Pilot Cohort 2026–27

Post-Doctoral
Program

An advanced research fellowship for early-career scholars at MRIIRS

"Where research finds its next frontier"

Apply by 31 July 2026 → Programme Details

Month Duration

Research Domains

MRIIRS PDP Pilot Cohort 2026–27

About the Programme

Advancing Research at the Frontier of Disciplines

The Post-Doctoral Program at MRIIRS is designed to provide an intellectually stimulating environment for early-career researchers seeking to pursue advanced interdisciplinary work. Fellows are embedded within a community of scholars committed to inquiry that bridges knowledge domains.

The programme offers structured opportunities for collaborative scholarship, teaching engagement, research mentorship, and the development of projects that address emerging societal, technological and sustainability challenges.

What to Expect

Opportunities Beyond Research

Publications in High-Impact Journals

Receive guidance and institutional support to publish your research in reputed Scopus and Web of Science indexed journals.

Teaching Opportunities

Build your academic portfolio by contributing to undergraduate or postgraduate teaching, where appropriate, based on your expertise and interests.

Grant Support

Access mentorship and institutional support for developing and submitting competitive national and international research grant proposals.

Doctoral Co-supervision

Explore opportunities to co-supervise doctoral scholars and contribute to interdisciplinary research mentoring alongside experienced faculty.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Engage in collaborative research initiatives across disciplines, fostering innovation through diverse academic perspectives.

Conference Participation

Present your research at national and international conferences with institutional encouragement and support, subject to academic merit and availability.

Where You Will Work

Research Domains

Fellows are placed within one of five schools, each offering focused research areas aligned with national and global priorities. Hover over a domain to explore the research areas.

Explore & Apply →

Humanities & English

Humanities, Literature & Sustainability Studies

Environmental Humanities
Sustainability Narratives

Management & Commerce

Leadership, Management & Organizational Behavior

Digital Economy
Taxation
ESG Reporting

Engineering & Technology

Water Security, Sustainability & Climate Resilience

Artificial Intelligence & ML
Internet of Things
Cybersecurity

Dental & Health Sciences

Craniofacial Orthodontics and Research

Cleft Lip & Palate Research
Allied Health Research

Media, Comm & Design

Digital Media, Communication & Artificial Intelligence

Digital Storytelling
Ethical AI in Content

Who Should Apply

Eligibility Criteria

✓ PhD degree awarded within the last five years
✓ Minimum of two indexed publications (Scopus / Web of Science)
✓ Demonstrated research aptitude and interdisciplinary interest
✓ Commitment to teaching and academic mentoring activities

Funding Models

Fellowship Model

Externally Funded Fellowship

Researchers supported through government agencies, industry or international bodies may pursue post-doctoral research with MRIIRS as host institution.

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How to Apply

Application Process

Online Application Submission

Complete the online form with personal, academic, and research details including your proposed research area.

Preliminary Screening

Applications are reviewed against published eligibility criteria by the Research Committee.

Research Proposal Evaluation

Shortlisted candidates submit a detailed research proposal for domain expert review.

Interview by Selection Committee

In-person or virtual interview to assess your research vision and academic fit.

Offer of Admission

Successful candidates receive a formal offer letter to join the September 2026 cohort.

Pilot Cohort 2026–27

Important Dates

Event	Date
Applications Open	1 July 2026
Last Date for Submission	31 July 2026
Interview Process	17–21 August 2026
Programme Commencement	September 2026

Download Brochure Fee Structure Regulations PDF

Prof. Dr. Sanjay Srivastava, Vice Chancellor, MRIIRS

Supervising Theme: Padamshree Pritam Singh Post-Doctoral Fellowship

Research Areas

Organizational Behaviour & Culture
Leadership & Human Resource Development
Psychometric Profiling
Organizational Coaching & Behavioural Sciences
NLP & Transactional Analysis

Research Highlights

Ph.D. in Organizational Culture, University of Delhi
80+ Research Publications
Supervised 36 Ph.D. Scholars
Guided 350+ Master's Dissertations
International Honorary Research Fellow, Lahti University of Applied Sciences, Finland

