Career and Research

Opportunities in
Physics
in India and abroad

Branches of Physics

Relativistic Physics

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Astronomy/Astrophysi
cs
Classical Physics
Low Temperature
Physics
Plasma Physics
Quantum Physics
Atomic & Solid State
Physics

Stars, Galaxies,
Cosmos
Light, Heat, Motion,
Electricity, Magnetism
Superconductivity
Discharge tubes,
Fusion
Lasers, LED's, Fiber
Optics, Quantum Dots
Material Science,
Semiconductors,
Surface Physics,
Nanotechnology
Stars, Cosmology,
Particle Physics

Branches of Physics

Nuclear Physics
High Energy
Particle Physics

Virus crystallography
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Macromolecular
Biology
Accelerator
Physics

Particle Accelerators,
RF Devices, X-ray
Nuclei, Fission,
Radiation Therapy
Subatomic Physics,
Quarks

The common route

CSIR-UGC
JRF
IfGATE
you qualify either of these, you can directly

apply for PhD in any central University, CSIR

lab or any IIT. You can do this online.
Candidates with no GATE/CSIR also can also
apply for this admission provided they could
clear the entrance test conducted by the
respective institute .There will be two
sessions for admission, one session in January
and one in June. please visit the respective
institute website for more information.
n both cases, the final selection is based on Interview as we
Remember there are 15 IITS, 18 NITs and 40 central universities
all over India

What is beyond CSIR UGC JRF ?

Joint Entrance Screening test(JEST) :
Joint Entrance Screening Test (JEST) is a common
qualifying test for admissions to Ph.D. programmes in
Physics at the following premier Indian research
institutions

Application Fee of Rs. 100

ST 2013 Important Dates:

pening of on-line applications Second week of November 20
ww.jest.org.in.

www.jest.org.in.

ARIES

Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences, Nainital: Astronomy and Astrophysics, and
Atmospheric Physics.

HBNI
HRI
IGCAR

Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai

Harish-Chandra Research Institute, Allahabad: Theoretical Physics, Astrophysics
Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam: Materials Science, Condensed Matter
(Experimental and Theoretical), Radiation Damage and Accelerator-based Research, Sensors and
Applications, Science and Technology of Nanomaterials, Computational Materials Science, Reactor
Physics, Radiation Physics and Atmospheric Science.

IIA

Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore: Astronomy and Astrophysics, Astronomical

Instrumentation, Optics, and Atomic Physics.

IISc

Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore: Condensed Matter Physics (Experiments and Theory),
Astronomy and Astrophysics (Theoretical), Atomic and Optical Physics (Experimental),
Biocrystallography
and Bio-informatics, and High Energy Physics (Theoretical).

IISER MOHALI

Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Mohali: Quantum Theory, Quantum Information
Processing, NMR-Methodology, Optics, Statistical Mechanics, Quantum
Thermodynamics, Non-linear Dynamics, String Theory, Ultrafast Physics, and Low Temperature
Mesoscopic Physics.

IISER PUNE

Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune: Field Theory, Theoretical Particle Physics,
Condensed Matter Physics, Non-linear Dynamics, Complex Systems and Networks,
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, Quantum Information Processing, Radio Astrophysics,
Atomic Physics and Quantum Optics, Energy Studies, Solar and Plasma Physics, Nanosciences,
Scanning Probe Techniques, and Semiconductor Physics and Devices.

IISER THIRUVANANTHAPURAM
Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Thiruvananthapuram: Experimental Condensed
Matter: Magnetic and Superconducting materials,Nanoscience and Energy materials, Photonics, Soft
Condensed Matter, Semiconductor Physics and Devices, Surface Sciences and Nano-scale Plasmonics,
Terahertz and Ultrafast Spectroscopy; Theory:Cosmology, Classical and Quantum Gravity, Gravitational
Wave Physics, Quantum Information Theory, Quantum Field Theory, and Statistical Physics.
IMSc

The Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Chennai: Theoretical Physics, and Theoretical Computer
Science.

