERSITIES ARE DEFINED AS THE UNIVERSITIES THAT ARE FUNDED AND RUN BY THE STATE GOVERNMENT AND NOW THEY BECAME THE JOINT RESPONSIBILITY OF BOTH THE CENTRAL AND THE STATE GOVERNMENT, FOLLOWING THE CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE IN 1976.

By Preety Suman

There are 251 State Universities including both public and private Universities of which, the UGC has been making budgetary plan allocation for 123 state universities facilitating creation, augmentation and up-gradation of infrastructural facilities. In general, a PhD follows master’s degree and takes four to five years for completion in many State Universities.

All the state Universities follow rules and regulations framed by UGC, India for PhD admission, allocation of Research Supervisor, coursework planning and evaluation of PhD thesis based on Standards and Procedures.

Students who plan their PhD studies in State Universities can perform their doctoral research in the well-sophisticated research environment and meet researchers with high expertise in nearly all scientific disciplines.

Here are certain Guideline For Pursuing PhD in State Universities of India

officially sponsored by the employer are considered under this category. At the time of PhD admission, such candidates should provide NOC from the employer expressing their willingness • to pay full salary to the candidate • to relieve the candidate to complete the PhD research requirement • to permit a candidate to avail the research facilities available at the organization

Part-time PhD programme (on Campus): Candidates working in Govt./Govt. Aided Engineering Colleges and Polytechnic Colleges Govt/ Govt. aided/ private Engineering/ Technology colleges or Science and Who must submit a NOC (No Ob- Arts Colleges/ Universities shall produce No Objection Certificate from jection Certificate)? the Head of Institution for PhD regThere shall be two broad categories istration. of candidates who are expected to Additional certificates required in submit NOC during PhD application. case of candidates applying for PartFull-time PhD programme: In case time PhD programme. of candidates who are applying for Full-time PhD application and have • Relieving certificate from the employer – to relieve the candipassed their qualifying examination date to complete his/her residenfrom other Boards / Universities, they tial requirement need to obtain eligibility certificate from the Registrar of the proposed • Experience certificate from the employer – to state the number University, before granting admission of years a candidate is working to them. with the employer.

Part-time PhD programme (External): Candidates working in re- In the PhD entrance test, what puted industry/organization having subject will I be tested in and what R & D facilities and Government is the difficulty level?

Research Laboratories where the research work of the candidate can be As per UGC regulations, all the

State Universities, deemed to be Universities and affiliated colleges shall conduct an Entrance test followed by interview for the admission of PhD programme. Entrance test pattern and selection criteria can be decided by the individual University.

• The entrance test which will be conducted by the respective Department and the syllabus for the written test differs for various specializations based on the department the candidate is applying for.

• The Syllabus of the Entrance Test will consist of 50% of research methodology and 50% shall be on subject specific to the Department to which the candidate is applying.

• In certain State Universities, for candidates applying for interdisciplinary research, the Entrance Test will be a common Entrance test with general paper and its syllabus will be framed by the interdisciplinary Board of Studies.

• A minimum cumulative mark of 50% is fixed for selection based on the candidate’s performance in the Entrance test, Qualifying exam and Interview.

• There shall be a slight change in the minimum qualifying mark in the entrance test where it is 55% in the University of Mysore.

• Some universities follow the ranking system and many other criteria to evaluate the performance in the entrance examination. For example, Pondicherry

University considers candidates who score more positive marks with less negative marks in the entrance examination.

I have completed M. Phil. Will I be exempted from the Entrance Test?

As per the UGC regulations, the particular University may decide separate terms and conditions for those students who qualify CSIR/UGC JRF/ NET/SLET/ GATE examinations or have passed M.Phil programme with respect to the entrance test.

In general, candidates who qualify examinations or have M.Phil degree are exempted from entrance test in many State Universities. There are different terms and conditions in various Universities.

• No exemption for candidates with M Phil degree and exemption only for candidates who have qualified UGC, UGC-NET (including JRF)/UGC-CSIR NET (including JRF)/SLET/ teacher fellowship – • The exemption only from written test and not from the interview for candidates with M.Phil and who have qualified competitive exams – University of North Bengal • Exemption for candidates who have obtained M.Phil from the same University and not for

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candidates who have obtained a M.Phil degree from other Universities.

How is a research topic/ preliminary research idea decided?

• A Research Advisory Committee (Doctoral Committee), for each Ph.D. scholar, will be formed comprising of Supervisor, Head of the Department, Co-Supervisors in case of interdisciplinary research and subject experts to review the research proposal and finalize the topic of research.

• This committee will guide the research scholar to develop the study design and methodology of research.

• This committee will periodically review and monitor the progress of the research work of the research scholar.

• Does University provide any Hostel facility to a PhD scholar?

• Yes. Hostel facility is available for both men and women in almost all State Universities except a few like Anna University, Chennai. Based on the availability of rooms, hostel accommodation shall be provided to the PhD scholars.

How is a Guide and Co-Guide decided?

• The allocation of Research Supervisor for a selected research scholar shall be decided by the Department concerned. It depends on the research interests of the scholars, number of scholars per Research Supervisor and the available specialization among the Supervisors.

• In case of topics which are of interdisciplinary nature, the concerned Department may appoint a Research Supervisor from outside the Department as Co-Guide with the approval of Institutional Research Board.

• Note – It is recommended to get the acceptance from a Research supervisor prior to the official processes.

How many Guides am I allowed to work with?

You are allowed to work with only one guide. In case of interdisciplinary research and if the Supervisor retires from the service, a Joint-Supervisor/ Co-Guide who is a subject expert can also be included.

Do I need to approach the poten-

tial supervisor myself?

Yes, that is the preliminary step.

Based on your research interest, you have to approach a supervisor.

the PhD coursework.

• All other candidates admitted to the PhD programme shall be required to complete the Ph.D. coursework prescribed by the Department.

Consent from a recognized supervisor from a recognized department is Is a transfer to/ from another Unimandatory to consider the application versity possible during the course for admission to Ph.D. programmes. of PhD program?

PhD application without the consent of the Supervisor shall be summarily • The candidates pursuing their rejected.

Ph.D. with one University can transfer their registration to cerWhat are the criteria for Exemptain State Technical Universities tion from the Course work? like Anna University of Technology (Madurai) for which the canAs per UGC regulation, the coursedidate’s existing status regarding work shall be treated as pre-PhD the coursework, confirmation preparation and a PhD student after of registration and duration of admission should undertake a coursestudy shall be considered and work for a minimum period of one suitably upheld at the discretion semester. A course must include a of Vice-Chancellor. course on Research Methodology • Transfer of Ph.D. candidate which may involve quantitative methfrom one Supervisor to another ods and computer applications.

Supervisor can be accomplished with mutual willingness granted A coursework includes by both the present and proposed Supervisors.

• Research Methodology – quan- • For a change of supervisors, titative methods, computer apdocuments including No Objecplications, research ethics and tion Certificate from the present review of published research in supervisor, Willingness certifthe relevant field, training, field icate from the proposed superwork, etc. visor and the details of scholars • Advanced level courses in the currently pursuing research unsubject concerned der the proposed supervisor are • Background paper relating to necessary. candidates’ PhD work • As per UGC announcement on • Special electives – specific to 2016, women PhD candidates the area of research recommendare allowed to transfer the reed by the Doctoral Committee search data to the University where she relocates from the In relevance to Exemption criteria parent University because of from coursework, marriage without any hurdle.

In such a case, it is mandatory • Candidates already holding M. to give credit to both the parent Phil. Degree from the same UniUniversity as well as the Univerversity is permitted to proceed to sity where the female candidate the Ph.D. without coursework. relocates.

• Scholars with M.Phil. Degree in the Faculty of Science and Hu- Is it mandatory to publish a remanities have been exempted search paper before submitting from course works only when the thesis for award of PhD degree the M.Phil. A degree is related from this Institute/University? to the proposed Ph.D. research work and when it is recommend- Yes, it is mandatory to publish at ed by the Doctoral Committee. least one research paper in a refereed • Candidates having M.Phil de- journal before the submission of the gree from a different institution thesis as per UGC guidelines. In cerand in an interdisciplinary sub- tain Universities like the University ject may need to undergo the of Madras, it is mandatory to publish coursework. two research papers in case of Sci• M.Phil. Degree obtained through ence discipline in a refereed journal.

Distance/Correspondence/ Open University System is not con- Am I expected to teach while pursidered for exemption of course suing PhD at this Institute/Univerworks. sity?

• In integrated PG and PhD Degree, Candidates may be ex- Not mandatory. However many Uniempted by the Department from versities will support the PhD schol-

15

ars involving in teaching with Teaching Research Fellowship.

Will I be selected for the written test/interview if I meet the eligibility criteria?

• The admission is entirely based on merit basis.

• The research board shall screen the applications as per the eligibility norms and the candidates who meet the eligibility criteria will be called for entrance test followed by an interview.

• 50%-55% of marks from the qualifying examination, i.e. PG Degree and another 50% based on entrance examination comprising of both written test and interview shall be considered for the selection of candidates for PhD candidates.

How many seats are there for PhD admission this year?

It depends on the number of PhD students under an individual Research Supervisor.

• A Professor can guide a maximum of eight (8) Ph.D. scholars.

• An Associate Professor can guide up to a maximum of six (6) Ph.D. scholars • An Assistant Professor can guide up to a maximum of four (4) Ph.D. scholars.

What do I need to do other than filling up the online form? Do I need to post a print out of the application form? Do I need to post a copy of my certificates, mark sheets, etc.?

Application form can be downloaded from the University website and filled-in form should be sent to the University administration along with certificates and mark sheets.

In some Universities, an online application needs to be duly filled in, to be printed, and to be duly signed by the concerned Scholar, Supervisor, HOD of Supervisor and Joint Supervisor if any and to be sent to the University along with the photocopies of certificates and mark statements I have done my M.Sc in botany, but I have a research project proposal in Microbiology, will I be eligible?

Yes, you can apply. If both the subjects of the candidate’s post-gradu-

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ate degree and the discipline of the department in which the candidate is applying for his/her doctoral research are different, then their PhD degree will be mentioned as “interdisciplinary”.

To conclude, by joining in a State University, PhD Students can work with highly educated and experienced faculty advisors who extensively help them navigate a problem, provide training in research methods and ultimately guide in writing research re-

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sults. The primary output of any PhD student is to publish research papers that disclose new results and discoveries made by the students during the course of their PhD research. Since it is mandatory to publish research papers, PhD in State Universities can

improve the chance of wider recognition and contribution to the scientific community for any PhD research Scholar. Also, India has a growing demand for researchers who are necessary to drive the country to the forefront of innovation and excellence.

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Frequently Asked Technical Questions During Biotech PhD Interviews

Cleared the Biotech PhD Entrance Exam? Hold On it’s not over yet! Once you clear the PhD Interview you are through the finish line. PhD Interviews are very crucial.

It is one of the vital steps after clearing competitive PhD entrance exams is the selection of a proper guide and project.

THE SELECTION PROCESS IS USUALLY BI-DIRECTIONAL, WHERE FIRST A PANELIST WOULD SELECT A CANDIDATE AND THEN THE CANDIDATE WOULD SELECT THEIR GUIDE/PROJECT BASED ON INTEREST.