Leadership & Recognition

Member, Selection Committee for Institutes of Eminence (IoE), UGC
Member, NEP 2020 Implementation Committee, Department of Technical Education, Government of Haryana
Recipient of the National Talent Scholarship in Education
Recipient of the Young Scientist Award in Psychology (1994)
Leadership Trainer for HIPA and DoPT, Government of India

Dr. Puneet Batra - Professor, Department of Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics

Supervising Theme: Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Cleft Lip and Palate

Research Areas

Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopaedics
Cleft Lip, Palate & Craniofacial Anomalies
Oral Implantology
Artificial Intelligence in Dentistry
Clinical Research & Dental Innovation

Research Highlights

MDS (Orthodontics), AIIMS New Delhi
Fellow of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons (Edinburgh, Glasgow & England)
Diplomate, Indian Board of Orthodontics (DIBO)
100+ Publications in National & International Peer-reviewed Journals
Editor, Journal of Indian Orthodontic Society (2018–2023)

Leadership & Recognition

Former President, Indian Society of Cleft Lip, Palate & Craniofacial Anomalies
Member, Dental Council of India (Government of India Nominee)
Recipient of the PP Jacob Award & J.G. Kannapan Award
Commonwealth Scholar, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London
Certified in Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning (DRDO)

Professor (Dr.) Dipankar Saha - Chair Professor, Manav Rachna Center for Advanced Water Technology & Management (MRCAWTM)

Supervising Theme: Groundwater Sustainability, Urban Water Security, WASH Innovation and Climate-Resilient Water Resource Management

Research Areas

Groundwater Sustainability
Water Security & Resource Management
WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene)
Urban Water Systems
Environmental Policy & Ecosystem Services

Research Highlights

National expert in Groundwater Management and Water Security
Former Member, Central Ground Water Board (CGWB)
Leads interdisciplinary research on sustainable water resources
Heads the WASH Innovation Lab at MRCAWTM
Advises on urban water security and groundwater resilience initiatives

Leadership & Impact

Leading water security research for the Faridabad Smart City region
Developing innovative WASH solutions in collaboration with municipal bodies
Driving research on groundwater depletion, urban water resilience, and ecosystem services
Promoting interdisciplinary collaborations for sustainable water management

Dr. Ruhi Lal - Professor & Research Director (Social Sciences), DJMC

Supervising Theme: Digital Media Transformations and Democratic Communication in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

Research Areas

Digital Media & Society
Artificial Intelligence in Media
Strategic Communication
Advertising & Media Research
Journalism & Digital Innovation

Research Highlights

24+ Years of Academic & Industry Experience
171+ Research Contributions
73 Research Publications
13 Books | 4 Patents
6 Funded Research Projects

Dr. Ipshita Nath, Associate Professor, Department of English

Supervising Theme: Environmental Humanities and Sustainability Narratives

Research Areas

Medical Humanities
Colonial & Imperial History
Literary & Cultural Studies
Creative Writing
Narrative & Archival Studies

Research Highlights

Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Saskatchewan, Canada
Published author with HarperCollins
Scholarly publications with Brill and Routledge
Twice nominated for the Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar
Visiting Fellow, University of Leicester, UK
IES Global Scholar to Loyola University Chicago, USA

Researchers who have obtained their PhD within the last five years and possess a strong publication record, with a minimum of two indexed publications, are eligible to apply.

The programme is 18 months in duration and may be extended up to two years subject to satisfactory progress and institutional review.

Yes. Fellows are expected to contribute to teaching activities, delivering 2–3 courses per semester, and to participate in academic mentoring of students.

Yes. Candidates holding or applying for fellowships from national agencies such as DST, SERB, ICMR, CSIR, or industry bodies are encouraged to apply with MRIIRS as the designated host institution.

Every fellow is supported through a dual supervision model comprising a primary internal mentor from their home school and a cross-disciplinary mentor from another domain, ensuring both depth and breadth in research guidance.