Applications for Junior Research Fellowships 2026 (JRFs) at the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) are invited from highly motivated and dynamic candidates to pursue research in any of the following science domains:
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Solar system's minor bodies like Comets and Asteroids in the optical wavelengths (imaging-polarimetry and low-resolution spectroscopy), exoplanets around stars, multiwavelength (from radio to optical wavelengths) research on stellar astrophysics, including M dwarfs, symbiotic stars, morphological studies of star formation regions of both high and low mass stars, optical and near-IR studies of transient events, like novae, supernovae and gamma-ray bursts, optical and near-IR studies of star clusters, extragalactic astronomy, studies of radio galaxies using GMRT, and other radio telescopes around the globe, optical and near-IR instrumentation for PRL's 2.5m telescope, instrumentation for space-based X-ray astronomy for future X-ray missions, space-based X-ray observations of black holes, neutron stars and white dwarfs in binary systems, active galactic nuclei and X-ray polarizations, numerical simulation of the solar atmosphere and heliosphere.
Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics
Experiment: Quantum entanglement, quantum communication, quantum cryptography, quantum imaging, quantum sensing, nonlinear optics, quantum materials, quantum emitters, plasmonics, cavity quantum electrodynamics, structured beams, optical parametric oscillators, astrochemical studies, shock processing of materials, reactions induced in astrochemical ices by projectiles, radiations, and shockwaves, ultrafast reactions studies, femtosecond and attosecond processes, fragmentation dynamics of molecules, XUV generations, Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy, crystal defect dynamics studies, luminescence dosimetry, luminescence dating, Earth surface processes studies, High LET particles dosimetry.
Theory: Atomic many-body methods to study atomic clocks, parity and CP symmetry violations, isotope shifts, polarizabilities, machine learning, and parallel programming.
Geosciences
Terrestrial and Marine Carbon and Nutrient Cycling, Isotope Hydrology, Paleoclimate and Paleoceanography, Geoarchealogy, Marine Geochemistry, Isotope Geochemistry and Cosmochemistry, Chemical Weathering and Climate, Evolution of Glacial/Fluvial/Coastal Quaternary Environments, Earth Surface Processes, Evolution of Proterozoic Sedimentary Basins of India, Subduction Zone Volcanism, Catastrophic/extreme events, Aerosol Chemistry over Land and Oceans, Environmental Microplastics.
Planetary Sciences and Space Exploration
Studies of surfaces, atmospheres, and ionospheres of planets; theoretical modelling and observational studies of physical processes of Mars, Venus, Moon, and asteroids; origin and evolution of the solar system objects through laboratory analysis of extraterrestrial material (meteorites and sample returned missions); analysis of data from Indian missions Chandrayaan-1, -2, -3, Mars Orbiter Mission and Aditya-L1; scientific instrumentation for future planetary missions to Moon, Venus, and Mars; and studies of planetary geology through the data obtained from space missions.
Solar Physics
Physics of solar oscillations; structure and evolution of sunspots; magnetohydrodynamic processes in the solar atmosphere, coronal and chromospheric heating, solar eruptions; and space weather predictions, design, and development of sophisticated instruments for solar observations and participation in national projects like the Aditya-L1 space mission, and the upcoming National Large Solar Telescope (NLST).
Space and Atmospheric Sciences
Physics of the Sun-earth interactions; space weather and its effects; ionospheric processes; atmospheric wave dynamics and coupling processes; aerosols and their impact on Earth's radiation budget; studies of trace gases, volatile organic compounds and their effects on the atmosphere; study of atmospheric clouds and boundary layer dynamics using Lidar; aspects of global warming and climate change. Opportunities exist for working in solar and heliospheric physics using data from the ongoing Aditya-L1 mission of India. Terrestrial and planetary space weather-related studies are also envisaged, given upcoming Indian space missions such as the dual-aeronomy satellite mission (DISHA) and missions to Venus and Mars.
Theoretical Physics
Theoretical condensed matter Physics - including quantum condensed matter physics, low-dimensional quantum systems, fractional quantum Hall effect, topological phases of matter, unconventional superconductivity, strongly correlated electronic systems, itinerant magnetism; Theoretical Particle Physics - including neutrino physics, collider physics, heavy-ion physics, dark matter phenomenology, CP violation, baryogenesis, heavy flavor physics, effective field theories, relativistic hydrodynamics, strong interaction physics, precision calculations in strong and electro-weak interaction physics, studies of extended gauge, global and space-time symmetries; Cosmology, Astroparticle Physics; Artificial intelligence with deep machine learning for feature extraction and explainability in fundamental research.