Bose Institute and (below) J.C. Bose’s instruments on display at the institute

If you’re interested in research in basic sciences, read on. The Calcutta-based Bose Institute and Calcutta University (CU) are jointly launching a unique course that will integrate research and teaching. The MSc-PhD programme in plant molecular biology and biotechnology is set to begin from September 2007 and will benefit students interested in making an early start in the world of research.

The Bose Institute has had a long relationship with Calcutta University dating back to the time when Jagadish Chandra Bose founded the institute in 1917. With this partnership, both the institutes hope to further strengthen ties with each other.

The six-year course (including MSc and PhD) conceived in March this year will be supervised by a board of experts nominated by Calcutta University and the Bose Institute. This board would also include two independent experts. “CU’s biological science department is renowned and collaboration with a premier research body like the Bose Institute will enhance its credentials. We hope that students will benefit from this partnership,” says Samir Kumar Bandopadhyay, registrar, Calcutta University. Admissions for the course will commence shortly.

One of the main objectives of this course — it will cover topics such as biostatistics, genetics and molecular cell biology — is to attract more students to do research in basic sciences. “For long there has been a growing disconnect between research institutes and teaching institutions in India. So while universities neglected research, researchers neglected teaching. And in the end it harmed both communities. This collaboration will, thus, bring students into the research fold at an early stage and encourage researchers to hone their teaching skills,” says Shibaji Raha, director, the Bose Institute.

Experts say that there is a huge potential for technological and industrial research in the subject. “We want to attract the best students and encourage them to excel in research. After passing out, we hope that these students will be able to fulfill the demands of national projects in upcoming areas like agricultural biotechnology and genomics,” says Raha. The large group of plant molecular biology and biotechnology experts on the Bose Institute campus will provide guidance to students of this course.

The University Potential for Excellence team under the University Grants Commission recently suggested that all biological sciences be brought under one roof. The team also gave the go ahead to take up new collaborative partnerships with research institutes of repute. Since Calcutta University has been declared as a Potential for Excellence University, this collaborative course is in keeping with this directive. “Direct research in certain disciplines will be explored via such partnerships. We are also exploring collaborations in other scientific and technological subjects,” points out Bandopadhyay.

The Bose Institute will be responsible for teaching, evaluation, student selection and course material, while Calcutta University will provide technical inputs, approve the syllabus and act as a consultant. Students seeking admission to this course need a BSc (honours) in botany, zoology, microbiology, biochemistry, physics, biotechnology or any related science stream with at least 60 per cent marks. Final selection will be on the basis of a written test conducted by the Bose Institute, followed by an interview and counselling session.

There will be four examinations in the MSc component of the course in the first two years. The evaluation of the PhD thesis will be done after the completion of the PhD study assessment as per institutional rules. But if some students are not interested in the complete programme, they can discontinue it after four years. These students will be awarded an MSc degree with a research component.

The attendance requirements will be stringent. To be eligible to sit for the MSc examination, students will need at least 75 per cent attendance in both theory and practical classes. During the fourth semester of the second year, students will have to undertake a research project for six months.