Thursday, May 21, 2009

Faculty positions in IIT/IISc

Lately, I have been getting lot of emails asking how one should apply to faculty positions in India. Almost all IITs, IISc, IISERs having standing advertisements and accept applications throughout the year. For an Assistant Professor position, the prospective candidates must have a Ph.D. with post-doctoral research experience and be preferably below 35 years of age. Teaching experience is not normally sought.

The salary will be in the pay scale of Rs.12,000-420-18,300 plus allowances. Based on the new pay commission (that will be implemented retrospectively from 1.1.2006), an assistant professor at the minimum of the scale will receive a basic pay of around Rs. 34,000, grade pay of around Rs. 8,000 and a dearness allowance of 22% (as on date) of basic pay. In addition, traveling allowance, academic allowance and telephone reimbursement of Rs. 7,000 will be provided. On campus accommodation will be provided to all new faculty. In the main metros, faculty will be paid 30% of the basic pay if they prefer to avail their own accommodation. In addition, allowances like children education allowance, subsidy for single girl child, leave travel concession for the whole family every year, medical benefits to the family, gratuity and provident fund benefits are provided. Funding is provided for attending one national conference every year and one international conference every three years. Faculty are given three months vacation during summer of each year for visits abroad or locally. For new faculty, relocation expenses of Rs 1.25 lakhs are provided.

An overview of the facilities provided to prospective faculty is available. The startup grant for new faculty is around Rs. 25 lakhs in IISc. Applications are accepted throughout the year. Interested candidates should apply by sending their curriculum vitae, list of publications with reprints of important publications, proposed research plan, names and addresses (with e-mail and fax number) of at least three referees and other relevant details to chairman of the department. The candidate is also requested to indicate a suitable time when he/she may visit the country and give a seminar to the department.

In IISc, the following procedure is mostly followed for selection. It may vary slightly in other IITs. The application material is scrutinized by the faculty and references are obtained from the suggested persons and additional references within the country. The department makes a recommendation to the Divisional Chairman and the Director to set up a selection committee. The final selection is made by this selection committee. The process takes 4-6 months and candidates may take up the appointment at any time of the year but within 3-4 months of the date of offer. IITs do not have divisional chairmen but deans of faculty affairs and recruitment.

There is more information available on settling down in IISc and on an academic career in India.

PS: Please do not leave comments on the pay scales i.e., how the pay is pathetic compared to industry or how/what the new committee constituted in place of the Goverdhan Mehta committee has recommended. If you are keen to do that, you can do that in response to this blog post.

46 comments:

Anonymous said...

Would be nice if you had a post on a "typical" profile expected of a new faculty, eg. how much post-doc experience does a new assistant professor have, papers published prior to getting a faculty position, etc.

Giri@iisc said...

Dear Anon,

It varies widely from department to department, institute to institute. Typically, engineering departments require 1-2 years and science departments require 2-3 years of postdoc experience. However, I have seen fresh Ph.D's with 2-3 publications recruited as assistant professors in IITs. It depends on the area that the department is looking for etc.

Considering the large number of vacancies in engineering departments, one should apply and then see what happens.

Thanks

Giridhar

Thinking Of Returning said...

Prof Madras, in this post you state that an assistant Prof. will get 34k, while the Mehta committee recommended 38k as per an earlier post. So did the govt reject the committee's recommendation?

Anonymous said...

Mehta's comm recomm was 30 K + 8 K in grade pay. This blog says it is 34 K and 8 K in grade pay. A new comm was formed that has maybe recommended higher than mehta;s recomm

Anonymous said...

Dear Prof. Giridhar,

I came across this blog when searching to see if new pay scale has been implemented for university teachers. I thought my following comments may be relevant for this forum. I have a PhD and over 6 years of post-doctoral experience (University and industry combined). My PhD (in a Science discipline from US) and experience are from abroad (although I do not believe to have any better quality than anyone who is entirely educated in India).

