Events
i3c-BRIC-RCB PhD programme 2026 – 27
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Event Details
A need was felt to establish a nationally cohesive, interdisciplinary Ph.D. programme in biosciences to expand the scale of generating highly skilled, globally competitive human resource. It was envisioned that the trained human resource produced through this programme would be better equipped to provide bioscience-based pioneering solutions to contemporary problems relevant nationally and globally. The main objective of the proposed programme would be to foster greater academic and research interaction among the institutions of the DBT BRIC (iBRICs), RCB and ICGEB, and to increase the professional networking opportunities for the Ph.D. scholars.
The objectives of the i3C BRIC-RCB PhD programme in biosciences will be catalysed by enrolling highly talented PhD scholars in foundational coursework and training in high-end technology platforms during the first semester at RCB. The new PhD programme would be on the blueprint of the ongoing RCB PhD programme but with significant novel content, while leveraging the academic and infrastructural strengths of RCB and the iBRICs. The programme will be governed by RCB statutes, ordinances, and regulations, while aligning with the latest UGC regulations on eligibility, duration, and coursework credit requirements. The PhD programme would also include a relevant immersion programme (field internship) for an additional three months immediately following the first semester of coursework. This immersion programme is expected to provide scholars with practical exposure to areas of societal need, enabling them to integrate productively into the professional biotechnology enterprise and create a transformative human resource pool that will shape the future. The doctoral research with the respective supervisors in the iBRICs, RCB or ICGEB will follow the coursework and internship.
The new i3C BRIC-RCB PhD programme is expected to include highly talented students from backgrounds in the broad fields encompassing biotechnology, medicine and engineering. There will be two proposed entry tracks into the programme.
Track I
Indian students with a 4‑year Bachelor’s degree or a Master’s degree from a recognised institution in any area of science and technology, or a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery degree, or an equivalent degree are eligible to apply. An aggregate score of 60% or an equivalent grade in the preceding qualifying degree examination is an essential qualification (with a 5% relaxation for SC/ST/OBC- NCL/differently-abled (PwBD) allowed as per extant statutory norms). All applicants must have a valid 5‑year national-level fellowship, such as DBT-JRF, CSIR-JRF, UGC-JRF, ICMR-JRF, or a similar one.
Track II
Undergraduation in medicine (MBBS) or in any branch of engineering from the non-biological sciences (BTech/BE) with 60% aggregate marks in the preceding qualifying degree examination is an essential qualification (with a 5% relaxation for SC/ST/OBC-NCL/differently-abled (PwBD) allowed as per extant statutory norms). Age limit: 30 years on the application deadline.
No of seats: Track I- up to 70, Track II — up to 5.
Reservation of seats: As per GoI guidelines.
Selection Process
Only online applications will be accepted at https://i3cbricphd.rcb.ac.in/, which includes payment of an application fee of Rs. 500/-, if applicable. SC/ST/PwBD/EWS candidates are exempted from payment of the application fee. The selection process is likely to be as per the schedule.
The selected students will be required to activate their respective PhD fellowships directly through their respective parent iBRIC+ institutions. During the scholars’ stay at RCB in the first semester, RCB will provide the monthly attendance record to the respective institutions to facilitate fellowship disbursement from the funding agencies. Selected students will be housed at RCB-administered accommodation for the first semester, during which all campus facilities available to RCB students will be made available. These include twin-shared, off-campus leased accommodation, transport to and from the campus, meal facilities, access to campus medical and counselling facilities, and access to library, IT, and sports facilities.
The fee structure for the i3C BRIC-RCB PhD programme in biosciences will follow extant RCB norms.
Programme Structure
Curriculum Structure and Requirements
The courses offered in the first semester at RCB (~August to December) will be taught by RCB and iBRIC faculty members, as well as external experts. Students are expected to complete 14 mandatory credits during the coursework. The overall structure of the course is outlined below:
Students will be expected to complete the courses outlined below:
Instrumentation-powered research methodology (4 credits)
Biostatistics and Data Science (3 credits)
Science communication and ethics (2 credits)
Translational Research and Entrepreneurship (2 credits)
Immersion programme (3 credits)
As part of the coursework in the instrumentation-powered research methodology, training modules will be provided on foundational lab training and high-end instrumentation facilities at the Advanced Technology Platform Centre (ATPC) of RCB and iBRIC facilities. The purpose of this module is to acclimatise scholars with training in fundamental lab techniques and to expose them to the latest advanced technology platforms used in modern biosciences, such as protein purification, optical imaging, flow cytometry, mass spectrometry, data analysis, and genomics. These modules will be taught by qualified technical personnel recruited for this purpose. These training modules represent a novel component of the doctoral coursework pioneered through this programme.
Immersion Programme
The 3‑month mandatory research immersion programme (field internship) across the broad areas of medical, social, animal, and agricultural biotechnology will follow the first semester of coursework. Students will be evaluated appropriately to earn the designated course credits. The programme will be supported by dedicated funds of INR 1.50 lakh per fellow to meet the costs associated with the immersion programme.
Monitoring PhD research progress
The thesis will be supervised by the designated PhD supervisor at one of the iBRICs/RCB/ICGEB. A thesis committee (student advisory committee, or SAC), constituted for each student as per RCB norms, will regularly monitor the research progress. An annual conclave will be held for scholars and supervisors at iBRICs/RCB/ ICGEB in rotation. Each registered scholar will be required to participate in two such conclaves, most likely during the third and fifth years of their PhD tenure. Students will present posters and/or give oral presentations on their research. Participating students will meet the expenses related to attending the conclave from their respective fellowship contingency funds.
To get to know more about the programme, watch the IndiaBiostreams Virtual Town Hall on 25 May, 2026: https://www.youtube.com/live/rJSLX3Wromw