IISER Bhopal PhD Admission 2025-26 (Aug 2025)

Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Bhopal invites applications for PhD program in various subjects for the academic session 2025-26 (Aug 2025).

Research Areas

Physics

Group A (Experimental Physics):

• Ultra-fast optics, Terahertz spectroscopy
• Magnetism: Theory and experiment
• Nanomaterials, heterostructures, and 2D materials
• Experimental superconductivity
• Experimental Atomic and Molecular Physics, Spectroscopy
• Ultrafast coherent spectroscopy
• Quantum sensing and metrology, Nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond
• Nanophotonics, Plasmonics, Cavity-optics, Phase imaging
• Nanomechanical resonators, nonlinear dynamics, mesoscopic physics
• Raman Spectroscopy
• Quantum Materials: Synthesis to Emergent Properties
• Electronic structure of solids: experiment (XPS/UPS/ARPES) and theory (DFT and beyond)

Group B (Theoretical and Computational Physics):

• Spin-orbit interaction, spin splitting, spin texture, topological materials
• First principles calculations of materials properties, density functional theory
• Theory and experiment in soft-matter physics
• Monte Carlo Methods, Spin Glasses, Quantum Information Science, Entanglement, Quantum Chaos
• Physics of carbon-based systems (graphene and carbon nanotubes), semiconducting 2DEGs, nanowires and topological insulators.
• Cosmology
• Classical and Quantum gravity
• Black holes and holography
• Relativistic and non-relativistic fluid dynamics from string theory
• Knot Theory and Chern-Simons Theory
• Brane cosmology and cosmological correlators
• New Physics beyond the Standard Model of Particle Physics
• Dark matter and neutrino physics
• Astro-Particle Physics, Physics of Neutron star, Astrophysics using machine learning
• Field-theoretic approaches in condensed matter physics
• Search and timing of radio pulsars. Gravitational wave detection with pulsar timing arrays
• Fast Radio Bursts, Magnetars and their connection
• Gravitational Wave from Black hole and neutron star merger

Chemistry

Inorganic Chemistry

• Supramolecular Chemistry; Crystallography; Transition Metal Chemistry; Molecular Materials; Organometallic Chemistry; Bio-inorganic Chemistry; Quantum Material; Solid State Chemistry, Thermo-electric Materials.

Organic Chemistry

• Synthetic Organic Chemistry; Natural Products; Organometallic Chemistry; Asymmetric Catalysis; Chemical Biology; Molecular Biology; Polymers; Biomaterials, Supramolecular Chemistry, Soft Materials.

Physical Chemistry

• Electrochemistry: supercapacitors and electrocatalysis;Electro-organic Synthesis; Bionanotechnology; Biophysics; Polymers; Functional Nanomaterials; Ultrafast Spectroscopy; Time-resolved microscopy; Semiconductor nanostructures; Solution – state NMR Spectroscopy.

Biological Chemistry

• Biophysical Chemistry; Chemical Biochemistry; Chemical Biology; Spectroscopy; Bioinorganic Chemistry; Lipidomics, Electrophysiology, Biomaterials; Chemical Synthetic Biology; Membrane Biophysics.

Theoretical and Computational Chemistry

• Computational Materials Science; Computational Physical and Biophysical Chemistry; Systems Biology.

Mathematics

Department of Mathematics offers research in the areas of Algebraic Coding Theory, Algebraic Geometry, Algebraic K-Theory, Commutative Algebra, Dynamical Systems, Ergodic Theory, Group Theory, Harmonic Analysis, Geometric Topology, Contact and Symplectic Geometry, Number Theory, Numerical Analysis, Operator Algebras, Partial Differential Equations, Representation Theory, Riemannian Geometry, Probability, Theory, and Stochastic Analysis..

Biological Sciences

Department of Biological Sciences offers research in the areas of Behavioural Ecology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biophysics, Cancer Biology, Cell and Molecular Biology, Cellular and Developmental Signaling, Chemical Biology, Computational Biology, Epigenetics, Ecology and Molecular Systematics, Evolutionary Biology, Genomics, Immunology, Metagenomics, Bacteriophage Biology, Molecular Microbiology, Neurobiology, Plant Cell and Developmental Biology, Viral Immunology, Virology.

