Content Curator | Updated on - Apr 8, 2026

The Post-Doctoral Fellowship (PDF) / Research Associate (RA) Programme at the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), Thiruvananthapuram is a full-time, campus-based research programme open to PhD degree holders across a broad range of disciplines including Science, Engineering, Humanities, Social Sciences, and Management. The programme is offered under three categories based on postdoctoral experience, with monthly stipends ranging from Rs. 58,000 to Rs. 67,000. The duration is initially one year, extendable by one more year subject to a performance review. Positions are available under three modes: IIST-funded (regular PDF/RA), Faculty Project-Funded PDF/RA, and Externally Funded PDF/RA (for National PDF, INSPIRE Fellows, and other government-funded fellows). The programme is highly sought after for its direct connection to ISRO and the Indian Space Programme, offering a unique research environment and access to cutting-edge space science infrastructure.

As of April 2026, the official IIST admissions page states that there are currently no regular PDF/RA positions available; only applications for Faculty Project-Funded PDF/RA positions are being invited. Positions are advertised on an as-needed basis on the IIST website. Candidates are advised to regularly check https://www.iist.ac.in/post-doctoral and https://www.iist.ac.in/admission/iist-post-doctoral-programme for the latest openings.

Key Points

IIST PDF/RA positions are open to Indian citizens (including NRI/PIO) as well as foreign nationals, making it one of the few Indian institutes with an internationally open postdoctoral programme.
Candidates must hold a PhD from an institution other than IIST; IIST's own PhD graduates are not eligible for the institute-funded PDF/RA positions.
Publication requirements are stringent: at least 2 lead-author publications in Q1/Q2 journals for fresh PhDs (PDF-I/RA-I), and at least 3 publications (2 as lead author) in Q1/Q2 journals for candidates with prior postdoctoral experience (PDF-II/RA-II and PDF-III/RA-III).
A research/contingency grant of up to Rs. 25,000 is provided for international travel after successful completion of the first year.
Campus accommodation is provided; if unavailable, HRA is provided as per institute norms.
IIST also welcomes externally funded fellows (National PDF, INSPIRE, DST, etc.) who wish to be hosted at IIST, providing them with infrastructure, medical benefits, and accommodation (subject to availability).
The research area of the PDF/RA must align with ongoing research at IIST; candidates are required to prepare a research proposal in discussion with a proposed IIST mentor before applying.

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

IIST PDF Fees

The Post Doctoral Fellowship Programme at IIST does not involve any tuition or programme fees payable by the fellow. Instead, fellows receive a monthly stipend (fellowship) that covers their living and research expenses. There are no semester fees, admission fees, or caution deposits applicable to PDF/RA positions. The only financial outgo for fellows may be incidental expenses such as medical co-payments or optional services, as per institute norms.

Fee Components

Fee Component	Amount (Rs.)
Tuition / Programme Fee	Nil
Admission Fee	Nil
Caution Deposit	Nil
Total Fees Payable by Fellow	Nil

All PDF/RA fellows receive a monthly stipend as per their category (see Scholarships section).
Campus accommodation is provided; if unavailable, HRA is provided as per institute norms.
Medical facilities are provided as per institute regulations.
For Faculty Project-Funded PDF/RA positions, fellowship and benefits are as per the norms of the project funding agency.
For Externally Funded PDF/RA (National PDF, INSPIRE, etc.), the fellow's research grants are used for domestic travel, laptops, books, minor equipment, and other research-related expenses.

IIST PDF Admission 2026

IIST PDF/RA positions are not admitted through a fixed annual cycle; they are advertised on an as-needed basis depending on faculty requirements and project funding. As of April 2026, only Faculty Project-Funded PDF/RA positions are open for applications; regular IIST-funded PDF/RA positions are currently not available. Candidates must identify a potential IIST mentor, prepare a research proposal in consultation with them, and apply online through the IIST portal. Selection is based on an interview.

Admission Process Timeline

Event	Details
Position Advertisement	As and when available on https://www.iist.ac.in/post-doctoral
Application Mode	Online only via IIST portal
Application Documents	CV, PhD thesis summary, publication list, research proposal (max 2 pages), 3 referee details
Selection Process	Interview (date communicated to shortlisted candidates)
Duration of Programme	1 year (extendable by 1 more year subject to performance review)
Joining	As per offer letter

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must hold a PhD degree from a duly recognized Indian or foreign university/institute (IIST's own PhD graduates are not eligible for institute-funded positions).
For PDF-I/RA-I (fresh PhD): At least 2 lead-author publications in Q1/Q2 journals with high impact factor. For PDF-II/RA-II and PDF-III/RA-III (with prior postdoctoral experience): At least 3 research publications in Q1/Q2 journals, with 2 as lead author.
Candidates must be below 35 years of age (age relaxation as per Government of India norms, including for EWS).
The proposed research area must align with ongoing research at IIST; candidates must prepare a research proposal in discussion with a proposed IIST mentor.

