Centre for Advanced Training

CENTRE FOR ADVANCED TRAINING IN EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCES AND CLIMATE

 

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List of Trainee Scientists recommended by the Selection Committees for Batch III at IITM  NEW!

List of shortlisted candidates called for FINAL INTERVIEW on 13 June 2013 

List of shortlisted candidates called for FINAL INTERVIEW on 14 June 2013 

 

 

 

Second list of shortlisted candidates of Trainee Scientist for interview (CAT-Batch III) 

First List of Shortlisted Candidates for interview of Trainee Scientist (CAT-Batch III)  

Last date for application extended as 30 April 2013  

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Details of the Program

Background

Great strides have been made in weather forecasting in recent years. While India has made a beginning of dynamical weather forecasting some time ago, our skill remains far below the state of the art. This is partly due to lack of adequate number of skilled scientists to work in the area of improving weather forecasts. Similarly, noteworthy breakthroughs have been made in dynamical seasonal climate forecasting. However, we are only now thinking of starting such an effort in the country. A large pool of trained and dedicated Climate and Earth System scientists (~400-500) are required urgently if we want to catch up with the best of the world in a limited time frame. Unfortunately, currently, there are very few (~20) such qualified scientists in the country.

In view of the above, it is pertinent that a world class training program is in place exclusively in the field of Earth System Sciences and Climate with a view to understand the monsoon phenomena at various scales and the climate and climate change science to build the capacity to make world class weather and climate forecasts.
 
 
In order to create a necessary pool of experts in the field of Earth System Sciences and Climate, required for improving prediction of both weather and climate, a world class comprehensive Advanced Training Program is proposed that:
  • will be linked with jobs to attract good talents,
  • will be ‘advanced’ in the sense that it will be quantitative, broad based and at the same time in depth hands-on expertise building on individual physical processes of the earth, ocean and atmosphere,
  • will be world class standard with regular international visiting faculty along with the best national faculty,
  • will go beyond traditional training of atmospheric and oceanic sciences and address weather and climate as processes arising from interactions between component systems,
  • will also offer training to other countries especially in the south Asian region and other neighbouring countries
The proposed Program will be oriented towards imparting M. Tech. as well as Ph.D. degrees. In addition, it will also offer special certificate course program for the International students from other countries. The proposed training program will be affiliated to an academic institution/university for offering a degree.

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Introduction

In order to improve the quality of weather and climate forecasts in the country, Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Govt. of India has recognized that a large number of well trained scientists, knowledgeable in atmospheric, oceanic and geosciences have to be inducted to the country’s R & D and operational organizations. In addition, there are major concerns for an urgent need to understand the science of climate change and its possible impacts at the local, regional and global scales for undertaking any preventive/mitigating/adaptive measures. The existing traditional training programs undertaken at various institutions/organizations (with exception of one or two) lack quantitative problem solving training. Moreover, students do not get exposure to the state-of-art technology such as working on physical models of the ocean-land-atmosphere system.
 
Another important national need is to have reliable extended range prediction of the monsoon. Development of a system for long range prediction of seasonal mean monsoon and extended range prediction of active/break spells would involve assessing component models, namely, models of the atmosphere and the ocean, coupling strategy, assessment of bias of the coupled model, data assimilation, development of forecast strategy etc. At the same time basic research is also essential for improving any prediction capability.
 
MoES has already initiated some M.Tech. programs in Atmosphere and Oceanic sciences in IIT Delhi, IIT Chennai, University of Pune etc. IISc., Bangalore also has recently started M. Tech. program in atmospheric sciences and Ph.D. program in Earth Sciences. However, the number of trained manpower from these programs will be handful and far from satisfactory. India Meteorological Department (IMD) has a training program which is oriented more towards observational network and synoptic meteorology and forecasting services that again lacks the quantitative training and building of modeling expertise required for understanding the complex interaction and feedback mechanism between the earth, ocean and atmosphere which is crucial for prediction of various processes especially the Indian monsoon which is a complex phenomenon having regional as well as global teleconnections.
 
In addition, India has now established a leadership in the South Asian region and under various forums (BIMSTEC, SAARC, RIM, IOGOOS, etc.) is committed to impart training to the scientists of these countries towards their capacity building for Climate and Earth Systems Sciences apart from providing other necessary guidance and advisories in terms of disaster warning, climate services, sharing of data as well as setting up of observational systems.
 
Until now good computing infrastructure was not available in the country especially to the training institutions of the country for students to work on advanced climate and Earth System models. With the commissioning of the high end computational facilities at the various MoES units that will be interconnected, in addition to the knowledge network, there will now be some computational power available for the training purpose. 
 
