IIT Madras Institute Post-Doctoral Fellowship 2026: Apply Online

About Organization

Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) is an premier institute of national importance located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Established in 1959, IIT Madras is renowned globally for its world-class academic programs, cutting-edge research infrastructure, and top rankings in engineering and technology disciplines.

About Position

The Institute Post-Doctoral Fellowship (IPDF) scheme aims to attract high-quality early-career researchers to enhance the research output of IIT Madras while bridging the gap between doctoral research and faculty positions. Selected fellows work closely with mentor faculty members across diverse academic departments and can also serve as guest faculty.

Qualifications & Experience

• Education: Ph.D. degree holders who have completed their doctorate within the last 5 years. Ph.D. scholars who have submitted their thesis are also eligible (must produce provisional/degree certificate within 6 months).

• Publications: Minimum of two (2) Q1 (top quartile) journal publications as primary contributor.

• Age Limit: Maximum 32 years as of the joining date. Relaxation of 5 years for SC/ST/Women candidates and 3 years for OBC-NCL candidates.

• Nomination: Must be nominated by an IIT Madras faculty member who signs a commitment of top-up project funds.

Selection Process

1. Submission of research proposal and application to the identified faculty mentor.

2. Initial scrutiny by the respective academic department.

3. Seminar-based evaluation by the Departmental Evaluation Committee (DEC).

4. Interview and final evaluation by the Institute Selection Committee (ISC) chaired by Dean (AR).

5. Approval and offer letter issuance by the competent authority (Selections are conducted throughout the year).

Who Can Apply

• Early-career Ph.D. holders (within 5 years of Ph.D. completion) and candidates who have submitted their Ph.D. thesis with strong Q1 publication records.

• Outstanding researchers seeking post-doctoral tenure at a premier research institute in India.

Why Apply

• High consolidated fellowship of ₹1,30,000/- per month (₹70,000 Base Institute funds + ₹60,000 Faculty project top-up).

• Annual contingency grant of ₹2,00,000/- for travel, consumables, and conferences.

• Opportunity to serve as co-guide for undergraduate/postgraduate thesis projects and guest faculty compensation.

How to Apply

1. Visit the IIT Madras careers portal ([https://www.iitm.ac.in/careers/post-doctoral-opportunities](https://www.iitm.ac.in/careers/post-doctoral-opportunities)).

2. Identify a prospective mentor faculty member in your research discipline on the department website.

3. Submit your research proposal to the mentor and receive concurrence along with the signed Commitment Form (Annexure I).

4. Email your complete application package (under 25 MB) directly to the mentor faculty member.

Important Dates

• Application Process: Rolling Advertisements (Selections conducted throughout the year).

Important URLs

• Official Notification Brochure: https://www.iitm.ac.in/sites/default/files/Others/Guidelines%20final%20%28External%29.pdf

• IIT Madras PDF Opportunities Portal: https://www.iitm.ac.in/careers/post-doctoral-opportunities