Chemical Engineering (CHE)

• Artificial Intelligence
• Advanced Oxidation Processes
• Advanced Functional Nanomaterials
• Bio-inspired Nanocomposites
• Battery Technology
• Chemical & Electrochemical Sensors
• Computational Catalysis
• Computational Materials Science
• Computational Fluid Dynamics
• Environmental Engineering
• Electrochemical Engineering
• Forensic Science & Technology
• Fuel Cells
• Membrane Science and Technology
• Molecular Simulations
• Machine Learning
• Polymeric Nanocomposites
• Reaction Engineering
• Renewable & Sustainable Energy
• Soft Matter
• Self-Propulsion
• Water & Wastewater treatment
• Waste Valorization

Data Science and Engineering (DSE)

Department of Data Science and Engineering (DSE) offers research in the following areas:

• 3D Computer Vision
• Artificial Intelligence for Healthcare
• Biomedical Data Science
• Biometrics
• Computer Vision and Image Processing
• Geospatial Artificial Intelligence for Urban Planning
• Hyperspectral Image Processing
• Multi-modal Learning
• Natural Language Processing
• Trustworthiness and Fair Artificial Intelligence

Earth and Environmental Sciences

Atmosphere and Climate Studies

• Atmospheric aerosols: Measurements and physico-chemical characterization, Source Apportionment by receptor and hybrid models, Approaches for coupling in-situ and satellite-derived aerosol products, and Assessment of climate and health effects.
• Climate Extremes, regional earth system modelling to address climate variability and change, Himalayan glacier modelling for mass-balance and area change study, AI/ML- based modelling of climate processes.
• Carbon Cycle and Climate: Atmospheric greenhouse gas (GHG) modelling, Terrestrial ecosystem modelling, Satellite remote sensing of greenhouse gases, Agricultural GHG emissions and remote sensing, Weather Forecast error analysis.
• Indian monsoon variability and modeling, land-atmosphere coupling processes, impact of land use/land cover changes on precipitation variability and extremes, Climate variability and teleconnections.

Earth Surface Processes

• Sedimentary processes and sediment provenance analysis. Basin evolution and classification. Palaeogeography and palaeoenvironment.
• Fluvial geomorphology, eco-geomorphology, the impact of climate change on rivers, microwave remote sensing, surface and groundwater interaction, machine learning application in earth surface processes and hydrology.
• Impact of Climate Change in Hydrology, Floods and Droughts, Analysis of Weather Forecasts, River Engineering.
• Using Numerical Weather Prediction model and Hydrological models to produce Streamflow/flood forecasting in Indian River basins, Vulnerability, and impact-based forecasting for urban floods.
• Chemical oceanography & limnology, aqueous biogeochemistry, submarine groundwater discharge and seawater intrusion, paleo-reconstruction of environmental & hydro- climatic conditions, and provenance tracing of sediments, atmospheric dust, and pollutants using elemental/isotope tracers.
• Environmental Geochemistry – characterization of geochemical processes that regulate contaminant and nutrient mobilization and transport at the water-soil/sediment-plant interface. Specific area of interest: Aqueous geochemistry; Soil geochemistry; Wetland geochemistry; Hydrogeochemistry of groundwater contamination and development of mitigation measures; Geochemistry of mine waste rock (Mine closure geochemistry); Geochemistry of emerging contaminants.
• Tectonic-Geomorphology, Neotectonics and Coupled Climate-tectonic interaction and Landscape evolution in Fold-Thrust belt setting.

Solid Earth

• Active Tectonics,Petroleum Geology, Geodynamics, Structural Geology.
• Thermodynamics of REE-phosphate and REE-carbonates and its extraction mechanism, Archaean Tectonics, Petrology-Geochronology, Metallogeny and Precambrian crustal evolution of Indian Peninsula
• Isotope geochemistry and geochronology in studies of crust-mantle evolution and petrogenesis, with focus on mantle dynamics; REE-mineral studies in carbonatite and alkaline complexes; Paleo-enviromental reconstruction of sedimentary/meta-sedimentary groups.
• Seismology, Seismic anisotropy, Attenuation tomography, Lithospheric structure, Deformation and rheology of the crust and upper mantle, Upper mantle discontinuities mapping.
• Active Tectonics, Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), Petroleum Geology, Geodynamics and Structural Geology.
• Structural Geology, Fault/shear zone architecture and kinematics associated with major faults, Lateral Variation in Himalayan Deformation
• Sedimentary basin analysis.

