Category: 2017

5 careers - Little heard of, but with more Impact

5 careers – Little heard of but with more Impact – Copy

What is common between Podiatry, Speech Therapy,Radio Jockeying, Cartography, and Occupational Therapy? Well, one common thing is- all these career options are little heard of and they evoke skepticism in the minds. One – because of little knowledge about them and two- they are quite offbeat. Let us take a look at the ‘little heard of’ careers that have a strong impact.

Podiatry

Podiatry is an exciting and varied career. It offers you the chance to make a difference, a high degree of flexibility and excellent employment prospects. Podiatrists treat a variety of foot and ankle ailments, including calluses, ingrown toenails, heel spurs, arthritis, congenital foot, and ankle deformities, and arch problems. They also treat foot and leg problems associated with diabetes and other diseases. Some podiatrists spend most of their time performing surgery, such as foot and ankle reconstruction. Others may choose a specialty such as sports medicine, pediatrics, or diabetic foot care.

Course Details

Candidates must have passed the 10+2 level of examination, or its equivalent, from a recognized board, with Physics, Chemistry, and biology as compulsory subjects, in order to seek admission in a Bachelor’s degree program in medicine. They are required to take and qualify in the medical entrance examination, conducted by various institutions across India. On obtaining an undergraduate medical degree, candidates can apply for a post-graduation program in podiatric medicine. Podiatric medicine is offered as a four-year program, which follows a curriculum similar to the one followed at other medical schools. The first two years educate students on basic sciences, such as anatomy, chemistry, pathology, and pharmacology. The latter two years comprise clinical rotations at private practices, hospitals, and clinics. Here, the interns are taught the basic and modern ways of noting down general and podiatric histories, performing routine physical examinations, interpreting tests and findings, making diagnoses, and carrying out therapeutic procedures.

Graduates who successfully complete the podiatric medicine course are awarded the Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) degree. This is followed by a 2-4 year residency program at a hospital wherein podiatrists are taught how to execute surgery and other medical processes, like anesthesiology or radiology. It is during this period that one has to choose his specialized field, namely, geriatrics, pediatrics, biomechanics, surgery, sports medicine, dermatology, radiology, orthopedics, and primary care. After completing the residency program, podiatrists are licensed to practice in their chosen field.

Institute scape

Institute of Public Health and Hygiene, New Delhi  offering diploma in Podiatry.

Speech Therapist

Speech therapy is an allied branch of health sciences related to the disorder of speech, voice, and language of a person. Speech therapy and audiology have become promising career options in recent times. Speech therapists are specialists who treat people facing problems related to speech disorders.

Course Details

In India, you can study both speech therapy and audiology together at the Bachelor’s as well as the Master’s level. Postgraduate programmes with specialization either in speech-language pathology or audiology are also offered. Several courses on speech therapy are available for interested students. The basic courses are B.S.C (speech & hearing), B.S.C (Audiology and Speech & Language), and M.S.C (Speech Pathology and Audiology). The qualifications required for pursuing a course in speech therapy are:

  • For pursuing a diploma course a candidate must pass the 10+2 examination
  • An undergraduate course for three years requires a candidate to have passed the XIIth standard with English, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology preferably with 50%-60% of marks. The cut off marks vary with institutes.

Institute Scape

The Rehabilitation Council of India, New Delhi, governs all institutes imparting training in speech therapy, and on http://ishaindia.org.in/ of the Indian Speech and Hearing Association, a national professional organization of speech therapists.

