The Counsellor

THE COUNSELLOR

New composition

I am doing BSc (honours) in chemistry. I have heard a lot about Cheminformatics. Can you elaborte on the career prospects in this field in India? Can you also inform about the institutes offering this course?
Laksmi Juneja
When information technology (IT) fuses with a branch of science, a new branch of science is born. Hence, the fusion of IT with biology and biotechnology is bioinformatics, the fusion of IT with Geology is Geoinformatics. And we now have a new branch fusing IT and chemistry called 'Cheminformatics'.
   In the process of chemical research, a number of new compounds are synthesised continuously and a whole lot of information and data is generated. This continuously expanding chemical information is referred to as 'chemical information explosion'. Cheminformatics plays a great role in the management or in other words collection, storage, retrieval and application of this vast chemical information in a systematic manner using sophisticated computational methods and 3D modelling.
   Cheminformatics finds wide application in drug discovery which is a very complex research process of formulating a chemical drug that produces biological effects. Further, the drug has to be tested for its effect on living beings. The biological response generated in a biological sample has to be carefully studied and documented.
   This entire procedure is very time consuming, but with the help of cheminformatics these steps have been rendered very simple.
   Cheminformatics is a rapidly developing branch of chemistry. In the coming days those who have specialised in Cheminformatics will be required globally. Chemical, agrochemical, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies are in great need of researchers with extensive knowledge of chemistry and computer science.
   As the subject is relatively nascent in India, I know of only a couple of institutes offering courses in this branch:
   Institute of Cheminformatics Studies, Noida, www.cheminformaticscentre.org/chem/.
   Course: One year industry programme in cheminformatics through distance learning.
   Jamia Hamdard, Deemed University, New Delhi, department of chemistry
   Course: Postgraduate diploma in cheminformatics through open and distance learning.

Career in finance

I have been working as an insurance agent for some years. I want to become a mutual fund agent as well. Is there any course that I can pursue help or books I can read on the subject?
Gobind Jaiswal
With the capital market riding on the back of a booming Indian economy, mutual funds have emerged as an important financial intermediary for the investing public. Although assets of the 30-odd Indian funds have jumped skywards, investors need to understand how a mutual fund (MF) works. They also need to know about increasingly diverse and complex investment options created by a large number of MFs.
   The agent or distributor assumes the role of a financial advisor and is the key channel for bringing mutual funds to a large number of investors all over the country. The Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) which sets the industry standards for all funds operating in India has a certification process - the AMFI Mutual Fund Test.
   This certification has been made mandatory by Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) for anyone engaged in selling mutual funds - agents as well as those employed in distribution companies and banks.
   Upon clearing the test, you can apply for your AMFI registration number which will certify you as an AMFI Registered Mutual Fund Advisor (ARMFA).
   The test can be taken by anyone (regardless of age or qualification) who wishes to test his knowledge of the complexities of how mutual funds function internally and externally.
   The automated multiple-choice online test requires no prior knowledge of computers. Papers are set for each candidate separately and assessed online. After you have the AMFI basic module, you can look at the AMFI advisors module.
   The AMFI MF test is also offered as a separate module of the National Stock Exchange's (NSE) Certification in Financial Markets (NCFM) along with other subjects such as derivative trading, capital markets etc.
   AMFI has prepared the necessary study material to help you prepare for the test. The Workbook can be obtained from the AMFI office in Mumbai. For details log on to:
www.amfiindia.com/testingprogram.html
   You could also contact your nearest NSE Centre (there are seven of them) to register for the online test for a fee of Rs 500. There is no restriction on the number of attempts Log on to www.nse-india.com for details.
   Two good books I can recommend on the subject are The Indian Mutual Funds Handbook by Sundar Sankaran and The New Commonsense Guide to Mutual Funds by Paul Farrel - both published by Vision Books.

Which way

I will be completing my class XII with science stream this year. Everyone around me is planning to enter information technology (IT) field. But my family members say that IT will be badly hit with the economic downturn in the US. Since I don't even know what exactly software professionals do, I am getting very confused.
   Rupinder Saini
True, if the US economy sneezes, India's IT sector is bound to catch a cold because Indian IT companies earn more than 60% of their revenues from the US.
   However, these (recession) are cyclical things that shouldn't worry you much. The Indian IT sector which has been witnessing 30-40% growth every year over the last four years will continue to shine regardless. In fact the big issue vexing IT companies is the availability of quality talent. India requires a 2.3 million-strong workforce by 2010 and fears a potential shortfall of nearly 0.5 million qualified professionals. Software engineering will continue to be one of the fastest growing occupations for the
next decade at least. In fact, employment of computer software engineers is and is projected to grow "much faster than average".
   There are two types of computer software engineers: computer applications software engineers and computer systems software engineers. Computer software engineers are employed in a wide variety of industries since every business requires unique computer software and systems, but approximately 30% of computer software engineers work in computer systems design and related services.
   Other industries for computer software engineers include software publishers, government agencies, computer manufacturers and electronic equipment manufacturers. Computer software engineers are employed in almost every industry due to the proliferation of Internet, e-mail, and other communications systems, which is expanding electronics to engineering firms that are traditionally associated with unrelated disciplines. Engineering firms specialising in building bridges and power plants, for example, hire computer software engineers to design and develop new geographic data systems and automated drafting systems. Computer software engineers are truly needed in every field and industry. This need has led to a great number of job openings for these professionals.
   To be eligible for one of the thousands of computer software engineer positions, applicants must have a Bachelor's degree, preferably in computer science or software engineering. For more complex jobs, a postgraduate degree in computer information systems or computer applications and advanced certifications are required.

Looking ahead

I am doing BSc Nursing. Due to health reasons (acute rheumatoid arthritis), I will not be able to work in a hospital or clinic. I have heard that there are some options for medical professionals in the BPO Sector. Is this true? I am in a great fix.
   Meenakshi Diwakar
Increasingly, outsourcing firms in India are now hiring medical professionals – doctors and nurses – as they look for new areas of business to supplement shrinking incomes from sectors that have traditionally opted for outsourcing like finance and banking. Four other outsourcing firms Wipro BPO, TCS, Cognizant and HCL are hiring doctors nurses and paramedics. About 15-18 people come on board every month. The pay obviously depends on experience and quality of work done, but it is common for these BPOs to offer the doctors double of what they have been
making. The average salary could start from Rs 45,000 and go up to Rs 3 lakh per-month. Those with pharmacy, medicine, dentistry, nursing, homeopathy, degrees are in demand. So don't worry. Remember, the definition of a toughie: Someone who gets going when the going gets tough.