By Rashmi Sanyal

During the interview, the panelist would generally look for logical reasoning ability of the candidate along with their subject knowledge. The candidate may face questions that seem very difficult but are very simple when thought upon. The trick is to stay calm. Few examples of Frequently Asked Technical Questions istic of transformed tumor producing During Biotech PhD Interviews have cells. If the growth appears normal, they are mostly normal cell cultures. been listed below; Now, tumor-forming ability can be Question 1: How can you differen- seen by this method but whether they tiate between a cancer cell line and are benign or malignant needs to be a normal cell line by just looking at checked by various cytological or genetic tests. it?

Answer: A transformed cell can be differentiated from a non-transformed cell by looking at a cell culture. If the cells form colonies, piling up on one another, it indicates loss of contact inhibition. This is a character-

Question 2: If you have a drawer full of black and white socks, in how many chances will you be able to select a correct pair, by pulling out one sock at a time?

Answer: This is a probability type question, however, has a very simple and logical solution to it. This shows the interviewer your ability to think quickly and analyze logically. It will take a maximum on 3 chances. You will pull either a black/white sock at the first chance. You may pull out the same color in the next chance. Even if you do not, by the third chance you will have a pair of either black or white socks at hand !!

Question 3: If you have three samples with DNA, RNA, and protein,

what is the easiest way to differentiate between them and identify?

Answer: The easiest way to differentiate the solution is to do a spectrometry test. The three have different absorption properties. Another way is to look at the solution tubes. Protein solution will give froth on shaking. DNA solution appears whitish with strands and spools. RNA solu-

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tion is transparent and may sediment on cooling. Other biochemical tests can differentiate the three along with electrophoretic techniques. !!

in a macrophage is identical, however, their structure and function differ.

This is attributed to the fact that we have RNA.

hibiting their DNA replication, cell wall formation etc. This slows down the infection and eventually kills the bacteria.

Question 4: Name one GPCR li- Question 6: Do bacteria survive in gand which is neither a protein nor blood? a lipid nor a sugar?

Answer: This is a very basic quesAnswer: Light is a GPCR ligand and tion which we may fail to ponder is neither of the above. The receptor upon and hence can be asked in the is Rhodopsin and is the reason we can interview. Bacteremia is the presence visualize an image in dim light. Rho- of bacteria in the blood. Bacteria may dopsin, a visual pigment found in the spread through the bloodstream, howrod photoreceptor cells of the retina, ever, blood is normally sterile. Presis responsible for converting photons ence of bacteria in the blood can only into chemical signals that stimulate be caused by severe infection or tisbiological processes in the nervous sue harm. They are quickly removed systems of humans and other verte- by the body’s immune system. It can brate animals, allowing them to sense be treated with antibiotics. light !!

Question 7: When an antibiotQuestion 5: If DNA is the key ic medicine that dissolves in the source of everything, why do we mouth is consumed, how does it reneed to spend time and energy in move infection? preparing RNA? Answer: There are four basic stagAnswer: At a high-stress period like es of a medicine’s life in the body: an interview, a candidate may eas- absorption, distribution, metabolism, ily forget simple questions like this. and excretion. This process may be This allows the interviewer to judge abbreviated as ADME. Usually, an your basic knowledge and confidence antibiotic releases the drug either on level. RNA allows the formation of dilution in the mouth or stomach. proteins only transiently. It balanc- Once the drug component is released es the requirement. If RNA was not it gets absorbed in the tissues and enproduced DNA would always pro- ters the organ system through which duce proteins and keep all cellular they enter the bloodstream. Usually processes on. RNA also allows differ- the medicine is carried through the ent types of splice variant proteins to bloodstream throughout the body. form from one DNA (gene). In some Side effects usually occur when a drug cases, RNA may also work as inhibi- has effect on an organ other than the tors of production processes !! Ideally target organ. Antibiotics may combat the DNA in a neuron and the DNA the bacterial infection by either in-

Question 8: If there is a linear DNA that has 3 RE sites, 2 bp, 100 bp, 4500 bp apart from the start site, how many bands will you get on digesting this fragment.

Answer: This is a practical based question, and the answer proves that you have worked with blotting techniques. Assuming that there is no overlapping fragment size (since the last length till endpoint has not been mentioned) there should ideally be 4 fragments in this linear DNA. But if we look at the western blot markers we will find ladders usually up to 100 bp or maximum till 50 bp. This is because fragments below this length are usually not obtained in the blot – it runs outside the gel. These questions judge both the subject knowledge and the analytical capability of a student.

They are merely examples to help you understand the level or type of questions that one may face. However, questions from one’s project/work may be asked as well. It is important to convey your interest to the panelists for them to judge better.

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xanthomonadin which is an extracellular polysaccharide (EPS). EPS sheaths the bacteria from desiccating and for the attenuation of wind‐ and rain‐borne dispersal. This bacteria infects rice at multiple locations like a leaf through hydathodes at the leaf tip, broken trichomes, leaf margins and wounds in the leaves or roots, multiplies in the intercellular spaces and enters into xylem vessels. Erwinia amylovora causes fire blight disease of apple, pear, quince, blackberry, raspberry and many wild and cultivated rosaceous ornamentals. In animals: Vibrio cholerae– Cholera— is a waterborne pathogen. Yersinia pestis – Plague Question 10: What is standard error and how is it different from standard deviation?

Answer: Standard deviation(SD)measures the amount of variability or dispersion for each data in the sample from the mean. It gives us an information about how much is the distance between each data in the sample from the mean.

The standard error of the mean(SEM)- Measures how far the sample mean of the data is likely to be from the true population mean.

Question 9: Name some plant and The difference between sample mean animal disease-causing gram-nega- and that of a population mean. More tive pathogens? the sample error it is more likely that the sample is not a good representaAnswer: In Plants, Xanthomonas tion of the population.The SEM will oryzae pv. oryzae a Gram‐negative be smaller than the SD. bacterium is of rod shape and produces a yellow soluble pigment, called

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Top 12 Questions Asked During PhD Interview & How to Answer Them A Ph.D. Interview freaks out a lot of candidates. They often struggle thinking what all questions will be asked and how he or she should prepare oneself. PhD Interview format and the type of questions asked vary with institutes.

YOU MAY BE CALLED FOR A ONEON-ONE INTERVIEW WITH YOUR POTENTIAL SUPERVISOR IN PERSON OR VIA SKYPE.

By Priyanjana Ghosh

Most of the institutes follow a formal interview format which is conducted in front of a panel, and you can be asked to give a presentation to the department. Rarely you will be called for an informal chat with your potential supervisor and their students over lunch. Regardless of the type of interview and level of formality, you must do your homework and prepare for the interview. Of course, you cannot predict the specifics of the questions that they will ask you, but certain topics are almost inevitable. As per our survey, below we have tried to accumulate a set of Q&A, Top 12 Questions Asked During PhD Interview & How to Answer Them. Lets Dive In! Q1. Tells Us Something About Yourself or Give a Brief Introduction about yourself!

and that you are excited about the opportunity.

Here’s an example that someone applying for a Biotechnologist position might use: “My name is Anurag and I’m a passionate plant biotechnologist with over five years of research experience specializing in somatic embryogenesis and haploid culture. I’m looking forward in growing my technical and research skills to develop and inspire a thought of my own.” Customize it further as per your & the post requirement and Bingo! You will have a great start!

Ans: You will say now this is a common question, everybody can answer it. Wrong! The first impression is the last impression! Obviously, this will be the first question in a PhD Interview and almost 70% of candidates handle this question in a wrong man- Q2. What do you plan to do after you complete your PhD? ner.

Ans: Strategically answer to this question. Start with “I am really excited to do my PhD in this subject, this has been my topic of interest since my masters, after exploring it further during my PhD that too in this institute, I am sure I am going to like it even more, so definitely at this point of time i am willing to pursue my postdoctoral studies after PhD to broaden my horizons further. I would even like to take up an opportunity if How to Start – How you pitch your it comes by to serve myself as a profirst line matters. The intensity of fessor, rendering my knowledge to your voice & the choice of words our future assets.” matters. Plan on the first few speaking moments of your introduction before- Above answer is just an example to hand. Confidence is equally impor- give you an idea about how excatly tant as your appearance. To establish the flow of your statemnet should be. a solid foundation, boldly state your Analyze first what are your future name. Don’t be afraid to speak up. A plans and then frame your answer acsolid volume shows you’re confident cordingly.

Appearance – This is the most important attribute of an interview. One should be dressed up properly as it shows that you’re paying attention to the details and care about making the right impression. Truly said by someone, What you wear is a part of who you are! Hence use it to communicate your personality. Keep the focus on you by avoiding flashy accessories and extravagant attire. Be simple.

Q3. What do you think are your strengths and weaknesses, can you highlight them?

Ans: The best way to answer this tricky question is to keep the job description in mind and then tread cautiously. Do not speak your heart out.

Be specific and to the point.

Speak about your strength in conjunction to the Job requirement. For example, if the job revolves around a lot of team projects, in that case, you might say that you are a great team worker and clear communicator who can work with diverse groups of people.

While addressing your weaknesses, avoid pointing out weaknesses that would make you unfit for the job.

For example, if the job requires a lot of skills technical skills on handling R&D equipment, do not say that your weakness is technology. Also, no matter what weakness you select, show a positive side to it. Like you are working on your particular weakness rigorously and it will never reflect in your work.

Q4. Any type of training you are planning to take up during or after of your PhD? Ans: The answer to the above questions can be given in the below way: “Yes, definitely Sir/Madam, some training/workshops or hands-on technical skill development programmes are on my top priority list which I am

planning ahead of my Ph.D. I have learned that major biotech and biopharma companies in spite of having an appropriate academic degree and academic qualifications overall, new graduates were hired for less than 15% of all available entry-level job openings. Later I understood that Transferable job skills are a major issue among new PhDs. If I can somehow minimize this skill gap I feel it will be beneficial for me.”

Q5. Why are you choosing this particular project?

Ans: Say that “According to me, this project is much related to my prior work knowledge and it will be easier for me to connect with the current project and provide fruitful results.

Moreover, I want to expand and extend my thought of research to a higher level and this project will be the best platform for me.”

By now you must be knowing some specifics of the project you are going to work on, pick up keywords and frame your answer around it. This question is generally asked in order to check how passionate you are about the subject.

Q6. What makes you the right candidate for this PhD? Ans: I am a self-motivated person who is willing to give 100% in the

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project. If I am selected for this PhD not only I will implement my existing knowledge but will also be open to exploring advanced techniques. I hold a lot of experience & hands-on exposure in ‘Plant tissue Culture lab’ (For example) as I had Plant Biotechnology as my special paper in my masters and post Msc I have worked as a project assistant for 2 years ( Supposed) in a lab. The requirements of this project and the prior knowledge I have suggests that I will be a perfect fit for it. So for sure Sir/Mam I can bring my successes and experiences to my PhD work here.

Q7. What difficulties do you expect to encounter during this project?

Ans: This question has been the most common & an important part of most of the Biotech PhD interviews. This question can be thrown at you either in the beginning while you are talking about your strength & weakness or during the time you explain to them about your post PhD plans. Tackling this question perfectly can be a key to your selection in the PhD Interview.

As an answer to this question you can cite: “I per my understanding in order to start with the project I need to go through the existing archived research records, hence those should be easily accessible, also easy access to the labs for conducting studies, proper SOP’s in place are the major things I am concerned of which I am sure will definitely be taken care of here, without even me asking for it. (Say it with a confident smile ). The most common crisis I feel we will have to face is a shortage of required sample & chemicals if that can be taken care of, it will help us accelerate our work.”

I can understand you will be very much tempted to speak about fund crisis as one of the major challenges you will face, but mentioning this point in the first meet is not advisable.

