🇮🇳 Research Career Opportunities in India
Materials Science & Nanotechnology | National Opportunities March 2026
50+
Active Programs
₹1.25L+
Top Monthly Fellowship
23
IITs + IISc
1000+
Fellowships/Year
⏰ Current Deadlines
IIT Madras Summer Fellowship: March 2, 2026 | PMRF Applications: Rolling | INSPIRE Fellowship: Check portal for next cycle
🏆 Premium Government Fellowships
India's most prestigious research fellowships with verified official links
Prime Minister's Research Fellowship (PMRF)
₹70,000-80,000/month
Fellowship Details: ₹70K/month (Years 1-2), ₹75K/month (Year 3), ₹80K/month (Years 4-5)
Research Grant: ₹2 lakh per year (up to ₹10 lakh for 5 years)
Institutions: All IITs, IISERs, IISc Bangalore, select NITs & Central Universities
Focus Areas: Science, Engineering, Technology - cutting-edge research challenges
📅 Application Mode: Rolling (check portal for specific deadlines)
🎯 Selection: Rigorous national-level selection process
📧 Portal: portal.pmrf.in
🎯 Selection: Rigorous national-level selection process
📧 Portal: portal.pmrf.in
₹37-42K/month
INSPIRE Fellowship (DST)
Department of Science & Technology, Govt of India
PhD fellowship for 1st rank holders & INSPIRE scholars. JRF: ₹37,000/month + HRA; SRF: ₹42,000/month + HRA. Contingency: ₹20,000/year. Up to 5 years or PhD completion. 1000 fellowships/year.
🔗 Apply at INSPIRE Portal
₹1.25L/month
INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship
DST India
Post-PhD fellowship for researchers aged 27-32. ₹1,25,000/month + ₹2000 annual increment. Research grant: ₹7 lakh/year for 5 years. Build independent research career at Indian institutions.
📝 INSPIRE Faculty Portal
SERB Fellowship
SERB National Postdoctoral Fellowship (N-PDF)
Science & Engineering Research Board
Support for motivated young researchers in frontier areas of S&T. Work under mentor at recognized Indian institutions. Competitive fellowship for building independent research profile.
🔬 SERB Official Site
Return to India
Ramanujan Fellowship
SERB, DST
For brilliant scientists from abroad returning to India. Scientist-specific, highly selective. Regular research grants through extramural funding schemes. Rolling applications throughout 2026.
🌏 Ramanujan Program Info
🎓 IIT & Premier Institutions Programs
Opportunities at India's top technical institutions
Deadline: Mar 2, 2026
IIT Madras Summer Fellowship 2026
Indian Institute of Technology Madras
2-month on-campus research fellowship (May 18 - July 17, 2026). Stipend: ₹15,000/month (max 2 months). Guided mini-project under IITM faculty. Hostel/mess on paid basis. Non-IIT students only.
📝 Apply at IIT Madras Portal
Deadline: Mar 30, 2026
IIT Madras PhD Admissions 2026-27
IIT Madras
PhD and M.S. (by research) programs for Jul-Nov 2026. Materials Science & Engineering department. Application window open until March 30, 2026, 5:00 PM. All categories welcome with valid documents.
🎓 IIT Madras Research Portal
50 Positions
IISc Raman Post-Doc Program
Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
Highly selective postdoc program under Institute of Eminence initiative. 50 positions across all divisions. Open to OCI, PIO, and foreign nationals. Materials Research Centre included. Rolling applications.
🌟 IISc Postdoc Portal
Check Regularly
IISc Materials Engineering Opportunities
IISc Bangalore - Materials Engineering
Postdoctoral, project assistant positions in fatigue/creep of titanium alloys, thin films, advanced manufacturing. ₹25K-31K/month. Check department website for current openings.
🔍 View Current Positions
Multiple Locations
IISER Research Programs
Indian Institutes of Science Education & Research
PhD and integrated programs at IISERs (Pune, Kolkata, Mohali, Bhopal, Thiruvananthapuram, Tirupati, Berhampur). Materials chemistry, condensed matter physics. Check individual IISER portals.
🏛️ Explore IISER Programs
🔬 CSIR Labs & National Research Institutes
Positions at India's premier national laboratories
National Labs
CSIR Laboratory Internships & Positions
Council of Scientific & Industrial Research
38 national laboratories across India. NCL, CCMB, CDRI, NAL, CSIR-IMMT, CSIR-AMPRI. Materials science, nanotechnology, biotechnology. Laboratory-wise applications (no central portal).
