M.pharm without GPAT - my views

Hello all... I am G.Sailesh completed M.pharm in pharmaceutics in 2011 and its been long time that I interact and involve in discussions . It seems that people are worrying a lot regarding GPAT cut off mark and the number of people that qualified this year. Let me put my views on this. Whatever be the reason whether it is politics in GPAT or it is the mistake of Baroda university or to escape stipend for qualifying less number of people. Those who qualified in GPAT think that they can get good colleges and branch as there is no competition. Those who did not qualify think that they missed an opportunity. Let us not bother about it or think about it. If we think about the result of it is government gets benefit as it may need not to pay stipend. It is the private colleges that are going to be more benefited by exploiting students for payment seats utilizing the craze and demand for different branches and based on the name and fame of colleges. They are going to get more money, because much of the seats will be filled based on PGCET or through donations this time which is quite contrary to the previous years where more number of seats are filled through GPAT. Neither the college need not to apply for stipend for students, nor government will pay by itself. Ultimate sufferer will be the student. Now, more students and parents tend to join in colleges with big fame, name and also start discussion about the branch that they need to select. But, my dear friends, please do no think that there is a great demand for PG students of pharmacy. It is once upon a time, there is demand for people who did PG and Phd in pharmacy. Post graduation needs dedication, orientation towards research, strong zeal to learn and more over suffering in the initial stages of career as you will not get a job in research department where PG candidate is necessary. Do not take PG as pride or as essential qualification for getting a job. It is a degree student who can easily get a job in an industry when compared to Post graduate student. Think a moment, whether you are suitable to do PG and take the challenge of research (I am not insulting any one here). Now, its high time to think about career path. Do not go blindly as most of us joined in pharmacy (as we do not get MBBS seat after intermediate). I do not suggest going states for PG as it is highly risky path and all cannot afford. We have many options after doing B.pharmacy like going towards Clinical research industry, Regulatory affairs, Intellectual property rights (most untapped areas and there is a demand) software industry, marketing ( please do not feel it as prestige to do in marketing department. You will earn more than any other if you are capable and suitable to that job). Please do not hesitate to go to marketing department if you really have that capability. B.pharm people doing in marketing department can easily get promoted.  I shall not say not to join in PG.  Post graduation helps in promoting to higher levels once you enter the industry into any department. But it is very difficult to enter into industry with Post graduation.  Generally B.pharm people are preferred. You can do post graduation later also.  Your financial status highly matters here.  Finally I conclude that think repeatedly before investing on PG (your financial, intellectual status and other reasons for joining PG). One day, I am sure that you will regret if you join in PG by investing heavy amounts (taking loans etc.) Think wisely before taking a decision. Thanks for your patience in reading this. All the best !!!!!!!!!!!!

Writing the thesis of a project work

After a long gap, I would like to post on my blog again.  This post is about documentation of the carried research work.  Many of the M.pharmacy second year may have completed their research work in lab  and currently may have started documenting the research work which is called a thesis.  In any Industrial scenario, there are two things one, which is the technical or practical work that is done on the floor and the other is documentation of work that is carried out.  Documenting the work whether it is production, quality analysis or a research work is equally important of doing the work.  This documentation helps in ways in regulatory point of view as well as to the company.  Documentation in industrial scenario is a different issue where the head of QA department will be an in-charge.  I shall discuss about this in my upcoming posts.  Right now, I would like to discuss about documentation of a research work. Every university will have their own guidelines for submitting the research work.  But I would like to discuss about the general aspects of making a thesis look effective.

Brief overview of thesis book:

Generally, a thesis starts with title of work, student name, university name, guide name and finally the college name.  The next page consists of declaration stating that the work has been performed on your own and not replicated from anywhere.  The next pages are declaration from guide and principal of the college.  It will look good if an Abstract of the work (brief overview) is included in next page.  The next page is the abbreviations that are used followed by contents.  The contents include Aim, scope and objective, Introduction, Drug and excipients profile, Literature review, Experimental investigations, Experimental results, Results and discussion, Summary, conclusion and future recommendation, finally bibliography.

It is a common tendency to cut, copy, and paste in the introduction part from different sources of net or from a review or research article.  This is plagiarism which is absolutely not acceptable and considered as crime in foreign countries. It is the stealing of one’s ideas and method of writing.  It will not help in any way.  There are many arguments on it.  I would like to say only one thing regarding this issue.  Avoiding plagiarism gives honor to the author and also helps in generating new ideas besides helping you in understanding the theory and concepts.  Visit www.pharminfo.net for more information on plagiarism.

Drug & Excipients profile, Literature review can be easily written.  In the literature review, ensure that most relevant work is cited. (Give preference to drug and later concept like increase in bioavailability, sustained release etc.)

Experimental investigations include the materials and methods used along with the source of chemicals. Applying statistical ANOVA to the results will always help.  Different software (graph pad prism is one of it) is available to carry out ANOVA.  Dissolution graphs (time vs % dissolved, first order or zero order graphs) should be present neatly using excel.  Drug- excipient compatibility (IR graphs) interpretation is important.  See the wave number at which peak appeared and write the shift that appeared when combined with the excipient.  Interpretation of results of dissolution profiles, rate graphs, IR peaks with proper reasonable thinking gives good appearance to the thesis and also helps in improving knowledge.   This will help in designing the power point and also improves your subject knowledge to confidently face the Viva and interviews.  I do not know whether this helps or not.  But I presented my views in my own words.   

All the Best!!!