Bioinformatics Centre, SPPU: Pioneer in Bioinformatics Education
The importance of Bioinformatics in biology was realized at an early stage in India and formal training courses were launched with an objective of developing a trained human resource in Bioinformatics. The initiative in the training programs was supported by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India through its BTISNET program. Bioinformatics Centre at the then University of Pune (now Savitribai Phule Pune University, SPPU) was a pioneer in launching bioinformatics education programs. Beginning with workshops and short term training courses in the in late 1980s, the Centre became one of the first five in India to initiate the one-year Advanced Diploma in Bioinformatics (ADB) under the realm of BTISNet in 1997. The two-year M. Sc. Bioinformatics program was instituted in 2002.
Bioinformatics Education @ Bioinformatics Centre, SPPU
Right from the beginning, the M. Sc. Bioinformatics program at the Bioinformatics Centre, SPPU has been well received by the student community and is ranked very high in the country. In the M. Sc. Bioinformatics program, an extensive training is provided to the students in core biological sciences, computer basics, information technology, computer programming, mathematics and statistics and last but not the least, various core areas of Bioinformatics such as biological databases, sequence- and structure-based methods, genomics, proteomics, metabolic engineering, immunoinformatics, phylogenomics, molecular modeling and simulations, drug design etc. The courses are delivered through classroom teaching and extensive hands-on training modes. There is a major component of research project which gives the students a basic training in research methodology too.
The highly qualified in-house faculty and scientists from various national institutes who contribute to teaching as visiting faculty ensure a rich teaching-learning experience for the students of the M. Sc. Bioinformatics. The M. Sc. students get benefitted by the knowledge and experience of the faculty members at the Centre, who are active researchers and hence share the latest developments in the field with the students. Students also get an opportunity to interact and learn from eminent experts from various institutes who visit the Centre.
M.Sc. in Bioinformatics
Course Name: M.Sc. (Bioinformatics)
Duration: 2 years
Number of Seats: 30< br>
Admission Process: The M.Sc. program is supported by the Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India. Students are selected through national level entrance examination, GRADUATE APTITUDE TEST-BIOTECHNOLOGY (GAT-B), conducted by the Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB), Faridabad. Every selected student receive a fellowship of Rs. 5000 pm from DBT, GOI.
Features: The M. Sc. (Bioinformatics) is consisting of 80 credits covered in four semesters. Each credit course consists of 15 lecture hours (theory /practical). In all the courses, 50% of the total assessment for each course is based upon teachers’ evaluation of the student over the entire semester period (through continuous internal assessments) and the remaining is assessed through the semester-end examination.
Apart from the regular lectures, the Department often arranges lectures by research scientists/ academicians/ industry personnel from India and abroad in many areas of Bioinformatics.
Ph.D. in Bioinformatics
Course Name: Ph.D. in Bioinformatics
The admissions to Ph.D. course in Bioinformatics are given on the basis of the performance of the candidate in the Ph.D. Entrance Test (PET) conducted by Savitribai Phule Pune University and the guidelines can be found in the University main page.
The admissions to Ph.D. course are given on the basis of availability of vacancies with approved teachers/ guides by centralised Ph.D. entrance examination according to the guidelines approved by the SPPU.
After admission, the students register themselves for Ph.D. degree of SPPU and work with one or more supervisors.
For more information about the Ph.D. programme and admissions, please visit SPPU home page or circulars on Ph.D. admissions.