🏢 CSIR Career Portal
Materials Focus
CSIR-IMMT Research Positions
Institute of Minerals & Materials Technology, Bhubaneswar
Scientists, fellow scientists, research fellows, project assistants. Materials engineering focus. Applications accepted throughout year. Contact Director for current openings.
📧 CSIR-IMMT Jobs
Check Updates
CSIR-AMPRI Project Positions
Advanced Materials & Processes Research Institute, Bhopal
Project-based positions for materials science research. Cutting-edge R&D in advanced materials. Walk-in interviews & online applications. Check recruitment section regularly.
📋 CSIR-AMPRI Recruitment
DAE
BARC Training & Research Programs
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre
BARC Training School, research fellowships. Nuclear materials, advanced ceramics, metallurgy. Check DAE recruitment portal for BARC positions and OCES exam.
⚛️ BARC Official Site
Defence R&D
DRDO Scientist Positions
Defence Research & Development Organisation
Advanced materials for defence applications. Metallurgy, composites, nanomaterials. DRDO RAC exam for Scientist B entry. Multiple labs across India.
🛡️ DRDO Careers
Space Research
ISRO Scientist/Engineer Positions
Indian Space Research Organisation
Materials scientists for aerospace applications. Composites, thermal protection systems, lightweight alloys. ICRB exam for direct recruitment.
🚀 ISRO Recruitment
💰 SERB Research Funding Schemes
Competitive research grants for Indian researchers
Up to ₹60L/3yrs
SERB Core Research Grant (CRG)
SERB
Investigator-driven basic and applied research. Up to ₹60 lakh over 3 years. Equipment, consumables, travel, manpower support. Rolling deadlines. Indian researchers at recognized institutions.
💼 Apply for CRG
Up to ₹30L/2yrs
SERB Start-up Research Grant (SRG)
SERB
For first-time faculty members within 3 years of joining. Seed funding to establish research program. Up to ₹30 lakh for 2 years. Must not have received other grants as PI.
🌱 SRG Application
Women Scientists
SERB-POWER Fellowship
Promoting Opportunities for Women in Exploratory Research
Level A: ₹60L/3yrs (10+ years experience). Level B: ₹30L (mid-career). Dedicated funding for women researchers to enhance diversity in Indian science.
👩🔬 SERB-POWER Info
Industry-Relevant
IMPRINT (DST-MoE)
Impacting Research Innovation & Technology
Joint program of Ministry of Education and DST. Address major engineering challenges. Advanced materials, clean energy, cyber-physical systems. Industry partnerships encouraged.
🏭 IMPRINT Program
💼 Career Prospects & Salary in India (2026 Verified Data)
Based on industry reports, IIT placement data, and government salary scales | March 2026
Entry-Level (Freshers)
₹3-8 LPA
B.Tech/M.Sc graduates, materials/metallurgy
IIT Freshers (Top)
₹15-35 LPA
IIT graduates, core materials engineering
Mid-Career (5-10 yrs)
₹8-15 LPA
Project leadership, R&D roles
Senior (10+ years)
₹15-30 LPA
Management, specialized expertise
PhD Fellows (PMRF)
₹70-80K/month
+ ₹2L/year research grant
Govt Scientists (DRDO/ISRO)
₹56K-₹2.5L/month
Level 10-14, 7th Pay Commission + benefits
📈 India-Specific Career Insights
- ✓ PSU Jobs: BHEL, SAIL, NTPC, HAL offer ₹8-12 LPA with excellent job security
- ✓ Government Labs: CSIR, DRDO, BARC, ISRO positions with Grade Pay + allowances
- ✓ Top Recruiters: Tata Steel, JSW, Vedanta, L&T, Reliance Industries
- ✓ Startups in Materials: Growing opportunities in advanced materials, cleantech
- ✓ Academic Careers: IIT Assistant Professor starts at ₹1.44L-1.8L/month (Level 12)
🔗 Essential Resources & Portals
PMRF Portal
pmrf.in - Prime Minister's Research Fellowship
INSPIRE Fellowship
online-inspire.gov.in - DST INSPIRE programs
SERB Funding
serb.gov.in - Research grants & fellowships
CSIR Careers
csir.res.in - 38 national laboratories
IIT Madras
iitm.ac.in - Research admissions
IISc Bangalore
iisc.ac.in - Postdoc & faculty positions
DST India
dst.gov.in - Department of Science & Technology
India Science Portal
indiascienceandtechnology.gov.in - ISTI Portal