Q&A: Chemistry

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October 22, 2012 04:27 pm | Updated 04:38 pm IST

Integrated Ph.D. programmes in chemical sciences are a suitable higher study option for Chemistry graduates. File photo: K.K.Mustafah

Integrated Ph.D. programmes in chemical sciences are a suitable higher study option for Chemistry graduates. File photo: K.K.Mustafah

I am a B.Sc. Chemistry student and would like to do integrated Ph.D. programmes in chemical sciences. Let me know about some other higher study options in the discipline offered by leading institutions and universities.

HEMA PALLETH

MAVELIKARA

Integrated Ph.D. programmes in chemical sciences are a suitable higher study option for Chemistry graduates. But only a few institutions offer them.

It is important to pursue higher studies in reputable national-level institutions, such as the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and the Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs), as a doctorate in the subject from these institutes will open up a plethora of job opportunities.

The IISc is an excellent centre to pursue the integrated Ph.D. course in chemical sciences. The curriculum includes flexible course work, internship and laboratory training and equips students with basic experimental skills and familiarise them with advanced research techniques.

Admission is through the Joint Admission Test (JAM) conducted by the IITs. Students get monthly scholarships for a year, renewable subject to satisfactory completion of the academic session beginning in August. Visit www.iisc.ernet.in for details.

IISER, Thiruvananthapuram, offers good study facilities for doing its integrated Ph.D. programme in chemical sciences. Every student gets Rs. 10,000 as fellowship. Chemistry graduates or those doing the final year of the B.Sc. course may apply for admission. They should clear national-level tests such as the Joint Entrance Screening Test (JEST) or that conducted by the National Board for Higher Mathematics. Visit http://phd.iisertvm.ac.in for details.

The Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore, offers opportunities to do integrated research leading to a Ph.D. in chemical sciences. A degree in any branch of science with Chemistry as a major subject with at least 55 per cent marks, having studied mathematics as a subject at least up to the Plus Two level, is the minimum qualification required. Those appearing for the final year qualifying degree examination may also apply. Visit www.jncasr.ac.in for details.

The S.N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Kolkata, offers integrated Ph.D. programmes in chemical sciences for Chemistry graduates (www.bose.res.in).

The Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, provides research opportunities in Chemistry (www.tifr.res.in).

At IITs

The IITs conduct the Joint Admission Test (JAM) for admission to M.Sc., M.Sc.-Ph.D. dual degree, joint M.Sc.-Ph.D. and integrated Ph.D. programmes in Chemistry. The IITs, Bombay, Delhi, Gandhinagar, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Indore, Kanpur, Madras and Roorkee, offer the M.Sc. programme in Chemistry. The IIT, Bombay, offers an MS-Ph.D. dual-degree programme in Chemistry. The IITs at Bhubaneswar and Kharagpur offer a joint M.Sc.-Ph.D. programme in chemical sciences.

The IISc offers an integrated Ph.D. programme in chemical sciences. The Chemistry paper of JAM should be taken. The test will be objective-cum-descriptive in nature, and the test centres include Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Kozhikode, Coimbatore, Tiruchirapalli, Chennai, Mangalore, Madurai, Bangalore, Visakhapatnam, Mumbai and Delhi. A degree with Chemistry as a subject with minimum 55 per cent marks is required for taking JAM. Students should have studied Mathematics at the Plus Two level. However, for the integrated Ph.D. programme of the IISc, the applicant should have a first-class degree in the subject. Visit http://gate.iitd.ac.in/jam for details.

The IIT, Madras, offers a Computational Chemistry programme on software applications related to the subject. In the second year, students have to do research. The project will prepare students to take up a Ph.D. programme or jobs in sophisticated high-tech laboratories. (www.iitm.ac.in).

Specialisations

Several colleges and universities offer Chemistry as a general subject at the postgraduate level. Chemistry encompasses specialisations such as analytical chemistry, organic chemistry, hydrochemistry, pharmaceutical chemistry, polymer chemistry, biochemistry, medical biochemistry and textile chemistry.

The Cochin University of Science and Technology offers an M.Sc. course in Applied Chemistry and Hydrochemistry. Those with a degree in Chemistry, Polymer Chemistry, Environmental Chemistry, Industrial Chemistry or Petrochemicals can apply for the M.Sc. Applied Chemistry course. They should have studied Mathematics as a subsidiary subject in the degree course. Graduates in Chemistry with at least 55 per cent marks may apply for the M.Sc. Hydrochemistry course.

The University of Kerala and its affiliated colleges offer Chemistry, Polymer Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry and Applied Chemistry courses at the Master’s level. The Department of Chemistry on the Karyavattom campus of the university offers the M.Sc. course with inorganic, organic and physical chemistry as electives. Graduates in chemistry can get admission. The Department of Biochemistry of the university offers an M.Sc. Biochemistry course. Graduates in Chemistry or Biochemistry are eligible for admission. The two departments conduct Ph.D. courses.

The School of Biosciences of Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, conducts the M.Sc. biochemistry course. Those with a Chemistry or Biochemistry degree with at least 55 per cent marks are eligible for admission.

The School of Chemical Sciences of Mahatma Gandhi University conducts an M.Sc. degree course in Chemistry (organic, inorganic, physical and polymer chemistry). Those with a degree in Chemistry with Physics and Mathematics as subsidiary subjects, scoring at least 55 per cent marks, are eligible for admission.

The School of Chemical Sciences (Department of Chemistry) of Kannur University offers an M.Sc. degree course in Chemistry (material sciences). The entry qualification is a B.Sc. Chemistry degree with minimum 55 per cent marks.

The School of Health Sciences of Kannur University offers M.Sc. courses in Medical Biochemistry, Medical Laboratory Technology and Medical Biology. Those with a degree in any biological subject or Chemistry with at least 60 per cent marks are eligible for admission. Selection is based on an entrance test and the marks scored in the qualifying examination.

The Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Elamakkara, Kochi, offers an M.Sc. Medical Biochemistry course. Graduates in Chemistry or Biochemistry are eligible for admission.

The School of Chemical Sciences of the University of Madras offers the M.Sc. course in Analytical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry and Physical Chemistry. The School of Life Sciences of the university offers Advanced Biochemistry and Biochemistry courses at the Master’s level.

A few other institutions and universities that offer higher education facilities in Chemistry are the following:

All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi: M.Sc. course in Biochemistry.

Pondicherry University, Puducherry: M.Sc. courses in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Chemical Sciences.

Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi: M.Sc. courses in Chemistry, Biochemistry and Agricultural Chemistry.

Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai: M.Sc. Chemistry.

University of Bombay, Mumbai: M.Sc. courses in Analytical Chemistry, Organic and Inorganic Chemistry and Physical Chemistry.

Alagappa University, Karaikudi: M.Sc. courses in Industrial Chemistry, Textile Chemistry and Electrochemistry.

Christian Medical College, Vellore: M.Sc. course in Biochemistry.

The list is only indicative. More information can be had from the University Handbook published by the Association of Indian Universities, New Delhi, which will be available for reference at the University Employment Information and Guidance Bureaux functioning at the universities in Kerala.

CSIR-UGC-NET

Students who score 55 per cent or more marks in the M.Sc. course can appear for the National Eligibility Test for Junior Research Fellowship and Lectureship conducted by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and the University Grants Commission. Final year M.Sc. students can also appear for the test. Higher qualifications in chemistry open up job opportunities in research and development institutions and industries related to textiles, petroleum products, rubber and plastic products, cosmetics, drug and pharmaceuticals and fertilizers. Those with a Ph.D. can get jobs as chemists or scientists in chemical industries and laboratories.

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