Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics (SINP), Kolkata

The Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics (SINP), Kolkata is a leading autonomous institution under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Government of India, conducting basic research in frontiers of Physical and Biophysical Sciences

About SINP

The institute grew out of the Palit Research Laboratory in Physics of the University of Calcutta (CU). In 1938, Professor M.N. Saha succeeded Sir C.V. Raman in the Palit Chair of Physics. In 1939, Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassman discovered nuclear fission. At SINP, research in the Nuclear Sciences has its genesis in the activities pioneered and led by Professor Meghnad Saha in 1940.  In 1949, the Institute of Nuclear Physics was founded. The building was formally inaugurated by Madame Irene Joliot-Curie on 11^th January 1950 and became fully functional. On 16^th February 1956, Professor Saha passed away. Later the institute was renamed Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics (SINP).

Initially a part of the University of Calcutta (CU), the institute was accorded autonomy in 1951. Since then a Governing Body (Council from 1972), chaired by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calcutta and having representatives from the University of Calcutta, the Union Government and the Government of West Bengal, was in the management until 1992 when this tripartite agreement came to an end. The institute entered a contract with the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Government of India by which SINP retains its autonomy with the administrative control now passing on to the DAE. It has the recognition of the University of Calcutta as a centre for conducting research for doctoral degrees and providing facilities for teaching and research in Physical and Biological Sciences. The Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, India (and Secretary, DAE, Government of India) chairs the Governing Council with members comprising three scientists nominated by the DAE, two representatives of the DAE, two nominees of CU, one nominee of Government of West Bengal and the Director of the Institute.

Research

• Applied Nuclear Physics
• Astroparticle Physics and Cosmology
• Biophysics and Structural Genomics
• Chemical Sciences
• Crystallography and Molecular Biology
• Experimental Condensed Matter Physics
• Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics
• High Energy Nuclear and Particle Physics
• Nuclear Physics
• Plasma Physics
• Surface Physics and Materials Science
• Theory

Centres

• Centre for Applied Mathematics and Computational Science
• Centre for Nanoscience and Surface Physics
• Facility for Research in Experimental Nuclear Astrophysics (FRENA)

CARE

The Centre for Advanced Research & Education (CARE) has been making efforts in research-education linkages towards identifying and nurturing young talents in science. 

• Post M.Sc. (PMSc) Training Program, Undergraduate Associate (UGA) Program and Summer Students' Program (SSP) have been running successfully.
• Science Day is celebrated through seminars and open house for school/college students.
• Visits of High School and College Students to the Science Gallery, SINP Labs and Lectures at a semi-popular level are organized.
• Seminars, Institute Colloquiums, Lectures and Schools/ Workshops on different disciplines of Physics, Biology and Issues on Social and Historical aspects of Science have been organized by CARE.
• The CARE has been maintaining the Meghnad Saha Archive which helps the students of History of Science in their research within India and abroad.

Academics

Undergraduate Associates (UGA)

Under the auspices of the Centre for Advanced Research and Education (CARE), SINP conducts Undergraduate Associates (UGA) programme. The purpose is to identify budding scientists and provide them with the necessary resources/nourishment in order to motivate them to take up scientific research in Physical and Biophysical Sciences as a career option. UGAs of SINP are expected to undertake studies/work in the broad areas of Physical and Biophysical Sciences.

Second-year Science undergraduate students of three year B.Sc. or Integrated B.S.-M.S. programme in Physics/Chemistry/Biological Sciences who have secured at least 85% marks in Science and Mathematics subjects individually and at least 80% in aggregate in Class XII Board Examination are only eligible to apply for the UGA programme. The final selection amongst the short-listed candidates may involve an interview where the candidates need to display resourcefulness, passion for scientific research as well as mastery of scientific concepts.

Selected UGAs will be exposed to reading courses and laboratory training through short projects under the guidance of assigned mentors for a total period of about 90 days spread over their undergraduate years. During this period they will receive a stipend along with a travel allowance and hostel accommodation (for outstation UGAs).

Summer Student Programme (SSP)

Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics (SINP) runs a yearly Summer Student Programme (SSP) in which students participate in research and developmental work under the supervision of a faculty or a research staff. This programme is normally offered from the middle of May to the middle of June (for 8 weeks).  The selected students will get financial help and travel allowances as per the rules of the institute.  Limited hostel facilities for the outstation candidates are available. The selection is based on the academic records of the students and letters of recommendation.

In this program, the talented students will be introduced to frontiers of research activities carried out in the institute. The selected students will do research work under the direct supervision of SINP research faculties or scientific staffs. The Summer Students Programme (SSP) is offered in two different streams namely, Physical Sciences and Biophysical Sciences.

First-year M.Sc. or equivalent B.Tech. (at the completion of third year) students with excellent academic records in Physical/Chemical/Life Sciences/Engineering are eligible. The applicants doing an Integrated M.Sc. (B.S.-M.S.) should have completed at least 3 years. Only those candidates whose academic interests overlap with areas being pursued in SINP will be considered.

Post M.Sc. Physics and Biophysical Sciences (PMSc)

The Ph.D. Programme of SINP starts with a full year of pre-Ph.D. course work called Post M.Sc. (PMSc). The PMSc course has become an integral part of the doctoral work in SINP that is only after successfully completing the course a student is allowed to carry out doctoral work in the Institute. The PMSc programme is coordinated by SIRD (Scientific Information and Resource Division), a Division of SINP.

The course work commences from August and runs through three terms: First term (August-December), second (January-April) and third term (May-July). Each student has to pass all courses and is required to take up a project work in May on a topic (preferably) related to his/her own doctoral work. The project work continues till July.

Source: Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics (SINP), Kolkata