  • Ali Yavar Jung National Institute for the Hearing Handicapped, Mumbai and regional centers in Kolkata, Secunderabad and New Delhi offering B.Sc. Hearing and language and M.Sc. Hearing, Speech and Language.
  • All India Institute of Speech & Hearing, Mysore
  • BYL Nair Hospital and Medical College, Mumbai.
  • Dr. SRC Institute of Speech and Hearing, Bangalore.
  • Dr. MV Shetty Institute of Speech and Hearing, Mangalore

Cartography

Cartographers use information from surveys, photographs and other reports that they have gathered and created for the purpose of creating a new digital map or updating existing ones. These professionals use global positioning systems (GPS), computer-aided design (CAD) programs and specialized mapping software to create maps for a variety of purposes. Cartographers typically do fieldwork to collect and verify data used in creating maps. They will also collect and analyze geographical data, such as population density, demographic characteristics, and annual precipitation patterns;examine and compile data from ground surveys, reports, aerial photographs, and satellite images to prepare thematic maps and prepare thematic maps in digital or graphic form to be used for social, environmental, political, business, educational, and design purposes.

As for academic qualifications, you could get a B.Sc Geography, M.Sc Geography, M.Sc Applied Geography, M.Sc Spatial Information Technology, M.Sc Cartography, M.Sc Geographic Information System, M.Sc Remote Sensing, M.Sc Geoinformatics, M.Tech Geoinformatics, P.G.Diploma in GIS, Cartography, Surveying and mapping/topographic/earth sciences or urban and land studies before applying for jobs.

Institute Scape

  • IIT, Mumbai
  • Burdwan University – Bardhaman (Master of Science- Remote Sensing & Geographic Information System)
  • Indian Institute of Technology (Mumbai)
  • Jamia Millia Islamia – Diploma in Cartography
  • Jawaharlal Nehru Technical University
  • MS University of Baroda – Diploma in Cartography
  • North Orissa University – Baripada (Master of Science in Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System)
  • Osmania University – Diploma in Geographical Cartography
  • Pandit Ravishankar Shukla University – Raipur (Post Graduate Diploma in Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System)
  • Sam Higginbotom Institute of Agriculture – Allahabad (Post Graduate Diploma in Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System)

Occupational Therapy

An occupational therapist is responsible for providing medical help and/or rehabilitation to individuals suffering from functional disabilities that prevent them from leading fully functional and healthy, independent lives, in the workplace and/or at home. Occupational therapy employs various exercises and physical and mental activities meant to challenge and thereby further improve and develop motor and sensory perception, judgment and problem-solving skills, cognition, hand functions, and hand-eye coordination. Patients with physical limitations that cannot be healed or cured are taught how to circumvent those limitations in order to manage everyday activities and work-specific tasks independently, sometimes through physical or mental exercises, and sometimes by using specially designed devices.

Institute Scape

  • Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, Bachelor of Occupational Therapy
  • National Institute for the Orthopaedically Handicapped, Kolkatta, Bachelor of Occupational Therapy, B.Sc. (Hons) Occupational Therapy
  • Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Jamia Hamdard, Delhi
  • Christian Medical College, (Tamil Nadu), Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (BOT) 
  • Swami Vivekanand National Institute of Rehabilitation Training and Research(SVNIRTAR), Cuttack, 
  • NIMS College of Physiotherapy, Jaipur.
  • National Institute of Rehabilitation Training and Research (NIRTAR), Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (BOT)
  • Manipal University, Manipal, Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (BOT), Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT)

Radio Jockeying

Radio Jockeying is a talent based field. Even though no formal educational qualification is required, a degree or at least plus two is generally a prerequisite. Qualification for Diploma & Post Graduate Diploma in Radio Programming & Broadcast Management: graduate in any field with 60% aggregate in graduation.

Entrance Exam for Radio Jockey courses is conducted by Encompass Institute of Radio Management. Some institutes also conduct their own screening test, voice test in the case of certificate courses. Following are some of the courses in Radio Jockeying.

  • Diploma and Certificate course in Radio Jockey
  • Diploma in Radio Management
  • Diploma in Radio Programming and Management
  • Diploma in Radio Station Operations and Management
  • Certificate Course in Announcing, Broadcasting, Compere  and Dubbing
  • Certificate Course in Radio Production Programme
  • Post Graduate Diploma in Radio Programming and Management

Institute scape:

  •  Academy of Radio Management, New Delhi.
  • Xavier Institute of Communication Mumbai.
  • Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi.
  • Jamia Milia Islamia, New Delhi.
  •  FILM Institute New Delhi.

