School of Biological Sciences, National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Bhubaneshwar

Understanding biology and its complex processes is the key to understand nature and its creativity. The knowledge thus obtained helps one to gain better insights about diverse organisms (uni- and multi-) at different levels. Such studies help address i-) at different levels. Such studies help address questions on evolution, co-existence, survival, defense, growth, resistance and pathophysiology. To achieve this objective, the discipline requires a coherent involvement of researchers and academicians from other disciplines of science and humanities to accordingly shape its endeavour. National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Bhubaneshwar, is a unique institution in India, committed to generation, dissemination and preservation of knowledge in basic sciences, integrated with the goal to create a zeal and fervor in minds of the young buds of the nation towards scientific temper. The Institute is affiliated with Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Mumbai, a deemed research university that oversees academic programs at Institutions that are part of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) structure. NISER campus is situated in 300 acres of land, generously donated by the people of Odisha, in Jatni town, 25 Kms from the centre of the city of Bhubaneswar. The campus of IIT Bhubaneswar and AIIMS are in the general neighbourhood. The Khurda Road railway junction is in the immediate vicinity. The Institute started functioning from the current campus in July 2015, nine years since 28th August 2006, when the then Prime Minister of India, Shri Dr. Manmohan Singh, announced the proposal for its establishment. The institute was officially founded on 6th September 2007 after the approval of the Union Cabinet. This day is celebrated as the foundation day of the institute. The academic program was inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Orissa - Shri Naveen Patnaik on 10th September 2007 at the Institute of Physics campus. The Institute at Jatni campus was formally inaugurated on 7th February, 2016, by the Honourable Prime Minister of India, Shri. Narendra Modi. The academic programmes at NISER are designed to provide strong foundations to students, through core courses, before they embark at the threshold of research in the field of their choice. However, NISER's curriculum ensures that every student is introduced to excitements in the frontiers of knowledge in other branches of fundamental sciences. Therefore, NISER creates an environment of scientific culture where every member will excel in any field they desire to pursue. NISER recognizes that modern scientific research is carried out in a domain without any boundaries. This entails encouraging a new scientific culture where members of our community attain to an intellectual agility unconstrained by the limitations of disciplinary conventions from the past. The students and research scholars at NISER flourish in the ambiance of this scientific culture. In this perspective, the faculty members from different schools try to establish centres of research in inter-disciplinary areas while discharging their teaching duties of core courses of the respective schools. NISER provides all the basic modern facilities for the overall development of its students, staff, faculty and research scholars. For e.g. a modern library with plethora of books, journals, vast reading areas and electronic means to access various sources, computer centre with high performance computing resources and wireless network all over the campus, modern laboratories to acquire skills to perform experiments, to innovate, to fabricate and to conceive new experimental techniques, gymnasium, meditation center, etc. The students learn through their course works, seminars, mutual discussions and by informal interactions with faculty members. The extensive national and international collaborations of its faculty members, gives research scholars and students at NISER, exposure to cutting edge research across the world. In summary, NISER represents an integrated system to acquire knowledge and explore the unchartered frontiers. ...view more