Research Internships in India: Fellowships & Lab Placements
A structured directory of India's premier national research fellowships, institutional summer programs, and direct laboratory placement pathways.
WRITTEN BYShabab Anwar and Sabiha ParveenMajor Research Fellowship Programmes in India
Science Academies Summer Research Fellowship (SRFP)
IASc (Bengaluru), INSA (New Delhi), NASI (Prayagraj)
Annual Window: SRFP 2027: announced 10 September 2026, online applications close 30 November 2026. Selection letters around March to April 2027.
Duration: 2 months, any time during 2027 (summer preferred)
Eligibility: Students in: BS/BSc II year only; BSc (Research) III year only; BStat/BMath II year only; BPharm III and IV years; BE/BTech/BCA II and III years; BArch II to IV years; MS/MSc/MVSc/MPharm I year only; ME/MTech/MCA/MArch I year only; MStat/MMath I year only; 5-year integrated MS/MSc/MTech, MBBS or BVSc II to IV years; PharmD III and IV years; dual-degree BTech+MTech, BE+MSc or BS+MS II to IV years; Integrated PhD I and II years; MSc Tech I and II years. Teachers teaching in a college or university can also apply. At least 65% average in core subjects (excluding languages) from Class X up to the last examination completed (does not apply to teachers). PhD students are not eligible. Anyone who has held an Academies fellowship twice before is not eligible.
Support: Monthly fellowship stipend and round-trip train fare.
Focus Area Science Technology Fellowship (FAST-SF)
Science Academies (Selected Priority Regions)
Annual Window: FAST-SF 2027: announced 10 September 2026, online applications close 30 November 2026. Selection letters around March to April 2027.
Duration: 2 months, any time during 2027 (summer preferred)
Eligibility: Students and teachers studying or teaching in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, Andaman, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, and Uttarakhand only. Same course-years as SRFP (e.g. BSc II year, BE/BTech II-III year, MSc I year, integrated II-IV year). At least 65% average in core subjects (excluding languages) from Class X onwards for students. PhD students are not eligible. About 200 fellowships in 2027.
Support: Monthly fellowship stipend and entitled travel fare.
JNCASR Summer Research Fellowship Programme
Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore
An application fee of Rs 500 is paid online to JNCASR when applying (SRFP-2026).
Annual Window: Annual call: SRFP-2026 applications ran 22 December 2025 to 31 January 2026
Duration: 2 months (summer)
Eligibility: Life Sciences: students in I or II year of a 3-year BSc; I, II or III year of a 4-year BS, BE or BTech; I year of a 2-year MSc, ME or MTech; I to IV year of an integrated MSc or BS-MS; I to III year of MBBS or BVSc. At least 65% in core subjects (except languages) and in aggregate in Class 10 and 12, and at least first class in the previous semesters of the current degree.
Support: Rs 10,000 a month for 2 months, plus second-class sleeper train fare by the shortest route.
inStem Summer Research Fellowship (SuRF)
Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (inStem), Bangalore
Annual Window: Annual call: 2026 applications ran 1 February to 1 March 2026
Duration: 10 weeks (May to July)
Eligibility: 2026 edition: entering the 4th year of a 4-year BSc, BTech or BPharm; entering the 2nd year of an MSc or MTech; entering the 5th year of a 5-year integrated BSc-MSc or BTech-MTech; entering the 3rd or 4th year of MBBS. Must be enrolled in the degree during the internship. Life Sciences students are the main target; chemistry, physics and mathematics students are encouraged.
Support: Monthly stipend (typically Rs 10,000/month) and laboratory bench placement.
NCBS PRISM Fellowship Program
National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Bangalore
Annual Window: Annual call: early March; programme May to July (tentative)
Duration: 2 months
Eligibility: For students who face barriers linked to social position, economic disadvantage or geography. Run with Project EduAccess. Detailed criteria come with each call.
Support: Funding and accommodation provided.
TIFR Hyderabad Visiting Students Research Programme (VSRP)
Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Hyderabad
Annual Window: Annual call: VSRP-2026 applications closed 31 January 2026
Duration: 8 weeks (May to July)
Eligibility: Final year of a 3-year BSc (any stream), or pre-final or final year of an MSc, integrated MSc, 4-year BSc or BTech/BE. PhD students are not eligible. Students who took part in an earlier year are not eligible.
Support: Rs 9,000 a month, travel reimbursed as per TIFR rules, and free shared accommodation.
TIFR Mumbai Visiting Students Research Programme (VSRP)
Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai
The official TIFR Mumbai Summer Programs page states the central VSRP at Mumbai campus is suspended until further notice. Verify current faculty project openings directly.
IIT Gandhinagar Summer Research Internship Program (SRIP)
Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar
Annual Window: Annual call: usually opens February and closes March
Duration: At least 8 weeks in-person during summer break
Eligibility: BTech, BSc, MSc and equivalent students from recognized institutions across India.