Analyze the members in the interview panel and then take up this point Q8. What would you like the impact of this project to be?

Ans: The answer for this may vary from person to person depending on the type of project you are getting into.

For example, if you are getting into a cancer-related project, say that ” Intense research is being done on this topic worldwide. Advancements are there yet nothing breakthrough.

I would like to take this project in a

direction where not only we focus & analyze areas untouched, but also it yields a prominent result. I would put my every possible effort & knowledge to come out with some breakthrough research which could save the mankind from Cancer.

research angle that is exceptional with a training module that will meet my professional needs. I was already familiar with the job of my potential supervisor and their study has greatly influenced my knowledge development. A combination of my skills aided by the guidance of my supervisor If you are getting into hardcore Bio- along with the universities extremely tech research cite that: “As my work advanced infrastructure at the display will be mostly around biotechnology, I assure you this project will be a hit. which is an applied branch of science, I hope to provide some economic ben- Q11. What can you bring to this efits to the biotech industry globally research group? and moreover, I’m keen to share my passion for this subject with a wider Ans: “I’ll be honored if I could be audience. part of the research team and will attempt to bring huge development Q9. How are you planning to fund in Research Quality. I have learned this project? plenty of technical skills in past work experience and it’s going to be a terAns: Questions related to funding rific opportunity for me to execute exare asked in interviews concerned actly the exact same inside this study with non-funded PhDs. In case you group. I also mean to publish my own have a fully funded PhD, you might research work in cooperation with my still be asked about contingency plans teammates in impactful & renowned if funding falls through or the project journals. Moreover, I would love to is overrun due to some unforeseen teach my juniors along with my group circumstances. mates using whatever abilities and understanding I have accumulated till You can reply by saying: “In case date in my experience.” of a funding issue my first step will be to short-listed external funding Q12. If you repeatedly get negaagencies who will be willing to fund tive results in your project, what in our project. If needed I can work part-time, earn in some extra bucks without hampering my major project work, just to fund the project temporarily until the fund crisis is resolved.

I would never like the project to stop abruptly, will do whatever in my hands to support the project.”

will you do?

Ans: “Sir/Madam repeated negative consequences is a symptom of a new study measurement and may contribute to some fresh ideas respective to our scope of the study. I have also learned about this a group of journals that have been specially designed to release the ‘rejects’ for example the Journal of Negative Results in Biomedicine. May more such journals exist. Negative findings can also be progressively represented in broadscope journals like Disease Models & Mechanisms and PLoS ONE. So sir/ mam I believe one ought to keep high trust and soul on adverse results instead of becoming a pessimist.”

So here we are with Top 12 Questions Asked During PhD Interview & How to Answer Them. In this piece, we have tried to enlist most common questions that are asked during PhD interviews. The above answers are just a suggestion meant to guide you, give you an idea on what kind of answers exactly the interviewers expect from you and how you should frame your answers smartly in order to get through the selection process.

Q10. Why you want to do your PhD from this University ?

Ans: To answer this question you have to come prepared. Discuss what you really understand more about its own particular R&D Department and the university. Discuss how this University will be able to assist you and the way they’re much better than the others. Describe how you will be able to bring about their endeavors and you’d love to study & grow with the supervisors assigned.

Do not miss on the opportunity to reiterate your awareness of the broader research context for your project. If other departments or labs are undertaking work that is related, mention that. Say what attracted you in particular to this university and what you hope to achieve as among its pupils.

In short, a simple answer to this question can be given as : I have looked at plenty of chances in this area. I feel this project is best among one of its kind, combining a

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labs.biotecnika.org

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10 Best PhD Supervisor Selection Method Explained The most important step in your PhD journey is choosing the best supervisor that will guide you as you walk the path toward a PhD degree. Your intelligence and skills won’t help so much if the supervisor you’ve chosen won’t do as good a job as you.

THAT IS WHY WE ARE HERE TO HELP. WE HAVE PROVIDED ANSWERS TO MOST QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE WITH REGARD TO GETTING THE MOST FROM YOUR PHD SUPERVISOR.

By Preety Suman

These will help you become successful in your PhD journey and hopefully guide you as you nurture a strong working give and take relationship with your supervisor.

When to first communicate with your supervisor Communication is the most crucial and vital ingredient in any successful endeavor, whether it’s a group work, a long-term project, or others. Thus, in other words, building a strong communication foundation with your supervisor is very important. If you wish to be successful with your Ph.D. journey, then you and your supervisor should be able to communicate well and must also be able to provide feedback and constructive criticisms. Setting the grounds as to what you can and cannot freely express can help build a good relationship.

This is also beneficial if you are looking to creating a successful team.

To make this happen, it is recommended that you list down all the researchers in your community and filter the ones that you think will make a great supervisor. Do this even if you haven’t applied for a PhD yet. Doing this will ensure that the upper hand in terms of choosing which one suits you best. The goal is for you and your supervisor to be comfortable talking to each other and be eventually learning how to overcome hard times on your working relationship without having to let go of each other.

the same person or that you’ll find a person that has the same quality with theirs. But that isn’t the case all the time. What works for others might not work for you. In short, their supervisory needs and preferences might not always be the same as yours. You have to exert your personal effort to find a supervisor that suits you well.

fit the kind of supervisor everyone is looking for. These ten traits are considered as the “foundation” of a great supervisor.

Rely on your gut feeling and pick the one that you are most comfortable with.

It’s like choosing your own music to listen, the clothes to wear on a daily basis, or the people you want to trust and invest time in. Choosing the perfect supervisor for you means you have to trust your gut feeling. It is a personal choice, and it shouldn’t be influenced by any other person, no matter how close you might be o each other.

• An awesome supervisor should always be approachable. He or she should look at you as a research partner and not just a student who needs to be taught.

• He or she should also have a good amount of connections within the academia. This would make it easier for you to land an academic position that is within your expertise after you’re done with your studies.

• A great supervisor also has the capability to challenge you constantly and to question your opinion, helping you learn techniques and tricks especially when it comes to defending your ideas. In other words, he or she will help you grow intellectually.

• A superb supervisor will give you credit for your work. He or she will not grab all the praises for the work you have done.

A partnership is a partnership; thus, both of you should get the credit. He or she should not be greedy for it.

• He or she has the ability to get the funding you need and also has the powers to hire you as part of his or her team, specifically as a research assistant, when the

The types of PhD supervisors who exist

There are different kinds of PhD supervisors who exist. For others, the only way to choose a supervisor that is right for you is to observe and determine what kind of supervisor he or she is. In short, it’s like choosing What it means to be a great fit a partner who you want to spend the with your Ph.D. supervisor rest of your life with. You need to invest so you’ll land with the right one.

A great-fit supervisor is one whose working style and personality comTen characteristics of a great plement your character as well as Ph.D. supervisor your working habits. There would come a time when you’ll hear of othWhile it’s true that every student has er students complimenting particular different personality types and prefsupervisors, and in your mind, you erences, there are characteristics that only wish that your supervisor was

We have enumerated them below, in no particular order. Check it out and take these into account when hunting for your supervisor:

need arises.

• A good supervisor is more than able to provide you with clear directions in your work and sets realistic expectations based on your capabilities.

• A supervisor that is ideal gives you the freedom to show your own personality and let you move according to your preferences. He or she does not treat you like a robot.

• He or she should be capable of inspiring you and encouraging you to always do your best, especially in times when you need it the most.

• A great supervisor sets regular meetings and boosts your self-esteem as well. He or she encourages you to work consistently.

• A superb supervisor lets you explore on your own, giving advice whenever you need it.

Young and inexperienced vs old and experienced PhD Supervisor Should you choose someone who is young or go for someone who has enough experience supervising students already? The most obvious difference between someone who’s old and someone who is young is that older ones tend to be more confident because of the experience they have

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on their shoulder. They can give you more freedom and guidance to do you work on your own.

On the other hand, younger ones have fewer experience on their plate, and thus might be tighter in terms of following your progress. They have the ability to make sure that you that they are guiding you the best way they could. They also tend to be more involved in your research project because they have a personal agenda too, hunt for publications that would aid them in becoming a professor. In other words, they will treat your project that is worthy of publication.

If you are torn between the two, then just remember this: It all depends on your career expectations and working style.

Your PhD supervisor does not possess unconditional knowledge about your research project As the student pursuing your master’s degree, your supervisor knows a lot more about your topic than you do. That should be a given. Therefore, they are able to provide you with the advice and guidance you need related to your research.

However, it is different when you are a student that is pursuing a PhD degree. Embarking on this path means stepping into the unknown. But the good thing is that at the end of it all, you will know a whole lot more about your topic than your supervisor used to. This only means that your supervisor might not have the knowledge to provide you with the best advice.

This means you need to look beyond asking him or her for information.

You have to contact other researchers from the same field especially in times where you encounter certain blockages and obstacles.

writing your thesis and also give constructive and critical feedback.

On the other hand, while this is something that’s really good, you shouldn’t rely everything to be offered to you on a silver platter. Also, if you can Your supervisor is not a “Genie in research it on your own, then do so. the Bottle.” He is not there to save you Do your own research first, and if you when everything else goes wrong. On still can’t find the answers, then ask the other hand, that’s the beauty of it for help. all: it will make you tougher.

Furthermore, a great supervisor Setting meetings with your Ph.D. must have the ability to teach and supervisor guide you in writing journal articles and grant proposals as well as conThe frequency of meetings you hold necting you with some researchers in with your supervisor depends on your your field. But there’s a limit to that progress. There are some who needs too. They should not in any way do to meet them as often as possible the job hunting for you or do the writwhile others only need to see their ing for you. supervisors in certain times. But the end game is the same: Meet them reg- To make it clear, ask your superviularly or at least twice a month. The sor for help or advice only when you best way to do this is to talk with your need it. supervisor and discuss the frequency of your meetings. It is something that What to do if things go wrong only the both of you can agree to.

Frictions between you and your suWhat your Ph.D. supervisor can pervisor are inevitable during your do for you postgraduate studies. But this should not be a reason for you to change Helping you produce a high-quality supervisors. Remember the ground research should be on top of the list rules you set in pointer number one. of the things that your supervisor can Communication should be vital. Put do for you. They should give you the into mind that disagreements are natbest guidance they have to offer in ural, and it will pop up from time to terms of your research structure, in- time, especially when you are in the cluding the questions to ask and the same team. But if you have a strong methodology to use. They should be communication foundation, these disable to provide advice also on differ- agreements will be handled in a manent issues that come up while doing ner that will help both of you grow your research. Most of all, they should and learn. be able to provide a helping hand in

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In other words, do not hesitate to have a conversation with your supervisor. If you’ve exerted all effort and still the disagreement is not solved or the situation gets worse, then it’s time to change your supervisor – this should only be a last resort.

How many times can I change my PhD supervisor?

No one, in any school, is setting limits in terms of you changing your supervisor. The goal here is to find the perfect fit for you, regardless of how long it takes or the number of times you have to change. Just make sure that you have already carefully examined which supervisor is the best for you. Only when it does not work should you switch teams and change your supervisor.

So there it goes. Ten pointers for you to take into consideration when it comes to getting the most out of your PhD supervisor. We hope that these pointers will help you land the perfect fit for you. Just remember that when things go wrong or if you’re no longer happy with the supervisor you currently have or when you are not getting the most out of him or her, you have the option to change supervisors. Just don’t do it in a blink of an eye. Take some time to think about it and do what you can within both your powers to make it work. After all, it is your future that is at stake here, so everything should be within your ideas and preferences.