Economic Sciences

Department of Economic Sciences offers research in the areas of

• Microeconomics and related topics
• Macroeconomics and related topics
• Applied Econometric Theory
• Development Economics
• Trade and related topics

Electrical Engineering & Computer Science

Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science offers research in the following broad areas:

• Theoretical Computer Science: – Parameterized Algorithms, Graph Algorithms, Applied Graph Theory
• Applied Computer Science and Systems
• Robotics & Control Systems
• Communication, Signal Processing and Network Science
• Devices, Sensors and Systems
• Analog Mixed Circuit Design, Flexible Electronics

Humanities and Social Sciences

For PhD admissions (2025-26-I), the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences is offering admission in- Philosophy (Research areas/theme: Philosophy of Science).

Eligibility Criteria

General Eligibility Criteria

Qualifying Degree

1. Master’s or equivalent degree in Engineering/Technology, or
2. Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Technology, or
3. Master’s or equivalent degree in science, or
4. Master’s or equivalent degree in Arts/Commerce (or allied subjects)

For qualifying degree listed under (2), (3) & (4), candidates must also fulfil anyone of the following additional requirements:

• Valid GATE score
• Selected through National Eligibility Test – UGC NET /CSIR/NBHM etc. including lectureship (Assistant Professorship)
• Selected through a National level examination conducted by MHRD or its agencies /Institutions such as UGC/ IIT/ IISc./ IISER/ IIIT etc.
• Those with B.Tech. from IITs or BS-MS from IISERs with CGPA/CPI more than 8.0 on a 10 point scale.
• Selected to appear in the NBHM PhD scholarship interview after having qualified the written exam in 2025. However, in order to gain admission, candidates must fulfil at least one of the requirements mentioned in above Points.

In addition to general eligibility criterion, the applicants must also satisfy the eligibility criteria specified for the respective Departments. The department may also impose additional screening criteria if the number of applications are higher.

Marks / CGPA / CPI requirement in Qualifying Degrees (listed above)

Minimum of 60% marks or CGPA/CPI of 7.0 on a 10 point scale (overall percentage/CGPA/CPI; not just in the majoring subject).

A relaxation of 10% of marks, or an equivalent relaxation of grade, will be allowed for candidates belonging to SC/ST/PWD categories and 5% to OBC-NCL/EWS.

If the transcript/grade sheet issued by the Institute/University reports:

• Only marks: percentage will be considered
• Only grades: CGPA/CPI will be considered. If CGPA/CPI is reported on any scale other than 10 (eg. 4 point/ 8 point scale), an equivalent CGPA/CPI will be calculated as per the following formula: CGPA/CPI in a 10 point scale = (CGPA/CPI Obtained×10)/PS PS = Point scale used by the Institute/University.
• Both marks and CGPA/CPI: Percentage equivalent of CGPA/CPI, as indicated on the transcript/gradesheet, will be considered. The conversion factor must be available in the transcript/grade sheet/certificate issued by competent authority.

Age Limit

• Preferably not more than 28 years.
• Age relaxation of 3 years will be given for OBC (Non Creamy Layer) and 5 years for SC/ST/PD/Female applicants.
• Upper age limit shall be determined as on last date of online submission of applications.
• Date of Birth as recorded in the Matriculation/ Secondary Examination Certificate/Aadhar Card only will be accepted by the IISER Bhopal for determining the age.

Course Wise Eligibility

Physics

• M.Sc./M.Tech. Degree in the relevant discipline with a minimum of 60% marks or CGPA/CPI of 7.0 on a 10 point scale (overall percentage/CGPA/CPI; not only in majoring subject).
• Additionally, a valid GATE/UGC-JRF/CSIR-JRF/JEST/INSPIRE-PhD/JGEEBILS or any other recognized score is mandatory. The certificate/fellowship MUST be valid at the time of admission.