I had Asst. Prof. offers from one IIT and one NIT recently (I think it is appropriate for me to keep the institute names anonymous for now). Due to location and a few personal matters, I let the IIT offer go and accepted the NIT offer (where I hope start soon). Both offered me 12000-420-18300 + all the usual extras. It looks like (from this forum comments and other www resources) NITs may get lower salary scale for the same position by the time I join, and here is where my comments may be relevant.

Students coming to IITs may be of higher calibre than NITs, but teaching material and work load may be similar (although I'm yet to learn about it). As for research I see no reason for any change in my future performance whether I'm in IIT or NIT. If I continue same research strategy that I followed so far (abroad), I don't see any reason for my proposals to win (or lose) solely based on my affiliation (again, this is something that I'll learn in future). I trust that such decisions will be based on merit. And my research output should be the same wherever I work. If more non-IIT/non-IISc institutes get faculty of quality similar to present IIT/IISc, it will only boost higher education system of India as it will put more pressure on IIT/IISc to perform at a higher level to keep their reputation. I for one believe that reputations cannot be kept by being stagnant and by keeping other institutes lower by discouraging (or denying facilities) in any way. Government should encourage all institutes to perform the best of their abilities. They should get adequate funds and continuously improving working conditions, and be encouraged to collaborate among institutes. India should be looking to develop within itself rather than looking to east or west. That will make our country proud.

In summary, this and other similar forums should encourage future young generations who wish to work in institutes of higher educations in India to join any institute or university of their choice based on their judgement and preferences (I'm sure there are others in similar situation as mine), and advice Government to provide whatever best they deserve. I am not qualified to comment whether IIT/IISc pay should be higher than NIT/UGC etc., but I'm very happy to be coming home soon and start my new career. I and my family are very happy of my decision irrespective of possible pay differences between the offers mentioned above, and I promise to give my best within the professional constraints of my future job.

Thanks for posting my thoughts.

Best regards,
Raghu

Anonymous said...

Dear Raghu


Ravi here again. I am posting my same views posted earlier in some other forum.


I am neither in NIT, nor in IIT. I am from IGNOU. But had lot of opportunities to interact with the people and administartion of these institutes. In due course of time, u will start feeling big difference at all levels in IIT and NIT. NITs are like islands having dictatorship of bunch of people including director. If u look at profile of director of an NIT, u will find that the only thing he has in credit is his strong political background. However, IIT recruites its director purely on the academic basis.



Then u will have to deal with those bunch of jokers in the form of lecturers and senior lecturers. Most of these guys are b.tech. and m.tech. and behave to professors like either very close relatives or servants. Believe me, these guys are going to give u lot of sleepless nights and insecurity.



Then those potballied professors, 90% of them are suffering from some chronic disease like heart attack, blood pressure, etc. They will give u tough times particularly during departmental meetings and public places, if u dont behave them like those bunch of jokers [L & L(SS)].



However, in IITs number of potballied guys is almost nil. Once, u r alotted a subject to teach, u r the boss. No compulsion of attending meetings. Further, u dont have headache of dealing with those bunch of jokers, as everybody around is a Dr.


Forget everything.. just do a survey.. how many faculty members of that NIT have Ph.Ds. from USA.. i already know result of survey.. its nobody.. then what to say about postdoctoral experience from USA... however, that IIT which offered u faculty position may (definitely) be having a good number of both breeds.



Boss, this homesickness have spoilt several careers, i cant see another brain going to drain. It is a classic example of emotional blackmail (atyachaar).



Even govt. of india tried unsuccessfully to transform NITs into IITs. Then howcome few Raghus will be able to do this uphill task?


Best regards,
Ravi

Anonymous said...

There is a huge difference between IITs and NITs.

1. Research atmosphere is completely different. The quality of students who enter NIT for Ph.D is very low. Only science students rejected by IIT and IISERs join NIT.

