Job Opportunities
The Tata Institute for Genetics and Society (TIGS) is a partnership between the University of California San Diego and the India-based philanthropic Tata Trusts. TIGS is currently funded by a generous gift from the Tata Trusts, which are among India's oldest, non-sectarian philanthropic organizations that have established several of India’s leading institutions, such as the Indian Institute of Science, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Tata Memorial Hospital and many other institutions of national and international importance. The overarching goal of TIGS is to advance global science and technology research in a socially conscious and ethical manner to ultimately find solutions to address some of the world’s most pressing issues, ranging from public health to agriculture.
Postdoctoral Training Opportunities:
No current openings, but inquiries welcome
Two-year Postdoctoral Training Opportunities – No current openings
Fully-funded, postdoctoral training opportunities for PhD or equivalent candidates (< 3 years past PhD degree) in the field of Active Genetics are available in connection with work on the Institute Aims listed below. The best candidates will have the possibility of exciting job opportunities and incentives for continuation of their work at TIGS-India in Bangalore.
Funding: will be available for a maximum duration of two years, subject to a clear definition of project aims, biannual project reports, formal annual presentations and an annual evaluation of significant progress both by the UC San Diego faculty mentor and a UC San Diego Advisory Group chaired by the Associate Director of the Institute. Each award covers the costs of the postdoctoral stipend, benefits, lab supplies, travel and equipment.
Applications: Interested applicants should forward their CVs, list of publications, a statement of specific interest in one or more of the aims below and references to the following site:
http://biology.ucsd.edu/publicinfo/tata. Applications are encouraged from diverse candidates but preference will be given to those who are interested in continuing this work at TIGS-India upon completion of the post-doctoral training at UC San Diego.
Institute Aims
1. Vector borne diseases
- Building and testing the efficacy and fitness of next generation gene-drive constructs in mosquitoes and possibly other insects in pilot experiments
- Contribute to identification, characterization of test sites for field trials and mitigation
- Contribute to regulatory and community engagement processes
2. Cancer Cell Therapy
- Build active genetic insertional elements and apply active genetic elements to cancer cell therapy strategies
3. Accelerate Agricultural Research
- Develop active genetics in plants and test its application to propagate desired traits in agricultural strains
4. Reduce Antibiotic Resistance
- Develop active genetics in bacteria and apply it to eliminate genes conferring antibiotic resistance
5. Economics, Ethics and Public Policy Implications of Active Genetics
- Study the ethical implications of active genetics and gene drive technologies
- Evaluate cost vs benefit issues relating to use of active genetics and gene drives
- Work with stakeholder and community groups to create socially conscious policies
- Education and communication regarding the use of active genetics versus other technologies
For information about TIGS and Active Genetics see:
- UC San Diego News Feature
- The dawn of active genetics. Gantz VM, Bier E. Bioessays. 2016 Jan;38(1):50-63. doi: 10.1002/bies.201500102. PMID:26660392.