Multiple openings for various positions in different project at CIMAP, Lucknow

Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, popularly known as CIMAP, is a frontier plant research laboratory of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). Established originally as Central Indian Medicinal Plants Organisation (CIMPO) in 1959, CIMAP is steering multidisciplinary high quality research in biological and chemical sciences and extending technologies and services to the farmers and entrepreneurs of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) with its research headquarter at Lucknow and Research Centres at Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pantnagar and Purara.

Eligible and interested candidates may attend the Interview for engagement on purely temporary basis as Project Assistants of different level/JRF-Projects/ Research Associate (Projects) on contract basis in the Projects under CSIR Network Scheme, Grant-in-aid Projects and other projects sponsored by Govt. Agencies tenable at CSIR-CIMAP, Lucknow in various disciplines detailed as under:

• Position : PA II or JRF
• No of Post : One

• Age Limit : 28 years
• Desired Profile : PA : First class M. Sc. (Ag.) in Genetics Plant Breeding / Plant Breeding / Horticulture/ Plant Physiology AND for JRF : First class M. Sc. (Ag.) with Net LS in Biotechnology / Biotechnology Plant Sciences / Ag. Botany / Botany.
• Stipend : For PA II : Rs. 12000/- pm (consolidated) or For JRF Project Rs. 14000/- + HRA pm

• Position : PA II or JRF
• No of Post : One
• Age Limit : 28 years
• Desired Profile : PA : First class M. Sc. In Chemistry/ Pharmaceutical Chemistry/ M. Pharma. or For JRF : First class M. Sc. (Ag.) with Net LS In Chemistry/ Pharmaceutical Chemistry/ M. Pharma
• Stipend : For PA II Rs. 12000/- pm (consolidated) or For JRF Project Rs. 14000/- + HRA pm 

• Position : PA II
• No of Post : Two
• Age Limit : 28 years
• Desired Profile : M. Sc.in Biochemistry/Biotechnology / Molecular Biology/ Microbiology/ life sciences.                                            
• Experience : Person having working  experience on Caenorhabditis elegans model will be given  special preference
• Stipend : Rs.10000/-pm   (consolidated)
• Position : PA II
• No of Post : One
• Age Limit : 28 years
• Desired Profile : First class M. Sc.in Biotechnology/Biochemistry/Molecular Biology/Life Science
• Stipend : Rs.12000/-pm   (consolidated)
• Position : JRF/SRF
• No of Post : One
• Age Limit : 32 years
• Desired Profile : For JRF : First class M. Sc.  with Net LS in Biotechnology/Biochemistry/Life Science/Botany or For SRF : First class M. Sc. with Net LS and two years experience as JRF Project  in Biotechnology/Biochemistry/Life Science/Botany                                      
• Position : RA
• No of Post : One
• Age Limit : 35 years
• Desired Profile : Ph.D in Microbiology (Ph.D awarded as on date of interview).  
• Experience : Wet lab and in silico experience in molecular interaction studies to identify antimicrobial phytomolecules 
• Stipend : For JRF: Rs 12000/-  
• Position : PA II
• No of Post : One 
• Age Limit : 28 years
• Desired Profile : First class M. Sc. in Biotechnology/Botany/ Agricultural sciences/Genetics 
• Stipend : For JRF: Rs 12000/-

For Project Assistants Level-I/II/III, the upper age limit as mentioned for all the above positions will be as on Date of Interview(Dated 12-02-2014 Reporting Time 9.30AM) which is relaxableupto 5 years in the case of candidates belonging to scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribes/Persons with disabilities and 3 years for OBC candidates. Interested candidates may appear before the committee on the date and time mentioned as above for the respective area/Project in the Auditorium of the Institute for interview alongwith their signed Bio-Data on prescribed proformaalongwith original and attested copies of marksheets/certificates and a recent passport size photograph. No TA will be admissible. 