Support: 2026 edition: Rs 2,000 a week for at least 8 weeks (Rs 16,000 minimum), free hostel accommodation; top performers can win the Bhalodia-Khetan Excellence Award (Rs 50,000).
IISER Pune Summer Student Programmes
Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Pune
Annual Window: Annual call: 2026 applications ran 2 to 20 February 2026
Duration: 4 to 8 weeks (2026: between 15 May and 21 July)
Eligibility: Students from institutes other than IISER Pune in the 2nd, 3rd or 4th year of BSc, BTech or BE, or the 1st year of MSc or MTech (or equivalent), with at least 60% overall marks (or equivalent). Some projects ask for a specific background.
Support: No stipend. Free hostel accommodation; travel and mess charges (about Rs 6,000 a month) are paid by the student (2026 edition).
IISER Mohali Summer Research Program
Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali
Annual Window: Annual call: 2026 applications closed 25 April 2026; programme ran 15 May to 15 July 2026
Duration: 6 to 8 weeks
Eligibility: BSc 2nd-3rd year, MSc 1st year, or equivalent degree stages.
Support: No stipend from IISER Mohali. Students come with their own scholarship or a faculty SSR-SERB grant; students with neither get free housing, others pay nominal housing charges. Mess charges are paid by the student (2026 edition).
IISER Bhopal Internship Program
Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal
Annual Window: Annual call: 2026 portal was open 11 to 29 March 2026
Duration: 4 to 8 weeks (2026: between 25 May and 20 July)
Eligibility: Students in the 2nd, 3rd or 4th year of BSc, BTech, BS, BS-MS or BE, or the 1st year of MSc or MTech (or equivalent). Apply for up to three projects.
Support: No financial assistance. Hostel Rs 1,500 a month and mess about Rs 3,700 a month, paid by the student (2026 edition).
IISER Kolkata Summer Research Program
Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata
IISER Kolkata did not run its summer research program in 2026. In the last edition (2025) it paid no fellowship and charged for hostel rooms.
Annual Window: Not held in summer 2026. Last run in 2025: portal open 28 February to 9 April 2025.
Duration: 60 days (2025: between 19 May and 18 July)
Eligibility: BSc, MSc, BS, MS, BTech and BE students from institutions or universities anywhere.
Support: No fellowship in the last edition (2025). Hostel subject to availability and chargeable.
Three Ways to Secure Research Experience in India
01 National Cycle
National fellowship programmes
Centralized competitions (such as IASc-INSA-NASI SRFP and FAST-SF). Ideal when you meet published course-year criteria and can apply in the late autumn window. Selected students are placed with academy fellows across premier national research institutes.
02 Campus Specific
Institute summer programmes
Individual universities, TIFR centres, and IISERs publish their own calls, projects, and stipend structures. Selection is run directly by the institute's academic committee.
03 Flexible Timing
Direct faculty or lab projects
For off-cycle internships, semester projects, or Master dissertations. You contact principal investigators directly whose research aligns with your skills. Stipend, housing, and project scope are agreed directly with the host lab.
Annual Preparation & Application Roadmap
National research placements follow an annual rhythm. Use this evergreen milestone roadmap to pace your preparation.
| Milestone | Window / Deadline |
|---|---|
| Summer fellowship portal openings | September – March annually |
| Application submission deadlines | November – March annually |
| Fellowship award announcements | March – April annually |
| Laboratory placement duration | May – July annually |
National Academy Fellowships Window
· Phase 1: Centralized ApplicationsScience Academies (SRFP and FAST-SF) open their applications. Prepare academic transcripts, write a 150-250 word targeted scientific proposal, and request a letter of recommendation from your professor.
Institutional Summer Calls
· Phase 2: Individual InstitutesWatch portals for JNCASR, TIFR Hyderabad VSRP, inStem SuRF, and IISER summer programmes. Build a targeted shortlist based on specific lab research rather than institute brand alone. Keep your research CV up to date.
Selection Results & Direct Faculty Outreach
· Phase 3: Placement ConfirmationCentral fellowship results roll out. If unplaced through centralized schemes, initiate direct email outreach to faculty whose recent publications match your background for semester or summer project openings.
Laboratory Training Execution
· Phase 4: Summer TermMost 8-week summer placements run in this period. Confirm living arrangements, bench access, safety clearances, and project deliverables with your host supervisor before arrival.
Project Consolidation & Long-Term Planning
· Phase 5: Off-Cycle DissertationsConsolidate your findings, write project reports, request a reference from your host scientist, and begin planning for the subsequent national fellowship cycle.
How to Approach a Laboratory Outside Centralized Fellowships
Identify genuine research alignment
Review official faculty directories. Choose laboratories where recent publications (last 1-3 years) intersect with biological questions or methods you can discuss with genuine understanding.
Study recent laboratory output
Read at least one recent research paper or preprint from the lab. Identify the model system, core technique, and one unanswered question that you would like to explore.
