IGIB Project Recruitments March 2011

Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB)
Near Jubilee Hall, Mall Road
Delhi-110 007

POSITIONS OPEN FOR TEMPORARY RESEARCH PROJECT POSTS

(Date of interview — 21-03-11 at 10:30 AM)

Institute of Genomics & Integrative Biology (IGIB), desires to engage qualified incumbents on purely temporary basis as detailed below:

Project Title/ Code	No.  of Post(s)	Designation	Essential Qualification	Age Limit	Stipend	Initial Tenure
"Cellular Hypoxia, Mitochondrial Dysfunction, and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress In Asthma: -Potential New Therapeutic Targets"  (Project Code: GAP0069)	One	JRF (Project)	First class M.Sc. in any branch of Life Sciences.  Should have qualified  NET-JRF or DBT-JRF	28 years	Rs. 12,000/- +  30% HRA per month	One year
"Nanomaterials and nanodevices in health and disease"  (Project Code: NWP0035)	One	Project Assistant  (level – II)	First class M.Sc. in any branch of biological/chemical sciences /biotechnology (excluding bioinformatics)  Desirable: Mammalian tissue culture, routine molecular biology techniques	28 years	Rs. 10,000/- Consolidated per month	One year
"An integrative biology approach in deciphering genotype phenotype correlation for human complex disorders"  (Project Code: SIP0006)	One	Project Assistant  (level – III)	First class M.Sc. in any branch of life sciences with at least two years of research experience  Or M.E./M.Tech with at least one year of research experience Research Experience: Mammalian cell culture, genetics and routine molecular biology techniques	30 years	Rs. 12,000/- Consolidated per month	One year
"Multi-agent Therapy of Cancer: A Systems Biology Approach"  (Project Code: HCP0004)	One	Project Assistant  (level – III)	First class M.Sc. in any branch of life sciences with at least two years of research experience  Or M.E./M.Tech with at least one year of research experience Research Experience: Mammalian genetics and cell culture	30 years	Rs. 12,000/- Consolidated per month	One year
"New insights in cancer biology: Identification of novel targets and development of target based molecular medicine"  (Project Code: IAP0001)	One	Project Assistant  (level – III)	First class M.Sc. in any branch of life sciences with at least two years of research experience  Or M.E./ M.Tech with at least one year of research experience Research Experience: Computational Biology with experience in handling any next generation sequencing data	30 years	Rs. 12,000/- Consolidated per month	One year
"Mechanisms of increased Asthma risk in Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome"  (Project Code: MLP5501)	One	Animal Attendant	First class 10th pass with 5 year of experience in animal handling	25 years	Rs. 6,000/- Consolidated per month	One year
"National facility for Functional Genomics"  (Project Code: FAC0002)   (Selected candidates for this project will have the opportunity to work in the interface of functional genomics and epigenetics)	Two	Project Assistant  (level – II)	First class B.Tech/M.Sc. in any branch of science	28 years	Rs. 10,000/- Consolidated per month	One year
		Project Assistant  (level – III)	First class B.Tech/M.Sc. in any branch of science with two years of relevant experience  Or M.Tech in any branch of science	30 years	Rs. 12,000/- Consolidated per month
	One	Project Associate  (level – I)	Ph.D in any branch of science/ MBBS	35 years	Rs. 15,000/- Consolidated per month

Age relaxation for SC/ST/ OBC candidate as per Govt. of India instruction.

Engagement is for the project and on behalf of the funding agency and the tenure shall be as mentioned above. The duration of the post is initially for one Year or till the closing date of the project, which ever is earlier. Tenure may be extendable up to project duration. Contract may be terminated any time by giving one-month notice by either side. The applicants will have no claim implicit or explicit for consideration against any CSIR/IGIB post.

How to Apply:

The eligible applicant can apply for maximum of two projects and the candidate has to email their resume in "MS word" format directly to hrd@igib.res.in by 27-02-11. No application would be entertained with "result awaited" status or after due date.

