Rajiv
Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram 695014
PhD Program in Molecular Ecology Admission Notice 2013
ELIGIBILITY:
1. Post graduation in
Life Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Bioinformatics, Biotechnology, Agriculture,
Veterinary Sciences and medicine graduates.
2. Applicants must have
a consistently First class academic track record (no less than 60% aggregates)
and a valid research fellowship from UGC, CSIR, ICMR and DBT or eligibility to
apply for INSPIRE. Candidates with other fellowships are advised to contact the
Dean to confirm eligibility.
3. Candidates awaiting
final exam results can also apply. However only those candidates with a valid
pass certificate will be allowed to appear for the selection interview.
4. Research Fellows
working in an externally funded project in RGCB are eligible to apply.
Uncovering how
populations of a species differ genetically and ecologically is important for
understanding evolutionary processes by examining the distribution of genetic
diversity and population connectivity through gene flow. Both genetic and
ecological divergence can lead to reproductive isolation and speciation. For
most tropical frogs, however, there is no information about their genetic
population structure, genetic diversity within the species, presence of genetic
lineages, or even species status and variability in ecological requirements.
The overall goal of the
RGCB Molecular Ecology Program is to investigate the genetic differentiation of
local populations of endemic amphibian populations in the Western Ghats
biodiversity hotspot. These goals will be targeted focusing on population
genetics of the amphibians of the Western Ghats by developing novel
microsatellite markers that will allow investigation of the genetic
relationships and diversity among and between different populations and
species. Apart of seeking to identify genetically unique lineages and
signatures indicative of genetic problems (i.e. inbreeding, loss of variability
due to drift), we will also seek to resolve the phylogenetic (evolutionary)
relationships between different taxa and populations with the aid of mt DNA
sequence and microsatellite data. In addition, the degree of population
differentiation attainable due to neutral evolutionary processes (i.e. drift,
migration) as measured by FST-index in neutral microsatellite loci will be
compared to that obtained from the previous study on genus Indirana by our
group. This is will allow assessing the relative roles of genetic drift and
natural selection as determinants of population differentiation in ancient
endemic amphibians of Western Ghats. Another aspect of our study will include
focusing on the species diversity of amphibians of Western Ghats. This will be
accomplished by DNA barcoding of all the known species and assessing cryptic
diversity, if any. This database will be used in future for the studies on host
defense peptides.
GUIDELIES FOR
THE Ph.D REGISTRATION AND RESEARCH:
a.
RGCB Guidelines
1.
Students who successfully pass the course work and obtain the certificates will
only be eligible for activation of research fellowships and PhD registration
currently with the University of Kerala (www.keralauniversity.ac.in)
2.
Students are expected to submit the thesis before completion of the fellowship
tenure. The maximum period of studentship at RGCB will not exceed five years
from the date of registration.
3.
Students not completing their PhD within the stipulated period will also lose
the right to continue staying in institute accommodation.
4.
The students need to have peer reviewed publications as first author with a
total impact factor not less than 3
5.
The work of the student is subject to periodic review.
b.
Guidelines of Kerala University
1.
The student will have to present a PhD dissertation proposal to the Kerala
University doctoral committee when called for by the University
2.
University of Kerala has initiated mandatory coursework along UGC norms and all
students will have to qualify the exams.
3.
The students will also have to comply with any rules or modifications that the
University of Kerala will bring about from time to time (www.keralauniversity.ac.in)
Applications are
invited from eligible candidates with a strong interest in molecular ecology to
apply for admission to the PhD program in the laboratory of Dr Sanil George.
Eligibility details and procedures for admission to RGCB's PhD programs are
explained at http://www.rgcb.res.in/phdprogram
Applications may be
submitted to the Director, RGCB.
The last date for receiving complete applications is March 31, 2013
For details, logon to www.rgcb.res.in