Deadline : 12.02.14

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New engineered skin grafts with lymphatic and blood capillaries

Almost 11 million people go through severe burns that heal slowly and cause deep wounds and lifelong scars. During surgery for grafting of functional full-thickness skin to reduce the scarring, only a very limited area of skin can be removed from the individual patient, since it can create new wounds. Apart from conventional skin grafting, a skin graft can also be engineered in the lab which firstly is composed of the patient's cells and secondly is very similar to natural human skin.

Rsearchers at the University Children's Hospital Zurich and the University of Zurich have engineered skin cells for the very first time containing blood and lymphatic capillaries. They have managed to isolate all the necessary types of skin cells from human skin tissue and engineering a skin graft that is similar to full-thickness skin.

Conventional complex skin grafts do not have any blood or lymphatic capillaries, pigmentation, sebaceous glands, hair follicles or nerves. The researchers have been engineering dermo-epidermal skin grafts for some time, but now, they have succeeded in constructing a more complex organ.

This development has given a several times booze to Regenerative medicine and molecular tissue biology.  Wound healing can be hampered by a Tissue Fluid that is secreted by the wound and accumulates in a cavity on skin’s surface. The researchers managed to isolated lymphatic capillary cells from the human dermis. Together with the blood capillaries, that were also engineered, this guarantees rapid, efficient vesicular supply of the skin graft. This lead to three major findings:

The individual lymphatic cells spontaneously arranged themselves into lymphatic capillaries with all the characteristics of lymphatic vessels. During pre-clinical trials, all, human lymphatic as well as blood capillaries connected with those of animals. These lymphatic capillaries were capable of collecting and transporting tissue fluid; hence they were functional. Ernst Reichmann, Head of the Tissue Biology Research Unit, claims that skin grafts with lymphatic and blood capillaries will, in future, both prevent the accumulation of tissue fluid and ensure rapid blood supply of the graft." This could markedly improve the healing process and the typical organ structure of this type of skin graft.

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NOW IT IS POSSIBLE TO TARGET SPECIFIC STRAINS OF BACTERIA: ADVENT OF ANTIBIOTIC 'SMART BOMB'

According to Dr. Chase Beisel, an assistant professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at North Carolina State University,Conventional antibiotic treatments kill not only ‘bad’ but ‘good’ bacteria as well, leading to accidental consequences, such as opportunistic infections. Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed a de facto antibiotic "smart bomb" that can recognize specific strains of bacteria and disintegrate their DNA, eliminating the infection. This technique offers a potential approach to treat infections by multi-drug resistant bacteria. By the means of this technique, it is possible to clear specific bacteria strains selectively without affecting good bacteria populations.

Many bacteria have a specific part of immune system termed as CRISPR-Cas system, which protects bacteria from invaders such as viruses by creating small strands of RNA called CRISPR RNAs. These RNAs match DNA sequences specific to the invader. As soon as these RNAs find match DNA, they allow action of a particular protein called Cas protein that cleaves DNA. The NC State researchers have used this concept to cause bacterial suicide by designing CRISPR RNAs to target DNA sequences in the bacteria themselves. Bacterium's CRISPR-Cas system attacks its own DNA, hence, cleaving it.

Beisel claims that this approach not just specifically eliminates targeted bacteria, but is easy and has high potency. The researchers tested the approach in controlled cultures with different combinations of bacteria present, and were able to eliminate only the targeted strain. "For example, we were able to eliminate Salmonella in a culture without affecting good bacteria normally found in the digestive tract," Beisel says.

Further, researchers also managed to demonstrate the accuracy of the technique by eliminating one strain of a species, but not another strain of the same species which shares 99 percent of the same DNA.

Through CRISPR-Cas system approach, the mechanism of antibiotic resistance was also by-passed.

The researchers are currently working to further develop effective methods for delivering the CRISPR RNAs in clinical settings and also developing antibiotics using programmable CRISPR-Cas systems.

