IISER Kolkata is pleased to announce its Part-time PhD program, designed to facilitate advanced research pursuits for working professionals. This program offers a flexible pathway for individuals employed in technical, educational, or medical fields within industry, government institutes, organizations, and academia to undertake doctoral research while sustaining their current professional commitments.

General Eligibility Criteria:
Prospective candidates must meet the following prerequisites:

• Possession of a Master's Degree with a minimum of 55% marks, OR a 4-year/8-semester bachelor's degree program with a minimum of 75% marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade.
• A relaxation of 5% marks may be allowed for those belonging to SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer)/Differently-Abled, Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and other categories of candidates as per GoI norms. Candidates belonging to the respective reserved category need to submit relevant certificates and documents.
• Applicants must be less than 50 years of age at the commencement of the PhD.
• A minimum of 3 years of regular professional experience in their respective field is mandatory.
• A qualifying examination (e.g., NET/GATE) is not mandatory for admission to this program.
• Submission of a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the current employer is mandatory. The NOC template (Click here) should be followed. [If selected, the NOC must be submitted during the interview].

Department Specific requirements:
Department: Biological Sciences(DBS)

Interested Faculty's name: Prof. Rupak Datta
E-mail: rupakdatta@iiserkol.ac.in
Lab website:(Click Here)

A Part-time Ph.D. position is available in the laboratory of Prof. Rupak Datta in the broad area of disease biology, with an emphasis on uncovering the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying disease processes. The research would integrate approaches in cell and molecular biology, translational research, and protein biochemistry to address clinically relevant questions.

This position is specifically designed for working medical professionals, providing an opportunity to pursue advanced research by effectively integrating clinical insights with fundamental biological investigation.
Details about ongoing research projects can be found on the laboratory website: Click Here


Eligibility: Candidates should possess an MBBS and/or MD degree in a relevant medical discipline from a recognized institution with a minimum of 55% marks (or equivalent grade) and should be actively engaged in clinical practice or affiliated with a hospital/medical institution.

Desirable: A strong interest in translational and disease-oriented research, along with a basic understanding of biochemistry, molecular biology, and cell biology; prior research exposure or laboratory experience in relevant areas will be considered an advantage. The candidate should have strong analytical and problem-solving skills and a motivation to bridge clinical practice with basic research.

 

Admission Process:
The admission procedure is structured as follows:

• Candidates are required to complete the online application form accessible via the IISER Kolkata application portal.
• Applicants must identify and include the name of a potential supervisor at IISER Kolkata in their application, following prior discussion and obtaining consent from the proposed supervisor.
• The list of Shortlisted candidates will be notified on the website with interview dates.
• All candidates must successfully qualify the PhD selection interview conducted by IISER Kolkata.

For a comprehensive understanding of the program and frequently asked questions, please refer to our FAQ Document: [Click here]
The mandatory No Objection Certificate (NOC) template can be accessed here: [Click here]

Important Dates:

• PhD application portal opens: 26.03.2026
• Application portal closes: 07.05.2026
• Publication of shortlist for the Interview: 15.05.2026
• Selection Interview: 29.05.2026 - 19.06.2026
• Publication of PhD interview results by: 25.06.2026
• Pre-registration portal opens: 29.06.2026
• Pre-registration deadline: To be announced
• PhD Registration : 29.07.2026