Pursuing a post-doctoral fellowship program after a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) opens endless career opportunities in advanced research and academics. So, if you want to gather interesting details about post-doctoral fellowship 2023, this is the guide for you. Let’s dive in.

Key Highlights

• What is a post-doctoral fellowship?
• Responsibilities performed during post-PhD fellowship
• 5 popular Indian post-doctoral fellowship universities
  • IIT Mumbai
  • IIT Delhi
  • IISc Bangalore
  • IIA Bangalore
  • IGIDR
• What is a UGC post-doctoral fellowship?
• Top universities offering American post-doctoral fellowship for Indian students
• Eligibility criteria for post-doctoral fellowship in India

What is a post-doctoral fellowship?

A post-doctoral fellowship is a temporary position that allows PhD graduates to work as independent researchers and strengthen their research capacities. They gain valuable training experience during the fellowships that eventually help in building their network and brightening their career prospects. In other words, for students, the fellowship acts as a transitional period between the PhD degree and obtaining full-time professional employment.
Post-doctoral fellowship is also known as post-doctoral, postdoc, or post-doctoral research. During this period, students are known as post-doctoral fellows. Factors like the country of research, university, field of study, etc., determine the fellowship duration. Generally, it lasts for 2-3 years.

Responsibilities performed during post-PhD fellowship

Some of the major responsibilities post-doctoral fellows perform during the fellowship are:

• They can teach informally in educational institutions and build a network with other post-doctoral fellows and educators. They can even mentor students and prepare them for roles in training, teaching, etc.
• They are allowed to conduct their experiments or provide key inputs during experiments performed by research groups.
• They can even do administrative/academic work assigned by the Head of Department.  

5 popular Indian post-doctoral fellowship universities

• Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay : IIT Bombay is one of the most prestigious Engineering institutes in India. Aspirants with PhD in Chemical Engineering, Life Sciences, Microbiology, Chemistry, Physics, etc., are eligible to apply for post-doctoral in this esteemed institution.
• Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi : Established in 1961, IIT Delhi is one of the best public research institutes located in South Delhi. It offers post-doctoral fellowships in academic departments, such as Humanities and Social Science, Computer Science and Engineering, etc. It expects PhD graduates to conduct research and devote ~20% of their training time to teaching in their chosen field during the fellowship.
• Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore : IISc is recognised as an Institution of Eminence (IoE) by the Indian Government. Every year, the institute welcomes PhD graduates for fellowship in departments like Biological Sciences, Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Mechanical Sciences, etc.
• Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bangalore : IIA is a premier academic institute devoted to research in Astrophysics, Astronomy, and related Physics. Students with a PhD degree in Physical/Mathematical Sciences from a reputed university can apply for the postdoc fellowship. Its duration is 2 years with an extension of one more year.
• Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research (IGIDR) : IGIDR is an advanced research institute in Mumbai. It offers fellowships to scholars with a PhD degree and an exceptional academic record. Generally, the fellowship is granted for one year, which can be extended to one more year.

What is a UGC post-doctoral fellowship?

Established by an Act of Parliament in 1956, the University Grants Commission (UGC) provides post-doctoral fellowships to support higher education and to give PhD graduates access to quality research opportunities in areas like Science, Engineering & Technology, Humanities, and Social Sciences. Every year, different post-doctoral fellowship UGC schemes are rolled out to benefit students, faculties, and universities.

• Latest UGC guidelines for post-doctoral fellowship: Students are advised to check the official UGC website to get accurate information about various schemes, UGC post-doctoral fellowship 2023 last date to apply, the latest guidelines regarding the eligibility criteria, and the admission process.

Top universities offering American post-doctoral fellowship for Indian students

United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF) is one of the most popular bodies responsible for promoting mutual understanding between Indians and US citizens. It offers post-doctoral fellowships for Indian students in the US to strengthen academics. Some US universities offering fellowships for post-doctoral research are as follows:

• University of South Florida
• Stanford University
• University of California, Irvine

Eligibility criteria for post-doctoral fellowship in India

A PhD from a recognised university is a must to be eligible for a postdoc in Indian universities. Some universities have an age limit restriction, whereas others prefer aspirants with relevant work experience. Therefore, check university-specific requirements before applying.
Thus, as a research enthusiast, you will find several post-doctoral fellowship programs available across the globe. If financial constraints are bothering you in planning your academic journey, you can opt for a loan for education. At Avanse Financial Services, we offer customised education loans with several benefits. Connect with us to know more about student loans in India and their benefits!