Challenging Opportunity to do Global Research from India

At TCGA we have created a culture that nurtures creative thinking and provides opportunities for individuals to excel in a collaborative, team-based environment. Our entrepreneurial mindset fosters diverse perspectives and drives our passion for innovative research.

What is unique about being a scientist @TCGA?

The research projects at TCGA are endeavors towards translational research. TCGA combines academic freedom with high-end sophisticated instrumentation and facilities with the objective to take away the primary burden of operation and maintenance of equipments from the discovery group. We have developed an ambience where each member respects the complementary skills and responsibility of the other and works towards surrpetition rather than competition. In terms of output we look forward to discoveries and designs of high IPR value, high quality publications in the chosen areas and direct revenue generation designs either singularly or in collaboration with complementing groups within or outside The Chaterjee Group (TCG). Scientists at the group leader level will be adjunct faculty of IGIB. Scientists @TCGA will closely interact with scientists of Institute for Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB) and all the facilities available at IGIB will be accessible to TCGA scientists. Compensations for scientists are well benchmarked with the industry standards. We have evolved a compensation system that is closer to the corporate system than a governmental structure, considering the high pressure that will be shouldered by the group leaders and the scientists. There are separate units and personnel @TCGA to handle the accounts, marketing and business management. Scientists are strictly kept out of these activities. However scientists are expected to discuss and provide guidance for technical trouble shooting and innovation of cost effective methods for experimental protocols for the service section involving the various facilities.

Structure of TCGA
Technical Director/Research Fellow Associate Director/Principal Research Scientist Group Leader Team Leader Senior Research Scientist Research Scientist Research Associate Senior Research Biologist Research Biologist Project Fellows
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Broad areas of research @TCGA

Biomedical sciences Functional genomics Bioinformatics

Specific areas of focus

Disease genomics. Bioinformatics for Functional Genomics. Disease proteomics and expression analysis. Model systems for human diseases. Identification of biomarkers.

Translational research is the backbone for all projects Central facilities accessible to all scientists
TCGA is a DSIR registered non-profit-making organization therefore the unique strength of TCGA services is available to scientists @TCGA at very a special cost. The TCGA services are based on three fundamental aspects of people, process and technology. The services ensure that cutting edge technologies are brought to the door step of every scientist not only at TCGA but also the laboratories in India at a very competitive price. The scientists @TCGA work closely with the scientists of Institute for Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB) and all the facilities available at IGIB are accessible to TCGA scientists.

Computing Facilities:
Bioinformatics being a backbone of genomics research scientists @TCGA have access to highend computing facilities of IGIB(CSIR) in addition to the high-band width internet facilities@TCGA. The CSIR High Performance Computing Facility (HPC) @ IGIB is a 288-node Cluster Platform 3000 based on HP Intel Xeon-based ProLiant systems running the Linux operating system. The high-speed InfiniBand 10Gbps cluster interconnect is used and HP's XC System Software provides cluster management capability. In addition, this center will also have a 24-node, high-performance HP ProLiant cluster running Linux, a powerful Integrity Superdome server that can be used for experimental projects by the students/developer community. The systems are supported by 12 terabytes of HP Storage Works Enterprise Virtual Array 5000 (EVA5000) storage and a MSL6060 tape library. To help customers manage and visualize the large volumes of data created by computational analysis, HP's Unified Cluster Portfolio, which includes entry-level HP Integrity and ProLiant
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servers and an enhanced HP Storage Works Scalable File Share, provide a common implementation across multiple operating systems- HP-UX, Microsoft Windows and Linux and servers based on industry-standard processors (Intel Xeon , Itanium and AMD Opteron).

Experimental Facilities: Genotyping by Sequenome Mass Array

To meet the demands of high-throughput SNP analysis in the post genomic era, TCGA uses a real time system that enables rapid SNP genotyping on a MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer. With this, the accuracy, analytical process and the reliability of mass spectroscopy has been brought to bear genotyping applications on an industrial scale. Its advantages include; Rapid sample analysis in less then 5 seconds/sample , Utilizes SpectroCHIP bioarray for proven, high capacity samples launching pad, analysis of up to 10 SpectroCHIPs without any user intervention., fully automated analysis of genotype reactions in MALDI system with automated identification of all samples and controls, accompanied by Assay Design Software, Liquid Handler and nano dispenser.

Microarray facility.
Microarray Facility consists of a robotic spotter, parallel slide processing unit and confocal and non-confocal dual laser scanners allowing us to carry out gene expression profiling and development of novel nucleic acid attachment chemistry using the spotted microarray platform and a complete Affymetrix Genechip system for the High density oligonucleotide platform used for both genotyping and gene expression profiling. This system includes the GeneChip Scanner, Fluidics Station, Hybridization Oven, and a powerful computer workstation with dual Xeon processors loaded with GeneChip Operating Software. Dedicated workstations for advanced data analysis with microarray analysis software complete the setup.

Proteomics facility.
2D gel electrophoresis system, MALDI ToF/ToF (Bruker Ultraflex) and Nano LC-MS(Agilent).

High-throughput sequencing & fragment analysis.

ABI 3730 ABI 377 Biomek Multimek Hydra

Nucleic acid synthesis.

Oligo Synthesizers are flexible to fit a wide variety of applications such as gene building, PCR, RNAi, dual labeled probes, micro array, sequencing, antisense, and others. 192 20mer PCR primers can be synthesized in less than 6 hours. It is equipped to synthesize up to 192 oligos (two 96 well plates) in a single run in a column or plate format, it has Run Logging facilities and 10 Amidite Ports.

Funding for research.

A start-up fund will be provided depending on the project and its immediate relevance to ongoing projects @TCGA. But a reasonable start-up fund will be provided to scientists at all levels. The scientists are encouraged and required to procure competitive funding from National and International organizations. Project proposals have to be cleared by a Monitoring Committee and the Ethical Committee before submission to the funding agency.

Collaborations
Collaborations with well specified goals and outcomes especially aimed at translational research with National and International Institutions/scientists are encouraged. The terms of collaboration should follow the guidelines of Department of Biotechnology, Indian Council for Medical Research especially in areas of disease genomics.

Personnel for research

A limited number of highly skilled technical personnel from the services section of TCGA will be identified with specific projects. Additional personnel may be recruited under sanctioned project positions by individual scientists. A limited number of students working towards Ph.D. degree may be involved in joint projects under faculty from IGIB or other Institutes/Universities.