Comprehensive Research Opportunity: Indian Institute of Science Announces Post-Doctoral Fellowships (IPDF)
Pharm'Up 
The Indian Institute of Science (IISc)—renowned as a premier center of higher education with a rich history of foundational scientific breakthroughs and societal research applications—has officially opened applications for its newly established IISc Post-Doctoral Fellowships (IPDF). The program is designed to attract highly motivated researchers who possess a proven track record of conducting high-quality academic research.
Eligibility Criteria and Academic Scope
Applications are welcome from Indian nationals, Overseas Citizens of India (OCI), and foreign nationals. To qualify, applicants must hold a Ph.D. with a First Class or equivalent grading in their preceding degree, alongside a consistently strong academic background. Candidates who have formally submitted their Ph.D. thesis are also eligible to apply provided they supply valid proof of submission. Applicants should preferably be under 32 years of age.
Fellows will be embedded within specific departments and centers across multiple broad domains:
- Biological Sciences: Covers Biochemistry, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Centre for Neuroscience, Microbiology and Cell Biology, Molecular Biophysics Unit, and Developmental Biology and Genetics.
- Chemical Sciences: Includes Inorganic and Physical Chemistry, Materials Research Centre, Organic Chemistry, and the Solid State and Structural Chemistry Unit.
- Physical and Mathematical Sciences: Encompasses the Centre for High Energy Physics, Instrumentation and Applied Physics, Mathematics, and Physics.
- Electrical, Electronics, and Computer Sciences (EECS): Features Computer Science and Automation, Electrical Communication Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Electronic Systems Engineering.
- Mechanical Sciences: Comprises Aerospace Engineering, Design and Manufacturing, Centre for Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Centre for Earth Sciences, Centre for Sustainable Technologies, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Materials Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering.
- Interdisciplinary Sciences & Other Centres: Spans Bioengineering, Centre for Nano Science and Engineering, Computational and Data Sciences, Management Studies, Centre for Infrastructure, Sustainable Transportation and Urban Planning, Divecha Centre for Climate Change, Interdisciplinary Centre for Energy Research, Interdisciplinary Centre for Water Research, and the Robert Bosch Centre for Cyber Physical Systems.
Financial Support and Duration
The standard duration of the fellowship is one year, with provisions for a one-year extension following a formal performance evaluation.
- Standard Fellows: Selected candidates receive a consolidated monthly fellowship of INR 80,000 plus applicable HRA, supplemented by an annual research grant of Rs. 2 Lakhs.
- Pre-Defense Candidates: Fellows selected prior to successfully defending their thesis receive a monthly stipend of INR 50,000 plus applicable HRA (without the research grant) until they officially share their Ph.D. degree or provisional certificate, at which point they transition to the standard fellowship amount for the remainder of their one-year term.
Application Procedure and Selection
Candidates must first contact an eligible faculty member at IISc who agrees to act as a host, securing a formal consent letter or email before initiating an online application through the Post-Doctoral portal. The required application package includes a detailed CV with a publication list, PDF copies of two to five key research papers, a proposed research plan of up to 500 words, the faculty consent document, and proof of Ph.D. completion, submission, or award.
While applications remain open year-round, institutional reviews take place half-yearly on 30 June and 31 December, with decisions typically issued within six weeks of each review date. Shortlisted candidates are subsequently invited for an interview either in person or via video conference.
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