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What is this post about? This post introduces a remarkable opportunity for students looking to dive into the world of research – the International Max Planck Research School for Cell, Developmental, and Systems Biology (IMPRS -CellDevSys) Student Research Internship. What is the name of this internship program? The program is called the International Max Planck Research School for Cell, Developmental, and Systems Biology (IMPRS -CellDevSys) Student Research Internship. Who can apply for this internship program? This internship is open to both Bachelor and Master students who have a passion for gaining research experience in the fields of cell, developmental, or system biology during their university studies. What are the peculiarities of this internship program? Purely Research-Based: This internship stands out for being entirely research-focused, providing students with a deep dive into their chosen field of study. International Work Environment: IMPRS interns can expect to work in a highly cooperative and international work environment, fostering cross-cultural learning and collaboration. Research Question Focus: The internship period revolves around working on a specific research question. Interns receive support from experienced research groups to navigate and contribute meaningfully to ongoing projects. Eligibility To be eligible for the IMPRS -CellDevSys Student Research Internship, applicants must meet the following criteria: University Students: Open to students pursuing a Bachelor's or Master's degree. Field of Study: While the primary focus is on Life Sciences, the program extends its arms to students from Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, and Engineering. Academic Excellence: Applicants are expected to showcase excellent academic performance. Language Proficiency: A high proficiency in the English language is a prerequisite. Eligibility for Bachelor's Students Bachelor's students must have completed at least four semesters of their studies to be eligible for this internship. Duration of the Internship The internship spans over 2 to 3 months, allowing students a substantial period to immerse themselves in their research projects. Financial Assistance For the duration of the internship, students will receive financial support, including: Monthly Stipend: A generous monthly stipend of 934 euros. Additional Support: Financial assistance for travel, housing, and VISA approval. Admission Process The path to becoming an IMPRS intern involves a well-defined admission process: Formal Offer: Formal offers to participate in the IMPRS Student Research Internship program are extended by the IMPRS program coordinator. Online Interview: Candidates will undergo an online interview to assess their suitability for the program. Referee Contact: Referees may be contacted as part of the evaluation process before the final decision is made. Deadline If this opportunity piques your interest, mark your calendar – the deadline for applications is on 09.02.2024. Don't miss the chance to embark on a journey of discovery and innovation through the IMPRS -CellDevSys Student Research Internship. Apply now and take the first step towards shaping your future in the world of research!

Introduction: Discover a golden opportunity for post-doctoral researchers in the realm of life sciences and biotechnology – the MK Bhan - Young Researchers Fellowship Program (MKB-YRFP). Launched by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, this program is a beacon for emerging talents keen on advancing cutting-edge research. Program Overview: The MKB-YRFP aims to empower young researchers, specifically those who have completed their Ph.D., encouraging them to pursue impactful research within the country. It offers independent research grants to Post-Doctoral fellows, focusing on addressing national challenges. Key Highlights: 1. Institute Limitation: The fellowship is exclusive to researchers in DBT-autonomous institutes. 2. Eligibility Criteria: - Must be an Indian citizen. - Ph.D. holder in life science/biotechnology. - No permanent position in any college or university. - Demonstrated excellence through publications, technology development, patents, etc. - Identification of a host institute and mentor. The application must be endorsed by the mentor and the Head of the Department (HoD) of the host institute. 3. Fellowship Details: - Co-terminus with the project duration. - Upper age limit: 35 years. - Monthly remuneration: ₹75,000/- - Contingency grant: ₹20 lakhs per year for various purposes, including manpower hiring, consumables, minor equipment, domestic travels, and other contingent expenditures. 4. Duration and Number of Fellowships: - Up to 50 fellowships annually. - Maximum duration: Three years, extendable by two years under specific conditions. 5. Work Location: - Fellows can work at any DBT-autonomous institute. 6. Host Institute Changes: - Fellows can change the host institute once during the fellowship, provided there is a prior no-objection certificate from the host institute. 7. Nomination and Application: - Candidates cannot submit nominations through multiple host institutes. - Host institutes can nominate more than one candidate. 8. Financial Support: - Up to ₹10 lakhs for non-recurring entities like capital equipment. - A fellowship amount of ₹75,000/- per month for three years. - Contingency grant: ₹10 lakhs for the first year and ₹20 lakhs for subsequent years. - Fellows can engage one JRF/SRF/project assistant. - Travel expenses limited to ₹50,000/- per year, for domestic travel. 9. Application Process: - Applications must be forwarded by the mentor and the HoD of the host institute. 10. Necessary Attachments: - Proof of Date of Birth - Proof of Master's degree and Ph.D. certificate - One copy of each relevant publication - Recognition/award details - Consent form from the mentor 11. Previous Year Selections: - The list of selected candidates for the previous year can be found in the Result of the MK Bhan-Young Research Fellowship Program - Result of the MK Bhan-Young Research Fellowship Program - 2022-23.pdf (dbtindia.gov.in) 12. Deadline for Submission: - Applications must be submitted by 30.11.2023.

