PhD in Biotechnology

The Ph.D. Biotechnology Program at School of Life Sciences, St Josephs’ University, Bangalore will be segmented into five stages over a maximum period of Four years (which can be amended based on the performance of the candidate and the university research committee approval), Course Work, Research Proposal Registration, Research Work, Submission of Research Work, Research Work, Defence of Thesis, each with a distinct milestone to monitor student’s progress and pursue their research at the best pace to complete their degree requirements in stipulated time. There would be an initial course work for the first year of the course which is compulsory and it is also needed that the student should pass this course work exam for the continuation of the course. The course is designed to train and cater advanced research in various areas of Biotechnology. The students are further expected to design, conduct experiments, publish research papers in Clarivate analytics suggested journals. A minimum of two research papers in these high cited journals is a mandate for  approval of thesis as per the UGC regulations. The students are also expected to present research progress at intervals to the PhD Monitoring Committee and the Doctoral committee and attend these Biannual progress meetings. The students are also expected to attend PhD colloquiums, present papers in Conferences, attend workshops during the tenure. Other research guidelines will be provided by University research office through university website post the admission into the course.

Important Dates

Admission process: The applicants must fill in complete information on the online application form and upload all required certificates (whatever is available) and photos.

Selection process: The candidates have to appear for an entrance test. The details of the entrance test are detailed below. The shortlisted candidates will be called for an interview. The dates of the entrance test and the subsequent interview are available under the section "Important Dates" on the programme page. Once the final interview is over, candidates have to pay their programme fee within 7 days and the mode of payment must be online.

General Structure for Admission Entrance Test:

• There will be an entrance test of two-hour duration, carrying 70 marks, based on which a shortlist of candidates will be prepared, followed by an interview for the shortlisted candidates, carrying 30 marks.

For Biotechnology:

The Entrance exam will consist of MCQs for 70 marks.

Note:

• Candidates who have qualified for NET (JRF/LS), GATE, and KSET (Karnataka) are exempted from the entrance test. They will directly attend the interview (100 marks).
• The selection will be based on the combined score obtained by the candidate in the entrance test and the interview.

Eligibility for joining the PhD in Biotechnology: 

NOTE: This is a  model syllabus for the PhD entrance exam and the subsequent selection process. This is not the current syllabus of any of the programmes offered by the department. 

• PhD in Biotechnology Model Syllabus.pdf
• PhD in Biotechnology Blueprint for PhD Entrance.pdf

THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY FEE IS APPLICABLE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE   NOT OBTAINED THE QUALIFYING DEGREE FROM A UNIVERSITY IN KARNATAKA:

NOTE: FULL-TIME RESEARCH SCHOLARS WILL BE ENTITLED TO A RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIP OF 12,000/- PER MONTH AFTER THEIR  COURSEWORK COMPLETION.

Programme Objectives

• To foster the creativity of students in their research efforts.
• To impart skills that if possible help students conducting sound reviews of the background literature pertinent to their approaches.
• To train students to generate and test hypotheses, develop new theories, and design and execute experiments.
• To develop writing, oral presentation and high-impact scientific journal submission skills of students using feedback.
• To motivate students to problem-solving and novel discovery at local level and contribute their share to national development in Innovation.

Programme Outcomes

• Students will have the foundational, practical technical knowledge required to engage in biotechnology research.
• Students will demonstrate comprehension of industry regulations and the regulatory landscape within biotechnology.
• Students will exhibit proficiency in using research strategies to address and solve biotechnology-related issues.
• Students will effectively communicate biotechnology-related information to relevant audiences through scientific correspondence.
• Students will prove their capability to collaborate and work efficiently within team.

Potential career options/Benefits getting enrolled into this course/Placement Success Ratio

• Students post receiving doctorate degree have a wide range of career options
• They can continue to work as post-doctoral fellows in government funded projects /can choose meritorious post-doctoral fellowships offered by Government of India or in the Abroad.
• Students can opt to enter into biotech, pharmaceutical industries etc.,
• Students can alternatively start their own startups and show entrepreneurship skills.
• Students would be eligible to work as Lecturers, Assistant Professors in Academic institutions.
• Placement success ratio is high in the course in any of the above areas projected.