I’m studying for a B.Sc (Hons) degree in botany and would like to pursue postgraduate studies in ayurveda. Please advise. Sudhir Rane, Pune Since ayurveda is an officially recognised branch of medicine, you can qualify for postgraduation only if you’ve graduated in the subject i.e. cleared BAMS. However, there is the option of a Master’s degree in medicinal plants sciences — M.Sc (Ayu Medicinal Plants) — offered by the Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar. The website of The Central Council of Indian Medicine (http://www.ccimindia. org/) provides information on colleges offering ayurveda study programmes across the country. After my B.Sc (chemistry), I opted for a postgraduate diploma in bioinformatics, which I complete next year. Should I pursue an MBA or choose between pharmaceutical management and biotech management? Meenakshi Chandran, Bangalore MBA is a good choice as it offers wide scope for specialisation. My advice is to choose your specialisation — MBA (biotech), MBA (pharmaceutical management) or MBA (hospital management) — according to your aptitude. However job prospects depend entirely on your abilities and the reputation of the business school you are admitted into. I want to work as a public relations executive. Please advise. Nilima Chaudhuri, New Delhi The purpose of pr managers is to project a positive image of their employer company to improve its image with various publics — shareholders, customers, employees and government. PR executives draft press releases and persuade people in the media to print and/or broadcast their material. Many radio and television special reports, newspaper stories and magazine articles start at the desks of public relations specialists. Remuneration packets are determined by the size of the company (and level of responsibility), the quality of the individual’s training/professional qualification, and the volume of business handled by the organisation. Work is usually exciting and dynamic, but it is also stressful and demands strong interpersonal communication skills and the ability to put in long and irregular work hours. Job opportunities are good as numerous public relations agencies have sprung up countrywide. I’m in class XII (science) and keen on a career in automobile engineering. What are the opportunities in this field? Shekhar Iyer, Chennai Job prospects are good as the automobile industry is running in the fast lane. Qualified automobile engineers are needed by car, commercial vehicle and motorcycle manufacturers, design houses and test laboratories, tyre manufacturers, accessory and safety equipment producers, fuel and oil companies, and motorsport teams. Of course job opportunities are better for those who graduate with a good academic record from reputed engineering colleges. I’m in third year B.Sc (biochemistry). After graduation next year what are my career options in India or abroad? Shalini D’Souza, Mumbai If you want to pursue a career related to biochemistry, such as research (clinical, academic, industrial, etc) and teaching, you should enroll for a Masters in biochemistry, biotechnology, allied biological sciences or an integrated Ph D programme. It’s unrealistic to expect to find employment abroad after a bachelor’s degree unless there is a specific shortage of professionals in this field in a particular country. I’m in third…