Summing up:

Therefore,if you wish to step into a career that is offbeat and gives you a high impact, choose any of the above that you gel in with and watch your career soar high.

lagunge Love

The Language Love

One of the offshoots of Globalization has been the need for businesses to expand their wings in multiple countries. This has led to the creation of a flat world where people need to cross barriers and do transact with their counterparts across nations. To do that with fluidity, we need translators who have fluency in multiple languages.Translation can be a rewarding career, either as a full-time vocation or as a supplement to your writing jobs. As a translator, your main work is to translate texts from one language to the desired language without there being an iota of difference in its interpretation to the reader from the original text. Those translators are considered as successful who are able to impress their readers with simplicity and intact originality of the text they have translated. However, translators in the 21st century find themselves in a difficult position.On the one hand there is a steadily growing demand for translation as a result of increasing global trade and communication generally. On the other hand it becomes harder and harder for the professional translator to meet this demand. Also there is Machine Translation that is catching up fast. So, translators need to add that extra potion of value to play catch up with Machine Translation with respect to speed. Without translation, there’s no global business. We need to become more confident and to make a strong story of our business. The translation industry has a future, but we need to change because the world is changing.  Getting In: Today,youngsters are opting to learn Spanish, French, German and Italian, to name some of the popular languages, for full-time careers. Arabic, Persian, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese and Russian, are a few more. You should have fluency and command over at least in two languages and have a flair for writing.  To get admission in good university and colleges, graduation is must.  For good translation, one has to go into the soul of the content. It is also recommended to see the translation work of seniors and experts.   There are forking pathways  to learn foreign languages. Whereas several students start learning a foreign language in their school, numerous others opt the course after their 10+2 and go for graduation courses that are offered by various institutes, colleges and universities.    In order to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in any foreign language, you should have cleared the higher secondary school certificate or 10+2 from a recognized board. The duration of the bachelor’s course is mostly three years. You may linearly step up into a Master’s degree after completion of graduation in the  relevant stream.. Usually the duration of the course is two years. You can also go in for a PhD which is being offered at select universities in India. Those are interested in higher education in foreign languages can opt for post-graduation and PhD which are being offered at select universities in India. After doing the diploma or degree course, you can join some job as a junior translator or can go for the higher studies in the respective languages provided by various universities/institutions. Like for Japanese, there is a language proficiency test conducted by Mombusho Scholars Association and Alliance Francaise is the centre for conducting various French tests like the TEF (required by Canadian High Commission), the TCF, DELF/DALF test and diploma delivered by the French Ministry of Education. Skillset:   To get into translation, you should possess fairly good knowledge of the language and have good research and communication skills. In case of a foreign language, it is an added advantage if you know about the history, economy and the political system of that nation. Besides, it is also necessary to have public speaking skills, analytical skills and be computer savvy.   Course Cursor:   Courses after XII:

  • Bachelor of Arts (Translation and Interpretation)

  • Bachelors in Journalism & Media

  • BS Communication

  • BA Honors (Interpreting and Translation BA Honours).

  • Bachelor of Language and Linguistics

Institute Scape:

  • Max Mueller Bhavan for German, New Delhi
  • Alliance Francaise for French
  • Calcutta University (CU) Arabic, Persian and French
  • Jadavpur University (JU)
  • The Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture- Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Persian, Portuguese, Spanish
  • The Central Institute of English and Foreign Languages (CIEFL), Hyderabad- German, Roman, Russian,
  • Delhi University- Arabic, French, German, Hispanic, Italian, Japanese, Persian, Russian,
  • Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)- Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Russian, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian
  • English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU), Hyderabad
  Foreign Colleges/ Institute:
  • Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona provides BA Honors.
  • Middlesex University, London
  • Western Sydney University, Sydney
  • Singapore University of Social Science, Singapore.
  Courses after Graduation:

  • M.A (Translation and Interpretation)

