IISER | INDIAN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE EDUCATION AND RESEARCH MOHALIFlame Institute

The academic programs at IISER Mohali are entirely in basic sciences with a strong emphasis on inter-disciplinary nature of science. The academic programs at IISER Mohali include a significant research component. Broad areas in which we have academic programs are:

Biological Sciences
Chemical Sciences
Mathematical Sciences
Physical Sciences

Academic programs at the doctoral level are also available in:

Earth and Environmental Sciences
Humanities and Social Sciences

Academic Programs at IISER Mohali

BS – MS Dual Degree Program
Integrated PhD program
PhD Program

The BS-MS dual degree is the flagship program of all the five IISERs. At IISER Mohali the program has been structured to promote interdisciplinarity and a significant research component. The core part of the program provides comprehensive training in all basic sciences during the first two years. Students are expected to choose a subject to major in for the remaining three years where the curriculum is divided between mandatory courses, subject electives and open electives. Open electives can be taken in any subject and allow students to fashion their own programs. Apart from courses in specific subjects, some inter-disciplinary courses are also offered on a regular basis. These courses are in areas that are useful to multiple branches of science, or are in distinct areas like Astronomy, Earth and Environmental sciences, Computational sciences, etc. Courses in humanities & social sciences are also offered. Students have no dearth of choices with more than 80 elective courses to choose from.

The students are expected to work on research projects during summer vacations, either at IISER Mohali or at research laboratories and institutes elsewhere. Each year, several students make use of scholarships to do summer research in other countries. The institute also has a student exchange program with some universities and research institutes in different parts of the world to facilitate visits by bright students. Research by students has already led to a number of publications authored by students, some of these by students themselves. The students spend much of their time during their final year on a research project. The project culminates in a thesis and is expected to contain at least some original work. Some of the projects lead to publications in peer reviewed journals, giving our students an exposure to all stages of a research project at an early stage of their career.

There are close to 600 students in the BS-MS program at IISER Mohali at present. Each of these students receives the INSPIRE or KVPY (Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana) fellowship as long as they perform well. While KVPY scholars are admitted “automatically'” to the BS-MS program, the JEE merit listed students are admitted on the basis of their ranks. The direct channel of admissions, where top 1% of students in each board can apply became operational in 2010 and a number of students are joining the IISERs through this channel. The BS-MS graduates of IISER Mohali are expected to take up science as a career, although the diverse skills gained will equip them to pursue high-profile careers in any field, including industry and government.

Three batches of BS-MS students have graduated and a majority of these are enrolled in research programs in some of the finest research institutes in India as well as elsewhere. The process for admissions to the BS-MS dual degree takes place in June-July of each year. You are requested to consult the IISER admissions website for details.

During 2012-2013 the institute initiated the integrated PhD program, which is meant for students who have completed an undergraduate degree from elsewhere and wish to pursue the Masters and PhD program at IISER Mohali. This program identifies talented students at an early stage and brings them into the research fold. About 109 students have been admitted to this stream, so far.

The integrated PhD program consists of two years of course work and research projects. Qualifying students can then go on to do a PhD at the institute under the guidance of any faculty member. Under normal circumstances, the integrated PhD program saves one year for the student as the course work enables them to progress at a much faster pace than a student in a typical Msc/PhD program. The fellowship would normally be available for four years from the date of successful completion of the comprehensive examination.

Besides research, the scholars are involved in several activities such as helping the faculty as teaching assistants in theory courses and laboratory sessions. PhD students are also expected to participate actively in seminars, journal clubs, workshops, etc. There is considerable interaction amongst students at different levels and PhD students contribute significantly to mentoring fifth year MS students in research laboratories.

Admissions to the program are carried out once a year. Applications are invited in March of each year through an advertisement on the IISER Mohali website.

Draft Guidelines for Int. PhD students submitting MS thesis (in lieu of PhD thesis)

IISERs have a PhD program and the first few scholars have graduated from the institute during last two years. At present there are about 230 students at various levels in the PhD program in biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics, earth and environmental sciences, and, humanities and social sciences. The PhD program at IISER Mohali involves course work, a qualifying examination, thesis work and a thesis examination, leading to the award of a PhD degree. Besides research, the scholars are involved in several activities such as helping the faculty as teaching assistants in theory courses and laboratory sessions. PhD students are also expected to participate actively in seminars, journal clubs, workshops, etc. There is considerable interaction amongst students at different levels and PhD students contribute significantly to mentoring fifth year MS students in research laboratories.

Students are required to pass a national level test, to be eligible for applying to the PhD program at IISER Mohali. Screening tests and interview are conducted to select the best students. Majority of doctoral students at IISER Mohali have qualified for fellowships given by CSIR, UGC, DST, DBT, ICMR and other agencies.

Admissions to the PhD program are carried out twice a year. Applications are invited in March and September of each year through an advertisement on the IISER Mohali webpages.

Doctoral graduates from IISER Mohali are doing post-doctoral research in some of the finest research groups in the world.

(42)