Plaksha Doctoral Fellowship (PhD Program)

The PhD program at Plaksha puts emphasis on grand challenges including health, agriculture, water security, clean energy, etc. that cut across several disciplines, and faculty members are actively engaged in research in these disciplines.

Multiple areas are available including Applied Engineering, Applied Mathematics, AI/ML & Automation, Computational Bioengineering, Robotics, Computer Science, Engineering Education, Design Thinking, Macroeconomics and development, Water Technology, etc. 

PhD scholars will be selected based on admission test, interview and their research interests, talent for innovation, and drive to make an impact. We are looking for candidates who are keen to take up intellectual challenges with an eye towards building novel artifacts, devices, and systems, investigate the interface between technology and society, and solve real-life problems. 

Students will be admitted to the PhD program at the beginning of each academic semester, i.e., in August and January. 

Responsibilities

1. Conducting cutting edge original research in collaboration with their research supervisor(s).   
2. Communicating their research in top-tier peer reviewed journals and participating in leading conferences of their field of study; creating new technologies, machines, IPR, etc.         
3. Teaching assistance up to 20 hours per week including (among others) supervision of students’ lab-work, conducting recitations/tutorials, grading assignments, quizzes, or lab reports, data collection and/or analysis, maintenance of LMS and other administrative duties as required, for the duration of the PhD program.
4. In addition, scholars may be assigned 3 to 4 hours per week of actual teaching responsibility.

Compensation and benefits

1. PhD scholars will receive a monthly stipend of INR 60,000 in their first and second years, and INR 70,000 after completion of their second year for subsequent years. This support is available for a total of 4 years subject to successful annual review of their academic progress, with a possible extension of one year. This support is available for students that are not being sponsored by government/semi-government bodies, industry or international organizations.         
2. PhD scholars will be eligible to apply for an international/ national research internship for the duration of 1 to 2 semesters at Plaksha’s partnering institutions or research laboratories subject to internship contributes significantly to the completion of the scholars’ research. The support in this fellowship may include airfare, and a monthly stipend commensurate with living expenses at the host institute, subject to the availability of funds         
3. Scholars will also be eligible to apply for a conference/workshop-related travel allowance of upto INR 2,00,000 during the entire duration of their doctoral program.

More information regarding compensation and benefits is provided in PhD program guidelines. 

Open to brilliant individuals desirous of starting their career in academia. The program is very selective and only those who have a genuine interest in pursuing research will be selected. As per UGC rules, candidates with the following qualifications are eligible to apply for the PhD program: a 1-year/master’s degree program (after 4-year undergraduate degree), 2-year master’s degree program (after 3-year undergraduate degree), 5-year Dual or integrated degree or an equivalent program, 4-year/8-semester bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Science, Law, Architecture, Social Science, Humanities, and others and M.Phill degree 

Candidates with an equivalent degree from a foreign educational institution accredited by an Assessment and Accreditation Agency which is approved, recognized, or authorized by an authority, established or incorporated under a law in its home country or any other statutory authority in that country to assess, accredit or assure quality and standards of educational institutions. 

 

Candidates with an equivalent degree from a foreign educational institution accredited by an Assessment and Accreditation Agency which is approved, recognized, or authorized by an authority, established or incorporated under a law in its home country or any other statutory authority in that country to assess, accredit or assure quality and standards of educational institutions.

Preference will be given to those applicants who have qualified in at least one of the following exams: NET or GATE/ and/ or have demonstrated research potential through publications in recognized journals.

Research interests should preferably align with our thrust areas such as machine learning, artificial intelligence, economics, robotics and cyber-physical systems, biological systems, and humanities among others. For more details and specific eligibility requirements of research areas, please check the research area specifications on the website. You can choose up to 2 areas of interest for the application. 

The admission process is rigorous and aims to understand the journey (academic, personal, and professional) of the applicant- - to ensure that they are a good fit for the program. To apply for admission to the program, candidates must fill out the online application form on the Plaksha University website. The admission process consists of an admission test followed by an interview.  

Only those candidates who fulfil the eligibility criteria will be considered for the admission test. The admission test syllabus will consist of questions that test the candidate’s research, analytical, quantitative aptitude and verbal aptitude. 

The interview will assess the candidates on the following aspects: 

a. The candidate possesses the competence for the proposed research 

b. The research work can be suitably undertaken at the University 

c. The research topic is relevant 

Qualified candidates will be offered admission to join the PhD program either in the monsoon semester (August) or in the spring semester (January). 

Applicants would be required to attach the following as a part of the form:

1. CV                                                                                                      
2. Details of two references who would be willing to write letter of recommendation. The applicant will be required to furnish LOR from the references on qualification for interviews. 
3. Statement of Research Interest [limit of 1500 words] - please include your thoughts on why you're applying, your relevant skills and experience, your research interests, as well as, about your educational and career aspirations. 
4. Passport-size photograph
5. Id & address proofs
6. Academic records & certificates

Applications can be submitted by completing the form on our portal.

General instructions for filling the application form:

1. All fields marked by the * sign are mandatory. You will not be able to submit the Application Form unless all these fields have been duly filled  
2. If you are unable to find a suitable response in the options for any question in the Application Form, please click on the option 'Others'                                                          
3. Do not attach invalid documents or password-protected attachments                          
4. If your PhD program is being sponsored by any govt. body or corporates or any other organization, please attach the official documents for the same (preferably sponsorship certificate/letter) in the application form
5. At the time of the interview round, you will be required to carry your original ID proof and original copies of all the documents including marksheets, graduation certificates, work experience certificates, etc.

If you face any technical issues while filling in your application form, please write to us at phd.academics@plaksha.edu.in . Please add this email address to your mail contacts as this will be used for all correspondence regarding your application process.

Plaksha University is a not-for-profit private research university located in Mohali, Punjab, India. Founded by businessmen and technology entrepreneurs and corporate-funded technical university, established under the Punjab State Private Universities Policy of 2010. It is spread in a 50-acre campus in Sector 101 A near the Chandigarh International Airport.