2. Even to buy simple chemicals for lab etc. is very difficult in NIT compared to IIT. The purchase procedures and other things are so difficult that you will become frustrated, especially if you want to do experimental research.

3. Go to places like NIT Trichy or other places and talk to young faculty in private and they will tell you that NIT is like Regional engineering college only. Just the name has been changed.

Anonymous said...

Dear Raghu

I totally agree with earlier 2 posts. I can judge difference between IITs and NITs better than anybodyelse. I was in a NIT for 10 years and now in an IIT for last 5 years.

I tell you few of my horrible experiences of those 10 years:

1. I joined this NIT just after submitting my Ph.D. synopsis in an IIT. I applied for extension of few months for joining so that I can finish my thesis writting, but the Director straight forwardly refused my request. I contacted my guide and converted my Ph.D. from full-time to part-time and joined on the same day.

2. It was nightmare for me to teach building drawing and design after having hydraulics in both my m.tech. and ph.d. I was given a table and chair kept in one corner of a room, other three corners of that room were already occupied by my fellow lecturers.

3. I was awarded ph.d. after 2 years in that NIT and after taht I started appearing in interviews for asstt. prof. post in IITs. But they were not willing to take me in due to tag of NIT lecturer and poor publication record. I could not get time to write papers from my ph.d. work as i was busy in teaching those alien subjects. I was not able to publish papers even in conferences then what to say about journal publications.

4. Then came the worst moment of my life when i was not even issued interview letter for the post of asstt. prof. in my own institute as they fixed the qualification for this post as m.tech. with 5 years of teaching experience. I was having m.tech. and 3 years of teaching experience with ph.d. that time. Anyhow, I could get issued interview letter on the day of interview after having lot of arguments with the Director.

5. Two senior guys younger to me having m.tech. and 5 years teaching experience were promoted. These guys openly started making fun of me and my ph.d. degree. I started feeling emotionally insecure and get associated with a senior professor there.

6. This professor encouraged me to publish from my ph.d. work only with the condition that i put his name as one of the author of these papers. i did the same and in this process i could publish a good number of papers but made my ph.d. supervisors biggest enemies of mine... (to be continued)

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
QseekingA said...

Dear Prof Giri,
I have been offered a visiting faculty at both IIT and IIST (Indian Institute of Space Science and Tech) at Thiruvananthapuram. I am undecided as both of them seem to be promising. The new IIT offers growth and IIST offers opportunities for space research.As it is not possible to go and visit either of the institute due to my inaccessibility, it would be really useful if you could let me know how the IIST is being perceived within the academia. Just for your information, in both these institutes I am being promised to be provided with good research facility and academic environment. Any information/discussion on IIST and newer IIT persepective would be highly appreciated. I am a early career researcher and am flexible to adapt to the institute's needs as long as the research falls within my research needs. And both the institute can(?) provide me a platform.
Regards.

QseekingA said...

Dear Prof Giri,
The earlier post regarding visiting faculty at IIT/IIST: I would be offered a permanent position once I appear in person (So I am assuming it would be a formality) when I arrive there and start my duties. Due to certain policies these two institutes cannot offer permanent position based on tele-interview.
I wanted to clarify the visiting faculty position and my undeciseveness over the joining.

Giri@iisc said...

This temp position is called adhoc position and conversion from adhoc to permanent position should not be a major issue at all. I have no idea about IIST, so I can not comment. You have to talk to faculty there by email. New IIT is not a problem though it would take some time to setup things.

Anonymous said...

This comment may not be appropriate in this column. Nevertheless, does any one here have insights on how IIIT, Hyderabad compares with IIT/IISc in terms of research support. I don't need facts, but just views, opinions and what-you-may- have-heard being an insider or prospective faculty, will suffice.

I have heard a lot of good things about IIIT, H - especially in terms of scope for research. I am told that payscales also match closely with that of IITs/IIScs.

I am interested in both positive and negatives viewpoints.