  • MRes in Translating Cultures
  • M.A. Translation
  • Interpreting MA
  • M.Sc (Interpreting and Translating)
  • Master in Innovative Technologies in Translation: Italian
  • Research Literary Translation, M.A.
  • M.A. Linguistics
  Colleges in India:
  • Cochin University of Science and Technology
  • Dravidian University, Andhra Pradesh
  • Gujarat Vidyapith, Gujarat
  • Himachal Pradesh University, Himachal Pradesh
  Foreign Colleges/ Institute:
  • University of Westminster, London offers MA in Interpretation and Translator
  • The University of Edinburgh, UK
  • London Metropolitan University, UK
  • University of Surrey, UK
  • School of Management and Languages, Edinburgh, UK
  Diploma:
  • Post Graduate Diploma in Translation (PGDT)

  • Diploma in Translation

  • Diploma in Professional Translation (French to English)
  Institute Scape:
  • Gujarat University, Ahmedabad
  • Saga Institute of Management Studies- SIMS, Malappuram
  • Bhagat Pool Singh Mahila Vishwavidalaya- BPSMV, Sonipat
  Career Scape:   Teaching and research If teaching is to your liking then you can pursue a degree in the language you would like to teach after 12th. After a post-graduation in the subject, you can appear for NET and begin teaching in colleges/universities. If you want you can do B. Ed and teach in a school.   If research is your cup of tea, then you can study linguistics and contribute to the ever evolving field of language study. Within linguistics, there are several branches and you can choose the one you are interested in. All major universities in the country offer postgraduate degrees and/or diploma courses in linguistics.  

Journalism

If you have an outgoing personality and an aptitude for languages, journalism is one of the options you could consider. Journalism – be it print/television/online requires a good news sense and the ability to present the relevance and importance of the event to the viewer/reader. Journalism requires the ability to talk to people and get people talking. Hence, the requirement of an outgoing personality. Television journalism requires a large verbal repertoire while print and online journalism requires a good repository of words. All of which should be easy if you are good at languages.    

Public Relations and Corporate Communications

Similar to journalism, public relations requires good writing skills and the ability to interact with a wide variety of people. Public relations professionals have to dish out press releases that appeal to journalists, organize interactions/events and ensure that the company/individual they are working for is adequately covered by the media. All of this becomes easy if the individual has a good command over languages.If working in the corporate world is to your liking, you could consider working for the corporate communications department of companies. All companies have such a department because it is essential in today’s day and time to be in the public eye for the right reasons. The work of a corporate communications is similar to that of a PR agency. However, in a PR agency, an individual gets to handle a multitude of clients while being in the corporate communications of a company you handle all communication-related work only for that one company.   Content Writing and SEO(Search Engine Optimization) In recent times, ensuring that your website is visible and appears among the top few in search results is important in an online space teeming with millions of websites. A number of companies are waking up to this reality and are hiring professionals to ensure that they have content that clicks!   To become an online content writer/SEO all you need is internet literacy and extensive use of social media. While you could take up certificate creative writing courses, this kind of writing is more of a learn-on-the job thing. All you need to have is good researching skills and the ability to write information in an interesting manner.  

Script Writing and Copywriting

If your love for languages is accompanied by love for films/television/theater you could try your hand at script writing. Several universities/film and television institutes/theater institutes offer courses in screenwriting / script writing / play writing. Copywriting is usually associated with the advertising industry where advertisements require smart play of words to appeal to the audience. If you have a way with words, copywriting may just be the thing for you.  

Author 

If your love for imagination and writing is as strong as your love of languages then you could consider being an author/writer/novelist. And the best part is that to be an author you need not wait to finish a certain degree/diploma etc. You can just let your imagination run wild (or your research skills if you prefer non-fiction) and begin writing your book anytime. In fact you can even write your book while pursuing another career. Obviously a degree and exposure to other people’s works will have a great impact but there is no start date to when you can begin writing!  

Editing

  If you can spot a spelling/punctuation/grammatical error easily, proofreading is probably the option for you. Similar to content writing you can begin freelance proofreading and editing assignments while pursuing an undergraduate course itself. If you are good proofreading assignments pay well.  

