Admission to the CDFD PhD-I-2027 for Qualified Research Fellowship

The Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD), Hyderabad, is a research institution under the Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC), Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India. BRIC–CDFD is a premier institute in the country, which provides services in the areas of DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics and performs cutting-edge research in several frontier areas of modern biology.

PhD-I-2027 Admissions

Current Research Themes:
Cell & Molecular Biology
Computational Biology
Disease Biology
Genetics
Molecular Microbiology and Immunology

We invite applications from highly motivated candidates for admission to our PhD admissions, beginning January 2027. In keeping with the interdisciplinary nature of modern biology, we especially encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply. Those admitted as Ph.D. Scholars would be encouraged to register under the PhD program of the Regional Centre for Biotechnology.

Eligibility Criteria:
To be eligible for Admission to the CDFD PhD-I-2027, the candidate must have:
1. A Master’s degree in any branch of Science, Technology, or Agriculture OR MBBS from a recognized University / Institute.
2. Qualified for a Junior Research Fellowship from CSIR / UGC / DBT / ICMR / DST-INSPIRE / UGC–RGNF or any other similar examination with fellowship.
3. A valid fellowship is an ABSOLUTE requirement for pursuing PhD at CDFD.

Candidates having qualified for Project–JRF under the ICMR funded project Scheme [which is only for a period of two years] OR DBT JRF NET with a B.Tech. [Biotechnology] degree OR DBT JRF NET under DBT–B category list OR LS-NET qualification only in CSIR-UGC (NET) examination are NOT eligible to apply.

Fellowship Result Awaited:
If a candidate’s fellowship result is AWAITED, the candidate must UPDATE the fellowship status positively before the first round of interview via email to rsp@cdfd.org.in.

Though a candidate is allowed to submit application without having qualified valid fellowship, only those candidates who submit proof of having a valid fellowship will be eligible for first round of interview.

Candidates who have previously activated a fellowship elsewhere are NOT eligible to apply. A deliberate non-disclosure if found later, will be ground for disqualification.

Selection Procedure:
Admission to PhD-I-2027 at CDFD will be based on a two-step selection process:
I Round: ONLINE interview via video conference, scheduled during 2–4 November 2026.
II Round: Interview for the second round “in person” at CDFD during 2–4 December 2026.
The exact dates will be informed along with the list of candidates shortlisted for the respective interviews.

Shortlist Dates:
First round shortlist – by 20th October 2026
Second round shortlist – by 6th November 2026

Application Procedure:
Interested candidates who fulfill the above conditions may register their names for PhD-I-2027 admissions by applying in the prescribed application form online. Copies of certificates supporting date of birth, educational qualifications, reservation category (if applicable), and fellowship examination qualification are required. For queries, contact rsp@cdfd.org.in.

Last Date for Online Application: 10.10.2026

Important Note:
BRIC–CDFD’s Research Scholars Program is a fully residential program. Selected candidates will have to stay on campus.

The fellowship MUST be valid at the time of joining (December 2026/January 2027).

Important Dates:
Last date for submitting online application – October 10, 2026
Display of shortlist for first round interview – by 20th October 2026
First round interview – During 2–4 November 2026
Display of shortlist for second round interview – by 6th November 2026
Second round interview – During 2–4 December 2026
Exact interview dates to be announced later.