Send a focused, tailored inquiry
State your degree stage, available dates, relevant coursework or practical exposure, and why you are writing to this specific lab. Attach a clean 1-page research CV. Avoid copy-pasting generic mass emails.
Clarify terms before joining
Confirm project scope, daily mentor, lab safety rules, work hours, duration, whether financial support/accommodation is provided, and certification upon completion.
Targeting CSIR, DBT, and Autonomous Research Institutes
Leading life science laboratories (such as CSIR-CCMB, CDRI, IGIB, NCL, and BRIC-NII) regularly host semester dissertation students. Read our specialized guide for outreach email templates and etiquette.
Four Stages to a Competitive Research Application
Stage 1: Four to six weeks before deadline
- Confirm degree course-year eligibility against official guidelines
- Shortlist 2-3 specific research areas you can explain in depth
- Request a recommendation from a teacher familiar with your lab work
- Assemble official marksheets and verify required file formats and sizes
Stage 2: Two to three weeks before deadline
- Prepare a concise 1-page research CV emphasizing courses and lab practicals
- Draft the research write-up (for Science Academies, keep to about 150-250 words)
- Focus on a specific scientific problem rather than broad textbook summaries
- Verify all academic percentages and dates against official transcripts
Stage 3: One week before deadline
- Ask a faculty mentor or senior student to review your statement for scientific clarity
- Remind your referee to submit their recommendation letter before the portal closes
- Check the official portal for any corrigenda or updated instructions
- Review uploaded documents to ensure high-resolution readability
Stage 4: 48 hours before deadline
- Submit well before the final closing hour to prevent portal congestion failures
- Download and save the official confirmation PDF and registration ID
- Log your submission date, portal credentials, and results notification timeline
Anatomy of an Effective 200-Word Research Statement
Specific research area
The precise biological question, pathway, or technique that drives your interest.
Origin of interest
The course practical, literature finding, or experiment that sparked that curiosity.
Learning goal
What you aim to learn, test, or troubleshoot during the 8-week placement.
Environment fit
Why the target laboratory or fellowship setting is uniquely suited for that goal.
Authenticity Over Buzzwords
Do not copy general textbook descriptions. Academy reviewers prioritize candidates who demonstrate an understanding of a specific biological question over those who compile long lists of advanced techniques.
Applying from Colleges with Limited Laboratory Exposure
Use coursework, practical experiments, small literature reviews, or public dataset analyses to demonstrate how you think scientifically.
Describe techniques with precise accuracy; do not inflate standard classroom practicals into independent research mastery.
If wet-lab resources were limited at your college, emphasize analytical skills, computational biology, or careful literature synthesis.
Request recommendations from professors who know your work and curiosity personally, regardless of administrative seniority.
Apply for regional access fellowships like FAST-SF if studying in eligible priority regions.
Rely on official eligibility documents rather than third-party forum rumors about college reputation.
Critical Application Mistakes & Safety Checks
Relying on unofficial blog dates instead of the official academy or institute portal.
Applying without checking strict course-year and percentage eligibility thresholds.
Copy-pasting generic subject overviews from Wikipedia or textbooks into research statements.
Submitting an industry job resume instead of an academic research CV.
Claiming expertise in laboratory techniques you cannot explain under technical questioning.
Submitting a professor's name as a referee without asking their explicit permission first.
Mass-emailing identical boilerplate messages to dozens of faculty members.
Assuming stipends, travel fares, or campus hostel rooms are guaranteed without checking the offer letter.
Paying any fee to an intermediary or agency promising guaranteed research placements.
Safety Verification Notice
Start from the institute's own page (.ac.in, .res.in or .edu) and use only the application link that page gives. Never pay any application fee or processing charge to third-party placement agents. Legitimate scientific internships charge, at most, a small application fee paid to the institute itself (for example ₹500 for JNCASR SRFP).
Frequently asked questions
National fellowship programmes like the Science Academies SRFP and FAST-SF typically open in September and close in late November. Individual institute programmes (such as JNCASR, TIFR Hyderabad VSRP, and IISERs) generally release their notices between December and March.
Most centralized national programmes (such as Science Academies SRFP) require BSc students to be in their 2nd year of undergraduate study (BE/BTech students in their 2nd or 3rd year). First-year students can focus on developing lab fundamentals, building projects locally, and exploring direct laboratory assistance.
Many prestigious programmes (such as Science Academies, TIFR Hyderabad VSRP, and inStem SuRF) provide monthly stipends; some also cover travel (Science Academies, TIFR Hyderabad) or free shared housing (TIFR Hyderabad). However, direct departmental projects vary widely depending on supervisor grant availability.
National fellowships receive thousands of applications across India for several hundred positions. Having a strong academic record (typically 65%+), a well-written research interest statement, and a personalized recommendation letter significantly enhances your selection chances.
Yes. Many research laboratories welcome dedicated students for summer or semester projects outside centralized programs. Send a personalized email citing their recent publications and explaining how your skills align with their ongoing work.