IOP
IPR
IUCAA
JNCASR
NCRA-TIFR
NISER

PRL
RRCAT

RRI
SINP

Institute of Physics, Bhubaneswar: Physics (Condensed Matter, Nuclear and High Energy Physics) and
Accelerator-based Research.
Institute for Plasma Research, Gandhinagar: Physics (Experimental and Theoretical).
Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pune: Physics, Astronomy and Astrophysics.
Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore: Experimental and Theoretical
Condensed Matter Physics, Statistical Mechanics, and Materials Science.
National Centre for Radio Astrophysics, TIFR, Pune: Astronomy and Astrophysics.
National Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhubaneswar: Theoretical High Energy Physics
and Lattice QCD, Experimental High Energy Physics, Condensed Matter Physics (Theory
and Experiment), Optics and Metamaterials.
Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad: Theoretical Physics, Astronomy and Astrophysics, Solar
Physics, Space and Atmospheric Sciences, Planetary Science and Geo-Sciences.
Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology, Indore: Lasers and their Applications, Laser Plasma
Interaction, Cold Atom Physics, Condensed Matter Physics (Superconductivity and
Magnetism, Crystals and Thin Films), Nanomaterials and Applications, Non-linear and Ultrafast Optical
Studies, Beam Physics, and Free Electron Laser.
Raman Research Institute, Bangalore: Astronomy and Astrophysics, Light and Matter Physics,
Soft Condensed Matter Physics (Liquid Crystals, Physics in Biology), and Theoretical Physics.
Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Kolkata: Condensed Matter Physics (Theory and Experiments),
Nuclear Physics (Theory and Experiments), High Energy Physics (Theory and Experiments),
Astroparticle Physics, Quantum Gravity, String Theory, Mathematical Physics, and Materials Science
(Surface Science and Plasma Physics).

SNBNCBS

Satyendra Nath Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Kolkata: Astrophysics and Cosmology,
Chemical and Biological Physics, Condensed Matter Physics and Material Science, High
Energy Physics and Quantum Field Theory, Mathematical Physics, Nanosciences, Quantum Optics and
Quantum Information, Statistical Physics, and Complex Systems.

UGC-DAE CSR

UGC-DAE Consortium for Scientific Research, Indore: Surfaces, Interfaces, Thin Films and
Nanomaterials, Physics at Low Temperatures and High Magnetic Fields, X-ray, Optical and
Electron Spectroscopic Studies Using Synchrotron and Laboratory Sources;
High Spin States, and Nuclear Reactions.

VECC

Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre, Kolkata: Accelerator Physics, Condensed Matter Physics

The Tata Institute of Fundamental

Research
TIFR is a National Centre of the Government of India, under the
umbrella of the Department of Atomic Energy, as well as a
deemed University awarding degrees for master's and doctoral
programs.
Carry out basic research in physics, chemistry, biology,
mathematics, computer science and science education.
Main campus is located in Mumbai, but have additional campuses
in Pune, Bangalore and Hyderabad.

Nationwide Entrance Examination:

Sunday, December 9, 2012
Last date for application: October
26, http://www.tifr.res.in/gs20
2012
13

Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science

Calcutta
Oldest research institute in India.
Fundamental research in the frontier
areas of Physics, Chemistry, Biology,
Energy, Polymer and Materials.
Sir C. V. Raman worked at IACS during
1907 to 1933 on various topics of
Physics making discovery of the
celebrated effect on scattering of light
in1928,
Doctoral Programme
Motivated students aspiring to do high quality research
in Physics
and Chemistry are selected every year.
The selection is through an interview.
http://www.iacs.res.in/),

Major Institutes doing research in theoretical Physics

IMSc, The Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Chennai

tes fundamental research in frontier disciplines of Theoretica

uter Science, Mathematics, theoretical Physics, as well as in
disciplinary fields.
India-based Neutrino
Observatory (INO)

a multi-institutional effort aimed at building a world-class

underground laboratory with a rock cover of approx.1200 m for nonaccelerator based high energy and nuclear physics research in
India.
http://www.ino.tifr.res.in

Major Institutes doing research in theoretical Physics

HA Institute of Nuclear Physics, Kolkotta

tre for Math Science, Chennai

Institute of Physics, Bhuvaneswar

schandra Research Institute, Allahabad

avpur University

thiniketan,Kolkotta

t
t
t
t

of
of
of
of

Physics, Madras University

Physics, Benarus Hindu University
Physics,Punjab University
Physics, Delhi University

TS- Pilani, Goa, Hyderabad

A minimum of 60% aggregate in the qualifying
examination.
Shortlisted candidates will be called for a written
test/interview for selections.
Selected candidates will be given financial
assistance in the form of either a fellowship of any
government agency or of the Institute, project or
teaching assistantship, full/partial tuition waiver or
a combination http://www.bits-pilani.ac.in
of these.

