Scientific Workshops and Conferences

As part of its mandate, RCB conducts advanced workshops and conferences on several aspects of biotechnology and life sciences. The Centre's workshops and training programs are designed to create a pool of highly specialized scientists in academia and industry for high-end research and technology development. These workshops, typically week-long, offer a combination of theoretical knowledge and hands-on experimental time in the appropriate area from experts in the 􀃶eld, drawn from both within and outside the faculty of RCB. The workshops are typically targeted towards doctoral students and faculty.

Skill development and training

The Human Resources Development Project and Management Unit (HRD-PMU) of RCB manages major national human resource development and training initiatives of DBT in biotechnology and allied areas. The HRD-PMU conducts the Biotechnology Eligibility Test (BET) annually to select students for the Junior Research Fellowship (DBT-JRF) to pursue Ph.D. degree in the frontier areas of biotechnology for various institutions in the country. Through the nationally conducted Graduate Aptitude Test – Biotechnology (GAT-B), the HRD-PMU selects students for the DBT-supported post-graduate programs in Biotechnology and allied areas across the Indian institutions/universities. The HRD-PMU also coordinates the Ramalingaswami reentry fellowship program of DBT wherein experienced post-doctoral fellows returning from their overseas training are provided support to start their scienti􀃶c career in India.
RCB conducts career counselling and mentoring sessions for students of biotechnology and the allied sciences across India. The orientation/counselling programmes such as “ Crafting Your Career (CYC) workshops” and webinar series are meant to create awareness of career options available to science students in India, as well as provide requisite tools, knowledge, and information for navigating a productive career path in science. This year, RCB conducted a “Visualising Science” Workshop in partnership with Nature India and the India Alliance Wellcome-DBT Trust to train researchers from across the country in using creative and effective tools of visual science communication. Such workshops are targeted at Master's and Ph.D. students and postdoctoral fellows who are at the cusp of moulding their careers in science.
RCB inducts post-graduate science students from various universities/ institutions/ colleges of repute for research and training to carry out dissertation/project work towards partial ful􀃶lment of their post-graduate degrees. Selected candidates undergo training under the supervision of members of RCB faculty, wherein they learn to conduct their research project in collaboration with other group members. Trainees get a realistic experience of several facets of conducting modern biological research and embarking on a research career. Short-term training for one- or twomonths duration is also imparted to undergraduate students. These students perform a variety of laboratory practical, interact with faculty and research students and receive professional career counselling in biotechnology and life sciences disciplines.