ICMR Post Doctoral Fellowship (ICMR-PDF)

What is the ICMR Post Doctoral Fellowship?

The ICMR Post Doctoral Fellowship (ICMR-PDF) is a research fellowship of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the apex biomedical research body under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. The scheme is designed to give promising, freshly-qualified researchers a chance to work in advanced areas of health research at ICMR's own institutes and centres.

According to ICMR, the fellowship fosters high-quality research opportunities for fresh PhD, MD or MS holders in areas that include basic science, communicable and non-communicable diseases, and reproductive health including nutrition. ICMR intends to offer around 50 fellowships every year for work at its institutes and centres, which have state-of-the-art research and development facilities.

Unlike a scholarship for students, the ICMR-PDF is a post-doctoral research position. The fellow carries out an independent research project under the umbrella of an ICMR institute, and the fellowship is meant to bridge the gap between completing a doctorate and taking up a regular research or faculty career.

How much does the fellowship pay?

According to ICMR, a Post Doctoral Fellow is paid a consolidated fellowship plus allowances:

• A monthly fellowship of at least Rs 50,000. Some ICMR notifications; notably the ICMR Centenary Post Doctoral Fellowship, offer a higher consolidated fellowship of Rs 65,000 per month. The exact amount is stated in the advertisement for each cycle, so confirm it there.
• House Rent Allowance (HRA) as per Government of India rules.
• Non-Practising Allowance (NPA) where admissible (for medically qualified fellows).
• A contingency grant of Rs 3 lakh per year to cover research costs. Up to 25% of the contingency can be used for travel, including per-diem expenses.

The tenure is two years, extendable by a maximum of one more year based on the fellow's performance and the recommendation of the ICMR institute's Director or Officer-in-Charge.

Who is eligible for the ICMR Post Doctoral Fellowship?

You can apply if:

• You are an Indian citizen.
• You hold a PhD, MD or MS degree awarded within the last three years as on the last date of application, or you have received a provisional doctorate.
• Your proposed research continues your doctoral (PhD or MD/MS) work.
• You are within the age limit — the general upper limit is 32 years as on the last date of application.

Age relaxation: Up to 5 years for SC, ST, OBC, persons with disability and women candidates, and up to a further 3 years for outstanding achievements, publications or awards.

You cannot apply if:

• Your PhD/MD/MS was awarded more than three years ago (subject to permitted relaxation).
• You want to work at your parent university or a private college. The fellowship is tenable only at ICMR institutes and centres.
• You do not have the support of the host ICMR institute; the application must be routed through and endorsed by the Director or Officer-in-Charge.

This is a competitive fellowship, not an entitlement; meeting the eligibility criteria lets you apply, but a selection committee decides who is awarded.

What documents are required?

How to apply for the ICMR Post Doctoral Fellowship

1. Watch the official ICMR website (icmr.gov.in) and the ePMS portal (epms.icmr.org.in) for the Post Doctoral Fellowship advertisement, which is released periodically.
2. Identify an ICMR institute or centre whose research matches your proposal, and contact its Director or Officer-in-Charge for approval and support.
3. Prepare your research proposal, list of publications and citations, and the mandatory plagiarism check report.
4. Submit the application online through the host institution / ePMS portal along with your provisional or original doctorate certificate and declaration.
5. If shortlisted, appear for a personal discussion or interview before the selection committee constituted by the Director General, ICMR.

Because the application is routed through a host ICMR institute, there is no direct "individual benefit" application separate from the institute, securing an institute's support is the essential first step.

How are fellows selected?

Selection is made through a personal discussion or interview of shortlisted candidates by a selection committee constituted by the Director General of ICMR. The committee evaluates candidates on their research experience, publications, citations and impact factor. Because roughly 50 fellowships are offered against a large pool of fresh doctorates, the process is competitive and merit is the deciding factor.

Help and contact

• Indian Council of Medical Research, V. Ramalingaswami Bhawan, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi-110029
• Website: icmr.gov.in and the ePMS portal at epms.icmr.org.in

For queries on a specific fellowship cycle, the point of contact is the Human Resource Development / Fellowship division of ICMR and the host institute you are applying through. Always rely on the terms in the current official advertisement, as the fellowship amount and number of positions can change from cycle to cycle.