(In subject line of the email please mention: "<Project Code> application for <Post Name>Mar 2011" example: : GAP0069 application for Project Assistant Mar 2011 ). Kindly write correct project code and format otherwise application will not reach to the concern department.

The email will be sent to the short listed candidates.

No TA/DA will be paid to the candidates to attend the interview. The engagement shall be as per guidelines of CSIR/Funding agency. Candidates will have option to give reply in Hindi.

Note: The shortlisted candidates, who have received the email for interview, have to report at 09:30 AM for interview along with any Photo ID card and original certificates for entry purpose. Entry will be closed by 10:15 AM.

--
Thanks&Regards
Mahantesh.I.B
www.biotrack.yolasite.com
www.sitbiotech.blogspot.com
+91 9611558989
+91 9037652343

Protein-Based Pneumococcal Vaccine May Provide Universal Protection

Investigators at Children's Hospital Boston (MA, USA) and their collaborators at Genocea Biosciences, Inc. (Cambridge, MA, USA) used a powerful proteomic screening protocol to identify protein antigens from S. pneumoniae that would stimulate the immune system's TH17 cells (CD4+ T cells) to secrete the potent cytokine IL-17A.

In their paper published in the February 17, 2011, issue of the journal Cell Host & Microbe, the investigators reported that the identified antigens were effective mucosal immunogens that protected mice from nasopharyngeal colonization by S. pneumoniae in a CD4+ T cell- and IL-17A-dependent manner. The identified antigens stimulated IL-17A secretion from splenocytes isolated from mice previously exposed to live pneumococcus, indicating that the antigens were effectively presented during mucosal colonization. Similarly, human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) secreted IL-17A when stimulated with the antigens, indicating similar TH17 responses were primed during natural exposure to pneumococcus.

"By combining advances in molecular biology, immunology, and bioinformatics, the strategy we use at Genocea allows comprehensive, rapid, and unbiased screens of every protein produced by an infectious agent to identify the most effective T cell- stimulating antigens," said contributing author Dr. Jessica Flechtner, vice president for research at Genocea Biosciences. "We look forward to our continued collaboration and the development of an improved pneumococcal vaccine."

The identified antigens represent strong candidates for a protein subunit vaccine designed to prevent colonization by S. pneumoniae. "The next steps, already in motion, are to optimize the formulation of this vaccine, confirm its efficacy and safety in animals, and then proceed to human trials," said senior author Dr. Richard Malley, associate professor of pediatrics at Children's Hospital Boston.

The findings of this study suggest that the proteomic screening method described here will be a powerful tool for vaccine development against pathogens where infection of the human host begins with mucosal colonization. 

--
Thanks&Regards
Mahantesh.I.B
www.biotrack.yolasite.com
www.sitbiotech.blogspot.com
+91 9611558989
+91 9037652343

Customized Cancer Cell Lines Should Boost Development of Drugs for Personalized Medicine

A commercially available catalog of genetically modified cancer cell lines is expected to boost research efforts to develop drugs for personalized medicine.

Initial offerings of cell lines that model colorectal and lung cancer are already being supplied by Sigma Life Science (St. Louis, MO, USA). These cell lines were created using Sigma's proprietary CompoZr Zinc Finger Nuclease (ZFN) technology.

Zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs) are a class of engineered DNA-binding proteins that facilitate targeted editing of the genome by creating double-strand breaks in DNA at user-specified locations. Double-strand breaks are important for site-specific mutagenesis in that they stimulate the cell's natural DNA-repair processes, namely homologous recombination and nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ). Using well-established and robust protocols, these cellular processes can be harnessed to generate precisely targeted genomic edits resulting in cell lines, including somatic cell lines, with targeted gene deletions (knockouts), integrations, or modifications. 

