Doctoral Student

Doctoral Degree Opportunity

Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi

This is an opportunity to register for a Doctoral [Ph. D.] Degree at Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IITD).

About the Role

• Opportunity for aspiring young researchers who have recently completed or are in the final semester of their master's degree.
• Bachelor students with appropriate qualifications may also apply.
• Opportunity available under Prof. Ramesh Narayanan.

Departments

The Doctoral Degree opportunity can be availed under the following departments:

• Department of Energy Science and Engineering (DESE), IIT Delhi
• School of Interdisciplinary Research (SIRe), IIT Delhi

Project Proposals

Project proposals will be related to the development and characterization of high-frequency plasma sources for energy or environment applications, including:

• Large area sources for ion beams for fusion-like devices
• Space plasma thrusters
• Diagnostic development suitable for plasma chemistry for organics in space and large area plasma processing
• Plasma-based waste treatment

Application Process

• National Students can apply via the IIT Delhi application portal: https://ecampus.iitd.ac.in/PGADM/login
• International Students can apply via the IIT Delhi application portal: https://ecampus.iitd.ac.in/IPGADM/login
• Last date of submission of application in the IITD portal is October 29, 2025.

Key Responsibilities

• Pass department credit requirements within the first year.
• Plan the research problem during the first year, to be defended within the first 18 months.
• Work on the research problem addressing set goals once approved by a Research Committee.
• Carry out both experiment and modelling work as part of the thesis.

Requirements & Tech Stack

For Large Area Sources (Ion Beams) & Plasma Thrusters

• Engineering students with a background in electronics and instrumentation may be considered if found suitable.
• An exposure to high power supplies and/or vacuum systems may be preferable.
• Some knowledge of design and fabrication of electrical and electronic circuits is preferable.

For Diagnostics, Code Development, & Waste Management

• Engineering students with a background in chemical background or electronics and instrumentation or mechanical may be considered if found suitable.
• An exposure to high power supplies and/or vacuum systems may be preferable.
• Some knowledge of combustion and/or chemical kinetics and/or fluid dynamics may be preferable.
• Knowledge of chemical kinetics may be preferable.

Qualifications

For DESE

• M. Sc. (Physics) students would be preferred for both problems (plasma-based thruster and plasma-based waste treatment).

For SIRe

• M. Tech. in Electrical Engineering or M. Tech. Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering or B. Tech. in Electrical Engineering.
• M. Sc. (Physics) students may also be considered if found suitable.

Preferable Exposure/Knowledge (General for SIRe & specific problems)

• An exposure to high power supplies and/or vacuum systems.
• Some knowledge of design and fabrication of electrical and electronic circuits.
• Some knowledge of combustion and/or chemical kinetics and/or fluid dynamics.

Source of Funding

• CSIR/UGC/DBT/ICMR/ICAR/NEET-PG/DST-INSPIRE or any other scholarship holder students can apply (preferable).
• If not, Institute Fellowship (FIA) can be considered, depending on availability with the supervisor.