Exploring Careers in Ayurveda Biology: A Growing Field in India and Beyond

This unique approach offers exciting new career paths for students in India and around the world. It's a field that recognizes the value of traditional knowledge systems as well as contemporary scientific tools and concepts. It proposes a path to understanding how traditional medicine works, while also using traditional medicinal concepts as a way to discover new biology. 

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One institution at the forefront of this integration is the University of Transdisciplinary Health Sciences and Technology (TDU) in Bangalore. TDU offers a distinctive MSc Life Sciences (Ayurveda Biology) program, designed to bridge these two worlds and prepare students for diverse opportunities.

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What is Ayurveda Biology?

At its core, Ayurveda Biology is about understanding life and health through multiple lenses. Modern biology often takes a reductionist view, focusing on molecular details. Ayurveda, on the other hand, emphasizes a holistic, systemic perspective. Ayurveda Biology attempts to find a middle ground, integrating these different functional perspectives for a more complete understanding of biological phenomena.

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For example, in studying a condition like diabetes, modern biology focuses on hypoglycemia (high blood sugar) and issues with insulin. An Ayurvedic perspective might look at altered digestion and tissue function. Ayurveda Biology seeks to integrate these understandings, drawing on Ayurveda's theoretical explanations, formulations, and food science to explore the systems aspects of biology.

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This field is gaining recognition. The University Grants Commission (UGC) in India recently introduced Ayurveda Biology as a subject in the CSIR UGC NET exam, allowing students with relevant professional degrees, such as those from TDU's program, to appear for this component. This is a significant development, as it increases the chances for TDU students to improve their rankings and scores in this competitive exam, opening doors to further academic and professional growth. The first UGC NET exam with an Ayurveda Biology component was held in 2024.

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The TDU MSc Life Sciences (Ayurveda Biology) Program

TDU's MSc Life Sciences (Ayurveda Biology) program, started in 2022, stands out for its transdisciplinary nature. It aims to provide students with fundamental knowledge in both life sciences and Ayurveda, offering a chance to learn both molecular understanding and holistic understanding. The program name "Life Sciences" is used to provide a broader context, as "Ayurveda Biology" is a relatively new term, and "Life Sciences" helps align graduates with the existing job market while specializing in Ayurveda Biology.

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The program's eligibility is intentionally wide, welcoming students from various backgrounds, including biology, biotechnology, microbiology, as well as those with professional medical degrees like BAMS, MBBS, BFA, and BHMS. This diverse student body is crucial for the program's transdisciplinary approach, allowing students from different backgrounds to discuss and understand topics like biochemistry or immunology from multiple perspectives. The goal is to create an environment where different scientific views can mingle, disagree, and learn together respectfully.

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The curriculum is designed to cover the majority of life sciences subjects, ensuring students are well-prepared for academic journeys like the UGC NET exam. While the syllabus may differ by about 30-40% from a regular life sciences course, the core subjects are covered with an Ayurvedic perspective woven in. The emphasis is not just on accumulating information but on interpreting life science from a more holistic perspective. A key difference lies in the teaching methodology and assessments, which focus on critical thinking, synthesizing information, presentation, and writing, preparing students for a lifetime of professionalism rather than just exams.

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Career Opportunities and Outcomes

Graduates of the TDU program are equipped for a variety of career paths. Success in the UGC NET exam can lead to a Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) for pursuing a PhD, or eligibility for employment as an Assistant Professor in government institutions in India. TDU students have already demonstrated success in this exam, with some achieving top rankings and lectureship eligibility in the first attempt. This suggests that TDU graduates could be easily absorbed as assistant professors elsewhere, after completing a PhD.

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Beyond academia, the TDU program prepares students for roles in:

• Industry: Electives are designed around potential employability in the industry.

• Clinical Setups: Students can explore clinical research efforts.

• Basic Sciences/Research: The program is well-suited for those interested in pursuing fundamental science and PhDs, including abroad.

• NGOs: Some students have pursued careers in the non-profit sector, for example, in mental health.

• Policy and Communication: Graduates can also find roles working in regulatory affairs and  communication content related to the field.

The program is a "stepping stone" for professional journeys, not just a path to a PhD. It encourages active student involvement in shaping their educational path.

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Unique Advantages of the TDU Ecosystem

TDU provides a unique ecosystem that significantly enhances the learning experience:

• Campus with Medicinal Plants: The campus itself is a living laboratory. It houses curated medicinal plants, a herbarium, and a root repository. Students engage in experiential learning, identifying plants, understanding their uses, and even using them to prepare formulations as part of their courses. This allows students to "connect the dots" between theoretical knowledge, the plant source, and its application. Practical assignments might involve foraging on campus to create beverages using medicinal herbs.

• Associated Hospital: TDU has a hospital associated with it, providing invaluable opportunities for clinical exposure. Biology students, who typically lack clinical experience, can gain a different perspective on diseases by observing in a clinic setting with a doctor and patient. This interaction can evolve their priorities as scientists. For students with professional degrees, like BAMS doctors, the program offers exposure in the hospital, allowing them to sit in on consultations and observe. This helps address concerns about losing clinical practice skills while pursuing a Master's, as they realize the course enables "better practice" through enhanced understanding and communication.

• Clinical Research Opportunities: The presence of the hospital facilitates clinical research where students can study the effects of Ayurvedic formulations given to patients, analyzing data and correlating it with basic scientific principles. Student projects can combine laboratory components with clinical analysis, like studying the contemporary usage of a herb in the hospital and comparing it to classical texts and modern knowledge. This integration strengthens research capabilities and bridges the gap between traditional medicine, clinicians, and researchers.

• Project Freedom and Support: TDU allows students significant freedom in choosing their dissertation projects and provides extensive support and network access to help them succeed. Students are encouraged to explore projects outside the university labs to gain broader experience, sometimes working with top research institutes or NGOs. Projects can range from developing product prototypes near market readiness to exploring the effects of smells on anxiety or working within a startup. TDU's flexibility allows for individualization, supporting students' professional goals.

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For professional degree holders, TDU also offers an option to exit after one year with a Post Graduate diploma in Ayurveda Biology. This provides a foundational knowledge base that can be integrated into their practice, opening their minds to diverse perspectives and ultimately benefiting the public.

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The field of Ayurveda Biology, and TDU's program specifically, is a unique opportunity for students interested in integrating traditional health knowledge with modern science. It's an innovative area that offers diverse career paths and fosters a holistic understanding of life and health.

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‍To gain more in depth knowledge about the MSc Life Sciences program, please check out the TDU podcast with faculty members Dr Megha and Dr Vishnuprasad here: https://youtu.be/Jz51ktqvgtk