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Important Questions You Must Ask During a PhD interview For Ph.D. admission, institutes and universities usually conduct interviews for selection of meritorious candidates. Once selected in an interview, the candidate will have to list their faculty preference as well.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO DO A THOROUGH CHECK AND MATCH THE GUIDES INTEREST WITH YOUR INTEREST.

By Rashmi Sanyal

It is important to do a thorough check and match the guides interest with your interest. While at it, there may be a chance given where you may ask questions back to the panelist/faculties. Here are some examples of common questions that candidates may ask. Possible answers are also mentioned along with which you may receive from the interviewer. This will help you plan in advance to frame a counter-reply or additional questions during the interview. Remember, this is a crucial moment that will decide your research career, hence it is better to be prepared in advance for all stages.

Question 1: What are the supervision arrangements for the project?

Possible Answer: Generally, towards the start of the project, a guide may instruct their students to regularly present their ideas/work/any random publication.

This develops reading skills. A guide may insist the student to learn various techniques, this increases their skill-sets. In some research institutes, teaching may also be a part of the curriculum. This allows the student to develop their communication skills.

Some labs encourage article writing so that it becomes easy for a student while formulating their thesis at the end of the tenure. These programs differ from lab to lab and hence, a candidate must be inquisitive and active and hungry to learn for the guide to show interest.

Possible Answer: Generally, a Ph.D candidate will be expected to have a basic idea of various techniques. Initially, an induction will happen when a new student joins a lab. During this time a candidate must try and learn as much about the lab and its work as possible. The student may either be comfortable on a daily/weekly/ monthly follow-up with the guide as per his availability, to keep him up-todate. The student must follow a regu- Question 3: Will I have opportunilar habit of reading to come up with ties to teach / present / publish? new ideas and faster techniques.

Possible Answer: In some instiSupervision of a project is usually tutes, it is mandatory for an SRF to given to a senior member of the lab. teach. Hence, this can be asked from They become the mentor for the stu- the student and if the opportunity is dent. Any protocols or experimental given, it must be taken with delight. analysis can be shared with the men- Teaching others can increase the subtor. A step by step plan of execution ject knowledge of the candidate. Usuhas to be made. Once the student is ally, towards the start of a project, a confident with his work and is accus- candidate may be asked to regularly tomed to the lab usage, the guide may present the understandings of other allow the student to execute the pro- research papers. This increases conject independently. The final reports fidence and generates a lot of ideas are discussed with the guide for fur- for the upcoming project. A PhD is ther insight into the project. incomplete without a paper presentation. It depends upon the success rates Question 2: What kind of training of the experiments, a student may end and skills sessions are offered as up having multiple publications bepart of the Ph.D. programme? fore submission of the thesis. This greatly increases work credibility.

Question 4: How many other Ph.D. students has this supervisor seen to completion?

Possible Answer: Generally, a lab has roughly 5-10 PhD students and research associates/trainees. One of the senior students is allotted for individual mentoring of the new joiner.

It is vital to check how many vacancies a guide has before joining him.

Also, it is important to check how many students have qualified in the past academic year. This will give the candidate a fair idea of the guides efficiency to help. However, it has to be kept in mind that a supervisor is there to help whenever stuck and not to do the PhD on your behalf.

Question 5: Are there likely to be any changes to the funding arrangements for the project?

Possible Answer: A valid question to check since the entire 5 years a student is dependent on the stipend and the project is dependent on the funding. If either one fails, it becomes a financial burden, and may even lead to termination of the project. Before the beginning of a project it is best to jot down a flow chart and a budget, that can be worked upon. The funding has to be used efficiently. In case there is a funding change or halt, the backup plans must be thought beforehand. It is best to discuss this with the guide up front.

Question 6: Is the university or department likely to run any events or other associated projects during

the period of my PhD ?

Possible Answer: A lot of institutes run parallel projects with Ph.Ds. There are conferences and paper presentations that are held to increase discussion and knowledge depth within young minds. A lot of institutes allow teaching as a part-time occupation along with Ph.D. Some make this compulsory. Such opportunities if presented must be utilized. This can be checked from the institute/lab webpage as well.

Question 7: In case the CSIR/ ICMR/ICAR fund completion date approaches and my project submission is not yet complete, will I be eligible for any stipend?

Possible Answer: Certain universities/labs that obtain a good amount of research grants may have their own stipend provisions. However, if a student brings in their own funding, the institute may not extend any stipend beyond it. If the student does not complete the project before his fellowship expires he may approach the guide for an alternative solution. Either he may be allowed to earn while teaching or he may get a part of the stipend allotted. In some cases, a student may be refused both as per the lab/institute rules.

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Question 8: Are there any collabo- their experimental procedures to othrations of the supervisor’s lab with er labs with which they work in colrelated international laboratory? laboration. Such information must be discussed with the guide for smooth Possible Answer: This question is execution of PhD work. important pertaining specifically to the students who are interested in pur- Question 9: What exactly will be suing their post-doctorate in interna- my topic of research in the big reptional labs. Many renowned scientists ertoire work carried out in the suhave collaborations with multiple na- pervisor’s lab? tional and international laboratories where a part of their area of interest is Possible Answer: Many a time, carried out. This increases the scope multiple research is been carried in a and quality of research which is car- wide area of research in different labried out in the laboratory of the su- oratories. Firstly identify your area of pervisor. At a time a PhD student also interest and match with that of your gets an opportunity to carry out a part supervisor’s interest. Defining preof his research in an international lab cise objectives is very essential bewhich also increases his/her scope fore starting your PhD work. Hence of getting selected in that lab for by having a discussion with your post-doctorate and also increases the supervisors, you will get a proper quality and weightage of his/her PhD. perspective about your path for your methodology design and other PhD Some labs also outsource part of work.

PHD SPECIAL A lot of institutes also ask for SOPs from a student before their enrollment. This is a vital document as it shows the students interest match with the lab and the techniques that the student would like to work upon.

It also highlights one’s logical interpretation and problem-solving skills.

Discussion on this while enrollment may aid in the topic selection process.

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seniors thus eventually helping him/ her for designing objectives. Laboratory and literature review work which is carried out in the introductory work gives a direction about what and how much is the scope of exploration in the topic of interest.

Question 10: Have someone already done introductory work on your topic in the supervisor’s lab?

If no, then students need to perform pilot studies and read an enormous amount of literature for an entirely new topic that he/ she wishes to carry out. This too is exciting as you will be one of the pioneers to carry out new explorations on the topic.

Possible Answer: In some cases, a project fellow may have been assigned a part of your project work.

The results in that project would have opened the gateway to a lot of other research proposals. If so, this will help the student understand the subject precisely by the guidance of his/her

As important as it is to select a good candidate for research it is important for a candidate to select a good guide and project. If the work falls within their passion, no task will seem difficult. Hence, as much possible, groundwork must be done before approaching the final interviews !!

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Are Indian Ph.D. Scholars Inferior to their American & Chinese Counterparts?

Getting a Ph.D. is not a kids play. It demands time, patience, hard work, and determination, overall it is a big challenge.

STILL AND ALL IT IS A WORTHWHILE OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE HIGHER AND SOME EXTRA EDUCATION, MAKING YOU MORE ELIGIBLE AND COMPETITIVE IN THE WORLD OF JOBS.

By Dr. Pallavi Rungta

Due to the changing socio-economic culture, students all over the world are becoming responsive by seeking academic and research opportunities, and consequently finding astonishing success in all the fields ranging from chemistry to economics and to the various science & humanities fields. Essentially, a Ph.D. scholar should himself take the decision of pursuing this degree since it is full of both possibilities as well as failure, no matter where you go. It is a longterm research project and one must be completely motivated to take up and commit to this challenge.

India stands tall on the fourth rank with slightly over 24,000 doctoral graduates being produced on a yearly basis. The USA tops the list with a production of 68,000 doctoral scholars. Among the emerging economies, India is the only country which has been featured in the list at such high While pondering over the options ranking making it even more comand comparing the opportunities mendable. in different parts of the world one should consider the matter of fund- Also across various disciplines, Ining, research demands, and timing, dians are swarming to the top echelons of higher learning, especially in and see how the degrees matches. the US. This ‘proliferation’ of IndiIf we look at the Indian higher edu- an-origin academics heading top accation system, we will see that it has ademic institutions in the US is not expanded at a phenomenal rate dur- a new phenomenon. The list of these ing the last decade and shows no sign supremely talented and accomplished of stopping. There is a rapid produc- academicians has been growing for tion in the number of Ph.D. research a decade. But India does not offer opportunities due to huge growth in enough to these fertile, imaginative the number of individual universities, minds to hold them back in their own producing cutting-edge Science and country. The crème of the talent pool Engineering projects to unique pro- from India go to the US and pursue grammes exploring the country’s own their PhDs. These academic toppers diverse history and culture. Going to naturally become successful— in the the U.S., on the other hand, gives sev- industry and in academia. On the coneral flexible benefits to prospective trary Indian scholars are inadequately students who are looking for a home skilled for jobs. IITs, IISc, TIFR, and a few more top institutes have surely for their research. impressed the world but a large numScholars are hence encouraged to ber of scholars from lesser known consider each of their pros and cons universities and colleges are not even and think what kind of experience employable, let alone their comparison with their counterparts from adthey want as a Ph.D. candidate. vanced countries.

A qualitative look at Ph.D. in InMost of the doctorates that are prodia: Highlights and Trends duced are mostly from the field of According to a recent report released Science, Technology, Engineering,

by Organisation for Economic Coop- and Mathematics. With more and eration and Development (OECD), more universities opening for PhDs

the number of students applying for research is growing but the quality of research is going down.

It is not the students who are to be blamed for this but the universities and colleges which often lack even required infrastructure and facilities.

A zoology professor of Osmania University, Prof. C Srinivasulu said that a trend of competitive production of research can be seen in Telangana but without a focus on quality.

He added that universities work culture should be of international standard and they should stop focusing on the number of Ph.D. scholars. At the same time, special incentives have to be provided to research students to keep them encouraged.

Shashi Deshmukh, an English Professor remarked that most of the research in India is based on digging up of old theories and concentrating on them leading to a lack of innovative idea and research. He said, that to have innovative research there should be stimulation at the beginning-level itself. But this does not happen due to inadequate budgets and scholarships for scholars which affects the ideation stage where they can start thinking on a larger scale. Even students who are having permanent scholarships complain due to delayed stipends and lack of research guidance in universities.

Funds are being cut by the UGC and Centre for scholars which will all result in problems in government institutions which means that eventually, only private universities will remain.

Also, the student guide ratio is uninviting in many universities, leading to dropouts. He also questioned the facilities and infrastructure here. Scholars are bound to share equipment and infrastructure which lengthens the process of research.

When asked to educational experts they suggest graduates need more innovative research as well as the existing mode of financial support provided to them also needs to undergo a change. They question the demand for quality when students are not getting the facilities required for the same. They have also stressed the importance of exposure to the industry which can provide increased training to research scholars. This report was not based on the study of numbers per head of the population. If it would have been done that way then there would be more changes in countries like India having a larger headcount than many countries.

The stipend received is pretty low when compared to US scholars. Also, the research facilities are not updated and still lack technologies. Research is more theoretical-based with very few new ideas as a result research output is relatively less in terms of publications.

Besides these drawbacks that Indian

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scholars have to face, here are a few reasons to consider doing your Ph.D. at an Indian university: • Assortment – the scope of options for Ph.D. study in India are diverse providing you almost certainly an excellent programme suitable for you.

