Indo-Finnish Post-Doctoral Fellowships in Diagnostics

  Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI)

(An Autonomous Institute of the Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India)
496, Udyog Vihar Phase III, Gurgaon – 122 016


Recruitment Notice No: THS / RN / 22 / 2013

Indo-Finnish Post-Doctoral Fellowships in Diagnostics

1. Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI) is an autonomous
Institute of the Department of Biotechnology under the Ministry of Science and
Technology, Govt. of India. THSTI is developed as a part of the interdisciplinary NCR
Biotech Science Cluster to be located at Faridabad, in the National Capital Region.
THSTI is designed to be a dynamic, interactive organization with a mission to conduct
innovative translational research and to develop research collaborations across
disciplines and professions to translate concepts into tangible products to improve
human health. Permanent laboratories of the centre will come up in Faridabad within
one year. The interim laboratories of the centre are functioning from New Delhi and
Gurgaon in Haryana.

2. THSTI has set up niche centres for research in areas relevant to planned translational
work. They are: Vaccine and Infectious Disease Research Centre (VIDRC), Pediatric
Biology Center (PBC), Centre for Biodesign (CBD), Drug Discovery Research Centre
(DDRC), Centre of Human Microbial Ecology (CHME) and Policy Centre for Biomedical
Research (PCBR). Clinical Development Service Agency (CDSA) and the National
Biodesign Alliance (NBA) are THSTI’s extramural centres.

3. The National Biodesign Alliance (NBA) is a multi-institutional partnership program on
Biodesign between Translational Health Science & Technology Institute (THSTI),
Regional Centre for Biotechnology, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and
Biotechnology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology,
Delhi, Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai and Christian Medical College, Vellore.
Several new partners are expected to join the alliance shortly. This Alliance is
coordinated at a secretariat, established at THSTI.

4. The primary mission of NBA is to promote research and applications related to
affordable implants, devices, in-vitro diagnostics and imaging. It will promote an
effective translational route of basic findings ultimately into routine applications of
major significance. This will be achieved through a multidisciplinary approach,
combining new bio-markers, novel technological concepts and clinical expertise.
Major areas of research in the field of in-vitro diagnostics will include protein and
antibody engineering, detection technologies and concepts.

5. Translational Health Science & Technology Institute (THSTI), on behalf of the National
Biodesign Alliance, invites applications from Indian nationals for the award of two Page 2 of 3

post-doctoral fellowships in the diagnostics domain. The fellowships will be mentored
by its faculty, under the National Biodesign Alliance. Selected Fellows will have the
opportunity to be trained at Department of Biotechnology, University of Turku
(DBUT)/ Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT)/ Institute for Molecular Medicine
Finland (FIMM), University of Helsinki. In addition, the Fellows may also attend
courses organized by University of Turku Graduate Schools (UTUGS) and other
institutions in Finland networked with UTUGS.

6. Department of Biotechnology, University of Turku, Finland, is the international
partner in the National Biodesign Alliance. It works closely with Technical Research
Centre of Finland (VTT) and Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), University
of Helsinki in the area of diagnostics. More about the activities of these institutes can
be learnt from their respective websites:
DBUT: http://www.sci.utu.fi/biokemia/en/
VTT: http://www.vtt.fi/?lang=en
FIMM: http://www.fimm.fi/en/

7. Eligibility conditions:
 (i) Essential: The applicant should hold a MD/Ph.D. or equivalent degree in life
sciences / engineering. Aspirants, who have submitted their Ph.D. thesis, are also
eligible to apply. All educational, professional and technical qualification should be
from a recognized Board/University.

 (ii) Desirable: Research experience in recombinant DNA technology or
nanotechnology or protein & antibody engineering or material science or novel
instruments design with some basic knowledge of the diagnostics area is desirable.
Deeper insights and experience from different diagnostic application areas may be
considered as special merits.

8. The Fellowship will be awarded for tenure of one year, extendable by further one year,
subject to satisfactory progress, as reviewed and recommended by the committee of
experts in the host institute. The Award carries a consolidated stipend of USD 3,000/-
or equivalent per month. Travel to Finland will be funded by the DBT. A mobility
allowance of Rs. 1,00,000/- will also be provided that can be used for family health
insurance etc.

9. Re-entry: Based on a separate assessment, fellowships on the lines of
Ramalingaswamy fellowships may be made available on completion of the Post
Doctoral tenure to enable pursuit of research at institutes under the National
Biodesign Alliance.

10. Other terms and conditions:
i. Interested candidates are requested to submit the online application on or before
the last date and send the signed hard copy on or before the specified date.
ii. Applicants are required to submit a Statement of Purpose (SOP) in 500 words on
“how this fellowship will help applicants at a personal level and help them
advance diagnostic research and applications in India”. Page 3 of 3

iii. Persons working in Govt. or Public Sector undertaking should apply through
proper channel or produce ‘No Objection Certificate’ at the time of Interview.
iv. Incomplete applications will stand summarily rejected.
v. Mere fulfilling of minimum eligibility conditions does not entail a candidate to be
called for interview. Only shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview for
the final selection.
vi. Number of positions filled will be as per the need and availability of the suitable
candidates.
vii. All results will be published on our website and all communications will be only
through email.
viii. Canvassing in any form will be a disqualification.
The procedure for online application:
a. Before filing online applications, do keep the following documents handy:
i. A soft copy of your passport size photo.
ii. A comprehensive CV (PDF format only) containing details of qualification, positions
held, professional experience/distinctions etc.
b. Candidates are requested to use Mozilla Firefox / Google Chrome internet browser for
best results in submission of online application.
c. Once online application is submitted, no correction/modification is possible.
d. In case of difficulty in filling up the online form, please contact admin@thsti.res.in.
e. Please do the following after submission of online application:
i. Take a print out of the application.
ii. Please sign the application at the appropriate place and send the signed application
with a Statement of Purpose (SOP), CV, self-attested copies of certificates /
documents pertaining to educational qualification and experience to reach us on or
before the last date at the address given below.
Head - Administration
Translational Health Science and Technology Institute
Plot No. 496, Udyog Vihar, Phase-3, Gurgaon,
Haryana, PIN-122016, INDIA
Please superscribe the post applied for on the envelope.
f. Please note that application without signature, or those received after due date or
incomplete in any other respect will be summarily rejected.
g. Important dates:
Last date for submission of online application : 20th
 Dec 2013
Last date for receiving the signed hard copy of application at THSTI : 27th
 Dec 2013