Speech Writing

Speech writing is an unconventional career option that you could consider if you are inclined. You may find place in political parties where it is very important to make the right impression on the public.      Will technology replace humans?   Over the past few years there has been a rising debate over the issue of technology replacing humans. Owing to the advent of technological advancements like Google translator, some might feel that these technological advancements might replace humans. While this does serve a purpose if you want to understand the gist, the reality is that these translations are not very accurate when it comes to court documents, detailed medical reports and advertising copy, to list a few examples. Therefore, the outlook remains very positive for those wishing to pursue a career as a translator or interpreter. According to the latest research, by 2018 employment in this field is expected to increase by 22%.   So, get ready for the most promising careers of today and tomorrow…
Gate to GRE

ZERO IN ON GATE AND GRE

GATE or GRE? This is the question that is constantly on the minds of students when they are on the threshold of graduation in Engineering. Both these are the prestigious examinations for entry into post graduation and have their relative merits and demerits. Both look equally competitive and  open a broad spectrum of offshoots to choose from. Here is an attempt to understand the subtle differences between the two:

  ABOUT GATE

Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is an all India examination administered and conducted jointly by the Indian Institute of Science and seven Indian Institutes of Technology on behalf of the National Coordination Board – GATE, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India. It is held for PG admissions to Engineering/ Technology/ Architecture and Science programs offered across IITs, NITs and other leading centrally funded institutes. It is totally a technical exam for those who wish to get recruited in PSUs.

ABOUT GRE

The Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) is a standardized test that is an admissions requirement for many graduate schools in the United States, in other English-speaking countries and for English-taught graduate and business programs world-wide.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GRE & GATE Who takes the test? GATE

is taken by the students who wish to pursue higher education in India whereas

GRE

is usually taken by the students wish to pursue studies outside India.

Who accepts the Test? In GATE

,  colleges across India (including the IITs and NITs) accept GATE scores whereas thousands of universities and institutions  abroad accept GRE scores for admissions.

GRE gives importance to the English language skills of the candidate besides gauging them on other subjects. The GRE score is accepted mainly in the U.S. After acing the exam, students can go for M.S and PhD.

GATE exam is the ticket to get admission in M. Tech in Indian universities and its score is accepted in countries like Singapore and Germany. Students can pursue even M.E, M.S and PhD after clearing GATE.

GATE

helps students to get scholarships and other funding (provided by MHRD and other government organizations) for Masters and/or PhD in various top engineering colleges across world whereas

GRE

helps students to get admissions in some of the best colleges in the world.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: GATE

:

Candidates, who want to apply for GATE, must meet  the following criteria :

  • Aspirants who are in their second or higher year of the Four-year Integrated Master’s degree program (Post-B.Sc.) in Engineering or Technology can appear for GATE.

  • Candidates who are in their third or higher year of the Five-year Integrated Master’s degree program and Dual Degree program in Engineering or Technology can appear.

  • Candidates who have obtained qualifications equivalent to B.E. or B.Tech through professional organizations, such as, UPSC and AICTE .

  •  Indian nationals along with international students from Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia and United Arab Emirates (UAE) will be eligible to appear for the exam.

  • The candidates should have completed their Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Master’s degree in Science in a relevant subject.

  • There is no age limit for the entrance test.

  • There is also no specified minimum pass percentage (qualifying exam) to apply for GATE

GRE:

There is no specific eligibility criterion for GRE. However, candidates have to fulfill the eligibility criteria of the institutions where they wish to pursue studies after taking the GRE. Anyone can register for this exam, irrespective of age or qualifications. The only thing you need to keep in mind is the fact that you will be required to produce your original passport as proof of identity at the exam center, so make sure that you have a valid passport before you register for the GRE exam.

PATTERN: GATE:

Candidates can select ANY ONE of the 23 different papers offered by GATE.  General aptitude section is common to all papers. Other sections of the paper differ according to the paper selected.  Each paper will include a mandatory General Aptitude (GA) section comprising 10 questions. 5 of these questions will carry 1-mark each, while the remaining 5 will each carry 2 marks, for a total of 15 marks.

