The School of Life Sciences (SLS) established in the year 1970-71 has celebrated four decades of its existence. The School offers M. Sc. and M.Phil/Ph.D. degree in Life Sciences. The teaching and research programme in the School was conceptualized as an interdisciplinary program unifying the disciplines of biological sciences from a molecular level to whole organismal level. The experimental approaches undertaken by different research groups include biochemistry, biophysics, cell biology, genetics and molecular biology in organisms representing bacteria, fungi, plants and mammals.
The teaching programme of the School of Life Sciences has earned a high reputation for its interdisciplinary nature for students from both biological and physical sciences at the Master’s and Ph.D. levels. This is made possible by offering remedial courses in physical sciences for Master’s students coming from the bioscience stream and in elementary biology for students entering biology after their first degree in physical sciences. The School has an in-house system of continuous review of its academic programmes that allows inclusion of newer areas into research and teaching. The M.Sc. practical laboratories are well equipped to give ‘handson’ training to students in the theory subjects taught to them. Graduates completing their degrees at the School are always
sought after by research labs in India and abroad and have performed exceptionally well in the universities, institutes and industries.Two programmes of Study :
M. Phil/Ph.D (Life Sciences)
- Student research fellowship: Each student can bring their own fellowship based on national tests or avail UGC Non-NET fellowship currently Rs. 5000 and Rs. 8000 p.m. for JRF and SRF
- Pre-Ph. D. courses covering various aspects of advanced research in life sciences
- Modest support for travel/registration for senior students to attend conference and present their research
- covering various aspects of advanced research in life sciences
- The School offers core/foundation courses as well as advanced courses for the M Phil. /Ph. D. students. Students are assessed and evaluated throughout the semester by a continuous system of tests, seminars, assignments, mid and end-semester examinations.
M.Sc. (Life Sciences)
The M. Sc. course lays emphasis on research and offers students the choice of a research career. Our M.Sc. students are encouraged to rejoin SLS through due admission procedure to pursue their doctoral studies, or seek admission in other institutions in India/abroad.
This program offers an in-depth theoretical as well as practical knowledge in all areas of Life Sciences. Students from both Physical Sciences as well as Biological Sciences backgrounds may join this program. Students have to take both core courses and optional courses spread over four semesters, and practical courses in the first two semesters. During the final two semesters, students also have to carry out a research project on a specific topic under the supervision of a faculty member in a laboratory and submit a dissertation for evaluation by a committee of experts followed by open oral presentation defending the project. Students also have to present a seminar and submit a term paper on a current topic in life sciences. The final evaluation for the grades is on a 9.0 point scale CGPA. Detailed information regarding the course structure can be obtained from the website (www.jnu.ac.in/sls).
Funding:
School-level funding:
From UGC
- Departmental Special Assistance Programme in “Cell
and Molecular Biology” - Resource Networking Program
- University with Potential for Excellence (UPOE)
From DST
- FIST-I and FIST-II programmes
- PURSE Grant
Faculty-level funding: Research grants from various national and international funding agencies such as the UGC, DST, DBT, CSIR, ICMR, The European Union, the Wellcome Trust (UK), Swiss Development, USDA, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) etc.
Career and Aptitude Development of our Students
- JNU and the SLS pro-actively support career and aptitude development of its students by the following:
- Students elected to the statutory Student Faculty Committee
- Student representation in the Special Committee (Board of Studies) of SLS
- Organization of the highly successful annual research festival ‘BioSparks’ by senior Ph.D. students
- Visiting Scholar seminar ‘Meet the Speaker’ anchored by students
RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE
- A well established 24×7 accessible Central Instruments Facility (CIF) with ‘state of the art’ instruments
- Equipments for Genomics and proteomics research: FACS, MALDI-TOF/TOF, Nano LC-ESI-MS/MS, and real time PCR.
- Equipments for Cell biology: Fluorescence microscopes, live cell microscope and whole animal imaging system
- Common Equipments: Ultra- and high-speed centrifuges,spectrophotometers, spectrofluorimeters, time-resolved single photon counting fluorescence spectrometer, atomic absorption spectrometer, isothermal titration calorimeter, phosphorimager, scintillation counter, PCR-machines, gel documentation system, imaging facilities, lyophilizer, ultralow
freezers, water purification system, brain-wave analyzer, oscilloscope, polygraph for electrophysiological measurements, gene gun, and gamma chamber. - Plant cell culture, Glass House for experimental and transgenic plants and animal cell culture facilities and stereotaxic surgical facility for small animals.