Sigma's CompoZr Oncology Disease Model cell lines are designed to enable basic research and high content, high throughput screening of compounds and biologics. Sigma believes that these cell lines will accelerate the development of personalized medicine through target validation, identification of mechanistic actions of drugs, and investigation of disease development, progression, and remission.

"CompoZr Oncology Disease Model cell lines are our latest addition to what we anticipate will become the most comprehensive collection of modified human cell lines with a significantly higher degree of predictability for drug function and biological responses than conventional cell lines," said Supriya Shivakumar, global marketing manager at Sigma Life Science. "By harnessing the power of our award-winning CompoZr ZFN technology, we have generated cancer cell lines with precise, stable, and heritable gene knockouts and knockins, providing scientists with innovative tools to enable the development of drugs for personalized medicine." 

Next in the pipeline is a panel of genetically modified cell lines that model breast cancer.

--
Thanks&Regards
Mahantesh.I.B
www.biotrack.yolasite.com
www.sitbiotech.blogspot.com
+91 9611558989
+91 9037652343

Resveratrol Increases Ability of Rapamycin to Kill Breast Cancer Cells

Cancer researchers have found that when the red wine compound resveratrol was added to the chemotherapeutic agent rapamycin, the combination of drugs was more effective in killing breast cancer cells than was rapamycin alone.

Investigators at the Cleveland Clinic (OH, USA) tested the anticancer properties of rapamycin and resveratrol on three different lines of breast cancer cells growing in culture. The cell lines included a rapamycin resistant cell line, MDA-MB-231, as well as a rapamycin sensitive cell line, MCF-7.

Results published in the December 17, 2010, online edition of the journal Cancer Lettersrevealed that the combined use of resveratrol and rapamycin resulted in modest additive inhibitory effects on the growth of breast cancer cells, mainly through suppressing rapamycin-induced AKT (v-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog) activation. 

This approach introduced a novel drug combination whereby resveratrol potentiated the growth inhibitory effect of rapamycin, with the added benefit of preventing eventual resistance to rapamycin, likely by suppressing AKT signaling. 

"Rapamycin has been used in clinical trials as a cancer treatment. Unfortunately, after a while, the cancer cells develop resistance to rapamycin," said senior author Dr. Charis Eng, chairperson of the Genomic Medicine Institute at the Cleveland Clinic. "Our findings show that resveratrol seems to mitigate rapamycin-induced drug resistance in breast cancers, at least in the laboratory. If these observations hold true in the clinic setting, then enjoying a glass of red wine or eating a bowl of boiled peanuts – which has a higher resveratrol content than red wine – before rapamycin treatment for cancer might be a prudent approach."

--
Thanks&Regards
Mahantesh.I.B
www.biotrack.yolasite.com
www.sitbiotech.blogspot.com
+91 9611558989
+91 9037652343

Elevated Levels of Neuron-Produced Cytokine Protect Against Parkinson’s Disease

A cytokine produced by neurons has been found to block the inflammatory activity - which has been linked to neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease - of other brain cells known as microglia.

Microglia, which constitute 20% of the total glial cell population within the brain, function as the resident macrophages of the brain and spinal cord, and thus act as the first and main form of active immune defense in the central nervous system (CNS). Microglia are capable of producing neuronal damage through the production of bioactive molecules such as cytokines, as well as reactive oxygen species (ROS), and nitric oxide (NO). The inflammatory response in the brain is tightly regulated at multiple levels. One form of immune regulation occurs via substances produced by the neurons. Chemokine (C-X3-C motif) ligand 1 (CX3CL1) is a large cytokine protein of 373 amino acids produced by neurons that suppresses the activation of microglia. It is also commonly known under the names fractalkine (in humans) and neurotactin (in mice).

In the current study, investigators at the University of South Florida (Tampa, USA) used a rat Parkinson's disease model to determine if the CX3CL1 pathway could be a therapeutic target to prevent excessive microglia activation that contributes to neurodegenerative disease. To this end, a group of these animals was treated for 28 days with recombinant CX3CL1, which was delivered to the striatum by an osmotic minipump.

