Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), an ensemble of 37 state-of-the art institutes, is amongst the foremost scientific and industrial research organizations. Over the years, this unique organization has helped India usher in a scientific milieu, creating and nurturing talent in a wide variety of S&T domains, spawned many organizations, many disciplines and most importantly has served as a nursery and training ground for most of India’s talented scientists and technologists. CSIR annually publishes over 3800 papers in science journals and holds over 3000 patents. ​“CSIR-Nehru Science Postdoctoral research Fellowship Scheme” has been instituted to identify promising young researchers with innovative ideas and provide them with training and research opportunities in niche areas of basic science, engineering, medicine and agriculture. The scheme aims at facilitating their transition from mentored to independent research career. CSIR intends to offer one hundred (100) such fellowships every year to promising fresh PhD holders for working in CSIR laboratories with state-of-art R&D facilities.

PhD degree holders within three years of award of PhD degree, or those who have submitted PhD theses. Applicants who are about to submit thesis are also eligible to apply, but, their selection will be subject to the condition that they would have submitted thesis before the expiry of the validity of the award offer. Applicants should have research publications in high impact factor SCI journals.

Though CSIR Nehru Science Postdoctoral Research Fellowship is open to Indian nationals, Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI), a certain number (up to 20%) of fellowships may be offered to foreign nationals.

Age limit: 32 years, relaxable upto 5 years in case of SC/​ST/​OBC/​Physically handicapped and women candidates. 

Applications of the employed (Permanent/​Temporary) candidates from outside CSIR system will only be considered provided that:
1. Director of the sponsoring laboratory recommends the application, citing the reasons of mutually benefitting the research in the CSIR laboratory vis-à-vis the organization of the applicant where he/​she is a permanent/​temporary employee.
2. Undertaking from organization where employed that Extraordinary Leave (EoL) without pay will be granted for the entire tenure of the CSIR-Nehru Science Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, if selected. Selections to the ​“CSIR-Nehru Science Postdoctoral Research Fellowships” will be made based on the presentation of the proposed research project followed by interview of short listed candidates by specially constituted Committees. Applicants from abroad may also be considered in absentia, if eligible. Selection of foreign nationals will be subjected to clearance by ISTADS, CSIR. Accommodation and other benefits: Accommodation may be provided by CSIR laboratories if available. CSIR rules on leased accommodation are being reviewed in the light of ​“Sixth Pay Commission” recommendations and will be made applicable as and when approved. CSIR Nehru Science Postdoctoral Fellows will be entitled for Medical benefits as per the CSIR rules for Research Associates. 

Other relevant information:
(i) Candidates who have worked for their PhD from a particular CSIR laboratory will not be eligible for becoming a PDF in the same CSIR laboratory under this scheme.
(ii) Appointing CSIR laboratory will bear 20% of the annual expenditure from its internal resources.
(iii) 20% of the fellowship amount will be paid as lump sum at the end of completion of 1 st and 2^nd year, respectively.
(iv) Selected candidates are expected to join within four months of effective date of award. All other rules and regulations will be as applicable to CSIR Research Associates (can be seen at www​.csirhrdg​.res​.in). Further, in all matters, the decision of CSIR shall be final. List of CSIR laboratories and their R&D activities can be seen at www​.csir​.res​.in. For more information about CSIR labs, please visit the website of the individual laboratory.

Please read the instructions, given at Annexure‑I, carefully before filling the Application Form. The Application Proforma is given as Annexure-II. Application received without attestation of the Director of the Sponsoring CSIR laboratory will be rejected..

Applications duly filled in the prescribed format and complete in all respect should be sent to:
Mr. S.A. Hasan, Senior Scientist Human Resource Development Group (HRDG),
(Council of Scientific & Industrial Research) CSIR Complex, Library Avenue, Pusa,
New Delhi-110012
Email : sahasan_​99@​yahoo.​com
Tel : 011 – 25842534
​“Application for CSIR-Nehru Science Postdoctoral Research Fellowship” should clearly be written on top of the envelope containing application form.