A student from Tirupati asked, ‘I completed my diploma in ceramic technology from Govt. Institute of Ceramic Technology, Gudur. I also finished AMIE in Ceramic Technology and Glass Technology from Indian Institute of Ceramics at Calcutta. What are the job opportunities I have in industries? Or shall I study further? Please guide me.

Studying further is always an open option if you are interested in but there should be some sole purpose for further studies. A ceramic technologist is involved in study and research on ceramic materials, planning and developing processing systems. Students, who likes to make a career in Ceramic Technology is sure to find wide range of job opportunities. You can find opportunities as an entrepreneur or an employee in a big ceramic ware manufacturing unit. You can settle as researcher in a lab.

Opportunities for fresher are extensive both in private and public sector. You can also start your own business venture and become an entrepreneur. Apart from these Govt. organisations such as ISRO, BARC, DMRL and IPR also provide opportunities for trained candidates in ceramics. Foreign finance and real estate companies like GE Commercial Finance, Tishman Speyer, Ascendas and Farallon Capital also require well trained ceramic professionals.

A reader from Bangalore asked: ‘I have finished my B. Pharmacy this year. I have plans of doing M. Pharmacy next year. In this time gap I want to do some courses which will be an added advantage to my career. But I don’t have any idea on that except Drug designing course. Could you please suggest me in this regard, as I could not get any help from other sources?’

Well, this would be a fair doubt given with the limited number of options for B. Pharmacy students. NATCO Pharma Hyderabad offering 9 weeks Pharma Industry Oriented Training Program which has several built in features like exposure to recent trends in Pharma through various lectures delivered by eminent scientist from R&D and industry. This is one of the best courses in India for Pharma students. More than 33 batches have been successfully organized and the more than 90 percent of the students were well placed.

Subjects to be covered in this program are USFDA regulations, IPR, International Laws, Industrial Safety, DMF and ANDA Submissions, GMP, Patents, Pre-Clinical Studies, SOPs, Air Handling and Water Systems, Internal Audits, ICH Guidelines along with issues related to drug discovery, drug approvals, including Indian and International regulatory procedures. Experts from industry will participate in the training classes. Usually, fresh batches will commence during October every year. More details about the course can be obtained from NATCO website. You can also contact on 040 – 23547532 – 37.

You can opt for some clinical research short term courses or some specific lab training to drug formulation or molecular biotechnology. As you are from Bangalore, I am providing the info of companies at Bangalore only. These are ICRI India, Jivas, Xaviers, Bestbiotek and Biozeen. Web is always there to make your efforts easier!

Update on 24th November 2011: NATCO is inviting candidates for 9 months industry oriented training programme for 2011. The programme will commence from 27th November 2011. For more details, you can contact at phone no: 040 – 23547532 – 37. Address of the company: NATCO Pharma Limited, NATCO House, Road No. 2, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad – 500033.