Advanced Biotechnology | Life Sciences Major

Life Sciences

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Illustration of a firl looking into microscope

The Life Sciences major you strong interdisciplinary foundations to become a world-class specialist in the biological sciences and technologies of the future including those outside the conventional spectrum.

While pursuing the Sustainable Life Sciences major, you will learn the fundamentals of modern biological sciences in its full interdisciplinary span. You will also acquire a comprehensive humanistic education focusing on a broad range of foundations that are essential for all future graduates.

Focus Areas

BSc (Hons) and BTech students who are pursuing the Sustainable Life Sciences major can choose from three focus areas in their third and fourth years of study.

Biotechnology

The discovery of DNA structure has led to a vastly more sophisticated and technological understanding of life processes at the cellular and molecular levels in the past few decades. Biotechnology today is at the forefront of solving some of the greatest challenges facing humans from the rapid development of safer vaccines against previously unknown pathogens, to novel therapies for complex diseases like cancer, as well as significantly lengthening the human healthspan.

Bioinformatics and Computational Biology

Rapid molecular sequencing techniques and ever more powerful computing systems have revolutionised our understanding of the basic building blocks of life. Bioinformatics and computational biology are highly interdisciplinary fields at the junction of multiple sciences and technologies. An understanding of the fundamental chemistry of biological systems is essential. Advanced algorithms, high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, and machine learning are also crucial to the advancement of these fields.

Sustainability

Ensuring that our standard of living does not come at the expense of our planet’s habitability is the great challenge of our times. The sustainability track within the life sciences major will focus on a comprehensive understanding of the problems of sustainability in the twenty-first century with a strong focus on specific issues in waste management, sustainable ecosystems, and sustainable food production.

Please Note :BDes and BBA (PGD) students will initially study general concepts in areas of Design or Business Administration, followed by a specialization in Life Sciences .

Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.

Marie Curie

Scientist & Nobel Prize winner – 1903 & 1911

Signature Projects

As part of the Sustainable Life Sciences major, you will work on a range of projects. Some examples are-

The Code of Life: Extract and Analyze DNA: Understand the structure and function of DNA and RNA; the molecules that carry the information necessary to create all known life.

Recombinant DNA: Use Nucleases to Genetically Alter Plasmids:Learn the fundamentals of altering small sequences of DNA using bacterial enzymes .

From Atoms to Cells: Probe Cellular Structure and Theorize About its Atomic Basis : Understand the properties of the building blocks of matter. Use this knowledge to conceptualize how complex arrangements of molecules could be held together to create the simplest forms of life.

From Cells to Organisms: Dissect, Image and Theorize About Multicellular Life: Explore the evolution of multicellular life forms from single cells, uncover principles of cellular organization and communication.

Analyzing Sustainability: Build Environmental and Social Network Maps and Predict Outcomes: Explore the principles of how connected systems survive and sustain themselves, from the level of organisms to societies to entire ecosystems.

Envisioning Cells: Elementary Optical Microscopy: Explore the different methods available to modern scientists to visualize structural details inside cells and tissues.

Plant and Animal Tissue Processing: Histology and Immunohistochemistry: Learn the fundamentals of processing and observing solid biological matter using tissues from animals and plants.

Light Microscopy: Advanced Light Microscopy and Introduction to Epifluorescence Microscopy: Learn the fundamentals of optical microscopic systems, as well as how to process samples and acquire images independently.

Data Acquisition Systems: Build Arduino and NIDAQ based time-lapse data acquisition systems: Learn how to build modern data acquisition systems and use them to acquire time-series data from the environment and biological systems.

Data Analysis: Acquire and Analyse Local Air Pollution Data: Explore and implement modern data analysis techniques based on self-acquired data.

Dynamical Systems: Graph and Simulate Interacting Systems: Simulate and analyze interactions in recurrent networks to understand the complexity of actual systems. The fundamentals of ‘systems thinking’ will be embedded in these projects.

Please Note: The projects listed above are tentative and may change to meet emerging developments in the field .

Degrees Offered

With the Sustainable Life Sciences major, a student can graduate with any of the four degrees offered.

BSc

For the scientist who will research and implement ideas in the modern biological sciences and biotechnologies.

BDes

For the designer who will design spaces, machines, and structure the interactions that are necessary for effective systems used in the biological sciences.

BTech

For the engineer who will liaise with scientists to implement and communicate ideas in the modern biological sciences and biotechnologies.

BBA

For the businessperson who will work in industries oriented towards biological sciences.

Learning Outcomes

The Sustainable Life Sciences major is designed to train you in a range of interdisciplinary skills and areas.

Develop rigor in scientific reasoning and logic.
Master the ability to conceptualize projects – real-world problems prevalent in industry and research – from the ground up.
Ability to explore and stay curious.
Build a systems-thinking approach to sustainability.
Training in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Genetics.
Training in Data Acquisition and Analysis.
Training in Microscopy and Imaging.
Training in Mathematical Methods for Biological Sciences.
Proficiency in Programming.
Proficiency in handling and shaping material objects. Examples include 3D printing, precision machining, and art.
Ability to conceptualize and execute long-term projects.
Design and Fabrication Skills.
Communication Skills.

Career Outcomes

With a major in Sustainable Life Sciences, a range of career avenues open up for you across a variety of fields.

Biotechnology Industry
Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Higher education in the Biological Sciences and Biotechnology
Fundamental and applied research
Management and administration of biotech facilities
Technology Officers
Marketing managers

Competitive Edge With Atria University

Atria University offers you a unique curriculum structure across disciplines to help you learn concepts and develop a mindset that is oriented towards becoming future-ready.

An Integrated introduction to modern science and technology

Our courses are built around projects inspired by real-world scenarios, and require a good grasp of theory as well as keen experimentation skills. This unique approach allows for a rapid ramp-up towards what is often considered advanced work from day one.

Location

Atria University is surrounded by some of the most important science and ecology institutions and organizations in India such as NCBS, IISc, GKVK, ATREE, NCF, BioCON, InStem, Bayer, C-Camp, among others. Through formal partnerships and informal interactions, we provide a unique educational environment with access to the best teachers and researchers in India.

Life Sciences are at the forefront of human discovery in the 21st century

Sustainable life sciences hold the key to human health and sustaining all life on this planet. It also inspires technologies of the future across multiple disciplines. The new standard in sciences calls for a close collaboration between disciplines that have traditionally been considered separate. Modern biological sciences, with its sharp focus on technologies and broad systems thinking, is a key area to expand the possibilities for human health and well-being in the 21st century.

As a future graduate, you must integrate knowledge from diverse fields and understand both the promise and the potential perils of modern technologies. You can then guide human knowledge towards a more sustainable futurest century.

All instruction at Atria University will combine experiences, experiments, and theory into a powerful multimodal form of learning. Practical explorations in various forms (projects of varying size and duration) will be coupled with theoretical knowledge. You will also build your ability to read and interpret modern scientific literature. These varied pursuits will help you master the tools needed to be a lifelong learner.