They reported in the January 25, 2011, online edition of the Journal of Neuroinflammation that CX3CL1 was able to suppress microglia activation. The reduced microglia activation was found to be neuroprotective, as the CX3CL1 treated rats had a smaller lesion volume in the striatum and, importantly, significantly fewer lost neurons.

"In the brain, one aspect of immune regulation occurs through neurons," said senior author Dr. Paula C. Bickford, professor of neurosurgery at the University of South Florida. "Immune cells called microglia can damage neurons by producing bioactive molecules. On the other hand, a neuron-generated signaling chemical, or fractalkine, also called CX3CL1, suppresses the activation of microglia. Our study examined whether adding CX3CL1 beyond normal levels could decrease microglial activation and, therefore, play a neuroprotective role by helping prevent the loss of important neural cells in an animal model of Parkinson's disease."

--
Thanks&Regards
Mahantesh.I.B
www.biotrack.yolasite.com
www.sitbiotech.blogspot.com
+91 9611558989
+91 9037652343

Tips for PhD Aspirants.

Tips for PhD Aspirants.

Do think about whether you really want to do a PhD. Being a PhD student is not the same as being an undergrad, nor like working as a research assistant. A PhD is extremely hard work requiring a lot of discipline and dedication.

Do choose your supervisor well. The quality of your supervisor will have a direct impact on how much you get out of your PhD and how good (or bad) an experience it is. Don't choose your PhD supervisor because he/she is the leader in his/her field, in fact that's the most likely way to find a bad supervisor. Talk to the PhD students already working in the lab, find out whether they are happy and get information about the supervisor's personality, level of attention (too much/too little?) and how well they plan their projects.

Don't leave the responsibility for your project to others. Don't leave it to your supervisor to tell you how to work, what to read or plan your project. This is your learning experience: Get involved and take responsibility as early as possible.

Do get support from other PhD students. When things get tough, the only people who can understand what you are going through are other PhD students (or former ones!). If there are other PhD students around you, arrange to go for regular coffee/lunch breaks with them. If not, try an online forum such as the Postgraduate Forum.

Don't waste your first year. It is easy to think that you have a long time to complete your PhD, but don't be lulled into a false sense of security… time has a habit of disappearing fast. Start out as you mean to go on. Establish a strict work and study routine, and stick to it.

Don't spend long hours in the lab for the sake of it. Make sure that when you are in the lab, you are working and not just hanging around. Many people spend 16 hours a day in the lab, but they only actually work for eight hours or less. An 8 hour day, with time away from the lab to relax your body and mind will keep you sharp and focused.

Do summarise your results as you go. From the beginning, get yourself into the discipline of writing a monthly summary of experiments performed, results andconclusions and include all lab book references/data/images. The monthly reports will link up to make a story of your research and make your write-up much easier.

Don't underestimate how long it will take to write up. However long you think it will take you to write up, double or even trebling it will be closer to the truth. The write-up is the hardest part of your whole PhD.
Do take every opportunity to practice and learn. Treat your PhD studies like an intensive training program. Listen to and learn from those around you, take every opportunity to try new techniques, present data, meet other scientists.

Most importantly… have fun…coz "All work and no play make Jack a dull boy."

--
Thanks&Regards
Mahantesh.I.B
www.biotrack.yolasite.com
www.sitbiotech.blogspot.com
+91 9611558989
+91 9037652343

Tips for Scientific Writing

Tips for Scientific Writing
Dear friends here are a few tips to be followed while writing projects, dissertations and research papers I hope that these tips will be beneficial to you.
Abbreviations:
 You should avoid abbreviations by writing out the full word (minimum, October, Virginia, first, temperature, with...).  Exceptions include common biological terms like ATP and DNA, units of measure (m, g, cm, °C), and mathematical or chemical formulas.  Sentences should never begin with an abbreviation or an acronym.