Chemistry

• M.Sc./M.Tech. Degree in the relevant discipline with a minimum of 60% marks or CGPA/CPI of 7.0 on a 10 point scale (overall percentage/CGPA/CPI; not only in majoring subject). Mathematics in the 10+2 level is desirable. For an application to be considered in the area for Physical Chemistry, mathematics either at 10+2 level OR at undergraduate level is mandatory.
• For Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, mathematics both at 10+2 level AND at undergraduate level is mandatory.
• Students whose results for CSIR-UGC NET Fellowship or Rajiv Gandhi Fellowship or INSPIRE-PhD or any other equivalent fellowship are awaited may also apply with their roll number(s) mentioned in the application. Such candidates may walk-in for the interview provided they have qualified for any of the above fellowship before the interview date.

Biological Sciences

• M.Sc./M.Tech. or equivalent degree in the relevant discipline with a minimum of 60% marks or CGPA/CPI of 7.0 on a 10-point scale (overall percentage/CGPA/CPI; not just in the major subject). Students with M.Sc./M. Tech. or equivalent degree in a branch of Physics, Chemistry, or Mathematics can also apply provided they have an aptitude for research in Biological Sciences.
• Exceptionally brilliant candidates with B.Tech./MBBS/MCA can also apply for the PhD program in Biological Sciences.
• Candidates at the time of interview must bring with them at least one letter of recommendation in a sealed envelope. Alternatively, the recommendation letter can be directly mailed by the referee(s) to admission.biophd@iiserb.ac.in before the interview date.

Chemical Engineering (CHE)

• Candidates with ME/M.Tech/M.S. in Chemical Engineering or an allied area of Engineering/Technology with minimum 4+2 years degree, a minimum of 60% marks or CGPA of 7.0 on a 10-point scale (overall percentage/CGPA/CPI, not only in majoring subjects). Such candidates are not required to have GATE/NET/any other National level PhD entrance examination qualifications OR
• Candidates with M.Tech/ME/M.S. in Chemical Engineering or an allied area of Engineering/Technology with a 4+1/3+2 years degree, a minimum of 60% marks or CGPA of 7.0 on a 10-point scale (overall percentage/CGPA/CPI; not only in majoring subject). Such candidates have qualified GATE or UGC/CSIR(NET)/INSPIRE. Note that a candidate’s application can be considered even if his/her GATE/NET Score’s validity is over. OR
• BE/B.Tech./BS in Chemical Engineering with valid GATE score and a minimum of 60% marks or CGPA/CPI of 7.0 on a 10-point scale. However, B.Tech. from IITs or BS-MS from IISERs with CGPA/CPI of 8.0 (on a 10 point scale) and above are EXEMPTED from the requirement of a GATE score. OR
• The candidates with M.Sc./M.S. Degree in an allied area of Chemical Engineering may also apply, provided they must have a valid GATE score in any of the allied areas of Chemical Engineering OR fellowship like CSIR (NET-JRF)/ UGC/ INSPIRE/ Rajiv Gandhi Fellowship/WISE Fellowship etc. Students whose results are awaited may also apply with their roll number(s) mentioned in the application.

Data Science and Engineering (DSE)

• Candidates with M.Tech./M.E./M.S. with minimum 4+2 years degree, minimum of 60% marks or CGPA of 7.0 on a 10 point scale (overall percentage/CGPA/CPI; not only in majoring subject). The qualification of GATE or any other external fellowship is not mandatory for such candidates.
• Candidates with M.Sc./MCA or B.Tech./B.E./B.S. with a minimum of 60% marks or CGPA of 7.0 on a 10 point scale (overall percentage/CGPA/CPI; not only in majoring subject) can be considered for direct admission into the PhD program of the DSE Department, if they have a valid GATE score or any other external fellowship. These students will have to do 24 credits of courseworks within 3 semesters with an overall CPI of at least 7.0 on a 10 point scale. Out of 24 credits, 8 credits must be from DSE courses.
• Candidates with B.Tech. from IITs or BS-MS from IISERs with CGPA/CPI of 8.0 (on a 10 point scale) and above are EXEMPTED from the requirement of a GATE score or any other external fellowship.