• Affordability – Ph.D. fees in India can vary a lot but are surprisingly low.

• Increasing global recognition – India’s higher education expansion has made way for several of India’s leading universities and institutes to feature in various international university rankings.

• Youth – Demographically, India’s current population is one of the youngest in the world giving rise to a crisp and vigorous outlook that helps drive innovation and entrepreneurialism.

This will make you a right fit as a Ph.D. researcher searching for new ideas and approaches.

PH.D. IN CHINA China has opened numerous options for its scholars at home itself. They have pumped enormous resources into its graduate education capacity across thousands of universities for the Chinese students. Professors at these universities return after training from the US and Europe in large proportion. And once back, they implement US research practices i.e. they try and teach, publish as well as operate laboratories like they do in the western part of the world. Adding to it is the rapid growth of the Chinese economy which has created a great need for scientific talent. This need makes most Chinese students feel that an investment in a U.S. degree is not worth it and to develop a career in China itself. At the same time, the added value of a U.S. graduate degree has dwindled in relation to a comparable Chinese degree. Obviously, that’s not true for institutes like MIT (the Massachusetts Institute of Technology) or University of California, or various other top institutes of course—those degrees still carry a premium in the job market.

PH.D. IN THE US US universities are well known for their excellent research facilities.

Better say they are far ahead in research of most other countries in the world which is proven by the highest number of research papers being published from the US. And this becomes possible because of the motivated researchers there who receive immense

support in the form of facilities or funding for research. Also getting a job of one’s choice after Ph.D. is not tough due to the very strong industry-academia linkage. Industries fund a lot of scientific research. For scholars interested in working with industry, good job security is provided by a Ph.D. degree from the US as there are many successful industries in the US. And even if one wishes to return to India the best option is to get in academics where institutes like IITs, NITs or other good colleges offer good opportunities. Consequently getting admitted into a US university to pursue Ph.D. has become a dream for many students. The value employers place on international experience whether it is academics or industry is another great pull for students.

Unlike in China, in India, very little effort has been made to upgrade and change the quality and infrastructure of the facility. In spite of all this, academics of Indian origin have gone through an evolutionary curve of their own. The number of Indian students getting a degree from a foreign university has turned progressively favorable just because of the better facilities there. In the previous generation, they focused on being excellent scholars and teachers, and never did they think that academic leadership would be entrusted to them. Over the past 10 years or so, Indian scholars have realized that they are good at institution building too and are willing to compete for leadership positions.

Indian scholars are not only ahead in technical talent but also have the advantage over immigrants from other nationalities of being fluent in English. English comes quite naturally to Indians, which positions them well for high positions. Whether it is academic or industry leadership position, both call for an amalgam of skills— technical, managerial and administrative, communication, team-work, and patience. Indians have the ability to work with others and fit in well with the global community they live in.

The credit of all this goes to the fact that most of the Indians grow up in a multicultural and multilingual environment, and hence dealing with diversity comes easily. Also coming from modest backgrounds where they learn the virtues of hard work and diligence at an early age helps them to fit in easily. Along with their academic credentials, Indian academicians bring a valuable global and multicultural perspective. This is another quality which makes them very attractive for top US institutions, which are in

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the quest of both academic excellence Going to the U.S. for a Ph.D. defiand an open leadership mindset. nitely offers a unique set of benefits.

And depending on how you want to Conclusion commit to Ph.D. and what you hope to achieve with your it, you may decide A Ph.D. can be done anywhere in that going to the U.S. for your Ph.D. the world because of no matter what is a wise choice or not. But scholars it will always be considered the high- of Indian origin whether they are doest degree level worldwide. Its fame ing Ph.D. in India or USA are equal adds credentials to one’s CV making in all aspects but one. The only differit stand out and also making you the ence lies in the institutions in various smartest person at the family gather- parts of the world which makes Indiing. an Ph.D. scholars little behind from their counterparts.

However, whether you pursue your Ph.D. in India or USA or China, is How to Improve the research Scenot necessarily the same in these nario in India: different parts of the world. Besides the obvious differences like the du- • Improve the current system of ration, the funding structure, and the Filtration of Talent for research requirements for Ph.D. candidates in and Improvise CSIR NET & different parts of the globe, the major GATE exams to include better factors to consider are infrastructure analytical and future opportunities. Depending • Make Researcher an attractive on your long-term goals, you can take career by increasing fellowships a call where you want to study. to up to 1,20,000/- per Month and giving better facilities to ReThe USA has come out on top time searchers in terms of Lab Safety and time again, is the top graduate desand Infrastructure and tax benetination and the most popular among fits graduate students all over the world, • Have a fixed 15 Year career ladand it’s not hard to see why. The first der for all Ph.D.’s who achieve a major attraction is the wide range of set target given by DST & DBT institutions – there are over 1,700 – • Reward Ph.D. Students who which offer Ph.D. degrees every year come up with the best research with a wide range of choice and flexiduring their Ph.D. coursework bility. It is home to almost 75% of the • Encourage Ph.D. Students to top 20 institutions in the world. The convert their Research work into second reason for the great pull is the Commercial projects and sell to quality of these US institutions. corporates.

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Should You Self Fund Your PhD? Pros & Cons Explained Studying PhD is a thrilling and awfully gratifying endeavor. Whether it’s for personal or professional growth, a PhD can have a life-changing impact, but with its own challenges.

HOWEVER, THINKING OF WAYS TO FIND THE FINANCIAL SOURCE, SHOULDN’T BE ONE OF THEM. SO, MAKE SURE TO DO YOUR RESEARCH IN THE BEST WAY FOR YOUR PRODUCTIVE CAREER.

By Dr. Leema George

There is a quote saying “If you want something badly enough, you make arrangements. If you don’t want it badly enough, you make excuses”.

So, if you have a burning wish to be called a “doctor”, then self-funding is like arranging. To follow your own path and self-fund your doctoral studies- It’s a thought pondering over by thousands of ambitious postgraduate students every year. But, it can make PhD a more daring task with an expensive price tag. However, for some, this is less of an issue, if they have a wealthy family or have their own source to extend the support for PhD. Self-funding PhD is a unique experience that will frame you with a wide range of skills and abilities that you may not have otherwise obtained. But it’s important to embark the process with your eyes open.

time to carry out innovative research, paper writing, attending conferences, and you may be even left out with time for a life outside your PhD. Pro #2- You Get to be the Decision Maker If you receive funding from an agency, under any circumstances if you want to drop out you may have to satisfy and convince the funding body. You likely had to repay may be a part or sometimes the entire money you have received which sounds unkind and unattractive. However, if you drop out while self-funded this is not a big deal as you are the decision maker.

So, let’s go through some points to bear in mind that gives you some ideas whether or not you want to launch this journey. Let’s find the Answer to the question – Should You Self Fund Pro #3 – You are Eligible for “Additional” rights Your Ph.D.?

To begin with, we will start looking Reminding the institution that you are a self-funded PhD candidate will into the benefits of self-funded PhD benefit you in lot many ways. It may PROS OF SELF FUNDING help you to receive conference bursaries and even get considerations for YOUR PHD fee waivers as well.

Pro #1- You will Be your own on Pro #4. You are the finance manBoss ager There are lot many attractive funding agencies that provide financial as- When you signed up to pursue a casistance to pursue a PhD, but it may reer in life science you may not have have a lot of strings attached. There to worry about budget management, will be additional burdens like prepar- but it turns out as an important responing up to date reports, regular manda- sibility in your daily life. Self-funding tory events or teaching assignments, your PhD helps you to get a grip on that are time-consuming. But it is not yourself with the financial managethe case if you raise your own funding ment and budgeting process associatas you are free from all these obliga- ed with your research work. And so, tions. You will be left out with extra you will be fully geared up to enter

the competitive outside world with this experience.

Pro #5. You develop outstanding networking and communicating skills Developing relationships and networking with people is all the way critically important in life. At the same time, effectually communicating with impact in as few words as possible is a skill that is important as well. When it comes to building a career, these skills stand as important as all the other stuff you’re doing to add on your resume. The same is the case for doing a PhD by arranging your own fund. For getting durable support for your self -funded PhD you need to have explored support from all the possible source. This enables you to develop extensive networking and communication skills which will upgrade the success rate of your research as you learn to present the key aspects much more influentially. If you are successful in building relationships with people who can open a lot of important doors for your future, it’s really a valuable and promising asset for a fruitful career.

Pro #6. You are the critical evaluator of your work It is a procedure of evaluating and refining yourself. The process allows a critical thinking and evaluation of your work in a multifactorial perspective. This process tends to clear out the bad from the good, and so hopefully through this elimination process,

your ideas, your work and your focus improves with time making you more productive and innovative.

Pro #7. It Motivates you It is a brave decision, but one learns to turn fears into opportunities and overlook irrelevant events and relationships that don’t donate to your wider narrative. Not being liable to any external funding body is a blessing in disguise. It will give you an immense sense of being self-responsibility for, and ownership of your work, enabling you to avoid complacency and step out of your comfort zone. It will stimulate you to look for opportunities and brand yourself stand out from the crowd. Moreover, facing the hardships you encounter in the journey will make you more resilient, enhance your self- confidence and prepares you to flow against the harsh realities. More time equals more money -it is a powerful push to finish your PhD in time, to prove yourself and others that you are capable of.

Pro #8. No harm to your employability Funding your research yourself will most likely have no impact or hinder your employability. In fact, it might boost it, as it signifies resilience, resourcefulness and determination. It

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is the experience and quality of your a PhD, the situation cannot be taken PhD that accounts for your future ca- lightly. This can become the hardest reer. time in life not because the PhD workload is too much, if you can balance Now let us discuss the other side your employment with your PhD. If of the coin, the negative aspects of a you are constantly working for hours, self- funded PhD. it does impact your PhD and can delay it as it takes out your time and can CONS OF SELF FUNDING also add to your stress level.

YOUR PHD Con #3 Missing out chances Con # 1: What is it going to cost There are certain chances that a self When we analyse the economics of -funded PhD student will miss out, paying for your PhD you’ll need to like attending training programmes or set aside money for two things: re- conferences offered by the institution search and living costs. It could cost but only be available to funded PhDs. you thousands per year to undertake a The chance to meet experts in your PhD – which is higher than the amount field, attend international conferencthe external funding body is offering, es or to update your technical experiso you’ll have to search elsewhere to ence, funded PhDs can gain a wealth pay for your living costs. The expend- of career opportunities besides the fiiture for a PhD will vary dramatically nancial benefits which a self -funded between somewhere with a high cost PhD will miss. of living and somewhere with a lowcost living index. In addition, you Con #4: Running out on universialso must be aware of the extra costs ty life. incurring may be through an illness.

If you’re self-funding you lose finan- The spin off effect of self-funding – cial security and a certain safety zone if you’re working to pay the expense which can have adverse impacts on –you’re also likely to pass-up exyour PhD life. tra-curricular activities at the university or the institution such as joining Con # 2: Need to find a source various clubs or societies and even investing in your future job prospects.

Students from rich backgrounds If you want a successful career, these may be privileged and receive sup- are all important stuff that will make port from their family; others having your CV competitive. no financial buffer might be forced to accept several part-time jobs, or even Con #5: Missing out a social life find full-time employment to pay for their PhD. Working while doing You may not socialize as much as

you would have liked due to financial constraints. You can’t join the gym or any societies or cultural centers as it is all extra time and money that cannot be affordable.

To or Not to Do a self-funded PhD When you are engaged in the construction of your first grant proposal, you’ll spend hours and days on it, honing your ideas and critically evaluating word by word and line by line.

