Bioinformatics is an emerging
interdisciplinary area of science and technology encompassing
systematic development and application of IT solutions to
handle biological research problems. The area requires highly
trained human resource to deal molecular biology issues with
the application of computer and software tools. The present
crisis is non availability of sufficient manpower for teaching
as well as for perusing R&D activities in bioinformatics
in combination with Experimental Biology. The department had
realized this problem and therefore had introduced several
long-term and short-term educational activities to address
this gap. The details are as follows.
(i) M.SC. and M. Tech. Cources in Bioinformatics
Five Universities namely 1) JNU, 2) Pune University,
3) Calcutta University, 4) Pondicherry University, and 5)
MKU were running a one year advanced post graduate diploma
courses in Bioinformatics. A total of 100 candidates are being
produced per annum through these courses. The first two universities
mentioned above namely JNU and University of Pune have upgraded
their diploma courses as Post graduate courses namely M.Tech.
in Computational and systematic biology and M.Sc. in Bioinformatics
respectively, during the year. The MKU and Pondicherry University
along with Anna University have also been proposed to start
M.Sc in Bioinformatics on consortium basis so as to share
the faculties and resources through video Conferencing and
virtual class room approaches from this academic session.
(ii) Ph.D. Programmes in Bioinformatics
The COEs of BTISnet including the super computing
facility at IIT, Delhi are running Ph.D. programs in Bioinformatics
as the demand is very high for the high end human resource
in Bioinformatics & Computational Biology. The first batch
of Ph.D. students of JNU and Pune University would be coming
out this year.
(iii) Short Term Training Programmes
In order to provide exposure and hands on experience
for the researchers, faculties, and students about Bioinformatics
tools and resources and to encourage them to use these for
speeding up of their R&D activities, the BTISnet centres
have organized 130 short-term training programs and over 2000
researchers have been trained during this year.
Bioinformatics National Certification (BINC)
Examinations
India has made major strids in Biotechnology
and Bioinformatics. The industry growth in these areas is
spectacular. The growth can be better if India is able to
create high quality human resources and provide industry relevant
training. Last few years several private institutions and
universities have started Bioinformatics courses and training
programs at various levels. The quality of the training given
in these institutions and universities is not in the uniform
level. This has created two main problems, mainly the industry
is not getting the desired quality manpower which is affecting
their growth in terms of carrying out contract research as
well as the development of bioinformatics software tools and
generation of IPR. Secondly which is rather equally important
is that the young students do not find the job even after
they try substantially for such training and thus the disillusionment
among students and parents.
Therefore, DBT has decided to conduct national
level Bioinformatics Certificate Exam to identify quality
bioinformaticians. The task is assigned to Bioinformatics
Centre, University of Pune. A National Coordination Committee
under the Chairmanship of Prof. Ashok Kolaskar was formed
with the experts from Jawaharlal Nehru University, Madurai
Kamaraj University, Anna University, West Bengal University
of Technology, Pondicherry University, Institute of Bioinformatics
and Applied Biotechnology, Bangalore; Indian Institute of
Science, Bangalore; Bose Institute, Calcutta, Department of
Biotechnology, University of Pune, etc.
The test was designed in three parts. The first
part of the test was fundamentals through objective type question
paper, second part was to test the knowledge of Bioinformatics
through short answers and third part was the practical on
the computers. The syllabus was designed by the experts and
kept on the web at least four months in advance with model
question paper and all the details as to how the examination
would be conducted. The examination was conducted at Pune,
Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai and Kolkata. In the first year,
not a single student could get in the first paper more than
50% marks and thus no one qualified out of 314. However, the
examination conducted on 24th & 25th February, 2007, 26
students have qualified for first paper and finally eight
students have passed 2nd and 3rd papers. Thus, certificates
have been offered to all these eight students. In addition,
DBT has also awarded cash prize of
Rs.10, 000/- to each of all the eight students. Further, DBT
provided Ph.D. fellowships to all eligible BINC qualified
students.
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