BRIC-NIAB invites applications for admission to PhD program

BRIC-NIAB invites applications for admission to its PhD program in Biotechnology (affiliated with the BRIC-Regional Centre for Biotechnology, RCB, Faridabad) from highly motivated students for the 2026-2027 Academic Session (RSP-I).

BRIC-NIAB is an autonomous institution of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, under the aegis of the newly formed Biotechnology Research Innovation Council (BRIC), leading in basic and translational research on animal health and productivity, including the human-animal interface with a vision to improve animal health for human welfare. Our faculty work in the broad areas of Health & Diseases, Reproduction and Production, Omics and Bioinformatics, Nanotechnology, and Regenerative Medicine and models. For the details about the area of research please see below.

The institute has a ravishing and well-maintained ~100–acre campus in Gachibowli, Hyderabad, with all modern facilities for cutting-edge research in the field of Animal Biotechnology. Gachibowli, a prominent suburb of Hyderabad, has evolved into a significant educational hub, hosting a range of esteemed institutions that facilitate possibilities for collaborative, multidisciplinary research.

Eligibility Criteria : Master’s degree (M. Sc., M. Tech., M. V. Sc. or M. Pharm) or MBBS, B. Tech (four years) degree in any branch of Life Sciences. Candidates must have CSIR/UGC/DBT/ICMR/INSPIRE NET JRF/UGC-RGNF or any other national research fellowship valid for 05 years. Those with only GATE, MPAT, or other certification exams (without a 5-year fellowship) are not eligible.

Application Procedure : Interested candidates who meet the above criteria may apply online in the prescribed form, through the link available at our online portal (niab.org.in/Notifications_RSP_1_2026.aspx). Soft copies of certificates in support of date of birth, educational qualifications, reservation category (if applicable), and fellowship examination qualified must also be uploaded. Please contact academic@niab.org.in for any queries. The application portal will open on 1st April 2026 and will be closed on 30th April 2026.

Selection Criteria : Admission to PhD Program will be based on two rounds of interviews: first, an online interview; second, an in-person interview. The initial interview of eligible candidates via video conference is scheduled to be held on 11th and 12th May 2026 (tentative; dates are subject to change). Those who pass the first round of interviews will be invited to a second-round interview during the second week of June 2026 (no travel allowance will be provided; however, NIAB will guide students in securing accommodation for their interview stay).

Those students who will be selected after the second round of interviews will be offered admission, and students should join the program no later than June 30th, 2026. Upon arrival of the students on campus, they will be asked to rotate in three preferred laboratories, at the end of which they will be allotted to those labs based on their preference and availability. NIAB reserves the right to accept/reject any or all applications without assigning any reasons whatsoever.

Based on the project and/or the lab some/all students will be provided an opportunity to participate in a field immersion program similar to the one conducted for i3C BRIC-RCB Ph.D. students.

Research Areas at NIAB :
1. Health & Diseases
a. Host-microbe/vector interactions
b. Molecular genetics, cell biology & pathogenesis
c. Antimicrobial resistance & mitigation
d. Diagnostics & Therapeutics
e. Immunology, vaccines and adjuvants
2. Reproduction and production
a. Reproductive endocrinology, Metabolism and aging
b. Molecular & cell biology of reproduction
c. Infertility and mitigation
d. Gene/protein engineering
e. Nutrition & nutrigenomics
3. Omics and bioinformatics
a. Host & microbial genomics
b. GWAS and Multiomics
c. Molecular modeling and Simulations
d. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
4. Nanotechnology
a. Nanobiology & nanozymology
b. Aptamers, biosensors
c. Nanobioengineering
5. Regenerative medicine and models
a. Stem cells
b. Transgenics
c. Scaffolds & material interfaces
d. Spheroids & organoids

Facilities : The institute houses state-of-the-art research infrastructure and facilities (niab.res.in/facilities-2/). PhD students will have ample opportunities to develop a scientific temperament, learn and challenge the rigors of research, and fathom the realms and frontiers of science and technology. Students will interact with top-notch faculties trained around the globe with expertise in various advanced biotechnological tools and techniques in a multidisciplinary research environment.