Earth and Environmental Sciences

• Master’s (M.Sc.)/M.Tech or B.Tech-M.Tech integrated Degrees in any of the disciplines of Earth Science/Geology/ Geophysics/Atmospheric Science/ Oceanography /Geoinformatics/ Remote Sensing/ Chemistry/Mathematics/ Physics/Chemical, Environmental, Computer, Electronic and Communication, Wireless Communication and Networking, and Civil Engineering with a minimum of 60% marks or CGPA/CPI of 7.0 on a 10 point scale (overall percentage/CGPA/CPI; not only in majoring subject).
• Exceptionally brilliant students with B.Tech. In Chemical, Computer, Civil, Electronic and Communication, and Environmental Engineering with strong motivation towards Earth and Environmental Sciences, can also apply for PhD programme.
• For students with Master’s (M.Sc.) degree in Geology/ Earth Science/Environmental Sciences, Chemistry, Physics or Mathematics as a subject of study at B.Sc. level is preferable Students whose results for CSIR-JRF or UGC-JRF Fellowship or NET-LS or Rajiv Gandhi Fellowship or INSPIRE-PhD or any other equivalent fellowship are awaited may also apply with their roll number(s) mentioned in the application. Such candidates may walk-in for the interview provided they have qualified examination for any of the above fellowship before the interview date.

Economic Sciences

• M.Sc./M.A. Degree in the relevant discipline with a minimum of 60% marks or CGPA/CPI of 7.0 on a 10-point scale (overall percentage/CGPA/CPI; not only in majoring subject).

Electrical Engineering & Computer Science

• Students with M.Tech./M.E./ M.S. in ECE/CSE/ EE/IT/IN/Material Science and Engineering/Mechanical/ Mechatronics or equivalent with minimum of 4+2 years degree, a minimum of 60% marks or CGPA of 7.0 on a 10-point scale (overall percentage/CGPA/CPI; not only in majoring subject). OR Students with B.Tech. from IITs or BS-MS from IISERs with CGPA/CPI more than 8.0 on a 10 point scale. Such candidates are not required to have GATE/NET/any other National level PhD entrance examination qualifications.
• Students with M.Tech./M.E./M.S./M.Sc. in ECE/CSE/EE/IT/IN/PHY/MTH/Material Science and Engineering/Mechanical/Mechatronics/Electronic Science or equivalent with a 4+1/3+2 years degree, a minimum of 60% marks or CGPA of 7.0 on a 10-point scale (overall percentage/CGPA/CPI; not only in majoring subject). Such students must have qualified GATE in ECE/CSE/EE/IN/ ME/MT/PHY/MTH, JEST/JAM in TCS/PHY, or UGC/ CSIR(NET)/INSPIRE in PHY/MTH/Electronics/ Computer Science, or have NBHM scholarship. Note that a candidate’s application can be considered even if his/her GATE/NET/JEST/JAM Score’s validity is over. OR
• Students with B.Tech./B.E./B.S. in ECE/CSE/EE/IN/Material Science and Engineering /Mechanical/Mechatronics or equivalent can be considered for admission into the PhD program of EECS Department if they have qualified GATE in ECE/CSE/ EE/IN/ME/MT/PHY/ MTH, or JEST/JAM in TCS/PHY, or UGC/ CSIR(NET-JRF)/INSPIRE in PHY/MTH/Electronics/Computer Science or have NBHM scholarship. In order to be eligible for admission, these students should have a minimum of 60% marks or CGPA of 7.0 on a 10 point scale (overall percentage/CGPA/CPI; not only in majoring subject; if required, same conversion formula will be followed as listed above).

Humanities and Social Sciences

• MA in Philosophy or other relevant disciplines; MS/MTech in Science/Engineering or other relevant disciplines; minimum of 60% marks or CGPA/CPI of 7.0 on a 10-point scale (overall percentage/CGPA/CPI; not only in the majoring subject).

Mathematics

• M.Sc./M.Tech. Degree in the relevant discipline with a minimum of 60% marks or CGPA/CPI of 7.0 on a 10 point scale (overall percentage/CGPA/CPI; not only in majoring subject).

Fellowship

All selected candidates will be eligible to receive JRF fellowship as per the funding agency norms, in vogue.

Selection Procedure

• The selection procedure for admission will be based on the performance of the applicants in the interviews.
• After the last date, all applications will be screened and the list of candidates shortlisted for interviews will be available on Institute’s website and shortlisted candidates will be intimated by email only.
• TA will be paid to SC/ST/PD candidates appearing for the interview as per Govt. of India norms.

Application Process

• Candidates have to apply online.
• Read eligibility and other instruction carefully before filling application form.

• Starting Date: 16 March, 2025
• Final Deadline: 15 April, 2025 at 11:59 PM

• Notification
• Application
• IISER Bhopal Website