Summar Internship Program

Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), an autonomous unit of the Department of Space, Government of India, conducts basic research in the areas of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Solar and Heliophysics, Space & Atmospheric Sciences, Geosciences, Planetary Sciences and Solar System Exploration, Atomic, Molecular & Optical Physics, and Theoretical Physics. The Laboratory has several world-class experimental, observational, and computing facilities spread over its four campuses at Navrangpura and Thaltej in Ahmedabad, the Infrared Observatory at Mt. Abu, and the Solar Observatory in Udaipur. Research in PRL includes niche areas such as Planetary and Space missions, Astrochemistry, Femtosecond Lasers, Quantum Communication, Exoplanets, Biogeosciences, Paleo-climatology, Laboratory analysis of Meteorites/samples, and Neutrino physics. 

For more details, visit the PRL website: https://www.prl.res.in/prl-eng/ 

The summer internship programme will provide a platform for interaction with Scientists/Engineers to allow young academic talent scholars and researchers from reputed academic institutions pursuing Graduation / Post-Graduation/Research in the disciplines of Science / Technology relevant to PRL programmes. The Scheme has the following stated objectives: 
 

1. To allow young academic talent to be associated with PRL scientists for mutual benefit;
2. The "Interns" may benefit from exposure to the Research Institute's functioning and applying theory into practice. This programme would help young talent choose a career path.

Applications are invited from academically outstanding and highly motivated graduate and postgraduate students and college teachers of Indian Nationality for the Summer Internship Programme to be held in Hybrid (offline and online) MODE by the Physical Research Laboratory from May 11 to July 10, 2026. Please note that ONLY a limited number of projects will be available for the internship. The participants will work on a specific project with a faculty member of the institute. The nature of the project will decide the offline/online mode.

The following candidates are eligible to apply for the Summer Internship Scheme:

1. Candidates must be Indian citizens.
2. The candidate should be pursuing UG/PG at a recognized Indian university/institution.
3. The candidate should possess an aggregate of Min. 60% or a CGPA of 6.32 on a scale of 10 at all levels.
4. Applications are encouraged from the disciplines of optics, Laser Physics, Space Physics, Geology, Geophysics, Atmospheric Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Meteorology, Chemistry, Ocean Sciences, and related subjects. 
   - Preference will be given to candidates who are KVPY/DST INSPIRE fellows/Summer Research Fellows selected by three National Science Academies in India.
   - We expect prospective candidates to have reasonably good proficiency in basic physics and mathematics.

Duration: May 11 to July 10, 2026

Teachers having an academic background in Physics, Applied Physics, Astronomy & Astrophysics, Optics, Laser Physics, Space Physics, Geology, Geophysics, Atmospheric Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Meteorology, Chemistry, Ocean Sciences, and related subjects and presently teaching postgraduate/graduate level with interest in pursuing research in any of the research areas of PRL are invited to apply for the summer internship program. The application must be forwarded through the institution's head/principal. Any application received without this recommendation will not be considered. The selected candidates will be informed through e-mail. No interim queries in this connection will be entertained.

Duration: May 11 to July 10, 2026.

Essential Qualifications: Ph.D. + Five years of teaching experience, research interest shown by publications/projects.

List of Projects for PRL Summer Internship Programme 2026 (To be revised for 2026)

1. A list of projects is attached to the above link, along with the contact details of the respective project supervisors.
2. Student/Teacher applicants interested in a specific project must contact the supervisor.
3. A maximum of two students can work with a supervisor.
4. After a proposed supervisor gives their consent to the prospective applicant, the applicant must complete an ONLINE application form. After submitting the ONLINE application form, the proposed PRL supervisor will receive an e-mail from the Dean's office and will be required to submit their confirmation in the format supplied to the supervisor before the last date, 03 April 2026. After this date, all completed applications received will be processed further, and the final decision will be conveyed to the selected students/teachers/prospective PRL supervisors by the end of April 2026, enabling initial interactions between the students and their supervisors to start planning/working on their designated project.
5. Students/teachers selected for the offline project will be allowed to visit PRL, and PRL will inform such candidates of the necessary formalities to be followed.
6. All students seeking internship opportunities shall submit a Bonafide certificate duly issued by the institute's Head of the Department/Principal/Director, along with the other documents mentioned below.
   • Prescribed Recommendation letter from the HoD/Dean/Principal of the college/Training & Placement officer of the concerned University/College.
     (Annexure-I)
   • Prescribed 'Undertaking form' with the student's signature, Internal supervisor (as applicable), and the HoD/Dean/Principal of the college/Training & Placement officer of the concerned University/College. 
     (Annexure-II)
   • Consent from the PRL project supervisor in a prescribed format.
     (Annexure-III)

The selected candidates will be informed through e-mail. No interim queries in this regard will be entertained.

The interns are not eligible for any stipend/remuneration / financial assistance.

1. Student/Teacher Applicants should wait 3-4 days for a reply from a faculty member they may have contacted before approaching another faculty member. The final right of student selection lies with the concerned faculty member, subject to fulfilling the minimum criteria mentioned above.
2. The selected applicants report to the Head of Academic Services at the Dean's Office of PRL, accompanied by letters from their respective colleges/universities.
3. The experts will review the students' projects in a seminar conducted by the students towards the end of the internship period, in online/offline mode. Following the reviewers' recommendation, a soft copy of the Project report, duly certified by the Project Guide, should be submitted to the Head of Academic Services, PRL. This should be done before the end of the programme. A form will be shared to allow the reports to be submitted.
4. The results from the project work, if any, can NOT be used/published in any manner without the written permission of PRL.
5. Total working days will be calculated based on PRL's working days (Monday to Friday per week, excluding scheduled holidays).
6. PRL administration will provide temporary Identity cards to the students selected for the summer internship who will be required to enter the PRL premises. Students should keep their identity cards visible at all times while in PRL.
7. PRL Canteen facilities can be availed on a payment basis at applicable rates from time to time.
8. The training at PRL will NOT cover medical and transport expenses.
9. Students will have to obtain prior permission, if any, for any absence during the internship duration. Any deviations from this will result in the termination of the internship, and the information to this effect shall be passed on to their HoD.
10. The internship mode can be offline/online, and the PRL supervisor can decide this based on the internship requirements.
11. A certificate will be issued at the end of the training, subject to giving a final seminar at PRL and receiving an endorsement from the internship supervisor. Evaluation at PRL is not in lieu of assessment to be carried out by the college/University towards the fulfillment of granting the degree. 
12. No article(s) resulting from the work carried out in PRL as a part of the summer internship can be submitted to Tech—Fest/conference/seminars/journal without the written permission of the Supervisor of PRL.

Summer Research Fellows (SRFs) are supported by the three National Academies of Sciences/KVPY/DST/DAE, etc.
- SRFs selected through external funding sources can visit PRL from May 11 to July 10, 2026.

Very limited paid accommodation is available, and this may be provided upon request from students, subject to availability and on a first-come, first-served basis. A form will be shared  with selected students for making an accommodation request:

• Accommodation rates – Rs. 120/- per day
• If the accommodation is provided, it will be available only up to 10 July 2026, and any request for an extension beyond this date will not be entertained.
• In the event of a delay in joining, the accommodation will not be reserved.

Date of application and completion of selection: Between 13 March and 03 April 2026.
Online Application link:  [same for PRL SIP 2026 and Summer Research Fellows (SRFs) selected by the three National Academies of Sciences/KVPY/DST/DAE, etc.]