The National Centre for Cell Science (NCCS), Pune, invites applications from eligible candidates for admission to its Ph.D. program for the August 2026 session. Applicants must be bonafide Indian citizens, with a consistently strong academic record and a demonstrated commitment to pursuing doctoral research in frontier areas of modern biology, including Cell and Molecular Biology, Structural Biology, Bioinformatics, Systems Biology, Neuroscience, Immunology, Infection Biology, Cancer Biology, and Microbial Ecology.
Job Overview
NCCS Pune has announced admissions for its Ph.D. program for the August 2026 session.
Important Dates
- Last date for receipt of online applications: 11th May, 2026
- Publication of the list of shortlisted candidates invited for an interview on the NCCS website: 21st May, 2026
- First round of interview (online): 8th, 9th & 10th June, 2026
- Declaration of result of first round (online): 10th June, 2026 (7PM)
- Final round of interview (online): 11th & 12th June, 2026
- Declaration of result of selected candidates: 22nd June, 2026
- Last Date for Joining: 3rd August, 2026
Eligibility Criteria
- Candidates must possess a postgraduate degree in any branch of science, with a strong interest in pursuing research in modern biology, and must have secured a minimum of 60% marks or an equivalent Grade Point Average (GPA).
- A relaxation of 5% marks will be applicable for candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC categories and persons with disabilities, as per Government of India norms.
- Candidates must hold a valid Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) awarded by CSIR, UGC, DBT (Category I), ICMR, or BINC.
- Alternatively, applicants who do not hold a fellowship but have qualified the JGEEBILS examination conducted by NCBS/TIFR in December 2025 are also eligible. NCCS will offer a limited number of fellowships to selected candidates from this category.
- Candidates qualified only for Lectureship (LS) in CSIR-UGC (NET), DBT (Category II), ICAR or listed under the ICMR Project category are not eligible.
Age Limit
The upper age limit for JRF shall be 28 years as on August 01, 2026. Age relaxation for women and candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC/PWD categories will be in accordance with the Government of India guidelines.
Selection Process
- Shortlisting for interview for JGEEBILS candidates will be based on the JGEEBILS cutoff determined by NCCS.
- Two rounds of online interviews will be conducted.
- Shortlisting of candidates for the Ph.D. interview will be carried out in accordance with NCCS selection criteria.
- Submission of an application does not guarantee shortlisting for interview or selection to the Ph.D. program.
How to Apply
- Applications must be submitted exclusively through the online portal. Applicants are required to have a Gmail account to complete the application process.
- Applicants from SC/ ST/ OBC/ PWD/ EWS categories must attach a self-attested copy of the relevant certificate with their application.
Official Notification & Links
For more detailed information, please visit the official NCCS Careers page. All updates and announcements will be made available on this webpage.
Important Instructions
- For technical queries related to the application process, please contact: [email protected] with the subject line “Ph.D. Admission Query”.
- The terms and conditions pertaining to the fellowship will be according to the funding agency that grants the fellowship. NCCS will not be responsible for providing fellowships except for selected JGEEBILS students.
- Reservations will be in accordance with Government of India guidelines. Original certificates must be provided at the time of joining (e.g., caste certificate, latest non-creamy layer certificate, PWD certificate, and income & asset certificate as applicable).
- NCCS Ph. D. program is a full-time commitment, and selected candidates may be required to reside on campus. On-campus hostel accommodation is provided on a first- come, first-served basis.
Conclusion
Eligible candidates interested in pursuing advanced research in modern biology at NCCS Pune are encouraged to submit their online applications before the deadline.