- JNU’s Advanced Instrumentation Research Facility (AIRF) (http://www.jnu.ac.in/AIRF/) is with sophisticated equipments are open to all SLS research scholars
In-house Training Opportunities
- Training in Animal Handling
- Training in Radiation Safety
- CIF orientation and equipment useage
- Equipment training in the JNU-AIRF
- English learning through JNU Linguistic Empowerment Cell
- Maths learning through JNU Maths Empowerment Cell
- Course on Plagiarism awareness and software training through JNU library
Table of Contents
ADMISSION PROCEDURE
(i) M.Sc. (Life Sciences)
Students are admitted to the M. Sc. (Life Sciences) program each year on the basis of their performance in the nation-wide written test conducted by JNU in the month of May.
(ii) M. Phil./Ph.D (Life Sciences)
Each year students are admitted to the M.Phil/Ph.D. (Life Sciences) program under two categories of admission viz., Category I and Category II (see below)
Category I: M.Phil./Ph.D. Integrated Programme
Candidates with M. Sc. or equivalent degree must appear in the written examination conducted by the University at centres across the country in the month of May. Based on the written test, short-listed candidates are invited for an interview. Candidates are finally selected for admission as per the University rules.
Category II: M.Phil./Ph.D. Integrated Programme (for NET-JRF/Fellowship holders)
Candidates who have qualified a Fellowship through a national-level written test i.e. the JRF category under the CSIR/UGC National Eligibility Test (NET)-JRF, DBTJRF (Category-I), ICMR-JRF, or any other Fellowship awarded from Government of India for the purpose of pursuing Ph.D. degree are eligible for application under this category. M.Sc. Bioinformatics students appearing for the final examination or those already qualified and awarded a research fellowship after clearing the Bioinformatics National Certification (BINC) Examination (conducted by DBT) are also eligible to apply.
Candidates who have already initiated their fellowship in some other institution and are interested to get it transferred may also apply, provided the period of available fellowship (activated after August 2016) is more than four years; JNU will not be responsible for the transfer of fellowship.
Candidates who have appeared in the CSIR/UGC-NETJRF, DBT-JRF and ICMR-JRF etc. but results are awaited may also apply under this category. However, if they are qualified in the written test, they would be interviewed only upon submission of documentary evidence of having qualified for the fellowship (JRF) to the Dean, School of Life Sciences, JNU (through Email: [email protected]), by May 31, 2017. Candidates with a valid proof of JRF will only be interviewed and be entitled for travel allowance as per rules to attend the interview.
Selection process: Aspirants under category I and II have to submit an application for the entrance examination through a single form wherein options for applying under category I or II would be given. Aspirants under both categories will have to appear for the same entrance test conducted nationwide on a designated date.
Entrance test would involve two parts, A and B. Part A would contain MCQ on research methodology (50%) and remaining 50% will be subject-specific. Candidates need to obtain minimum prescribed marks in Part A for eligibility. Part B would contain descriptive-type questions of analytical/ reasoning/ aptitude with multiple choice answers.
Candidates applying under the two categories would be separately short-listed for interview based on their rank in Part B. The final list of selected candidates would be declared based on the performance in the interview and the written test.
Procedure for selecting the area of research (effective Academic Year 2017-2018):
Students would be admitted into the M.Phil./Ph.D. programme into one of the four research areas (see Table below).
Key Features of this change:
- Each candidate has to indicate their choice of any Two of the four research areas in order of their priority in the application form for admission.
- The entrance exam question paper admission would cover all aspects of Life Sciences.
- Eligible candidates from both Category I and Category II would be interviewed by a competent interview board on the basis of their choice of research areas indicated in the application form.
Key Aspects of our M.Phil./Ph.D. Program
Students selected by the due process are offered admission.
- Upon completion of provisional registration into the M.Phil./Ph.D. programme, the course work would commence by the first week of August 2017.
- There would be an orientiation session in the form of faculty colloquim, following which the students would be offered a list of vacant positions available with individual faculty members in the chosen research group. o Please note that upon assignment of a supervisor, students are not permitted to change their laboratories during their tenure of Ph.D. For details of the how the M.Phil./Ph.D. programme operates, please see http://www.jnu.ac.in/SLS/ SLS_Handbook.pdf.
- All students have to take pre-Ph. D. courses for the initial two semesters. [Detailed information regarding the course structure can be obtained from the website (www.jnu.ac.in/sls)].
- Each student during their tenure in the SLS would be assigned to a Doctoral Committee (DC).
- For confirmation into the Ph. D. programme, a student has to secure the required qualifying marks. The student, in consultation with the respective Ph.D supervisor, has to submit a synopsis of the research proposal and defend it in an open seminar in the DC, and upon acceptance by the DC, the Special Committee of the School would approve the enrollment of the student into the Ph. D. programme.
- There would be an annual assessment of progress of each student.
- After sufficient amount of research work has been carried out by the student and with due approval of the supervisor, each student would make a presentation in an open seminar (called Pre-Ph.D. seminar as per UGC regulations) to the Doctoral Committee detailing their research work. can submit their Ph. D. thesis. Although Ph. D. thesis can be submitted upon completion of at least 2 years of research work, normally it is between 2 to 4 years from the date of confirmation for the Ph. D. program.