Once it is done, you’ll submit it to an external funding agency with great pride and hope and will anxiously await the outcome. After waiting for months and when the result has been announced, your heart bounds as the decision email finally bounce into your inbox. You can barely hold your enthusiasm as you read “the proposal was very interesting”.

Now comes the important part…as you scroll down …stop… here it is!

– “due to the huge volume of applications”. “regret to inform you”. Oh… you never expected that those four little words could make things upside down. The fact is that though you will write a numerous grant proposal, only around 10-15% of them will get approved and funded.

So, if you really want to secure your dream of getting a PhD degree and stubbornly decide that you are going to work on your passion, then raise your own fund is the defining feature of your PhD journey. But keep in mind that if you choose to go for

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it, save some amount before you start your PhD. This will dismiss some of the financial limitations.

Likewise, consider the place where you want to pursue your PhD. After a year of PhD, the biggest obstacle in self- funded PhD will be in terms of finance ie. the living expenditure. The tuition fees for PhD in the institutes are actually relatively cheap when compared to undergraduate or postgraduate study but they aren’t all you have to pay. So, don’t just factor in the host institute, but take a moment to consider the living cost as well.

Last but not the least don’t compare yourself to others. At some point during the journey, you may feel like equating yourself to fully-funded students or feel that they might be looking down on you. Avoid this as there are a multitude of factors make you to take the decision to self-fund your PhD, and none of these questions your research potential or efficiency.

Ultimately no supervisor will take on a PhD student who cannot do productive and innovative research. So, if they offer you a chance then you are equally good as any other PhD candidate.

Then go ahead to work hard and produce something exceptional out of it.

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Top 10 Suggestions To Defend Your PhD Successfully One of the most common concerns raised by those who are pursuing a Ph.D. is, how they can prepare themselves for their defense? True enough, how does really one keep the stress levels low and still make sure that everything is on order and that they get the highest chance of success?

ONE THING IS FOR SURE: NO TWO DEFENSES ARE THE SAME. EVERY PERSON’S JOURNEY IS DIFFERENT, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE’RE TALKING ABOUT A DEFENSE DONE BY A PH.D. STUDENT.

By Shekhar Suman

It is unique and unpredictable, and everything is depending on your talk or presentation. To add, no matter how prepared you think you are, there is still that pool of endless questions, and sometimes, you’re left dumbfounded with no answer in mind. You just have to feel some bit of comfort in the fact that you did your best and give your talks. But this too is not gave it your best shot. enough. You need to practice on your Nonetheless, here are ten ways on own. making sure you ace that defense and it is a success. Note however that Practicing is not equal to memorizthis comes after making sure that you ing your presentation word per word. wrote a good quality Ph.D. thesis. No You just need to familiarize every defense will happen if your thesis is itsy-bitsy part of it, no awkwardness not good enough. Only you can write and no unusual dead air in-between. that awesome thesis because you are You can even go as far as recording the expert in that field and that chosen yourself and listening to how you sound. If you sound nervous and untopic. prepared, practice some more. You’d Never underestimate the time be surprised at how doing this can spend on preparing your talk/pres- help you. It’s also important to time your talk. entation.

Do not fall into the last-minute trap and the mentality that you can prepare better when under pressure. So don’t even consider doing this. Give enough time to prepare and practice your presentation and talk. You just can’t let your guard down when it comes to this very important milestone. Even if you think you have everything ready, don’t be so complacent. Review a few days before your Ph.D. presentation and double check everything. As much as you can, make sure it slide is relevant and that it contains vital information and that that information is accurate. Do not let even the tiniest detail be obtained at the last minute.

On the other hand, if you are looking forward to a perfect talk (or at least close to perfect), practice multiple times. There’s no room for cramming it all in a day or two. You’ve really got to commit at least a couple of days, if not weeks, for it. The best way to rehearse is to gather your friends and

The bottom line? Do not procrastinate.

Listen to others’ defenses For mental preparation purposes, it would be best and actually encouraged that you go ahead and listen to your colleagues, or say, classmates, give either defense. Doing so will give you an idea of how defenses flow. It will also serve as another training ground for you, especially if they have the same or similar topics as you. Take notes and observe well.

Note down the pros and cons of each defense and then make sure you correct them when your time comes. Observe their gestures and the way they talk. Were they passionate and genuine? Were they consistent with the energy they show throughout the entire presentation? What were the rough areas they had?

Remember that you might get nerv-

ous before your presentation, and this may affect the way you deliver it. So be sure to show up well-prepared. If you are, the thesis defense talk is just a formality.

On the other hand, if you don’t have the time or if your time won’t permit you to attend these defenses, try to at least secure some DVDs or online presentations just so you’ll have something to base your talk on. Doing so will give you an idea of how to tie the whole story together. Don’t use jargons and difficult words because you will be talking to a general audience. Make sure it is clear and understandable. The simpler, the better. If you can even make it a bit animated by using cartoons or model slides, it would be great.

Ask for help from your friends, lab mates, and other people What kind of help, you might ask.

Let them drill you with questions.

Give them the practice talk and then also allow them to ask as many questions as they can be related to your presentation. This way, you can also prepare for all possible questions that your audience and panel will ask. It will also help build your confidence.

Reread and ask questions yourself.

Another thing you can do is to ask questions yourself. As you rehearse the talk on your own, you might discover some questions too. List them down and answer them as well. Ques-

tions can be related to your thesis or it could be the data on your presentation that seems unclear. It’s normal to feel a bit sick of re-reading your entire thesis so many times, but just remember that it is necessary if you want a smooth-sailing defense. If you cannot come up with a list of good questions, then you are not trying hard enough.

Doing this will give you a better understanding of your entire project.

Don’t be distracted Being successful not only in your defense but also in your thesis writing is a milestone you don’t want to take for granted and take lightly. The last few days or weeks before you give your defense might be stressful, so it is vital that you keep your focus. Keep your guard up until your actual defense day, and don’t let other outside events tempt you. You have to train your mind to focus only on that presentation because it will give you a long-lasting impression on your audience and maybe to your future employers. There are instances that these professional employers would be present on your defense day, and if they like your talk, they might just have the job for you.

Sleep, eat and take care of yourself.

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We know this seems impossible as the date of your defense nears. It could be a struggle to sleep, eat on time, and stay hydrated while writing your thesis. The anxiety isn’t getting worse as each day passes by. Make sure it doesn’t get the best of you. Just take care of yourself. You need it.

Also, it is important to have enough sleep the day before your defense.

You don’t want to give a talk with floating mind. Eat well too. Never sell yourself short. A well-rested you mean higher chances of giving a smooth talk.

Keep your cool and relax There’s no use in stressing out. If you know for yourself that you have

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done your best, then there’s no need It’s better to plan the after-party after all is said and done, a huge weight to worry. Plus, no one knows your making sure your defense is a good on your shoulders will be lifted. You will feel great and satisfied. It’s gotopic better than yourself. one. The satisfaction is greater. ing to be an emotional one too since Just give it your best shot and answer Plan the flow of your presentation you’d finally feel that all those years of studying, researching, and working the questions the best that you can.

You don’t have to give them all the Plan on your introduction and pres- hard have finally paid off. answers to every question, especially entation flow. The flow needs to be connected and smooth, and the slides Remember: Your defense day is if you are unsure of its accuracy. should match your talk too! This is your moment. No one will do it for Don’t focus on the after-party be- why practice is crucial too. It gives you. This is something you have to do fore your defense you the opportunity to make sure both on your own, and you have to give it your presentation and your planned your best. Shine on this very day and show everyone just how good you are We all want to celebrate after reach- talk are in sync. in your field. The more you keep this ing a milestone, and we want it to be perfect. But focusing on the celebra- Visualize yourself after your de- mentality, the better your talk will be.

Just remember these points and you’ll tion will just distract you from your fense have nothing to worry about. goal – to give a well-though-of presentation. As pointed on the previous To keep it short and simple, the feelpoints, prioritize and focus on your ing of being able to give a good presthesis defense talk and nothing else. entation is just unimaginable. When

Plagiarism Check For Ph.D. Thesis Submission A Must If you’re at the Osmania University, this is an important information for you.

WE JUST HEARD THAT STUDENTS MUST RUN THEIR THESIS THROUGH A PLAGIARISM PROGRAM CALLED THE TURNITIN SOFTWARE. MEANING, PLAGIARISM CHECK BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR THESIS IS A MUST NOW.

By Preety Suman

Why did this happen in a first place and how will it proceed?

The Osmania university placed the system to make sure there’s no copying.

They wanted to check the originality of Doctoral research thesis due to the increased number of copied work.

So, if the program shows over 25% plagiarism, the students will have to rewrite their submission.

The institution bought the system at Rs 7.61 lakh annual fee and has tagged Assistant Professor AS Chakravarthy as Coordinator of the Anti-Plagiarism system. All faculty members will gain access to the system, as the statement by the university said, including Heads of Departments, Deans, and Directors of various Boards of Studies.

Turnitin system can proceed 400 pages or files of 40 Mb at once. Is extremely meticulous when checking for plagiarism and it will be a great asset to the university.

The process of using the system goes like this. First, research students submit a copy to the supervisor in charge. After, he or she will scan the copy with the system and ask for an automatically generated report that ends in the hands of the coordinator.

If the report presents bellow 25% plagiarism, the coordinator will approve the submission. But if it shows over 25% plagiarism, you’ll have to How the plagiarism checker works edit/rewrite the thesis. The student exactly? can transform the piece before the last

approval by the coordinator.

to the lowest level possible.

There’s is information concerning the students associated with using the plagiarism checker. Apparently, they have to pay Rs 500 in order to check their thesis through the system.

This statement by the university came only days after Prakash Javadekar, the Union HRD Minister claimed the Centre is taking extreme measures to terminate the rising of plagiarism and reduce it to the lowest level possible in the doctoral research thesis.

Considering the fact that approximately 1,000 theses are submitted per year in the university, the fee will cover the operational costs of the system.

Besides getting the system to work, Osmania will also organize awareness programs and training for students and members of the facility on how to use the system and why it is important that plagiarism is reduced

How did the students react to this recent statement?

When asked students how they feel about getting their thesis checked for plagiarism, they said that not only

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students but the work of university members should be checked for plagiarism. Apparently, the students demanded this on Friday while disapproving of the recent action by the faculty administration.

Some say that this action will boost the standard of research, but the benefit should apply to all staff members.

Also, they want all the thesis submitted over the years at the university to

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be scanned for plagiarism in order to For example, they change English avoid inequality. scripts to a different language and use a translation tool to convert it back to A student leader who wanted to stay English before giving in a thesis. anonymous claimed that some professors help in cracking the plagiarism The student leader also accuses suchecker. Allegedly, certain professors pervisors because of the poor qualiagree to write a thesis and charge be- ty of research. Allegedly, supervisors tween 2,5 to 4 lakh for each. would give students older topics that were already processed.

Another way to fool the plagiarism checker is by changing the language. After receiving multiple complaints

from the students, VC Prof Ramachandran claimed that the usage of the plagiarism checker will apply to both students and professors.

Other universities are also expected to adopt these methods soon. Confirmed list of universities are still awaited.

PhD Admissions at IISC Bangalore – Frequently Asked Questions The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) is located in Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka state of India and was established in 1909.