The other important aspect that has to be borne in mind is to attract good students to the field by creating awareness of adequate job opportunities in the field thus catering to the necessary capacity building of the country. MoES has recently set up a “Centre for Climate Change Research” that will exclusively address various issues concerning the science of climate change and study of its possible impacts in the various user sectors. Although this centre is set up for the time being around a small group of scientists from IITM, there would be a continuous induction of scientific personnel in this Centre over the coming years towards the full establishment of this Centre.
 
In order to have the world class training with latest technologies in the field of Earth System Sciences and Climate, it will be necessary to have a pool of faculty from National and International scientists. The students undergoing training may also be sent to the International Institutions and/or operational Centres as part of their training.
 
With the restructuring of ocean science and technology, atmospheric sciences and seismology as the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), a new beginning was made to integrate ocean, atmosphere, and earth to have a comprehensive view with respect to weather, climate and geohazards, in addition to ocean science, technology and resources. Efforts have been made to identify the gaps in terms of science and technology, observation capability, instrumentation, networking, etc. and to come up with recommendations. Six committees addressing specific aspects had been constituted that came up with specific recommendations that are being implemented. One of the committees on the manpower strongly recommended that MoES should evolve a suitable Human Resource Development Program, which should among the other things, find ways to locate suitable talent and give them appropriate orientation by designing courses, educational programmes and intensive training.  
 
 

Objectives

  • To formulate and start an advanced training program in Earth System Sciences and Climate with state of art infrastructure facilities with a robust recruitment process, and modest stipend to the trainees.

  • To utilize the high end computational facilities for the trainees for hands on training of the global numerical models.

  • To prepare and encourage the development of early career scientists in the fields related to Earth System Science, involving ocean, land, atmosphere and sea ice and their interactions.

  • To meet the global standards and make available national and international faculty.

  • To strengthen research and education support for science of Climate and Climate Change and to establish linkages amongst the educational, research and operational organizations in the country.

  • To promote continuing education in Science of Climate, Climate Variability and Climate Change.

 

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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
 
 
Training Program
 
How to apply for the training program?
 
The details of the selection process including the application format will be available in the month of January every year.
 
Who are all eligible to the training program?
 
Post graduates in selected physical sciences such as Physics, Mathematics, Statistics, Atmospheric Sciences, Oceanography, Chemistry, Earth sciences or any related discipline or graduates/post graduates in Mechanical, Civil, Electrical, Electronics and Chemical or any related engineering disciplines will be eligible. The selection will be on the basis of high ranks in CSIR-UGC NET / GATE and interview.
 
When will be the detailed announcement for the training program being issued?
 
The detailed announcement will be issued in the month of January every year.
 
Where the detailed announcement for the training program will appear?
 
In the MoES & IITM Websites, Employment news, leading national newspapers and other selected media.
 
What will be the eligibility test?
 
The eligibility test of CSIR-UGC NET / GATE will be applicable.
 
What are the job prospects for the trainees?
 
All those who successfully complete the training program will be placed in any one of the Institutes of the Ministry of Earth Sciences as Scientists in suitable grades.
 
At what level the trainees are placed?
 
The trainees after successful training will be placed as Scientists. Those with BTech or MSc will be placed as Scientist-B and those with MTech or MS will be placed at Scientist-C level.
 
What will be the nature of the job?
 
The candidates after successful completion of the training will be inducted as scientists. The nature of the job is mainly research in the area of climate science with some amount of teaching, technology development, etc. wherever required.
 
What will be the topic of M. Tech. program?
 
The M.Tech will be in Atmospheric Sciences from the Pune University.
 
What will be the areas for Ph. D. program?
 
The Ph.D. program will be in different aspects of earth system sciences with particular emphasis on climate dynamics, climate change, climate modeling, monsoon variability and predictability, air-sea interaction and related topics.
 
 
Faculty Positions
 
 
What are the faculty positions expected to be filled?
      
       The positions will be at the level up to Scientist – E.
 
Will there be a detailed announcement for faculty positions?

 

      There will be  detailed announcements periodically for the faculty positions. The details such as the different positions available, the eligibility, remuneration, how to apply, the last date of application, and all those details required for the candidates will be announced.

Who will be eligible to apply for the faculty positions?

 

       The minimum qualifications for the faculty positions will be Ph.D. and research and/or teaching experience in science or engineering related to climate studies.

What are the growth prospects for the faculty?

       Those who join the services of the Centre for Advanced Training will be governed by the service rules of IITM. For promotions to higher levels Flexible Complementing Scheme (FCS) is operational at IITM.

Whether the candidates who responded to the present general announcement should apply again? 

        Yes. They have to submit their details in a prescribed format.

What are the responsibilities of the faculty?

      To teach, guide and do research in the area of earth system sciences with particular emphasis on climate dynamics, climate modeling / forecasts, climate change and related topics. 

 

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(www.tropmet.res.in Telephone:020-25904200 Fax:020-25893825 E-mail: catessc@tropmet.res.in)