  • GATE 2018 is a computer-based test that will be conducted in online mode

  • GATE question paper will consist of two question types: multiple choice questions (MCQs) and Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions

  • The questions will be displayed on a computer screen randomly

  • In case of MCQs, the candidate needs to select the correct answer, while for numerical answer type, the candidate must enter the numerical answer using a mouse and virtual keyboard ( the keyboard attached to the computer will be disabled)

  • The candidate will have to complete the test in 3 hours. After the allotted three hours, the screen will automatically close down and no further action will be possible.

  • During the exam, each candidate will be provided with a scribble pad where the candidate can do all his rough work.

  • Each question paper will contain questions related to General Aptitude (GA) in addition to subject-specific questions.

GRE 

GRE comprises of 4 sections ie Analytical writing skills, Verbal reasoning, Critical thinking and Quantitative reasoning

The first one (i.e. The Analytical Writing section) is  a written test whereas the others are of objective type.

The writing section

has two tasks and you have 30 minutes to complete each task, making the total time for this section to be one hour.

The Verbal section

has to be completed within one hour as well as both the two sections require 30 minutes each. Same goes for

Quantitative section

, where you get 35 minutes for the two sections.

WHEN TO TAKE THE TEST:

GATE:

There is no restriction or bar on the number of times you can appear for the GATE exam. You are eligible to appear for GATE, as long as you meet the academic eligibility criteria for the exam. The dates for GATE 2018 are out and it is scheduled for 3rd, 4th, 10th and 11th February 2018. GATE 2018 will be organized by IIT Guwahati this time.

GRE:

If you are preparing to take the GRE, then one thing you might be wrestling with is when to take the test. The most popular time to take the test is in October, November, and December. If you aren’t sure if you’ll achieve the score you want on your first try, then you may want to schedule the GRE so that you can take it again if you score poorly. You can take the GRE revised General Test once every 21 days, up to five times within any continuous rolling 12-month period.

While you can take the GRE up to 5 times, you may only take it once per calendar month (including a month in which you cancel your score). You’ll want to schedule enough time in your planning process to register and re-take the test (if necessary) and have a new score submitted to schools before the application deadline. If you are dissatisfied with your initial score, you should retake the GRE only if you are confident that your score will increase considerably—for instance if you were ill or had family/personal problems. Both scores will be reported to the schools in which you apply. Schools typically accept your highest score.

 

PREPARING FOR BOTH 

GATE is completely a technical examination whereas GRE is more of Aptitude, Quantitative Aptitude and English language. There is no ranking system in GRE and the admission process is based upon the overall judgment of your profile which includes your academics, work experience, extracurricular activities, social skills & GRE. GATE is different and dead opposite in approach. It is more of subjects studies up to 6th semester of your Engineering which constitutes the syllabus where the emphasis is on technical knowledge and application of the subject.

Diligent preparation is required for both but practically the efforts required for GATE is more than GRE as engineering syllabus in India is usually shallow and not application based. So based upon your planning, you could start at least 6 months before the exam as you do not have the luxury of taking the exam at your convenience like GRE. Revising topics & practicing papers on a consistent basis is the key for GATE

  GATE OR GRE?

Both GATE and GRE have their relative advantages and challenges. Which exam you decide to take depends on where you wish to head. The basic advantage with GATE is that if you do well, you will get to see most prestigious engineering institutes in the world. It is easier to crack after graduation, as the exam is totally based on the subjects one studied in the 4 years of engineering. Hence, even average students, by putting little effort, can sail through the exam. You get a scholarship to support education and get wonderful two years of life that you are going to remember for rest of your life. Even, if you score little less, it will take you to some colleges where you will enjoy scholarship and time.