The assembler hit a limbo when it was no longer able to generate temp files. I was running the CLC genomics workbench for my de novo assembly work. CLC Genomics workbench is a licensed software that has all the packages for de novo assembly of DNA sequence reads and downstream analysis of contigs. Morning, when I checked the progress, I had a warning message on the screen that said: “There is not enough space in the root directory”. As of now, a stage of the assembly called “Contig generation is progressing”, and the process seems stuck at 14%. It took about 24 hours to have progress by 1%, from 13%. The root directory(' / ') in my system is mounted onto the /dev/sda2. When I checked, the free-space was 0%. I found out that the /var/log/error_log file had consumed the majority of the disk space, and ~600 GB was freed upon deleting the file (but I observed that the same file was being generated and filled at a faster pace). When I read about the CLC server, it says that it takes a lot of disk space for temporary files. These temporary files are needed for analysis while performing the local assembly, and these temporary files are written to the system’s default temporary directory. By default temporary directory, I believe they meant '/tmp '. When I checked the '/tmp', I found a FASTA file, sized ~ 185 GB. When I checked the size of the /tmp folder, I got a result that says /tmp is of 174GB. The Disk Usage Analysis shows this output: Here, almost 77% of the total used-space in the root directory is consumed by the /temp directory; of this, 99% is claimed by the fasta file, apparently generated by the CLCServer. This totally clears my doubt as to if there was a specific size-allocation for the /temp. When I ran df -h, the output shows that the collective size of all tmpfs amounts to ~174GB. but it looks like they haven’t been used to the full capacity (not more than 1%). Having said that, yet I am not clear what exactly those 'tmpfs' do and how they were distinguished from the /tmp directory. Anyway, later I figured out that 'tmpfs' are something that I should ignore in this situation, as they are just 'ramdisks', and the total size is related to the RAM available in the computer. Here, in my case, there is no separate munt for the /tmp directory, but instead it is a folder within the root directory. Therefore the space available to the root directory is all that matters. As of writing this, the /dev/sda2 (where root directory is mounted on) has a free space of 500GB. I was confused if /tmp directory was full; if there was a specific size-allocation for the /temp directory. But, the fact is there is no size-allocation for the /temp directory, and the size of the device on which /temp is mounted is wholly available. At the same time the error_log file located at /var/log/cups/error_log also raises a challenge, because it consumes disk space much faster than the assembler writes temporary files to the /temp. I don’t understand what the error is and why the error_log was getting generated. So, what can I do to prevent the root directory from getting filled up so fast as to give room for the temporaray files from CLCServer? Should I allocate a separate partition for the /tmp? Is it possible to stop the error_log file? Or dedicate a separate partition for the /tmp directory? Few suggestions from the Linux/ Ubuntu experts One of the responses I received says that it is - though it not a recommended solution - better to purchase a 2 -4 TB SSD and mount on the /tmp file system. After installing the SSD, format it, create a filesystem, create a mount point on /tmp, and edit the /etc/fstab. It is also possible to remount a partition, in a different hard disk, on /tmp. For example, if you have a hard disk partition /dev/sda2, that can be mounted on /tmp mount point. The advice I received was to boot Linux on a live USB stick. /dev/sda2 partition should be of ext4 filesystem. Once it is formatted and mounted on /tmp, open the nano editor and add the following items on the /etc/fstab. UUID=abc1234-whatever UUID /tmp ext4 defaults 0 0 The