THE INSTITUTE WHICH BEGAN WITH ONLY TWO DEPARTMENTS – CHEMISTRY AND ELECTRICAL TECHNOLOGY – TODAY HAS MORE THAN 40 OFFICES SPREAD ACROSS OVER SIX PRIMARY DIVISIONS: (I) BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, (II) CHEMICAL SCIENCES, (III) ELECTRICAL SCIENCES, (IV) INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH, (V) MECHANICAL SCIENCES, AND (VI) PHYSICAL AND MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES.

By Preety Suman

In connection with PhD programs, research scholars make up more than 70% for the whole student body at Biological, Chemical, Mathematical IIS. IISc Biological Sciences Re- and Physical Sciences disciplines. search wing is comprised of : (iii) PhD External Registration programme (ERP) • Biochemistry (BC) • Central Animal Facility (CAF) The program comprises of adaptable • Centre for Ecological Sciences coursework, a temporary job com(CES) posed of lab preparing (helps in un• Centre for Infectious Disease ravelling the possibility to secure funResearch (CIDR) damental trials and recognition with • Centre for Neuroscience (CNS) cutting-edge systems for research), • Microbiology and Cell Biology an exploration task to show the ful(MCB) fillment of a high level of logical • Molecular Biophysics Unit capacity pursued by innovative look (MBU) into prompting a Ph D theory on a • Molecular Reproduction, Devel- particular point. opment and Genetics (MRDG) There are also individual centers for brain research, genomics; scientific and industrial consultancy, and sponsored schemes and projects.

Candidates seeking admission to the Ph.D. Program in the Indian Institute of Sciences shall have to satisfy certain eligibility criteria as discussed below:

The research programmes further di- Who all are expected to submit a vided into NOC (No Objection Certificate)? (i) Research programme – Doctoral Those who are registering under PhD (PhD) and Master’s (M Tech) External Registration programme (ii) Integrated Ph D programme in

(ERP)- have to submit the NOC from the institution where they have committed academically.

The PhD ERP on the Institute affords possibilities to (a) individuals employed in Research & Development Sector (Institutions and or Industries) (b) Young teachers of all Engineering colleges/Universities including Agricultural, Pharmaceutical, Veterinary, Medical schools,/Universities recognized by suitable authorities organizations to pursue studies ranges in technology / Engineering.

What subjects will I be tested in the PhD Entrance Exam and what will be the difficulty level?

IISc is conducting an entrance test for Integrated PhD Programme-called Joint Admission Test (JAM) -for Lifesciences either Biotechnology (BT) or Biological Sciences (BL)

have to be selected.

The difficulty level of the entrance test is actually based on the syllabi: • Biological Science – BL Syllabus • Biotech – BT Syllabus • Importance of IIT JAM For B.sc Biotech, B.tech Biotech Candidates Questions are as similar GATE pattern and fundamental concept understanding is the basic requirement in terms of physics, chemistry, mathematics, biochemistry, Microbiology, cell biology, and Immunology.

Importance of IIT JAM For B.sc Biotech, B.tech Biotech Candidates For each test paper in JAM, an All India Rank (AIR) will be allocated to

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all the appeared students dependent on the score.

For each test paper, an All India Merit candidates list will be prepared and published. This is based on two criteria (i) no of seats (ii) Score to prepare the merit candidate list in each community class. These competitors (from this time forward called Qualified Candidates) are qualified to apply for admission to any of the comparing scholarly projects accessible at IISc. For Regular research programmes candidates will be shortlisted based on their academic performance including the qualifying examinations like GATE/ CSIR-UGC NET for JRF/ UGC NET for JRF/ DBT JRF/ICMR JRF/ JEST/ NBHM or any other National Entrance Test (if qualified).

The shortlisted eligible candidates will be called for an interview and the final selection is based on the performance of the candidate in the interview.

I have completed M. Phil. Will I be exempted from the Entrance Test?

No Only those who are qualified in exams like GATE/ CSIR-UGC NET for JRF/UGC NET for JRF/ DBT JRF/ICMR JRF/ JAM/JEST/ NBHM or any other National Entrance Test will be eligible to apply for PhD programme in IISc. How is a research topic decided?

Applicants have to choose their preliminary research area based on the research interest or final year dissertation work according to the departments and centers in IISc and that options vary according to the research programme selected. (i) Research programmes are allowed to indicate preferences for a maximum of 3 departments/ centers/ units in one application. For example, if your research interest lies on Heat Shock proteins you can choose departments Microbiology and Cell Biology (MCB) and Molecular Reproduction, Development and Genetics (MRDG) and Genomics center. (ii) PhD (Integrated) programmes are allowed to indicate preferences for a maximum of 2 disciplines. (iii) External Registration programmes have only one option.

Hostel facility is Provided?

Yes,

Hostel facility is available,

once you submit the application for PhD programme, have to apply separately for hostel accommodation as mentioned below. You should remember the Hostel application number or academic application number in order to continue or to make payment for previously filled application data.

application for IISc. According to the research interests, you can find your own guide and approach them through the mail by requesting the availability of PhD positions there.

Once you get approval from the respective Professor you can select the Department or center mentioned Remember to keep the following by the Professor in an ONLINE apitems handy before starting to fill the plication form. This will help you in application: choosing your own guide based on your research interest. a. Academic application number (to continue application and make pay- Any criteria for Exemption from ment) the Coursework? b. Hostel application number (to continue application and make pay- There won’t be an exemption from ment) coursework for Full time or Regular c. An electronic copy of your photo- PhD graph in .jpg format d. Challan number and payment de- A student should enlist for a set of tail. courses which will comprise the Research Training Program (RTP), as Online application for HOSTEL exhorted by the Research SuperviACCOMMODATION at IISc may be sor(s), with the endorsement of the an easy method. Confirmation of ac- Departmental Curriculum Committee ceptance of the appliance is informed (DCC). These are named RTP courson-line when receiving payment ac- es. knowledgment from the bank.

A student can drop courses with the What is the procedure of deciding endorsement of the Research Supera Guide or a Co-Guide? visor(s). However, even in such cases, the time mentioned ( PhD candidates Following criteria is pertinent for need to finish their RTP in one year Full Time /Integrated PhD and IISc and a half year., i.e., the individuals research supervisor for ERP research who join the PhD program specificalprogrammes. ly after a BE/B Tech degree, can take at most two years to finish their RTP.) The allocation of each student is Any postponement must be affirmed based on the following conditions :

by SCC (Senate Curriculum Committee). a) The research inclination and the preferred topic in IISC Integrated PhD Students can get an exemption from Core course rather b)The requirement of the department coursework. to maintain the equal dispersion of students among Research Supervisors Within 15 days of registering for a core course, a student may apply to c)Students choose the topic of re- the coordinator of the Integrated PhD search based on the guidance of the Program seeking exemption from research supervisor. it on the basis of his/her prior background. This option is available to all Research Supervisors for ERP Re- students except for those in the Divisearch Program: The selected students sion of Chemical Sciences. The stuwork under the supervision of no less dent will be given a written examinathan one research director from the tion, in accordance with the schedule Institute and one from the supporting indicated below, based on the approvassociation. al of the coordinator.

How many Guides One can work with if Selected?

An exemption is granted if the student secures a ‘B’ or a higher grade in this examination. The student will A student can work with only one be given the same grade in the course guide during his tenure. like the one obtained in the written examination, the credits will count I need to approach the potential towards the degree requirements, and supervisor myself? they will be used for the computation of the TGPA/CGPA. If an exemption Yes, you can approach the super- is not granted, the student should convisor before submitting the official tinue to attend classes as a regular stu-

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dent. An exemption is permitted for up to a maximum of 6 credits during the entire period of studentship.

Is a transfer to/ from another University possible during the course of PhD program?

• Full Time/Integrated PhD– Not applicable • ERP Research Programme– Applicable, If the candidate changes the place of work or leaves the organization, the registration will be canceled, irrespective of the stage of research work (except in cases where the thesi has already been submitted).

If the research supervisor from the organization leaves the organization or changes the place of work, the candidate should apply to the SCRC for a change of guide along with a CV of the proposed organization guide and permission letter from the Organization.

Publishing a research paper before submitting the thesis for award of PhD degree is mandatory?

• Not mandatory according to the norms for PhD, the thesis can be published or copyrighted.

• For the award of PhD degree, with the prior approval of the Council, the Senate shall lay down from time to time: • the requirements before submission of the thesis, • the procedure for assessment and evaluation of the thesis by thesis examiners, • the procedures for the conduct of the oral examination, • the guidelines for consolidating the reports for consideration of the Senate • conditions and procedures of evaluation for revised and resubmitted thesis, • including the guidelines for consolidating the reports on the re-submitted thesis.

Am I expected to teach while pursuing PhD at this Institute/University?

Regular PhDs – Not mandatory Registration by Full-Time Staff Members of the Institute -would be

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engaged in teaching.

M.Tech (Research students) have to teach for 8 to 10 hours (per week) as assigned by the Institute.

Will I be selected for the written test/interview if I meet the eligibility criteria?

Yes, that would be decided by the number of students applied and the overall rank you gained out of the pool for initial selection of interview.

Based on the interview performance you have the opportunity to grab the admission.

How many seats are there for PhD admission this year?

Integrated PhD: Each year, the Insti-

tute admits 50 to 60 students (15-18 students in each branch of Sciences ( Biological Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Physical Sciences and 12 to 15 in the Mathematical Sciences) under this program.

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post a copy of my certificates, mark sheets, etc.?

Not required since the required documents (Mark sheets of 10th Std, 12th Std/Diploma, UG Degree and/or PG Degree, qualifying exams, photoThe Institute awards about 250 PhD graph, signature copy, and commuand M Tech (Research) degrees, con- nity certificate) are already been submitted ONLINE. sistently.

What do I need to do other than I have done my M.Sc in botany, but I have a research project profilling up the online form? posal in Microbiology, will I be elOnce the online form is submitted igible? you will be getting the PDF of your application, that you have to save and Yes, you can because interdisciplikeep for your own records to check nary research areas are admissible, for example, if the project is on plant-mithe status of your application. crobe interaction, Microbiology of Do I need to post a print out of nodule formation or even plant paththe application form? Do I need to ogens that better complements your

research as well as core coursework.

Moreover, any interdisciplinary work is eligible to apply if you meet other eligibility criteria for PhD admission.

Indian Institute of Sciences is one of the cultures of excellence in terms of research quality, in terms of output and in terms of commitment in the perspective of doing real science for the betterment of society with environmental sensitivity. The institution provides opportunities for the research students to explore, discuss and develop their hypothesis, ideas into research discoveries and IISc is awarding 250 young scientists every year. Students who get admission would be externally competitive and excel in academics and career.

Advice For All Bioscience Ph.D. Applicants – A Must Read The journey towards completing a Ph.D. in the field of Biosciences is a life-changing experience. It can be very challenging but it is also very rewarding in the end.

YOU WILL BE GIVEN A CHANCE TO BUILD YOUR NAME IN THE FIELD OF SCIENCE AND DISCOVERY BY RESEARCHING AND DEVELOPING AN APPROACH THAT WILL BE ESSENTIAL FOR THE HUMANITY.

By Skekhar Suman

This chance is open to everyone but only very few are willing to embrace the difficulties and challenges that go with it.

WHAT PH.D. APPLICANTS SHOULD EXPECT studying and doing research. This is why you really need to Advice For All Bioscience Ph.D. Applicants - A Must Readdecide if you want it. You will be on your own most of the time and you will be expected to sweat and to work really hard. You will have a great time learning and experiencing new things. However, you should To help you decide, here are some prepare yourself to a journey to the important things that you should ex- wilderness where you cannot expect much help from anyone. pect about Ph.D.:

in the field of Biosciences, you will spend most of your time doing research. This is a long game and you cannot expect a quick reward. Your goal is to solve a problem and your greatest challenge is how to begin.

