Essential Educational & Research Qualifications:
• Doctoral Degree: Ph.D. degree holders in Engineering, Technology, Sciences, Humanities & Social Sciences, or Management from a recognized University or Institute, eligible to apply within five (5) years of completing their Ph.D.
• Thesis-Submitted Scholars: Ph.D. scholars who have submitted their thesis are also eligible to apply. Such candidates must submit their provisional or final Ph.D. degree certificate within six (6) months from the date of appointment as Institute PDF, failing which the appointment will stand cancelled.
• Proposal Criteria: The submitted research proposal must demonstrate high academic rigor and novelty, and must NOT be a mere extension of the candidate's Ph.D. research.
• IIT Madras Alumni Policy: IITM Ph.D. graduates are generally discouraged from applying; however, outstanding candidates on exceptional merit can apply to a department different from their parent department, with a mentor other than their Ph.D. supervisor.
IIT Madras Research Fellow Recruitment 2026
Quick Recruitment Snapshot
Key recruitment parameters at a glance before you apply
Crucial Recruitment Dates
Official schedule & key deadlines
Published
Jan 7, 2026
Starts
Jan 1, 2026
Deadline
Dec 31, 2026
Exam Date
TBA
Eligibility Criteria & Educational Qualifications
Who is eligible to apply for this recruitment? Check essential educational qualifications, branch/stream criteria, and age limits.
Educational Qualification
Age Limit & Relaxations
Maximum age limit is 35 years as on the date of application. Upper age limit is relaxable by 5 years (up to 40 years) for women applicants and candidates belonging to reserved categories (SC, ST, OBC-NCL, PwBD).
Selection Procedure & Screening Stages
Verified Official SourceHow will candidates be selected? Multi-stage screening roadmap from application to final merit list.
Departmental Scrutiny & Seminar-Based Evaluation by Departmental Evaluation Committee (DEC)
Institute Selection Committee (ISC) Interview chaired by Dean (Academic Research)
The selection process operates year-round on a rolling basis:
1. Departmental Evaluation Committee (DEC): Evaluates application dossier, research novelty (ensuring no Ph.D. repetition), and candidate expertise via a dedicated research seminar (in-person or video conferencing).
2. Institute Selection Committee (ISC): Chaired by Dean (Academic Research) / Dean (Academic Courses), HoD, and subject experts for a 20-minute technical evaluation.
• Selected fellows join initially for 1 year, extendable up to 3 years based on annual progress reviews by the Performance Assessment Committee (PAC).
Syllabus & Exam Pattern Overview
Verified Official SourceWhat is the examination structure? Mode of test, total marks, duration, and negative marking rules.
Departmental Seminar (DEC) & Institute Interview (ISC)
50 Minutes
Not Applicable
| Subject / Section | Questions | Max Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Independent Research Proposal Defense, Domain Expertise & Extramural Grant Strategy | 1 | 100 |
Aspirant Ground Reality & Career Trajectory
Verified Official SourcePractical service rules, posting locations, transfer policy, and promotion ladder curated from official gazettes.
Work Culture & Environment
Office/fieldwork balance, duties, organizational environment.
Posting & Transfer Policy
Initial posting criteria, zone preferences, transfer liability.
Career & Promotion Ladder
Promotion timeline, seniority ladder, pay grade scaling.
Avoid common application rejection triggers, photo/signature guidelines, and certificate validity windows.
- Strict Ban on Ph.D. Work Extension: Research proposals that merely extend the applicant's Ph.D. work without demonstrating substantial novelty and independent direction are rejected by the Departmental Evaluation Committee (DEC).
- 5-Year Post-Ph.D. Eligibility Window: Applicants must have completed their Ph.D. within the last five (5) years.
- Mandatory Degree Submission for Thesis-Submitted Scholars: Candidates applying after thesis submission must submit their provisional or final Ph.D. degree certificate within six (6) months of appointment, failing which the appointment is automatically terminated.
- IIT Madras Alumni Mentor Restriction: IITM graduates cannot continue under their Ph.D. guide and must apply to a different department with a distinct mentor faculty member.
- Year-Round Application Procedure: Applications are accepted continuously throughout the year by emailing the complete dossier in the prescribed format to [email protected]. Shortlisted candidates receive II AC train fare reimbursement for attending interviews.
Category-Wise Vacancy Breakdown & Pay Scale
Detailed post distribution across UR, OBC, EWS, SC, ST quotas and 7th CPC Pay Matrix / Monthly Stipend.
Category-Wise Vacancy Distribution
- Institute Post-Doctoral Fellow (IPDF)Rolling selection across Aerospace, Applied Mechanics, Biotechnology, Chemical, Chemistry, Civil, Computer Science, Electrical, Engineering Design, Humanities, Management, Mathematics, Mechanical, Metallurgical, Ocean, and Physics departments
Pay Scale & Monthly Remuneration
Consolidated fellowship between ₹58,000/- to ₹67,000/- per month (fixed by the Institute Selection Committee based on qualification and research experience) + House Rent Allowance (HRA) as per Central Government norms if campus accommodation is not provided. In addition, an annual contingency grant of ₹1,00,000/- per annum is provided for research supplies and conference travel. Fellows receive full medical/hospital coverage, travel allowance (II AC train fare) for interview attendance, 30 days annual leave, and paid maternity leave for women fellows.
How to Apply Online Step-by-Step?
Follow this verified step-by-step application procedure on the official recruitment portal.
Application Procedure
Application Fee & Category Concessions
Nil. No application fee is charged for applying to the Institute Post-Doctoral Fellowship.
Official Notification & Portal Verification
Direct links to the authorized government portal, official notification PDF, and career portal.
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Image to PDF Combiner
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Similar Ph.D Opportunities
Jobs by Qualifications & States
Crucial Recruitment Dates
Official schedule & key deadlines
Published
Jan 7, 2026
Starts
Jan 1, 2026
Deadline
Dec 31, 2026
Exam Date
TBA
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Selection Procedure & Screening Stages
Verified Official SourceHow will candidates be selected? Multi-stage screening roadmap from application to final merit list.
Departmental Scrutiny & Seminar-Based Evaluation by Departmental Evaluation Committee (DEC)
Institute Selection Committee (ISC) Interview chaired by Dean (Academic Research)
The selection process operates year-round on a rolling basis:
1. Departmental Evaluation Committee (DEC): Evaluates application dossier, research novelty (ensuring no Ph.D. repetition), and candidate expertise via a dedicated research seminar (in-person or video conferencing).
2. Institute Selection Committee (ISC): Chaired by Dean (Academic Research) / Dean (Academic Courses), HoD, and subject experts for a 20-minute technical evaluation.
• Selected fellows join initially for 1 year, extendable up to 3 years based on annual progress reviews by the Performance Assessment Committee (PAC).
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