major reason why the root directory immediately became full was an error_log located at /var/log/cups/error_log. The error_log was consuming the diskspace at an alarming pace. Here is a screenshot of the contents of the error_log file. The error_log file was deleted using the following command. find . -type f -iname error_log -delete Here we use the findcommand. The (.) after find command triggers searching for the file in the present directory. The Type parameter specifies a file, in other words it prompts to search only for files. And, -iname error_log specifies the files named error_log. The -delete keyword commands to delete the file. But this is going to be a tedious process as the error_log file is getting generated at an alarming pace. One way to address this problem is to set a timer to periodically truncate the error_log file. The following command truncates the error_log file every 60 seconds. while sleep 60; do : >|/var/log/error_log; done But when I ran this command, I hit an error as you see below. I didn’t quite get why it raised the permission issue, because the ownership is with the user. Another method is to disable logging (the process of generating logs) in the application, or enable settings that does less verbose logging. Or, another important work-around is to change the default temporary directory that CLC Genomics Work bench uses to write the temporary files. In the CLC Server installation folder, there is a file called CLCServer.vmoptions. This file can be opened using a text Editor, and one needs to add a new line -Djava.io.tmpdir=/path/to/tmp, where path to the new temporary directory should be provided. Restart the CLCServer, for the changes to take effect. Finally Finally, I ran the following command to periodically delete the error_log, so that it does not consume the root directory and incapacitate the assembler to write the temporary files. watch -n 60 find . -type f -iname error_log -delete

This post is about errors and exceptions in Python that interrupts the stability of a Python code, also about try and except blocks.

The counter () class of Python can be used for counting items in an iterable.

Are you looking for a Ph.D. program that will challenge you and prepare you for a rewarding career in life science? Do you have a passion for stem cell and regenerative medicine? If yes, then you might be interested in the open position at the Habib Lab, at the Department of Biomedical Sciences, UNIL - University of Lausanne. The Habib Lab is a leading research group that uses tissue engineering to study and manipulate embryogenesis and adult tissue formation. They apply this knowledge to develop novel technologies that can promote tissue repair after injury. For example, they have created a bandage that can promote bone repair. As a Ph.D. student in the Habib Lab, you will have the opportunity to work on a project that explores the nutritional, metabolic and epigenetic requirements for the formation of engineered osteogenic tissues in the bones. You will use cutting-edge tools such as RNASeq, gene editing tools and advanced imaging techniques to understand the specific pathways that regulate tissue formation. You will also design new approaches to target the metabolic pathways in the bone stem cell niche for tissue repair. To apply for this position, you should have a MSc degree in a biological/bioengineering sciences or related disciplines, be highly motivated and have an interest in stem cell biology and bioengineering. You should also submit your CV, publication list and a covering letter that summarizes your previous research experience and explains how you meet the criteria. The expected start date of the Ph.D. program is 01.12.2023. This is a rare opportunity to join a world-class research team and pursue a Ph.D. in stem cell and regenerative medicine. You will learn from experts, use state-of-the-art techniques and contribute to the advancement of life science. Don’t miss this chance to apply for the open position at the Habib Lab. Click on the link below to submit your application. Good luck!