Sometimes, you will find yourself in a dead end and you need to figure out how to find another way out of it. But in the long run, you will eventually reap the reward from your research if you do not quit.

task is to guide Ph.D. students. They also use different approaches. There are supervisors who would let you work on your own and there are also those who would be very prescriptive about what they expect from your research. There are also those who are willing to explain to you the whole process that you will go through.

Ph.D. is a long journey that re- Research is a long game that does not guarantee a quick reward quires hard work and persistence

There are different types of supervisors

Like a person who was thrown into

In your journey as a Ph.D. student

There are supervisors whose main

Most people want to take a Ph.D. because they see it as a great opportunity to elevate their career. This is not supposed to be the only reason why you should pursue a postgraduate study in Biosciences. It is very demanding and without the proper motivation in mind, you will not be able to finish it.

You will be spending 3-4 years

There will be times when you are clueless about what you need to do

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the wilderness, you need to explore to be able to finish your research. There will be moments of cluelessness. You will find yourself not knowing what to do next but you still have to go on and search for the answer. You cannot expect your supervisor to give you the help that you need because you are working on a new topic and the only person who would know how to end it is you.

TIPS FOR PH.D. APPLICANTS IN THE FIELD OF BIOSCIENCES If you have decided that you are still willing to continue with your Ph.D. application after all the challenges that were discussed, here are some of the tips that can help you survive the journey: Pick a research topic that you are really interested in The most important thing that you need to decide on is the topic for your research. Most supervisors would

assess you with your expertise and interest in the topic that you have chosen. This is the best way for you to enjoy your Ph.D. Supervisors are looking for students who are willing to challenge themselves and explore more just to have a better understanding of the topic and the problem at hand. Your interest is the key to this.

These are some ways to make research easier for Ph.D. students: • Identify a potential problem or issue that needs attention.

• Familiarize yourself with the different approaches you can apply to solve the issue.

• Start with the research immediately. Do not rely on your supervisors to take the initiative to give you a go signal.

• Look for information from literature, your supervisor and other people in the specific field that you have chosen.

• Make it a habit to read journals that are related to your study.

• Look for a university that can

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provide the best facilities you keep your sanity. Ph.D. in Biosciences is very challenging and you need need some people who will support you.

You should understand that most universities are giving very little at- Be mentored by the people who tention to Ph.D. students. If you are can provide assistance in your regoing to specialize in Bioscience, you search know that you will need laboratories and other facilities where you will be Looking for people who can help you conducting experiments. With this, decide about the best topic to work on you need to determine the best uni- is something that can help you begin versity that can provide not only the smoothly. It would be a challenge to facilities but also the support that you choose from different topics; you will need for your research. The university need the guidance of experts in the environment is also a great determi- field. If you ever find a lecturer whose nant to the success of your research. interest is the same as yours and you were able to start a good conversation Have an access to collaborative with him or her, take the chance and spaces for Bioscience Ph.D. stu- ask for advice. You can also ask other dents people to refer you to people who can collaborate with you.

Most of the time, you will find yourself isolated because very few people Every Ph.D. applicant has to know are willing to accept the challenge of that the journey may be difficult but postgraduate studies. This is why you in the end, your efforts in researching need to look for collaborative spaces and finding solutions to problems that where you will find other people who you were able to identify will all be can give you the insights you need for worth it. All the best! your research. This can also help you

How to write a PhD Thesis Faster and Beat Deadlines Deadlines are real. When you study Ph.D., you will realize that you don’t have the luxury of time to procrastinate. Unfortunately, getting your paper done on time is your only ticket of getting a Ph.D. degree.

IF YOU’RE GOING TO WRITE A PH.D. THESIS THAT WORKS, YOU NEED A SOLID GAME PLAN. REMEMBER THAT YOUR PAPER WILL EXPLAIN ALL THE RESEARCH AND EXPERIMENTS YOU’VE GONE THROUGH YOUR FOUR-YEAR JOURNEY.

By Preety Suman

So if you think there is no other way, think again. Fortunately, there is a plan on how you can write a decent Ph.D. thesis faster that will nab you a place on the stage for graduation.

In this article, I will share with you a minute-by-minute guide on how you can complete your Ph.D. thesis in approximately two-week time without losing your sense of style and fancy.

ic. We all know that a research paper is where you make an assertion or prove something that is novel to the academia.

Tip 1: Establish your thesis state- So ask yourself these questions.

What are you trying to prove? Are the ment issues presented in your thesis someProducing a quality Ph.D. thesis in a thing new and interesting? Do you short time depends on how well you think your supervisor would approve understand your How to write a PhD your topic?

Thesis Faster and Beat Deadlinestop-

Your thesis statement should be succinct and thought-provoking. It could be an old assumption that you want to challenge through new scientific methods or a novel discovery that you want to establish as true to the people.

As you see, before you can write anything you first need to determine your thesis statement. Once you’ve laid down the premises, more brilliant ideas will follow through.

Tip 2: Browse the internet for a 30-minute basic research If your deadline is two weeks away, you won’t have time to manually scan through your library’s card catalogs.

Hence, the fastest medium you can ever turn to is the internet.

There are quite a few ways on how

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you can use the internet to hasten your actual writing process. First, use it to search for relevant information from different educational websites.

In order not to waste time your time with ads, you need to use a few significant research rules like adding terms like “.edu” or “.org” at the end of the words you’re trying to search.

Second, ask help from Mr. Wikipedia. While universities highly discourage using Wikipedia as a resource, you can use it to look for valuable authors and references. Scroll down to the bottom and you’ll see a productive list of references which you can examine to add more content to your paper.

Third, research some Google books or download free e-Books. The advantage of using electronic materials is the capability to use Ctrl+F. Just prompt the command and you can jump to the exact phrase you’re looking for. Instead of typing the text from scratch, you can also leverage the Copy & Paste command in order to add an entire paragraph to your document. Then you can just paraphrase the text and acknowledge the author.

When you’re able to save a lot of time by researching online, you can use the rest of your remaining time to search information from traditional books. Remember that books are also important. You can’t submit a thesis solely based on online references.

Tip 3: Create an outline Every Ph.D. thesis follows a prescribed outline. Normally, you’ll have an introduction, abstract, review of related literature, body, and then your conclusion.

Thesis and research papers are designed to be this way so they are easy to read and at the same time, easy to write. But just because you have an outline doesn’t mean that you have to fill them in a chronological order.

What I mean to say is that you don’t need to waste 10 hours trying to figure out what to place in your Abstract just because it is the first in line. An abstract is the summary of your paper and you won’t be able to figure it out until you’ve finished your paper.

So for now, you can focus on other sections. For example, if you think you can finish the Review of Related Literature faster, then I advise that you do it first. If you are doing a lab experiment and you’re making discoveries, write it in your paper. The

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you have the title of the article, au- Tip 9: Skip parties and gatherings thor, link, and date of access. If you Tip 4: Think from the opposition’s are reading a book, take note of the I’m sorry to say but your guilty point of view authors, title, edition, date of publica- pleasures must be on hold for now. tion, and place of publication.

At this point, you must focus on your How to write a PhD Thesis Faster deadline and not on the exciting parand Beat DeadlinesAlways remember Don’t worry about arranging them ties that you’re missing. Parties can the basic rule in writing a Ph.D. thesis for now. Just make a brief and quick wait until you’ve successfully sub– it has to make a stand. The best way record of your references and save it mitted your paper. to compose arguments is to put your- for editing later. self in the shoes of your opponent.

Avoid distraction by putting your What are the possible counter-argu- Tip 7: Ask help when necessary cell phone on silent mode. It’s okay ments that could possibly attack your not to reply to party invitations or thesis statement?

Have you ever experienced sitting better yet tell your friends that you’re for a few hours not knowing what doing your Ph.D. thesis. They are old For example, if your thesis state- to write? Or there’s a very confusing enough to understand. ment is about “efficacy of Chinese question that has been bothering your herbs as an alternative to Chemother- mind lately and you can’t write be- When using the computer, don’t apy”, think about the opposite. Why cause you don’t know the answer. login your social media accounts. Ofshouldn’t it be used as an alternative? tentimes, social media can be a great What are the cons of using Chinese Well, desperate times calls for des- distraction. It takes away a lot of time herbs? Do you have a proven and test- perate moves. While I always men- that could have been spent on your ed research to support your argument? tioned how busy supervisors can be, paper. I highly advise that you follow it doesn’t mean you can’t ask for help. a stern schedule. Increase your time These are just the possible ques- Email or text your supervisor about for writing and minimize your time tions that lead to more rebuttals on your dilemma. If you’re lucky your for Facebook or Instagram. your side. As you write further, you’ll supervisor can reply right away but if discover that your thesis is just be- not, you can call a friend or consult a Tip 10: Edit and Proofread only coming more interesting. Then you’ll professor who is an expert in a par- after you’re done find yourself more and more eager to ticular field. write.

Editing should only come last. As Believe me, there are professors in I said, it is not advisable to spend a Tip 5: Type fast for 30 minutes the university who are gifted with lot of hours editing your thesis if you warm hearts. Just have a thick skin are not done. Your ideas can change When I say you need to type fast for and approach them instead of wasting over time. In fact, your supervisor can 30 minutes, I literally mean it. Avoid time in waiting for that light bulb to ask you to revise your thesis dependspending time on editing grammars pop into your head. ing on the modifications made in your and spelling mistakes or stop worrymethodology or recent discoveries. ing if you’ve missed out certain de- Tip 8: If you skip a day, make it up tails. You can always come back to it twice the next day Once you’re all done, it’s wise to relater. serve one day only for editing. Look Okay, I know we all get tired. Writ- for spelling and grammar mistakes.

If you keep on going back for spell- ing can be very tedious and stressful Make sure your ideas are responsive ing and grammar check after every for the brain. So now you’re asking and coherent to the chapters. Review paragraph, you’ll tend to forget rel- me if you can take a break for a day. hard facts like theories and formulas. evant details that could have helped enrich your paper.

If your thesis’ deadline is in a week You can also hire a professional edior two, the ideal answer is NO. You tor and proofreader to make sure that So don’t worry if you’ll have red and need to glue yourself in your chair your thesis is 100% error-free. These green lines. For now, just keep your and face your computer. Finish your people can also give you extra inthoughts flowing and get all your ide- target section today and reward your- sights on how you can improve your as on your paper. The point is to re- self a rest. But we all know that this is writing. cord as many information as you can a lie we tell ourselves. before you even forget them.

So these are the tips you can apply If you really can’t help yourself but in real life if you’re trying to write Tip 6: Take note of your referenc- sleep, fine, you can take a break to- your thesis faster. One most impores from time to time day. However, I’m warning you that it tant thing is that confidence will truly is going to be very risky because you get you through the process. If there’s Make it a habit to record your refer- might get tempted to do things that a will, there’s a way. Good luck in ences after checking a book or web- will make it hard to wake up the next writing your thesis, I’m sure you can site. One of the most time-consuming day. finish it in time. parts of the actual writing process is organizing your bibliography or ref- My tip to you is to make a commiterences. ment that you’re going to make up.

For example, if you failed to make If you don’t take note, you’ll be one section today then you must be spending a lot of hours scavenging able to make three sections the next through your papers in the hope of re- day. That’s how the rule should go membering your references. otherwise, you won’t be able to make it.

For online resources, make sure that rest of the sections can come next.

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