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Project Fellow post at Yogi Vemana University

As an Emerging Premier State Varsity dedicated to Teaching, Research and Service Yogi Vemana University came into existence by the Act of the Andhra Pradesh State Legislative Assembly with effect from March 9th 2006. The objective of the University are Creation and dissemination of knowledge. Attainment of enlightened wisdom through advancement of learning. Progress and prosperity of people and social enrichment.
Applications are invited from the eligible candidates on plain paper with educational qualifications and experience for one temporary position of Project Fellow in the UGC project entitled “Evaluation of hytoremediation potencial of native plant species for Stronium, Cadmium and Mercurycontaminated soils” sanctioned by University Grant Commission (UGC) New Delhi.  

• Position : Project Fellow
• No of Post : One
• Desired Profile : M.Sc. Degree in Environmental Science/Life Science  with minimum 55% (50% in case of SC/ST/PH) or M.Phil from recognized university 
• Duration : Three years
• Age : As per UGC guidelines

Applicant should note that the appointment is on purely temporary basis for the duration of three years (2013-2016) or completion of the project and subject to satisfactory year wise progress of work and there is no right to claim for any regular appointment in the University. Interested candidates should send their application on a plain paper along with latest Biodata and Xerox copies of certificates, Research experience, if any, and detailed communication address including email ID. Applications should reach to Dr. S. Sumithra, Principal Investigator, Department of Environmental Science, Yogi Vemana University, Kadapa- 516003, YSR District, A.P., India on or before 6th February, 2014.
Deadline : 06.02.14
 

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Regulatory Associate post at PARAXEL

PAREXEL International is a leading global biopharmaceutical services provider, which continues to be a premier, trusted partner to clients who rely on the Company for expertise and flexibility, as well as the efficiencies of a worldwide infrastructure, to help them more quickly achieve their development and commercialization goals. For 30 years, PAREXEL has complemented client organizations with strategic insight, deep scientific knowledge, tactical expertise, and a wealth of experience throughout the development process.
The Company's offerings include worldwide regulatory expertise, Phase I-IV clinical research services, eClinical technologies that accelerate development, and integrated commercialization services. PAREXEL is focused on providing tailored solutions that match a client's specific needs by applying the right blend of resources and capabilities, as well as the right guidance and high level of quality needed to help them bring safe and effective treatments to patients sooner.
Job Title : Regulatory Associate
Job Description :

• Perform publishing readiness activities including:
• Troubleshoot and fix format and style issues in MS Word documents to ensure submission readiness standards.
• Perform submission readiness activities including:
• Prepare PDF source documents, including intra-document hyperlinks and bookmarks, Page rotation and PDF optimization.
• Perform electronic publishing activities including:
• Assign source documents to electronic publishing outlines.
• Enter metadata.
• Prepare to publish and publish output.
• Create inter-document hyperlinks and bookmarks.
• Perform paper publishing activities including:

1. Scan and make submission ready paper documents.
2. Create tables of contents, tables of figures and tables of tables.
3. Split PDF output into appropriate volume sizes.
4. Assign navigation aids such as: tabs overlays and pagination.
5. Convert legacy documents to relevant electronic or paper output.
6. Format and publish simple reports and submissions.
7. Perform basic document management tasks including file transfer, storage, tracking, and archival.
8. Maintain familiarity with current global regulatory submission standards.
9. Maintain familiarity with departmental standard operating procedures and work instructions.

Qualifications :

Education : Bachelor's degree or equivalent in life sciences or technology-related discipline.
Experience : 0 to 4 years experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
How to Apply :

Interested candidates can apply online using the link below :
Click here!

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Fruit fly's antenna can Detect Scent of Cancer!

Fruit flies can use their olfactory sense to distinguish between malignant and healthy cells. The researchers of the University of Konstanz and the University La Sapienza in Rome, Italy, have led out this research. Basic concept behind this research is based how characteristic patterns in the olfactory receptors of transgenic Drosophilae can be recorded on the scent activation. Along with the clear distinction between healthy cells and cancer cells; groupings could also be identified among the different cancer cells. According to Giovanni Galizia, such specificity, high sensitivity  and quantifiable laboratory results ca not be matched by even electronic noses or gas chromatography. This natural olfactory  system detect even extremely small differences in scent between healthy cells and cancer cells. However,This fact has already been depicted in experiments with dogs these results are not objectifiable and are thus not applicable for a systematic medical diagnosis.