Are you interested in sustainable research? Do you want to learn from experts, network with peers, and present your work in a global platform? If yes, then you should not miss the International Conference on Frontiers of Sustainable Research in Health Care, Food, Agriculture, and Environmental Management (ICSURE-2024). ICSURE-2024 is a two-day conference organized by Guru Nanak Centre for Research (GNCR), Guru Nanak College (Autonomous), Chennai, in association with G.S. Gill Research Institute. The conference aims to bring together researchers, practitioners, policy makers, and students from various disciplines and sectors to share their knowledge, experience, and insights on sustainable research. The conference will cover a wide range of topics, such as: Sustainable Research in Health Care Sustainable food production and consumption Sustainable agriculture and rural development Sustainable environmental management and conservation Food, Agriculture, and Environmental Management Sustainable development goals and indicators The conference will feature keynote speeches, plenary sessions, panel discussions, oral presentations, poster presentations, and workshops. The conference will also provide opportunities for networking, collaboration, and publication. The conference will be held in a hybrid mode, which means that you can participate either online or offline. The online mode will use a web-based platform that will allow you to access the conference sessions, interact with the speakers and attendees, and submit your feedback. The offline mode will use a physical venue that will host the conference sessions, provide the necessary facilities. The conference is open to anyone who is interested in sustainable research, regardless of their academic background, professional experience, or geographical location. The conference is especially suitable for: Researchers and scholars who want to present their work and get feedback from peers and experts Practitioners and policy makers who want to learn from best practices and case studies and apply them to their own contexts Students and educators who want to enhance their knowledge and skills and explore career opportunities in sustainable research Industry and civil society representatives who want to showcase their products and services and collaborate with potential partners If you are one of them, then you should register for the conference as soon as possible. The registration fee is very affordable and includes access to all the conference sessions, materials, and certificates. The registration fee is as follows: Students : Participants - 500/-, Presentation (Oral/Poster) Rs.1000/- Scholars : Participants - Rs 750/-, Presentation (Oral/Poster)- Rs.1500/- Faculty Members : Participants & Presentation (Oral/Poster)- Rs.1500/- Industry : Participants - Rs.2000/-, Presentation (Oral/Poster)- Rs.3000/- International : Participants- 100 USD, Presentation (Oral/Poster)- 150 USD You can pay the registration fee through NEFT Transfer or G PAY to the following account details: Beneficiary Account Name: GNES CENTRE FOR CONSULTANCY AND OUTREACH, A/C No: 100047544447; Bank Name : EQUITAS SMALL FINANCE BANK LTD., Branch : Velachery, Chennai, IFSC : ESFB0001004 To register for the conference, you need to fill out an online or offline form and submit your abstract or full paper, if you want to present your work. The deadlines for submission are as follows: Abstract Submission Last date: 01.12.2023 Full Paper Submission Last Date: 31.01.2024 Registration Closing Date: 15.02.2024 You can find the online and offline registration forms here: Online: [https://forms.gle/5rmBqeuacrJ2aA9x6] Offline: [https://forms.gle/NnUbMhm4VexkTuvH6]

Project Location: You'll be based at the Department of Genetics, University of Madras. Principal Investigator: The project is led by Dr. B Anandan, Assistant Professor in the Department of Genetics. Funded Project: This research project is generously funded by DST-SERB CRG. Duration: Initially, the position is for one year, with the possibility of extension for up to three years based on your performance. Project Title: The project involves characterizing the neuroprotective effects of Taraxerol and Taraxasteriol against neurotoxin-induced cellular and animal models for Parkinson's disease. Qualifications: To be considered for this opportunity, you should hold an MSc in Biomedical Genetics or related life science branches, such as Biochemistry, Biotechnology, or Molecular Biology. Desirable Qualifications: Research experience in various techniques, including tissue culture, nucleic acid extraction, real-time PCR, ELISA, western blotting, zebrafish handling, and data analysis is highly desirable. Experience in methods, tools, and techniques related to genetics research is also a plus. Financial Assistance: Qualified candidates who have passed national-level exams are eligible for financial assistance, which includes a monthly stipend of ₹31,000 plus a 24% House Rent Allowance (HRA). Application Process: To apply, complete the application form and send it to anand_gem@yahoo.com. Don't miss this opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge genetics research at the University of Madras. Apply by the deadline on 3rd November 2023.

