Department of Biological Sciences, TIFR, Mumbai

(DBS TIFR)

GS – 2012

Interviews for selection to the MSc, Integrated PhD and PhD Programmes at DBS, TIFR, Mumbai

On the basis of Nationwide Entrance Examination conducted on Sunday, December 11, 2011

Shortlist of candidates selected to appear for the interview to Integrated PhD and MSc programmes

Shortlist of candidates selected to appear for the interview to PhD programme

1.  The DBS-Mumbai interviews will be held in the TIFR Mumbai campus (How to reach?) separately and independently from the NCBS, Bangalore interviews.

Go to NCBS admissions website for details of NCBS interviews.

2  DATES

Interview for PhD programme: February 29, March 1 and March 2, 2012

Combined Interview for Integrated PhD & MSc programmes: March 5, March 6 and March 7, 2012

3.  INTERVIEW FORMAT Both the interviews (for Int. PhD-MSc and PhD programmes) will be held in 2-stages. All the above shortlisted candidates will be interviewed by parallel committees for the first-stage on the first day of the respective interviews. On the morning of 2nd day of the interview (i.e. March 1, 2012 for PhD and March 6, 2012 for Int. PhD/MSc), a shortlist of candidates selected for the second-stage interview will be displayed at the interview venue. Second-stage shortlisted candidates will be interviewed again by a single committee during the remaining two days, and are expected to stay back till the last day of the interview. Those candidates who do not qualify for the second stage may leave after the first day of interview.

4.  THERE CAN BE NO CHANGE IN DATE/TIME OF THE INTERVIEW Please do not contact us with requests for such changes. Please arrive at TIFR, Mumbai Campus at the mentioned date and time (How to reach?). Please be aware that ONLY the Candidate will be allowed in into TIFR Campus because of security reasons. Candidates attending the interviews are expected to make their own arrangements for stay in Mumbai. TIFR cannot provide accommodation for candidates/accompanying persons at the time of the interview. Please do not contact us with requests for accommodation.

5.  YOU MUST BRING REQUIRED DOCUMENTS ALONG WITH YOU at the interview. See the list of documents below.

6.  COMBINED INT PhD AND MSc INTERVIEW There is a single interview for both these courses. Those candidates who are interested in being considered for both, or only one of these courses may simply mention this at the time of the interview.

7.  REIMBURSEMENT FOR TRAVEL Outstation candidates will be paid 1.33 times the second-class return train fare by the shortest route from the railway station nearest to their place of residence (this may be taken as the address for correspondence given in your answer sheet) to Mumbai, on production of ticket. Those who need to travel more than 500 km will be paid sleeper class fare.

Documents to be presented at the time of the Interview

Please bring the following documents along with you at the time of the interviews. Hard copies of the following documents are absolutely required at the time of interviews. DO NOT send hard copies of these documents to us before the interviews. You may be disqualified if you fail to produce these documents during the interview.

1.   A copy of the filled-up Candidate’s Information Form. Download (MS-Word or PDF format).

2.   Write-up (200 words Max) of your research interests

3.   Original certificates for verification (Copies of Project Reports, Thesis, Term papers etc. are NOT required)

4.   Photocopies of mark sheets (Bachelor’s degree and above)

5.   Two referee letters from your Teachers/Academic guides etc. on their letterhead, SEALED and signed by the referee. There is no specific format for these letters for DBS, TIFR applications.

After the Interviews

1.  A shortlist of candidates selected after the second-stage interview will be displayed on the last day of the interviews (i.e. March 2, 2012 for PhD and March 7, 2011 for Int. PhD/MSc). This is NOT the FINAL selected list.

2.  These candidates will be invited for an informal chat and tea with DBS faculty and possible lab visits.

3.  The FINAL list of candidates selected for DBS, Mumbai as Int. PhD, MSc and PhD candidates will be decided in due course after the interviews and will be posted on DBS website. The selected candidates will also be informed individually by email.

4.  After joining, PhD/Int. PhD students rotate in different labs and are encouraged to do so with an open mind and broad interests. Labs are decided on student choice after rotations and discussion between students and faculty. MSc students are assigned to specific labs based on their interests as stated during the interview. It is recommended that candidates familiarize themselves with the research areas in DBS on our website.

Note

1.  Note that a BTech degree (or any 4-year bachelor's degree or any Master's degree) is eligible for our PhD program, rather than our Int. PhD program which is really only for 3-year BSc degree holders. If you are a 4-year degree holder and have been shortlisted for the Int. PhD/MSc interviews, this is not a problem. Good candidates will be admitted regardless of which interview they come through. A 4-year degree holder will be called a PhD student, not an Int. PhD student, that is all, and added to the list of PhD admissions.

2.  The Int. PhD program is very similar to the PhD program in overall structure. The key differences are that there is a significantly higher credit requirement in terms of advanced courses, and a longer duration (6 years) for the Int. PhD program than the PhD program (5 years). Most important, there is NO exit option mid-way in either program. If you want to leave after an MSc degree, then you must tell us that you specifically want the MSc program. The FAQs for our Int. PhD program will clarify some of your concerns.

3.  If any BTech or professional degree student really wants to join our MSc program because you are not sure you want to commit for a PhD, that is permissible also. Just say so clearly at the interview. Please note that our MSc program does NOT offer housing- you have to make your own arrangements. Also, you will be assigned to a lab based on your interests as stated in the interview, since we do not offer rotations to MSc students. The FAQs for our MSc program will clarify some of your concerns.