The fact used by the researchers was that single odorant molecule  dock to the receptor neurons of the flies’ antenna resulting in neuron activation. It was clear in imaging technique developed by the researchers that each different odorant molecule of respective scent sample create specific pattern of activated neurons, which due to genetic modification, can fluoresce under microscope when active. In the experiment five different types of breast cancer cell lines were analyzed, compared to healthy cells and clearly divergent patterns were generated.

Alja Lüdke, member of the research unit and researcher at the University of Konstanz , explained that even different types of breast cancer cells can be differentiated via the antenna of Drosophila.

Hence researchers claim that if this finding is combined with the current technology, it can lead to the development of a cheap, fast and highly-efficient pre-screening that can detect cancer cells well before we can discover them with the present diagnostic imaging techniques

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Where does New Genes Come from?

Researchers at the University of California, Davis, have now answered the most long standing question of origin of new genes. It is Non- coding DNA that rapidly turns into new genes!

"This shows very clearly that genes are being born from ancestral sequences all the time," said David Begun, professor of evolution and ecology at UC Davis and senior author on the paper.

A model proposed by Nobel laureate Susumu Ohno shows that when already present genes duplicate and diverge in functions, new functions seem to appear in genes. In past few years, it has also been noted in many different animals and plants that new genes can also appear from non- coding previously existing DNA sequences. According to Li Zhao, a postdoctoral researcher at UC Davis and first author on the paper, this is the first example of totally new genes still spreading through a species. She looked at RNA transcripts that corresponds to expressed genes , in the testes of several wild-derived strains of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, and compared them to transcripts expressed in the standard reference sequence strain and in two closely related species. What she found was amazing!

248 new genes that exist only in D. melanogaster were discovered. Just over a hundred of which were "fixed," or already spread throughout the population. These genes were the result of ancestrally non-coding DNA since D. melanogaster split from its close relative, D. simulans. They fell into two wide classes: genes that were found at high frequency, meaning that they were spreading through the population as flies carrying them gained an edge in reproduction. These tended to be larger and more complex, and therefore likely had more significant functions, than those found at low frequency. Possibly these new genes form when a random mutation in the regulatory machinery causes a piece of non-coding DNA to be transcribed to RNA.

Initially researchers studied testis because of relatively high rate of adaptive evolution for male reproductive function. However, They plan to expand their studies to other tissues.

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Time For Biofuel from Yeast Cells

Now Biofuel can be obtained from genetically engineered yeast cells and ordinary table sugar. Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin's Cockrell School of Engineering have managed to derive oils and fats, known as lipids, from yeast cells that can be used in place of petroleum-derived products as renewable energy source. Assistant professor Hal Alper, in the Cockrell School's McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering calls the biofuel produced by this process "a renewable version of sweet crude" Since yeast cells grow on sugars. Through the process of fermentation, culturing cells to convert sugar into products such as alcohol, gases or acids, highest concentration of oils and fats were reported by the researchers. The UT Austin research team managed to rewire yeast cells to enable up to 90 percent of the cell mass to convert to lipids, which can then be used to produce biodiesel. This process has wide scope to produce a variety of items made with petroleum or oils, from nylon to nutrition supplements to fuels, since fatty materials are building blocks for most household products. Yeast strain of Yarrowia lipolytica was used for this process.

Biofuels and chemicals produced from living organisms represent a promising portion of the renewable energy market.

The biofuel formulated is similar in composition to biodiesel made from soybean oil. The advantages of using the yeast cells to produce commercial-grade biodiesel are that yeast cells can be grown anywhere, do not compete with land resources and are easier to genetically alter than other sources of biofuel.

"This is a remarkable demonstration of the power of metabolic engineering."