In this article we are going to discuss how to install windows 10 virtual machine inside Ubuntu We will be looking at the details of running a guest windows operating system inside the Linux operating system. The software that we are going to use to run the guest windows operating system in Linux is a freely available software called Virtual Box. The Virtual Box can be downloaded from the software page by visiting Oracle VM VirtualBox. Virtual Box is a virtualization software that divides the computing resources between the two operating systems. Virtual Box is a powerful virtualization software that currently can be used on Windows, Linux and Solaris hosts, and support a vast array of guest operating systems. The Virtual Box is being maintained by the Oracle company, that ensures that the product meets the professional quality. Utility-wise, Virtual Box is a resource-intensive that requires at least a dual-core-CPU, and 8 GB RAM, because these resources are going to be split between the two operating systems. Install Virtual Box Let’s install virtual box. After visiting the software page, download the Virtual Box software. When you click the download button, it will open a windows to chose the host operating system that we are virtualizing. Under the VirtualBox platform packages, choose the Linux distributions. Download the appropriate VirtualBox from the downloads page. Once the the VirtualBox has been downloaded, go to the folder containing the installation file. You may notice that this is a .deb file. In order to install the .deb file, you need to install the GDebi tool. GDebi tool helps you install the local deb packages. GDebi does not come with Ubuntu by default, and can be installed via Terminal command. sudo apt install gdebi -y Once the GDebi package Installer is available, as a GUI, open the .deb file with GDebi. Once the installation is successfully finished, the Oracle VM VirtualBox Manager window appears. Installing VM VirtualBox extension Pack This VirtualBox extension pack can be installed to extend the functionality of the Oracle VM VirtualBox base package. Installing the VM VirtualBox extension pack can help us use USB 2.0 and/ or USB 3.0 on the Virtual Machine. This is a very useful stuff to have. When you download the VM VirtualBox extension pack, it should be the same version as the VirtualBox. It can be downloaded by clicking the downloads link. Once the extension pack has been downloaded, click Install, and choose the extension pack file, downloaded. Once the installation of the extension package is completed, you can see the installed package, listed with a green tick by the side of it. Checking if virtualization is enabled/ disabled in the BIOS It is important to check whether our computer’s CPU supports virtualization. This can be directly verified in the BIOS settings. In older machines, Under the advanced BIOS features, one can enable the Virtualization feature, if it is seen disabled. In some other BIOS versions, you may go to the advanced features and turn the Intel Virtualization Technology enabled. If you are a Linux user, this can be checked on the command line. First of all, install the cpu-checker. $sudo apt-get update $sudo apt-get install cpu-checker Once it is installed, enter the following command. $kvm-ok It it return the following message, then the virtualization is supported. INFO: /dev/kvm exists KVM acceleration can be used Otherwise, if the message that appears is as follows, then it means the Virtualization is disabled by the BIOS. INFO: /dev/kvm does not exist HINT: sudo modprobe kvm_intel INFO: Your CPU supports KVM extensions INFO: KVM (vmx) is disabled by your BIOS HINT: Enter your BIOS setup and enable Virtualization Technology (VT), and then hard poweroff/poweron your system KVM acceleration can NOT be used Installing the guest operating system Now, we need to install the guest windows operating system. The windows operating system can be downloaded as an ISO file. Once the ISO file for the guest operating system is downloaded, it is time for creating a new virtual machine. We need to click the “New” option under the “Machine” tab. In the Create Virtual Machine box, enter the name. If you are going to create a virtual machine for Windows 10, then you should name it as Windows 10. Then you need to select the ISO file for the guest operating system; in this case Windows 10. Once all the information entered, click the “Next” button. At this step, it will ask whether Windows needs to be installed unattendedly or not. If the guest Windows is installed Unattendedly, your user won’t be added to the sudo group. Modifying Virtual Machine’s Hardware Now, we need to modify Virtual Machine’s hardware. You may modify the hardware allocation for both Virtual Machine and Processors. Next, we can add a virtual hard disk to the new machine. You can create a new virtual hard disk or use an existing virtual hard disk. It is also possible to create a virtual machine without a virtual hard disk. In the create a virtual Machine box, a summary of the Virtual Machine appears as follows. It features the name of the guest OS, the path to the Virtual Machine, Base memory and the Processor allocation and the size-allocation of the disk. Here we are! Now the virtual machine has been created. Now double click the Virtual Machine, and you can see the installation of the guest OS begin. Once the guest operating system is installed, you will see Windows - Oracle VM VirtualBox. You can toggle between Fullscreen view and compact view, by pressing the Ctrl+F key combination, or by selecting the Fullscreen option under the View