IIA offers a range of positions for post-doctoral researchers. Applications for the PDF programme are invited three times a year: January, May, and September. In each cycle, the online application portal will remain open for one month, beginning in the first week of the respective month.
Currently, the application portal is closed. The next cycle will open in the first week of September 2025.
Post-Doctoral researcher positions are for candidates who have submitted Ph.D thesis and awaiting the award of the degree/thesis defense in Physical / Mathematical Sciences from a recognized University / Institute. The duration of the fellowship is only for a maximum of one year. Candidates should preferably be below the age of 36 years.
IIA offers a fellowship of Rs 46,000+ p.m for a period of one year. House rent and medical facilities are offered in accordance with the prevailing rules of the institute. PDRs need to make their own arrangement for their accommodation.
The regular post-doctoral fellowships are open to researchers with a Ph.D degree in Physical / Mathematical Sciences from a recognized University / Institute. Research experience of the candidate should have a significant overlap with the current research activities at IIA. The candidate should have a PhD degree or should have completed the thesis defense at the time of application. The duration of the fellowship is normally for two years, with a possible extension for another year. Candidates should preferably be below the age of 36 years.
Selected candidates, as post-doctoral fellows, are expected to work in close collaboration with members of the research groups at the institute and are also encouraged to carry out independent research.
IIA offers a fellowship of Rs 58,000/- p.m for a fresh PhD. A fellowship of Rs. 61,000/- pm will be offered for those with a minimum of 1 - 2 years of post-doctoral experience. A fellowship of Rs. 67,000/- pm will be offered for those with more experience. Other allowances such as house rent, book grant (Rs 10,000/year), medical facilities are offered in accordance with the prevailing rules of the institute. PDFs need to make their own arrangement for their accommodation.
The Chandrasekhar Post-Doctoral fellowship is for exceptionally bright candidates with outstanding academic credentials. Chandra Fellows may choose their own research topics or collaborate with groups or individuals in the institute. This fellowship is for a period of two years with a possibility of an extension for one more year. Candidates should be ordinarily below the age of 32 years.
The monthly stipend is Rs. 75,000 pm for candidates with up to 2 years post-doctoral experience and Rs. 80,000 pm for those with more than 2 years experience. Chandra Fellows would be entitled to an annual contingency grant of Rs.2,00,000/-, as well as to housing (subject to availability), medical and other benefits in accordance with the prevailing rules of the institute. Travel support by economy air fare will be available at the time of taking up the assignment.
The application can be made online and the instructions are given in the post-doc application portal. Currently, the application portal is closed. New applications will be invited in the first week of September 2025.
National PDFs, INSPIRE Fellows and PDFs funded by other Government bodies, who wish to be hosted at IIA, may directly write to the Dean (dean@iiap.res.in) along with all the relevant documents for consideration and review at least one month in advance.
Selected candidates will be provided necessary infrastructure by the institute, such as office space, furniture, desktop computer, access to the Institute Computing Facilities and Library. National PDFs will be provided medical and other benefits as per institute norms on par with IIA PDF. Candidates research grants will be used for domestic travel, laptops, books, minor equipment ( in case of experiments), and any other research related expenses.