Admission Process

Identify a potential IIST faculty mentor whose research area aligns with your expertise.
Prepare a research proposal (not exceeding 2 pages) in discussion with the proposed mentor.
Apply online through the IIST portal with CV, PhD thesis summary (max 1 page), detailed publication list, research proposal, and contact details of 3 referees (including thesis supervisor).
For externally funded positions (National PDF, INSPIRE, etc.), upload relevant documents from the funding agency.
Shortlisted candidates will be called for an interview; final selection is based on interview performance.
Selected candidates will receive an offer letter with joining details.

IIST PDF Scholarships 2026

IIST provides competitive monthly stipends to PDF/RA fellows, structured in three tiers based on postdoctoral experience. The fellowship amounts are among the higher end for postdoctoral positions in India, reflecting IIST's commitment to attracting top research talent. Additional support includes campus accommodation (or HRA), medical facilities, and a travel grant for international conferences after the first year.

Fellowship Categories

Fellowship Category	Monthly Stipend	Eligibility
PDF-I / RA-I	Rs. 58,000 per month	Fresh PhD (no prior postdoctoral experience)
PDF-II / RA-II	Rs. 61,000 per month	1-2 years of postdoctoral experience
PDF-III / RA-III	Rs. 67,000 per month	More than 2 years of postdoctoral experience
Faculty Project-Funded PDF/RA	As per project funding agency norms	As per project requirements
Externally Funded PDF/RA (National PDF, INSPIRE, etc.)	As per funding agency norms	Candidates with valid external fellowship award

A research/contingency grant of up to Rs. 25,000 is provided for international travel after successful completion of the first year (for IIST-funded positions).
Campus accommodation is provided; if unavailable, HRA is provided as per institute norms.
Medical facilities are provided as per institute regulations.
For Faculty Project-Funded positions, fellowship and benefits are governed by the norms of the project funding agency.
For Externally Funded fellows, IIST provides infrastructure, medical benefits, and accommodation (subject to availability); research grants are used for domestic travel, equipment, and other research expenses.

IIST PDF FAQs

Ques. Can IIST PhD graduates apply for the Post Doctoral Fellowship at IIST?

Ans. No. IIST's own PhD graduates are not eligible for institute-funded PDF/RA positions at IIST. The programme is specifically open to PhD holders from other recognized Indian or foreign universities/institutes. However, IIST PhD graduates may be eligible for Faculty Project-Funded or Externally Funded PDF/RA positions, subject to the specific requirements of those positions.

Ques. How do I find a mentor at IIST for the Post Doctoral Fellowship?

Ans. Candidates are required to identify a potential IIST faculty mentor whose research area aligns with their expertise before applying. The IIST faculty directory is available at https://www.iist.ac.in/department. Candidates should reach out to potential mentors directly via email, discuss their research interests, and prepare a research proposal (not exceeding 2 pages) in consultation with the mentor before submitting the application.

Ques. Are PDF/RA positions at IIST advertised regularly, or are they on a rolling basis?

Ans. IIST PDF/RA positions are not offered through a fixed annual cycle. They are advertised on an as-needed basis depending on faculty requirements and project funding. As of April 2026, only Faculty Project-Funded PDF/RA positions are open; regular IIST-funded positions are currently not available. Candidates should regularly check the official IIST website at https://www.iist.ac.in/post-doctoral for the latest openings.

Ques. Can foreign nationals apply for the Post Doctoral Fellowship at IIST?

Ans. Yes. IIST PDF/RA positions are open to Indian citizens (including NRI/PIO status) as well as foreign nationals, making it one of the few Indian institutes with an internationally open postdoctoral programme. Foreign nationals must meet the same eligibility criteria (PhD from a recognized institution, publication requirements, age limit, and research area alignment).

Ques. What is the publication requirement for applying to the IIST Post Doctoral Fellowship?

Ans. For PDF-I/RA-I (fresh PhD): At least 2 lead-author publications in Q1/Q2 journals with a high impact factor. For PDF-II/RA-II and PDF-III/RA-III (with prior postdoctoral experience): At least 3 research publications in Q1/Q2 journals, with at least 2 as the lead author. These are minimum requirements; stronger publication records improve the chances of selection.

Ques. Is the IIST Post Doctoral Fellowship extendable beyond one year, and what is the process?

Ans. The initial appointment is for one year. At the end of the first year, a performance review is conducted. Based on the outcome of this review, the fellowship may be extended for one additional year. The total maximum duration of the IIST-funded PDF/RA programme is therefore two years. For Faculty Project-Funded positions, the duration is as per the norms and funding of the specific project.