PhD opportunities at Universities:

The Universities in India especially the central universities or the
state universities identified by the UGC as the Universities with
potential for excellence (UPE) is offering fellowships for the
students who are willing to do PhD
At present the fellowship amount is 8000 per month+12000
annual contingency. The universities have their own selection
criteria an entrance followed by an interview.
Project fellows:
Most of the research institutes, and Universities, IITS, NITS may
require project staff to work in their specific research project.
Once you selected you may be receive the specific fellowship as
specified in the contract. In most of the case you will be encouraged to
register for the PhD and continue the project side by side.
Students belongs to the SC/ST category has a special scheme called
Rajeev Gandhi national fellowship(RGNF) for doing the phD the
fellowship amount is around 14,000 per month equal to that of UGC
JRF.
Similarly students belongs to the minority community can also avail
the Maulana Azad national fellowship for doing their PhD

Research in Kerala

versity Centres- Kannur, Calicut ,Kerala and MG university centres offer

r own admission test for PhD

nally , many research Institutions are registered research centres under these
sities
SC Trivandrum is a research Centre under Kerala University
Thrissur is a research centre under MG University

hin University of Science and Technology

didates seeking registration shall have passed the Departme

ission Test.
Candidates who are working in research projects, relevant to the
research topic, which have been taken up by a department of the
University or by a Recognised Institution, and funded internally or
by external funding agencies, will be eligible for Full-Time
registration.

Space Physics Laboratory, Trivandrum

A part of VSSC, Trivandrum-a pioneer institution

dedicated for research in different disciplines of
Atmospheric, Space and Planetary Sciences, offers excellent
and challenging research opportunities in Physics, Chemistry
and Dynamics of lower, middle, and upper atmosphereionosphere and their coupling processes, Aerosols, Clouds,
Space Weather phenomena, and Lunar and Planetary
Explorations.
First Class M.Sc. Degree in Physics/Applied
Physics/Atmospheric Science/Meteorology/Space
Science/Planetary Sciences/Astronomy & Astrophysics with
minimum 60% marks as average of all semesters
Written test/Interview.

www.vssc.gov.in

Opportunities abroad
There are plenty of opportunities for the students who wish to carry out
research abroad:
To do research in USA
1) you should appear for GRE and TOEFL exams- ( English-language test )
2) based on your score you should apply for different universities
3) Based on the merit and availability of seat they will give admission
4)Most of the case you will have the stipend which will be enough for
your expense+ for a good saving , with out fellowship it may be difficult to
survive.

To do research in UK
1)You should have cleared the IELTS exams, then apply directly to the
K professors with your CV and interests. Having some research experience
ships-commonwealth-fellowships.htm)
will be give good weigtage

o do Ph.D in Germany (No Entrance Test; Typical duration is 3 yrs),

ne has to have research experience
nd must arrange to send recommendation letters from two Professors.
u may be interviewed online through 'skype'. Your command over
nglish language will also be tested during the interview

One can seek admission in the following Institutes as well. They may
consider candidates who have qualified JEST/NET/GATE or other tests of
the same kind :
Research in Nuclear Physics : IUAC - Inter-University Accelerator
Cetre, New Delhi (http://www.iuac.res.in/)
CENTRE FOR EXCELLENCE IN BASIC SCIENCES, Mumbai . (UNIVERSITY OF
MUMBAI & DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY) http://cbs.ac.in/
Centre for Non-linear Dynamics & Chaos
(http://www.bdu.ac.in/centers/non_linear_dynamics/), Thiruchirapalli,
Tamilnadu. (Under Bharathidasan University)

Some other institute where one can search/ approach for an

opportunity:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)

NIIST: Trivandrum
NPOL: cochin
C-MET: Thrissur
Central electrochemical research laboratory: karaikudi
DMRL Hyderabad
NPL Delhi

Apart from this there are some government fellowships for doing
research in some specific foreign countries and advt for this will
comes in time to time
You have to looks UGC site, MHRD sites and SERC DST sites regularly
for these information.

A very useful website/ blog for anyone interested in higher education in Physics

www.physicskerala.in/

If you want a copy of this Presentation,

please send a request by email to this id
bindukris@gmail.com

Thank you