Department of Biochemistry,
Kuvempu University,
Shimoga, Karnataka – 577451
Kuvempu University,
Shimoga, Karnataka – 577451
Malaria Research and Training
This is an international collaborative research project between Kuvempu University, Karnataka, India, and The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA focusing on various aspects of P. vivax malaria in Mangalore city funded by a grant from the Fogarty International Center of United States National Institutes of Health, under the Global Infectious Diseases program. This project is intended to train and expand the capabilities of scientists and health professionals in India to engage in malaria research. This innovative and collaborative research-training program is expected to contribute to the long-term goal of building sustainable research capacity in Indian institutions. The intent is to harness scientific knowledge and skills to enhance prevention, treatment and control of malaria.
Goals of the Research Training Program
The overall goals of the project are to
(i) train four PhD students on P. vivax malaria,
(ii) train healthcare professionals and allied personnel in the study area by conducting short-term courses, workshops and symposia, and
(iii) promote international research collaborations.
Recruitment of PhD Students
We are recruiting highly motivated M.Sc. graduates in the area of biological/life sciences who are interested in pursuing research on malaria leading to a Ph.D. degree. We will be recruiting four PhD candidates for conducting the research in this project. Each selected candidate will work on one specific aspect of the research projects for a total period of 4-5 years, including an advanced training in an US University for about one year.
General Requirements: Applicant must be an Indian national and must have or be about to obtain a Master's degree or equivalent in the area of biological sciences or a related field.
Students with a degree in biochemistry, biotechnology, bioinformatics, microbiology, and epidemiology, are welcome to apply. The candidates must have passed the National Eligibility Test conduced by UGC/CSIR/ICMR. Those who have taken the examination and anticipated to pass are also encouraged to apply.
Candidates should demonstrate adequate competence in the English language.
Recruitment Procedure: The selection procedure involves three steps.
Step 1: Application and Statement of Interest: The candidate should submit a signed application furnishing the following information: Name, mailing address, date of birth, gender, and educational qualification. Please attach copies of CV (including a list of publications, if any, from prior research), degree certificates, names of two referees who are providing confidential and critical evaluation, a passport size photo, and one-page Personal Statement of interest and future goals. The reference letters from referees should be specific for this application and include a detailed evaluation of candidate’s creativity, ability to perform the experiments, competence and commitment to research. The referees should mail the reference letters (either hard copy or e-mail) directly to the address given below. Reference letters received from the candidates and the letters lacking critical evaluation will not be considered.
Step 2: Telephone Interviews: Selected candidates will be asked to participate in a telephone interview for further evaluation.
Step 3: Recruitment Meeting: The candidates, who are in the short list made from the above interview, will be invited to attend a personal interview by a recruitment committee, consisting of research investigators. The venue of the interview will be Bangalore.
The candidates are expected to make an oral presentation about their research interests in malaria and career goals. This will be followed by one-to-one interviews with the research investigators. The selected candidates will be required to start their course work and research shortly thereafter.
Application and statement of interest: It is essential that the candidate is committed to pursue a career in malaria research, develop independent research projects on malaria and seek funding from national and international agencies. After the completion of Ph.D, the candidate will be encouraged to take up faculty positions in Indian universities/institutes. The statement of interest should clearly mention these points indicating candidate’s short and long term plans. The signed application form should contain the following details.
- Full name, clearly indicating the first/given name and family name.
- Address, contact telephone number, and e-mail address.
- Date of birth, gender, and nationality (copy of information page of passport or other identification document may be requested at a later date).
- Educational qualifications, including details of institutions where studied, dates of completion, and grades obtained (attach copies of examination transcripts).
- The results of NET conduced by UGC/CSIR/ICMR
- Those who completed their M. Sc. in/before 2009 must provide a brief description of the current and prior position(s) and accomplishments.
- A description (1 page maximum) of the applicant's personal statement of interests, including a description of how the applicant plans to apply the acquired skills and knowledge through this program to pursue his/her future career.
- Name, address and contact information of the two chosen referees with whom the candidate has worked/interacted significantly.
- A list of the applicant's publications/abstracts of presentations.
- Address, contact telephone number, and e-mail address.
- Date of birth, gender, and nationality (copy of information page of passport or other identification document may be requested at a later date).
- Educational qualifications, including details of institutions where studied, dates of completion, and grades obtained (attach copies of examination transcripts).
- The results of NET conduced by UGC/CSIR/ICMR
- Those who completed their M. Sc. in/before 2009 must provide a brief description of the current and prior position(s) and accomplishments.
- A description (1 page maximum) of the applicant's personal statement of interests, including a description of how the applicant plans to apply the acquired skills and knowledge through this program to pursue his/her future career.
- Name, address and contact information of the two chosen referees with whom the candidate has worked/interacted significantly.
- A list of the applicant's publications/abstracts of presentations.
Selection of candidates is based on their academic and research credentials, recommendations, their statement of interest and long-term career commitment to malaria research. After successful completion of the course work and candidacy examination, the candidates will initially work in the Mangalore city collecting epidemiological data and blood samples from patients. This will be followed by research work primarily in one of the laboratories of collaborating investigators in India. Depending upon the need, the candidates may also be required to work in the laboratories of other investigators. A committee that comprises of research mentor and other investigators will monitor the candidate’s overall progress. The candidates will have an opportunity to receive an advanced training in the laboratories of investigators in USA for a period of about one year within the total period of 4-5 years. While in USA, the candidate will have an opportunity to attend and present the data at the annual meeting of American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
Research Stipend: The research fellowship (Rs. 16,000/month for the initial two years and Rs. 18,000/month for three years) and HRA are as per recent Department of Science and Technology guidelines. The stipend during the candidate’s stay in the USA is approximately $1,400/month.
One time airfare for traveling to the US and back to India will be paid. The stipend during the candidate’s stay in the USA is approximately $1,400/month.
Further information can be obtained from and the applications should be sent to:
Dr. Rajeshwara Achur
Associate Professor and Chairman,
Department of Biochemistry,
Kuvempu University,
Shimoga, Karnataka – 577451.
Associate Professor and Chairman,
Department of Biochemistry,
Kuvempu University,
Shimoga, Karnataka – 577451.
E-mail: rajachur@gmail.com ; anr@kuvempu.ac.in
Mobile: 9972345080
Mobile: 9972345080
No comments:
Post a Comment