The real daunting task comes when the master degree is finished. IITs, NITs and some good universities have placements and everyone have to face huge competition. Another disadvantage, because of high competition, is that somehow one need to remove few candidates to make selection procedure to finish in given time, and usually CGPA or percentage will come into picture as a short listing criteria killing many bright students if you did not care much about your scores. The recruitment procedure for PSU is a valid GATE score of the current year and then a round of Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI). The weight age given to GATE score is between 75% to 85%. Different PSUs that recruit through GATE include Power Grid, the central transmission utility (PGCIL), National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC), National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) etc.

If public Sector Undertaking is not your liking and budget is not a  constraint, you may  prepare for GRE as it would give you a global exposure. It has now become a single test that opens gateways of both graduate schools and business schools for you worldwide.

Preparing for GRE needs extra effort as English is not our first language, though most of Indian students do well, but one the average we don’t do well in English. Apart from this, after GRE, one has to run around a lot to fulfill many other admission requirements. This may discourage you students from taking this option.

SUMMING UP

Whether it be GATE or GRE, what matters most is hard work, dedication and perseverance, as ultimately what’s important is a successful career, be it in India or any foreign country. And for a positive career graph, you have to be consistent in your efforts and make wise decisions by considering the pros and cons of both the exams and then zero in on the appropriate option.

Stepping into Nascent Sector- Biofluid Mechanics

Stepping into Nascent Sector- Biofluid Mechanics

India is witnessing an alarming increase in diseases and injuries of all kinds. According to a recent report, 17% of the urban Indians have kidney injuries; and there are nearly two million heart attacks a year, one person dies every 33 seconds owing to a heart attack and over 4 million people are living with chronic joint pain. For such ailments we use pacemakers, defibrillators, artificial kidneys, blood oxygenators, prosthetic hearts, and joints. Have you ever wondered what these pacemakers, defibrillators etc. are made of? They are made of fluids that include, air, blood, lymph and water. It can be found both in plants and animals. With a surge in heart diseases, joint problems and kidney injuries.,the study of the discipline that deals with such devices that is Biofluid Mechanics has also gained momentum. Let us understand what Biofluid Mechanics

What is Biofluid Mechanics?

Biofluid mechanics is a discipline which uses or touches on many other disciplines including biology, medicine, biochemistry, biorheology, hemorheology, mathematics, bioengineering and physics. Biofluid Mechanics applies engineering, mathematical and physical principles of fluids to solve complex and multifaceted problems, primarily in biology and medicine, but also in aerospace and robotics.
This field has a direct bearing on clinical issues including heart surgery and heart valve replacement, the reaction of pharmaceutical in the body, surgical by pass techniques, ultrasound studies, and the role of hemodynamic reactions on the endothelial cells – a major element in the development of heart disease the leading killer in the modern world. It can be considered as the conjuncture of mechanical engineering and biological engineering. It spans from cells to organs, covering diverse aspects of functionality of systemic physiology, including cardiovascular, respiratory, reproductive, urinary, musculoskeletal and neurological systems etc.

The need:

The subject of Biofluid Mechanics is a fascinating subject due to the fact that it attracts attention from both the scientists and general public. The study of biofluid dynamics is directed towards finding solutions to some of the human body related diseases and disorders. Unlike engineering applications, understanding human body biofluid dynamics is not easy. This is due to the fact that in vivo experiments are not easy to perform. Non-invasive experiments are useful but not always give theo desired result. Thus, both theoretical and computational biofluid dynamics play a major role in the understanding of human body biofluid dynamics. The extracorporeal systems, such as medical devices, can be experimentally tested by satisfying local government regulations. Real biofluids are often essential to test these devices. Such fluids can only be obtained by licensed bodies. Thus, in the development of medical devices both theoretical and computational biofluid dynamics play a major role at the early stages of design and development.

Eligibility and skill set

Biofluid Mechanics is offered as an elective subject in Post Graduation level in Biomedical Engineering. In order to pursue your masters in biomedical engineering need to have pursued your Bachelor of engineering or bachelor of technology or equivalent in Biomedical or Medical Electronics with at least 50% marks in aggregate.
For getting int Bio Fluid Mechanics, you should have research and problem-solving skills, competence in developing arguments from scientific, ethical and philosophical perspectives. You should also posses the ability to plan and manage projects; ability to gather, analyze and communicate complex technical data to others. Besides, you should also have the ability to work in all kinds of environments, developed through field-work experience.

