Positions

PhD

PhD positions are offered only through IISc admission process.

Regular PhD admission 2026

We will hire two Ph.D. students through the PhD admission process at IISc. The student will study the collective behavior of smart agents that collect information about their environment and respond by changing their behavior. Examples include the collective behavior of animals including humans, and cells in our bodies. Although these systems are not part of traditional physics textbooks, major developments in Physics have been achieved through the study of such active and smart agents. Essentially, we will apply the tools of traditional condensed matter physics and statistical physics to study the collective behaviors of these exciting systems.

Requirements: 

  1. The student should have a well-rounded knowledge of the basics of physics, including PG-level classical mechanics, electrodynamics, quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, condensed matter physics, and mathematical physics. Hint: this is the basic requirement to do well at the interview.
  2. Prior knowledge of computation is advantageous, but not necessary.
  3. Prior knowledge of biology and soft materials is not necessary. However, the student is expected to have the curiosity to learn these topics during their Ph.D.
  4. Our research involves extensive collaboration with experimental groups. The student is expected to be part of these collaborations. Hence, willingness to work with and analyze raw experimental data is expected.