Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology PhD Program in Molecular Ecology Admission Notice 2013

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