Institute Scape

Institutes offering M.Tech in Biomedical Engineering ( India)
  • Indian Institute of Technology, Madras
  • Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee
  • Manipal University, Jaipur
  • Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad
  • Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur
  • Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University, Coimbatore
Institutes offering M.Tech and M.Sc. in Biomedical Engineering( Abroad)
  • Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, offering M.Tech in Biomedical Engineering
  • University of Strathclyde, Glasglow, Scotland, offering M.Sc. in Biomedical Engineering 
 

Responsibilities

The tasks you carry out will vary depending on your employer and the seniority of the post held, but may include:

  • Using computer software and mathematical models to design, develop and test new materials, devices and equipment. This can involve programming electronics, building and evaluating prototypes, troubleshooting problems, and rethinking the design until it works correctly.
  • Conducting research to solve clinical problems using a variety of means to collate the necessary information, including questionnaires, interviews and group conferences.
  • Working closely with other medical professionals, such as doctors and therapists as well as with end-users (patients and their careers).
  • Assessing the potential wider market for products or modifications suggested by health professionals or others.
  • Arranging clinical trials of medical products.
  • Approaching marketing and other industry companies to sell the product.
  • Writing reports and attending conferences and exhibitions to present your work and latest designs to a range of technical and non-technical audiences.
  • Meeting with senior health service staff or other managers to exchange findings

Scope in India & Abroad

India: This field is still in the development stage in India and, therefore, scope is very limited for this field. One of the main reasons why progress is slow is due to the lack of integration between research institutions, hospitals and universities in India. In developed nations such as USA, UK and Singapore, excellent integration exists between universities and hospitals, thereby creating the perfect environment for R&D in Biomedical Engineering. In India, most of the jobs related to Biomedical Engineering are in non-tech areas such as service, maintenance, customer support, sales and management. If you are interested in pursuing a career in research and core development work in Biomedical Engineering must look for jobs in universities, labs and research centers in India or pursue MS and PhD studies in USA, UK and other nations. 

Abroad: The scope for this field is excellent abroad. Biomedical Engineering is doing extremely well in USA, UK, Germany, Singapore, Canada and Australia. Other countries such as Japan and China are also doing very well in this field. There has been some tremendous achievements and breakthroughs in these nations due to the excellent integration that exists between research centers, universities and hospitals, thereby enabling researchers, scientists, faculty and surgeons to work together to solve complex problems in medicine and healthcare. Pay packages are impressive for biomedical engineers in these countries. If you are very ambitious and looking to climb up the ladder in this field will benefit immensely from a PhD degree in biomedical engineering. A career in the above mentioned nations will be very rewarding and satisfying, provided you work hard. 

Career Scape

Healthcare, Pharmaceutical and Healthcare equipment manufacturing sectors are the prime recruiters. Government agencies such as Drugs Department, State wise Health Departments are also known to recruit B.E./B.Tech. Biomedical Engineering Graduates. Average starting salary is generally between 3-6 Lakh Rupees per year. Chances of building a career abroad after Graduation is good, when it comes to this Engineering branch. Abroad, salary package will be much better in comparison to the figure mentioned above. You may also find jobs in Pathological labs, Clinics and Hospitals as well as Rehabilitation Clinics. Some of the commonly found job posts available for graduates are-

 

  •         Biomedical Engineer
  •         Equipment Design Engineer
  •         Lab Technician/Administrator
  •         Research Engineer

 

Road Ahead:

The application of sophisticated computational simulation models for the evaluation of the progress of disease, for the determination of long-term risk and for the planning of optimal treatment strategies is gaining ground in clinical practice: Personalized healthcare is a paradigm allowing for the enhancement of treatment specificity and efficacy. At the same time, continued progress in imaging helps reveal mechanisms and provides diagnostic possibilities that have not been available before.