tab. Clipboard and Folder Sharing Let’s see how folder sharing can be performed. Before that let’s shutdown the Windows virtual machine, exactly in the same way how a normally-installed Windows is shutdown. Once it is shutdown, you can notice a label “Power Off” on the Windows VM, in the Virtual Box. Now click the Settings button, and it opens the Settings window. Let’s see how clipboard sharing can be set to bidirectional, so that texts copied can be transferred bidirectionally. Once the Windows 10 settings window opens, under the general tab, click the Advanced tab. Turn the Shared Clipboard option to Bidirectional. There are also options: Host to Guest, Guest to Host, and Disabled. Now, let’s share folders. Go to the Shared Folders. And, you see the following window. On this window, you can see a small blue folder with a green plus icon. Click it. And, it opens a small window, titled: “Add Share”. Here, you can choose the path to the folder to be shared. Once the folder path has been selected, click the Auto Mount option. Click OK. Once back in the Virtual Box Manager window, click on the Insert Guest Additions CD Image. This will create a virtual optical disk. In the file explorer, click the optical disk drive, and it opens a folder. Select the VBoxWindowsAdditions-amd64.exe file and execute it. Once the execution is completed, restart the machine, to enable access to the shared folder.

Location of Employment: Center of Advanced Study in Crystallography and Biophysics, University of Madras. Number of Posts Available: Two positions are open. Project Details: Scheme: National Network Project (NNP) Project Title: "Multi-targeted Lead Identification for Metabolic Disorders (Diabesity) through in-silico and biochemical characterization" Qualifications Required: Prospective candidates should have an M.Sc. in Biophysics, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, or M.Tech in Biotechnology/Genetic Engineering. Additionally, experience in cloning, recombinant protein expression, and purification is highly desirable. Project Duration: The project spans over 3 years. Emoluments: Successful candidates can expect an attractive monthly salary of Rs. 24,800, which includes Rs. 20,000 as basic pay and 24% House Rent Allowance (HRA). How to Apply: To apply, submit your Biodata, degree certificates, work experience certificates, and any other relevant data (if applicable) by emailing them to nnpdbtunom@gmail.com. Application Deadline: Make sure to apply before the deadline on 07.11.2023. Seize this opportunity to contribute to an exciting research project and advance your career. Apply now!

Purpose of the JRF Posting The Junior Research Fellow (JRF) position is established to contribute to an ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) project. The primary objective of this position is to engage in research and assist in the project's activities related to pharmacological evaluation and characterization of a novel SARM1 inhibitor in a pre-clinical model of Charcot-Marie-Tooth 2A (CMT2A). The JRF will work under the guidance of the project's supervisors, Dr. Abhijeet Joshi and Prof. Punna Rao Ravi. Number of Positions Two positions for Junior Research Fellow (JRF) have been called for this academic opportunity. Work Location The JRF positions are based in the Department of Pharmacy at BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus. Supervisors Dr. Abhijeet Joshi (for all Pharmacology candidates) Email: abhijeet.j@hyderabad.bits-pilani.ac.in Prof. Punna Rao Ravi (for all Pharmaceutics candidates) Email: rpunnarao@hyderabad.bits-pilani.ac.in Title of the Project The project's title is "Pharmacological evaluation and Characterization of a novel SARM1 inhibitor in a pre-clinical model of Charcot-Marie-Tooth 2A (CMT2A)." Fellowship Amount The selected Junior Research Fellows will receive a monthly fellowship amount of ₹28,000 along with a House Rent Allowance (HRA) of ₹7,560, resulting in a total monthly stipend of ₹35,560. Essential Eligibility for Position-1 (Pharmacology) Educational Qualification: M.Pharm (Pharmacology) or MSc (Life Science) Desirable Qualifications: Strong interest in Neuroscience (Independent or Self-motivated) Experience in Animal (Mice) handling is a MUST Experience in basic techniques like cell culture, RT-PCR, western blot, and basic biochemical assays. Essential Eligibility for Position-2 (Pharmaceutics) Educational Qualification: M.Pharm (Pharmaceutics) Desirable Qualifications: Strong interest in Drug Delivery Systems (Nose-to-Brain delivery) and Pharmacokinetics. Experience in developing strong formulations like polymeric nanoparticles/lipid nanoparticles. Experience in developing analytical and bio-analytical methods using HPLC is a must. Experience in handling lab animals for conducting pharmacokinetic studies (dosing, drawing blood, etc). How to Apply Interested candidates should send their CV (Curriculum Vitae) to the respective supervisors based on their qualifications and research interests. Particulars of CV to be Sent The CV should provide comprehensive information on educational qualifications, research/work experience, and any published research papers (if applicable). Address to Which CV Should Be Sent Dr. Abhijeet Joshi (for all Pharmacology candidates) Email: abhijeet.j@hyderabad.bits-pilani.ac.in Prof. Punna Rao Ravi (for all Pharmaceutics candidates) Email: rpunnarao@hyderabad.bits-pilani.ac.in Deadline The deadline for submitting applications is November 5, 2023. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply before this date to be considered for the Junior Research Fellow positions.