- A student may apply, for consideration by the Special Committee, for an extension of one more year to submit the Ph. D. thesis, provided the research work has been examined and recommended by an expert committee including the supervisor for this purpose. o Students who complete an M. Phil. degree can continue for her/ his Ph.D. degree in the integrated mode.
The Ph. D. degree is awarded on the basis of evaluation and recommendation of the thesis by two external examiners from within the country followed by successful oral defense of the research work by the candidate after fulfilling due requirements as per UGC regulations.
Check Eligibility Details Here
FELLOWSHIPS/SCHOLARSHIPS/AWARDS
UGC-CSIR Junior Research Fellowships: Only those candidates will be eligible for the award of fellowships who qualify in the national level test conducted by the University Grants Commission/CSIR and other similar test for award of Junior Research Fellowship as per the norms of the relevant organization.
UGC-Scholarships and Fellowships :The University Grants Commission invites applications for the award of various Scholarships and Fellowships every year for the candidates pursuing higher studies in Universities/Colleges. The details of the schemes are available at UGC website www.ugc.ac.in.
AYUSH Fellowship :The Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India offers Ph.D. Fellowship programmes, AYUSH National Eligibility Test (AYUSH-NET) equivalent to UGC/CSIR NET. It intends to sponsor annually 200 candidates (125 PG of AYUSH and 75 PG of Science & technology streams) for pursuing Ph.D. on AYUSH research topics.
Smt Jaswant Kaur Khurana merit Award – An award of Rs.15000/- lumsum and a Gold medal is awarded every year to the student of Life Scieces obtaining highest rank at the conclusion of the M.Sc. and M.Phil./ Ph.D. programme on the bais of selection at School level.
Know more about scholarships / fellowships here
Click to Know Fees and Payment Mode Details Here
Freeship: Limited number of student-ships are available to needy and deserving Indian Students as per University Rules
TIME-TABLE FOR ADMISSION
1. Start of Online Application Process – From 21.03. 2017
2. Closing of Online Application Process – Till 05:00 PM on 05.04.2017
3. Date of Entrance Examination – 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th May, 2017
4. Declaration of Result of written examination For B.A.(Hons.) 2nd Year, M.A.(Foreign Languages, M.Phil/Ph.D.,M.Tech, MPH, COP & ADOP (Mass-Media) (for programmes where viva-voce is prescribed) – 23rd June, 2017 (Tentative)
5. Viva-Voce of the Candidates Selected on the basis of Written test – 10th July, 2017 (Tentative)
6. Publication of Merit list for admission to Various programmes of study
i) Where Viva-voce is not prescribed (B.A.(Hons.) 1st year, M.A. (except Foreign languages), M.Sc. & MCA) – 7 th July, 2017 (Tentative)
ii) Where Viva-voce is prescribed (B.A.(Hons.) 2nd year, M.A. (Foreign languages), M.Phil/Ph.D., M.Tech, MPH, COP & ADOP (Mass-Media)– 14th July, 2017 (Tentative)
7. Registration of candidates selected for admission:
i) For B.A. (Hons.) 1st Year – 18th to 20th July & 28th to 31st July, 2017
ii) For M.A./M.Sc./M.C.A. – 21st 24th and 25th July & 28th July to 1st August, 2017
iii) For M.Phil./M.Tech./M.P.H.,
JRF and B.A. (Hons.) 2nd year – 26th, 27th, 28th, 31st July & 1st August, 2017
iv) For Part Time – 2
nd to 4th August, 2017
v) Extension Cases – 18th to 20th July, 2017
vi) Ph.D. – 18th to 20th July, 2017
8. Last date for payment of Fee – 1st August, 2017
9. Release of Second List, wherever considered necessary– By 2 nd August, 2017
10. Registration of Second List – 7th to 14th August, 2017
11. Deadline for Admission/Registration – 14th August, 2017
Note:
1. The lists of candidates invited to viva-voce and in respect of those finally selected for admission shall be displayed on the Notice-Boards of the Administrative Block and will also be available on JNU website (www.jnu.ac.in). Although intimation to this effect is sent to the candidates on their e-mail account and also available on JNU website as well as candidates online application form account, yet the candidates are advised to find out from Notice Board or JNU website (www.jnu.ac.in) or through their own sources whether their names appear in the lists and thereby make timely arrangements to appear for the viva-voce and for joining the programme, as the case may be. The University will not issue any paper intimation to the candidates. Candidates are advised to regularly check JNU website for updates.
2. It will be in the interest of candidates selected for admission to report for registration and join the programme of study immediately after the commencement of registration process.
View Complete Details Here Before Applying
View Previous year Question paper Here