Acronyms
You may wish to introduce an acronym for a term that is repeated often:  if your paper deals with soybeans, Glycine max, you may use the full scientific name once and substitute G. max thereafter.  If you are writing a paper about tidal freshwater marshes, the first time the terms appear, you can introduce an acronym:  "Tidal freshwater marshes (TFM) are important transitional zones in the landscape."  Throughout the rest of your paper, you would refer to TFM.
Chemical elements are not proper nouns, so do not capitalize them.  Only the first letter of the symbol is a capital letter: nitrogen (N), carbon (C), calcium (Ca). 

Contractions
In formal writing, you should never use contractions (didn't, can't, haven't...).

Direct quotes
Direct quotes should be avoided, unless you are presenting another author's specific definition or original label.  You can usually paraphrase the writing effectively and more concisely, taking care to properly attribute the sources of your statements.

Read and re-read the References 
It is obvious when students do not understand what they are writing about, and their grades suffer as a result.  Read and re-read your references.  Consult a textbook or another reference to help you resolve any aspects of the paper you do not understand before you start writing.
Run-on sentences
You should review your writing to make sure that each sentence presents one or two clear ideas.  This will also help you organize sentences within paragraphs in a logical order.

Scientific names
Scientific names consisting of genus and species, should be underlined or italicized, with only the genus capitalized:  Homo sapiens or Ilex opaca.

Significance
In science, the word "significant" implies the result of a statistical test.  It cannot be used to say, "The number of root nodules on red clover plants increased significantly when nitrogen was added," if you did not perform a statistical test to determine significant differences.  You should analyze your results to determine whether they are statistically significant and report the test you used, the significance level (p=0.05), calculated statistic (tcalc), and degrees of freedom.

Slang 
Do not use slang.  Try to use precise, scientific terms where possible (without unnecessary jargon) and avoid colloquialisms and figures of speech: "somewhat" rather than "sort of," "many" or "a great deal" instead of "a lot."

Spell-check
Your word processor's spell-check and/or grammar-check function is not error-free.  It cannot tell you when to use "it's" and "its," and it cannot tell you that a particular sentence does not make sense.  Give yourself enough time to proofread and correct your paper.

Tenses
When describing methods and results, you should use the past tense.  The present tense is appropriate for accepted facts, such as the background information presented in the Introduction.  In addition, you may use the present tense when you discuss your results and conclusions.  Looking over other scientific papers may help you answer questions you might have on this topic.

Units
All units of measure must be metric or SI (international System).
 

--
Thanks&Regards
Mahantesh.I.B
www.biotrack.yolasite.com
www.sitbiotech.blogspot.com
+91 9611558989
+91 9037652343

How to write Statement of Purpose

Writing the Statement of Purpose

The purpose of the personal statement is to convince the Admissions Committee members that you belong at their school and, eventually, in their profession.

Things to Keep in Mind:
1. What the admissions committee will read between the lines: motivation, competence, potential as a graduate student.
2. Emphasize everything from a positive perspective and write in an active, not a passive, voice.
3. Demonstrate everything by example; don't say directly that you're a persistent person, demonstrate it.
4. You don't want to make excuses, but you can talk about the mistakes you've made as a learning experience.
5. If there is something important that happened (poverty, illness, excessive work, etc.), which affected your grades go ahead and state it, but write it affirmatively, that is, in a way that shows your perseverance.
6. Make sure everything is linked with continuity and focus.
7. The essay should be 500-600 words (1 to 1½ pages) single-space, typed, 12pt. font size.

