Tata Institute of Fundamental Research

About Tata Institute of Fundamental Research

Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) is a Deemed University, a Government National Centre and an Autonomous Research Institute under the Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India. TIFR has its main campus located in Mumbai, the other additional campuses are - TIFR Pune, TIFR Bangalore and TIFR Hyderabad. Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai is involved in research of all the fundamental sciences - Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics and Physics, as well as in the field of Science Education. It also awards degrees for masters and doctoral programs.

The Tata Institute of Fundamental Research was conceived and founded by the distinguished Indian Scientist Dr. Homi Bhabha on 1^st June 1945 with the active support of the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and the Government of Bombay Presidency. The Institute first began functioning within the Cosmic Ray Research Unit on the campus of the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and moved to Bombay in October that year. The foundation stone of the main building at the Colaba campus was laid by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in 1954. In 1962, the Institute shifted to its present picturesque campus at Colaba on the shores of the Arabian Sea. The modern building on the seafront with gardens, lawns and a seaside promenade was designed by the Chicago architect, Helmuth Bartsch. The building was also inaugurated by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on 15^th January 1962. In May 2002, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research was accorded Deemed University status by the University Grants Commission.  Since then TIFR has started awarding its own Degrees.

Schools and Faculties

1.  School of Mathematics

• Mathematics Faculty, Mumbai
• Centre for Applicable Mathematics, Bengaluru

2.  School of Natural Sciences - Mumbai

• Biological Sciences
• Chemical Sciences
• Astronomy and Astrophysics
• Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science
• High Energy Physics
• Theoretical Physics
• Nuclear & Atomic Physics

3.  School of Natural Sciences - Centres

• Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE), Mumbai
• International Centre for Theoretical Sciences (ICTS), Bengaluru
• National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Bengaluru
• National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA), Pune
• TIFR Centre for Interdisciplinary Sciences (TCIS), Hyderabad

4.  School of Technology and Computer Science

Facilities at TIFR

Visiting Students' Research Programme – The institute conducts annual summer programmes in which talented students are introduced to research activities in the areas of Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, and Physics. The selected students are expected to work on a research project under the supervision of a TIFR researcher. The programmes are held both at the Mumbai campus of the TIFR as well as at the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA), Pune during mid May to early July each year. Motivated students from Third Year B.Tech, First Year M.Sc., Fourth Year Integrated MS and M.Tech. students are encouraged and also eligible to apply.

SIRC - Scientific Information Resource Centre has a collection of more than 65,000 books. It subscribes to around 650 foreign journals. It also has a large collection of approximately 74,000 bound volumes of journals, some dating back to 1820s. It also has an inter-library loan arrangement with all important government and semi-government academic institutions of India. Books or journals which are not available with TIFR can be procured from these institutions for a short period. SIRC provides access to over 3000 on-line journals.

Central Workshop – It provides high-quality solutions to complex mechanical engineering problems, which may include in-house design and development. It supports researchers in fabricating and modifying experimental setups besides developing a wide range of import substitutes. It provides various facilities like conventional machining, maintenance of machines, computer numerical control, glass-blowing, glass-working etc.

Besides the manufacturing of parts based on specific user requirements, the Central Workshop also manufactures high-quality flanges and fittings for use with High and Ultra High Vacuum systems, and provides these as stock items for the Central Stores. Work Order in Central Workshop can be placed online by using DATANET account. The drawing or sketch can also be attached in pdf format to the online form. Status of the work order is also updated in the DATANET.

Computer Centre - It is responsible for providing computing and networking facilities to TIFR users and groups. Scientific data and papers on research carried out by the TIFR members are archived on computers, often in a form accessible over the network. Services offered by the computer centre include internet and telephone connectivity, software distribution, and central computing facility. CCCF engineers impart training to department system administrators and TIFR users at large on various topics related to computers and some commonly required IT skills.

Medical Section - Medical Section attends to the health needs of institute members. It aims at providing comprehensive primary health care. It also has a pharmacy with a good stock of all required medicines. Medical section not only provides the basic health care facilities, but it also takes initiative in health promotional activities such as diet counselling and health education. A pathology laboratory was also started foe the convenience of the residents who had to go outside the campus.

LTAF - Lecture Theatre and Auditorium Facility is responsible for providing audio-visual services for lectures and colloquia in the main lecture theatres of the institute and Homi Bhabha Auditorium. LTAF also provides projection facility and Video Conferencing facility in various Conference rooms. In addition to the main lecture halls, the institute has several additional lecture rooms maintained by individual departments. To hold any lecture in these rooms please contact the Chairperson of the respective department.

Low Temperature Facility – It meets the requirement of two cryogenic fluids - liquid helium and liquid nitrogen along with other support services to various facilities and laboratories of the institute such as, Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science (DCMP & MS), Nuclear and Atomic Physics (DNAP), Biological Sciences (DBS), Astronomy and Astrophysics (DAA), and Chemical Sciences (DCS).

Guesthouse - The TIFR Guesthouse building in the Colaba Campus is named after the great Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan. It consists of three different categories of rooms. In addition, the facility provides fully furnished and serviced studios and two bedroom apartments on campus for the long term guests. These are offered primarily to official visitors of the Institute.

Eateries - The Colaba campus of TIFR has several eateries which collectively provide services from 8 am in the morning to 2 am in the early morning to the staff, residents and guests. These eateries are - Ramanujan Cafeteria, West Canteen, East Canteen and Jagdish Canteen.

Sports Club - Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Sports Club encourages, promotes and organizes sports activities for the benefit of the members of the Club. Some of the sports activities provided are - cricket, football, hockey, volley ball, kabaddi etc. The club also has a music library which issues Audio/video CDs/DVDs against a very nominal fee. It also organises various social and cultural activities like plays, cultural programs, treks, picnics etc.