The SMARTGRAZE project is a research initiative that aims to assess the potential of holistic planned grazing (HPG) as a climate change mitigation and adaptation strategy in semi-arid rangelands of Kenya. The project is funded by the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), and is implemented by the University of Nairobi in collaboration with other partners. The project seeks to address the challenges of climate change and land degradation in semi-arid rangelands, which are characterized by low and erratic rainfall, high temperatures, and fragile ecosystems. These regions are home to millions of people who depend on livestock production for their livelihoods, but are also vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, such as droughts, floods, and land degradation. The SMARTGRAZE project aims to assess the potential of HPG as a sustainable land management practice that can enhance soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks and fluxes, reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and improve vegetation and soil properties in semi-arid rangelands. HPG is a grazing management system that involves the strategic movement of livestock across different grazing areas, based on the principles of ecosystem health, biodiversity, and productivity. The project will collect data on SOC stocks and fluxes, GHG emissions, vegetation, and soil properties under HPG and traditional grazing systems during wet and dry seasons. The data will be analyzed using various methods, including static chambers, GIS, and the Roth-C carbon model. The project will also assess the effects of HPG on livestock forage selectivity, nutritional quality, and productivity. The project is offering MSc scholarships to qualified applicants who are interested in conducting research on the effects of HPG on soil and vegetation properties, livestock forage selectivity, and nutritional quality in the rangelands of Kajiado County, Kenya. The scholarships cover tuition fees, monthly stipends, and research costs for two years. The findings of the SMARTGRAZE project will provide valuable insights into the potential of HPG as a sustainable land management practice in semi-arid rangelands. The project aims to contribute to the development of evidence-based policies and practices that promote climate change mitigation and adaptation in the region. The project also aims to enhance the capacity of local researchers and practitioners to conduct research and implement sustainable land management practices in semi-arid rangelands. Overall, the SMARTGRAZE project is an important initiative that seeks to address the challenges of climate change and land degradation in semi-arid What are the requirements for this program? The SMARTGRAZE project is offering MSc scholarships to qualified applicants who are interested in conducting research on the effects of holistic planned grazing (HPG) on soil and vegetation properties, livestock forage selectivity, and nutritional quality in the rangelands of Kajiado County, Kenya. Here are the requirements for this program, as outlined in the PDF file: 1. Excellent BSc. degree (1st class or upper 2nd class honors) in natural resource management, range management, Agroecosystem and environment management, human, agricultural sciences, animal production, or related fields, from recognized/accredited University. 2. In-depth knowledge of arid and semi-arid rangeland ecosystems and extensive livestock production systems 3. Fluency in spoken and written English 4. Teamwork orientation and good communication skills. To apply for the MSc scholarships, interested applicants should choose the research topic of interest and send their application to the undersigned. The application should include a letter of motivation related to the research topic chosen (1 page), curriculum vitae, summary of the undergraduate special project/field attachment report topic (1 page), copy of relevant certificates and transcripts, and names and contact details of 2 referees. The application should be submitted by email in a single PDF file.