Do's and Don'ts

Do's:
• Do start early and allow plenty of time for several drafts and multiple revisions.
• Do choose one theme/thesis that unifies your essay.
• Do think about your values and motivation before writing the essay.
• Do be as specific as possible about why you want to study for and join your chosen this profession.
• Do use the word "I" if you want to, but don't if it makes you uncomfortable.
• Do talk about how your uniqueness makes you a good candidate.
• Do use examples of personal struggle to highlight character traits or accomplishments.
• Do provide the reader with insight into what drives you.
• Do evaluate your experiences, rather than simply recounting them
• Do write in your own voice. Be yourself rather than trying to be the ideal applicant.
• Do think about the impression you are making on the reader.
• Do use active verbs. It is good to sound confident (without sounding obnoxious or pretentious).
• Do use a spell checker. Schools detest misspelled words and bad grammar.
• Do enlist others to read and proofread your essay.
• Do get feedback on your draft(s) from your advisor before your submission.
• Do take your essay to the Writing Center before you submit it to schools.

Don'ts:
• Don't use the word "dream."
• Don't write an expanded resume; avoid repeating information that you've provided elsewhere in your application.
• Don't lie, cheat or steal. Embellishing your personal stories to make them try to sound "better," having your friend the English major write your essay for you, or "borrowing" ideas from other essays you've read are obviously bad ideas. You want this to be your own work, and something you'll be able to talk about at your interviewsin an honest and detailed manner.
• Don't try to cover too much.
• Don't talk about emotionally-charged experiences if you cannot do so in a fairly professional manner at an interview.
• Don't use clichés or tired metaphors ("It was a dark and stormy night…")
• Don't talk about how bad all current health professionals are and how much better you will be.
• Don't mention "hot topics" like abortion, managed care, or assisted suicide.
• Don't talk about salary and how much money you would like to make.
• Don't talk about how wonderful you are. Let the Board take care of that.
• Don't list the qualities that you believe make you a good candidate. Rather, it should be selfevident from the essay what positive character traits you gained from your experiences.
• Don't say that you want to be a doctor because your mother/father is a doctor.

--
Thanks&Regards
Mahantesh.I.B
www.biotrack.yolasite.com
www.sitbiotech.blogspot.com
+91 9611558989
+91 9037652343

How to become a parasitologist..?

Parasitologist - How to Become a Parasitologist?

Parasitology is a subdivision of biology. Aspirants who have completed the various courses in Parasitology can become Parasitologists. These professionals are actually scientists who scrutinize the inter connection between parasites like vermins, fleas and their hosts. They study the characteristics, lifestyle, and life cycles of various animal parasites so as to reach at conclusions on the undiagnosed human infections, and possible parasitic invasion, which is the cause of the ailments. Parasitologists work profile also includes initiating techniques and mediators to combat parasites.

Qualifying Exam
Aspirants have to complete post graduation in Parasitology or related fields and the doctoral degree in the same so as to turn out to be a Parasitologist. They should have done the course from a certified University. Aspirants who have completed the program can seek out for jobs as research analysts or assistants. These professionals can expect remunerations around $51,020 p.a. The emoluments may vary extensively depending up on the job experience and the area of research.
Who is eligible to apply?
The eligibility criterion to apply for the Masters' course in Parasitology is a graduation in any of the Biology subjects from an acknowledged University. They have to attend PG entrance tests also so as to get admissions for the Masters' programs. Those who have completed the post graduation in the respective fields are qualified to pursue the research programs in Parasitology.
Key Points in the process
 

• Earn a degree in any Biology subjects
• Do the Masters' program in Biology / Parasitology / microbiology
• Pursue the PhD programs in Parasitology
• Gain work experience in the related fields
• Apply for Government as well as private jobs

How to prepare for exam and interview?
It is important for the candidates to be well aware of the qualifying exam syllabus so as to clear the test. They can obtain particular books from leading bookstores for reference. Aspirants can also get hold of preceding year's papers from various sources and can work out the same by fixing a time. By doing so, they may be able to get rid of exam fears. By self-evaluating their solved papers, they may be able to be familiar with their tougher portions

--
Thanks&Regards
Mahantesh.I.B
www.biotrack.yolasite.com
www.sitbiotech.blogspot.com
+91 9611558989
+91 9037652343