Ph.D – Biological Sciences

Ph.D.

Biological Sciences


Offered at: Pilani, K K Birla Goa, Hyderabad

Apply
Now Download
Brochure Talk to a
Counsellor

Advancing Life Sciences Through Interdisciplinary Innovation


Matching with the Institute's philosophy of an integrated approach to the modern areas of science and technology, the Department of Biological Sciences at BITS Pilani was formed by merging the existing Botany and Zoology Departments in the year 1969. Since then, the Department has been engaged in providing quality education to the selected students and contributing to the field of modern biology by adequate research input. Drawing manpower from the Biology, Pharmacy, Chemistry, and Computer Science Departments, the institute established the Centre for Biotechnology. The centre was formally launched in the year 1999 with active funding support and technical expertise from the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA. Currently, the Department is offering M.Sc.(Hons) Biological Sciences, M.E.(Biotech) and PhD Programmes.


Know More

Students offered an Institute fellowship will receive ₹37,000 per month. The fellowship may be enhanced to ₹40,000 or ₹42,000 after two years, based on performance.

Institute Fellows will also receive a contingency amount of ₹20,000 per year. Students admitted through Sponsored Projects will receive fellowship support in accordance with the funding agency guidelines.

Key Research Milestones

Diverse Research Domains Driving
Innovation in Biology

The Department offers a full-time Ph.D. programme in the following research thrust areas.

Environmental Biotechnology

Therapeutic Biology

Str. Biology & Bioinformatics

Extremophiles

Nanobiotechnology

Plant Biotechnology

Structural Biology

Computational Biology

Molecular Parasitology

Ph.D. Admission and Support Information

Candidates must meet one of the following criteria:


  • M.E./M.Tech./M.Pharm./MBA/M.Phil. (or equivalent) with minimum 60% aggregate.
  • M.Sc./B.E./B.Pharm. (or equivalent) with minimum 60% aggregate.
  • M.A. degree holders with minimum 55% aggregate may apply.
  • Minimum one year of relevant work experience is mandatory.

Additional Notes

  • Meeting minimum eligibility does not guarantee admission.
  • Departments may set additional shortlisting criteria—candidates must check departmental webpages for details.
  • Shortlisted candidates will be invited for a written test and/or interview, as recommended by the Department Research Committee (DRC).
  • Coursework requirements:
    • First Degree holders (M.Sc., B.E., B.Pharm., etc.): Minimum 6 courses / 24 units in the first two semesters.
    • Higher Degree holders (M.E./M.Tech./M.Pharm./MBA/M.Phil., etc.): Minimum 2 courses / 6 units in the first semester.
  • Admission is provisional and confirmed after clearing the qualifying exam and/or approval of the PhD proposal by the DRC.

  • All full-time PhD students admitted to the PhD program will receive a fellowship for up to a maximum of five years.
  • The fellowship could be from the Institute or the Sponsored Projects. PhD students may also be eligible for their own fellowship if qualified through the UGC/CSIR NET.
  • Students offered an Institute fellowship will receive ₹37,000 per month. The fellowship may be enhanced to ₹40,000/- or ₹42,000/- after two years, based on performance. Institute Fellows will also receive a contingency amount of ₹20,000/- per year.
  • Students offered admission through Sponsored Projects would receive the fellowship in accordance with the funding agency guidelines.
  • BITS Pilani provides International Travel Support of up to ₹1.5 lakh to full-time PhD students to present their work in an international conference

Application Process

  1. The online admission portal opens on 26 September 2025.
  2. Eligible candidates must apply through the official application form available at the provided admission website. No hard copy needs to be sent.
  3. Applicants must register online using a valid mobile number and email ID to generate login credentials.
  4. Candidates must select their preferred BITS Pilani campus(es) while filling the form.
    1. Preferences must be chosen carefully.
    2. They cannot be changed after submission.
  5. The completed application form and the prescribed application fee must be submitted online before the deadline.
  1. Last date to submit the application form: 17 November 2025, 5:00 PM.
  2. A non-refundable application fee of ₹2600 is payable at submission.
  3. Only one application is allowed.
    1. An edit option will be available until the deadline for correcting any mistakes.
  4. The final admission decision will be made by the Institute’s Admission Committee, and the decision will be binding on all applicants.

To learn more about the Ph.D admissions process at BITS Pilani, please visit the website https://www.bitsadmission.com

Faculty Empowering the Next Generation of Biologists

Anasuya Ganguly


Professor
Environmental Toxicology, Stem cells, Tissue Engineering
K K Birla Goa
Biological Sciences

Angshuman Sarkar


Professor
Environmental Toxicology, Stem cells, Tissue Engineering
K K Birla Goa
Biological Sciences

Aryamav Pattnaik


Assistant Professor

You Asked.
We Answered.

At BITS Pilani, the Ph.D. in Biological Sciences course embarks on subjects that include molecular biology, cell biology and biotechnology. It also includes lab research and strong faculty mentorship that carries learning beyond classrooms.

BITS Pilani offers PhD in Biological Sciences at Pilani, Goa and Hyderabad campuses. Admissions are managed centrally for all three locations.

BITS Pilani accepts candidates with 60% or above in their qualifying degree. Shortlisted candidates appear for a department test/interview. Coursework requirements depend on your entry qualification.

Shortlisted candidates take two tests at BITS Pilani—a common multiple-choice test on fundamentals and a discipline-specific test—followed by an interview. UGC/CSIR-NET-JRF and similar fellows can get test exemption as notified.

Ph.D. fellows receive ₹28,000 a month if joining with M.Sc., B.E., or B.Pharm, rising to ₹31,000 after coursework. Those with postgraduate degrees usually start directly at ₹31,000. Higher fellowship may be offered in later years as per institute norms.

Apply online via the BITS Pilani Ph.D admissions portal for the current cycle; the institute’s Ph.D brochure lists dates, openings by department/campus, test details and contacts.

At BITS Pilani, qualifying/research areas include Environmental & Microbial Biotechnology, Parasitology & Vector Biology, Bioinformatics & Computational Biology, Plant Biotechnology, Human Diseases & Immunology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & r-DNA and Animal Biotechnology.

BITS Pilani requires Ph.D coursework: entrants with M.Sc./B.E./B.Pharm complete at least 6 courses (≥24 units across the first year); entrants with M.E./M.Tech./M.Pharm/MBA/M.Phil complete at least 2 courses (≥6 units) in the first semester.

Many graduates pursue postdocs or teaching-research roles. Others join biotech or pharma R&D, healthcare analytics teams or government labs and startups.

You’ll join a lab at BITS Pilani and work closely with a faculty supervisor and a small research group. A department committee tracks your progress and schedules the qualifier, proposal defense and annual reviews.

Campus
Pilani
Goa
Hyderabad
Division/Department
Pilani-Biological Sciences
Program Type
PhD
Content Type
Courses
Degree
Doctoral Degree
Departments
Biological Sciences