Junior Research Fellowships for Ph.D. in Life Sciences at ACTREC

The Tata Memorial Centre (TMC) is an autonomous grant-in-aid institution of the Department of Atomic Energy. TMC is comprised of the Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC) and the Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH). ACTREC conducts a Ph.D. program in Life Sciences, affiliated to the Homi Bhabha National Institute (a deemed university under category “A” by MHRD, Govt of India). On-going research at TMC includes basic and translational research in Cancer Biology. Specific research topics include study of cell proliferation, cellular differentiation, apoptosis, metastasis, tumor immunology, molecular imaging, carcinogenesis, stem cell biology, biophysics, structural biology, bioinformatics, proteomics, genomics, genetics, epigenetics & pharmacology.

Applications are invited, in the prescribed format, for online examination and the award of JUNIOR RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS [JRF 2021] for Ph.D. in Life Sciences at ACTREC

Qualifications : M.Sc. (Applied Biology / Biochemistry / Bioinformatics / Biophysics / Biotechnology / Botany / Life Sciences / Microbiology/ Molecular Biology / Zoology or related Biological Sciences) / M.Tech. (Bioinformatics/ Biotechnology); M.V.Sc. / M.Pharm or equivalent postgraduate degrees from a recognized University /Institute, with < 55% aggregate marks. Those awaiting final result by July 2021 may also apply. As per HBNI guidelines, candidates with < 55% aggregate marks cannot be considered for an interview or admitted to the program. Candidates who have done post-graduation course of only 1 year duration are not eligible. * Final admission into the Ph.D. program is subject to the candidate satisfying HBNI eligibility criteria as mentioned above. TMC reserves the right to increase the minimum eligibility criteria in case of receipt of large number of applications.

Stipend: Rs. 31000/+ 24% HRA per month (HRA is applicable only in case if hostel facility is not opted). Limited hostel facility is available on first come, first served basis.

Application Procedure: Candidates are advised to carefully read the instructions before filling the online application. Incomplete forms and those without fees and requisite attachments will be rejected. Application fees of Rs. 725/- must be paid by online transfer. In case of difficulty, fees may be paid by demand draft (DD) drawn in favor of TMC-ACTREC payable in Navi Mumbai (candidate’s name and application number must be written behind the DD) and sent to ACTREC-TMC by courier or speed post at the address provided. Female candidates and SC/ ST/ physically handicapped candidates with minimum 40% disability (disability proof must be attached) are exempted from paying fees. Students have to give three choices of Exam Centre in their application. The online application deadline is 15th December 2020.

Online Examination: A list of candidates found eligible for the Online Objective Entrance Exam will be displayed in the last week of December 2020 on the ACTREC website. The Online Exam will be conducted on 9th January 2021 from 2pm - 5pm in ten Examination Centres located in Mumbai, Pune, Kolkata, Delhi NCR, Indore, Guwahati, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Varanasi and Chennai (test center allotment details will be uploaded on the ACTREC website in the end of December 2020). In case the number of students opting for a centre is below 75, the students opting for that centre will be accommodated at either their second or third choice of centre. The list of candidates qualifying for interview based on the online exam results will be displayed on the ACTREC website in February 2021.

Eligibility for Direct Interview (Online application for ACTREC JRF 2021 is mandatory)
• Candidates holding valid Junior Research Fellowships awarded after qualifying in a national level written entrance test conducted by CSIR/ UGC/ ICMR/ DBT or other recognized agencies.
• Candidates who receive external fellowship intimation by 30th April 2021 must send proof of the award by e-mail [jrf2021@actrec.gov.in] to seek direct interview dates.
• Candidates who feature in ACTREC’s short list of the Joint Graduate Entrance Examination for Biology and Interdisciplinary Life Sciences (JGEEBILS) which will be displayed on the ACTREC website.
The list of candidates found eligible for direct interview will be displayed on the ACTREC website in March 2021.

Interview Dates: Interviews of candidates who have cleared the ACTREC entrance test as well as Direct Interviews will be conducted at ACTREC in June 2021 – the dates will be displayed on the ACTREC website in May 2021.

Research Projects: The list of JRF projects being offered to Ph.D. students at ACTREC will be displayed on the ACTREC website in June 2021. Candidates are encouraged to interact with and seek information from the Principal Investigators whose names and e-mail IDs will be mentioned against their respective projects.

Declaration of the Results: The list of successful candidates will be displayed on the ACTREC website.