Researchers believe this process to be capable of  industry-scale production.

In a large-scale engineering effort of over four years, the researchers genetically modified Yarrowia lipolytica by both removing and over expressing specific genes that influence lipid production. The team also found  optimum culturing conditions that differ from standard conditions. Traditional methods rely on nitrogen starvation to trick yeast cells into storing fat and materials. Alper's research provides a mechanism for growing lipids without nitrogen starvation that will make it extremely advantageous for industrial process. As compared to the other platforms that yield approximately 50 percent lipid content, this platform yields about 90 percent lipid contant.

Alper and his team are continuing to find ways to further enhance the lipid production levels and develop new products using this engineered yeast.

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Vacancy for Senior Research Associate/ Research Scientist- Genomic at Syngene International

Incorporated in the year 1994, Syngene International is one of India"s premier contract research and manufacturing organizations in providing customized service. Our services encompasses all across discovery chain: early stage discovery, process development, cGMP manufacturing and formulation development both in the small molecule and novel biologics area. Based in Bangalore, Karnataka, the Company is situated in a 90 acre Special Economic Zone with over 100000 sq. mt of built up facilities.
Job Title : Senior Research Associate/ Research Scientist- Genomic
Job Description :

• Candidate is expected to handle and maintain various mammalian cells.
• Generate stable cell lines expressing different types proteins for assay development.
• Perform preliminary characterization of stable clones using molecular biology techniques
• Document the data and generate reports
• Collaborate with other scientists from various functions in understanding the reagent requirements

Desired Profile :
Education : M. Sc Biological sciences (Biochemistry/ Molecular Biology/ Cell Biology/ Biotechnology) / B. Pharma / M. Pharma
Experience : 1 - 6 years
Skill Set :

• He/She must have a very strong technical background in various cell biology techniques such as handling and maintenance of various mammalian cell lines, stable cell line generation and cell based assays.
• Candidate should be able to work independently with little or no supervision and should possess strong scientific aptitude.
• He/She should be a good team player with excellent communication skills. Candidate should be able to handle multiple time bound projects simultaneously.

How to Apply :

Interested candidates can send their updated resumes to careers@syngeneintl.com
 

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Air Pollution from Asia- Hazard to World!

As per the study by Yuan Wang, a former doctoral student at Texas A&M, along with Texas A&M atmospheric sciences professors Renyi Zhang and R. Saravanan and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory researchers’ , excessive Air pollution in Asia is having worse effects on world's weather and climate patterns.

With the help of  climate models and data collected about aerosols and meteorology over the past 3 decades, the researchers found that air pollution over Asia ,mostly from China , is impacting global air circulations, especially the upper atmosphere and it appears to make such storms or cyclones even stronger. According to Zhang, this effects the cloud formations, precipitation, storm intensity and other factors and ultimately impacts climate. Mostly, pollution from Asia is having significant consequences on the weather pattern over North America.

Due to thriving economy in China during the past 3 decaded ,there has been  building of enormous manufacturing factories, industrial plants, power plants and other facilities that generate huge amounts of air pollutants. Once emitted into the atmosphere, pollutant particles affect cloud formations and weather systems worldwide. Further, Increase in coal burning and car emissions have been major sources of pollution in China and other Asian countries.

Air pollution levels in some Chinese cities, such as Beijing, are often more than 100 times higher than acceptable limits set by the World Health Organization standards.

As the result,lung cancer rates have increased 400 percent in some areas due to excessive air pollution problem. It may be seen that conditions may worsen during winter months when a combination of dull weather patterns mixed with increased coal burning in many Asian cities can create pollution and smog that can last for weeks.

Enormous amounts of aerosols from Asia go upto six miles up in the atmosphere and these have an obvious impact on cloud formations and weather. Some future research on exactly how these aerosols are transported globally and impact climate will be assumed by researchers. Yuan Wang, who conducted the research with Zhang while at Texas A&M, currently works at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory as a Caltech Postdoctoral Scholar.

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