Thanks (from Raleigh, NC)

Jayadev K.M said...

Dear professor,
I am a last semester B-Tech student in CUSAT, Cochin. I had appeared GATE exam first time this year & secured a percentile of 98.79 & Rank 500. But I can't go for M-tech this year as I am waiting results of my supplementary exam to clear my backlogs, which will only be announced on February-2010.
I didn't take my studies serious till my 6th semester & yielded 20 backlogs. But after that I studied very well & cleared all except one which is awaiting result & also secured a good GATE score.
I hope I can appear next for GATE and to get an admission at IISc or IITs.
Is there any difficulty I will face to get selected due to my poor academics in B.Tech?

My ultimate desire& aim is to become a faculty member in IISc or in IITs after completing M.Tech&PhD.

Is there any chance for me to fulfill this dream as my bachelors academic is very bad.
Or can I still hope for it if I do better academic performance for M.Tech&PhD?

Thanks in advance.

Anonymous said...

Prof. Giri

How could u write my name as author of a message sent by anonymous? Delete my name and blog address immediately.

Regards,
Kaushal

Giri@iisc said...

I have not written your name on anything. It is posted by some anonymous but he has signed your name,

Anonymous said...

anyways, thanx.

Kaushal

Anonymous said...

Dear Prof. Madras,

I have greatly enjoyed your blog posts and I would like to thank you for your service to the academic and research community in India with the information you share with the rest of us.

Your post on new faculty positions is very helpful. Can you please comment on how easy is it for new faculty to set up a lab in IISc? Is the initial start up grant adequate? Is laboratory space and faculty office space easily available? It would be great if you could share the experience of a new faculty member who has set up his/her own lab in IISc.

Bharat

Giri@iisc said...

Dear Bharat,

Our director usually requests that the chairman allot 1000 sq ft of space for a new faculty to set up a lab and office space.

IISc provides a start up grant of Rs. 20 lakhs or so and one can write proposals to government organizations and get much more money.

If you happy with around 50 lakh or so for your initial equipment and start your experiments, you should be fine. If you need an equipment without which you can not work at all and this equipment costs Rs 2 crores, it is still workable but you have to convince a few people.

Technically, among all places in India, IISc will probably the easiest to set up a lab and get working soon.

Giridhar

Anonymous said...

Nice to see your blog I need a favor from you. I am presently working in a company with 22 lakhs salary. I have been recently offered an Assistant Professor job at a new IIT. I don't understand the salary structure and whether I will be eligible for 6th pay commission? This IIT is totally new, not even permanent building, so no research for next 2-3 years?. Thanks Sundar

Giri@iisc said...

Dear Sundar,

As mentioned in the blog itself, all faculty are eligible for sixth pay from 1.1.2006. It will be implemented soon. In Indian parlance, soon means within six months. You can calculate the salary yourself from my post. You can add consultancy to your salary also.

Regarding new IIT, you are correct in that research will be impossible in the next 2-3 years.

Choosing between academia and industry is tough but even tougher is choosing a new IIT over industry. If I was in your position, maybe I will try for a faculty position in an established IIT first.But that is just my opinion.

Giridhar

Anonymous said...

Dear Dr. Madras,

Thank you very much for your reply.

regards
Bharat

Anonymous said...

Dear Prof. Madras,

Does the IISc consider candidates living in foreign countries in absentia or do they have to travel to India for an interview?

Since it is really expensive to travel from USA/Canada, I am wondering if they make an exception for people living abroad.

Thanks
Bharat

Giri@iisc said...

Dear Bharat,

Yes, we do in absentia though nowadays, video conferencing is common. However, we do want the candidate to visit IISc sometime, give a seminar, talk to faculty etc.

Giridhar

Anonymous said...

bharat saab:

PRof. giri presents a rosy picture of iisc. i am a former student of iisc and know his students. he works extremely hard in excess of 14 hrs a day and also does a lot of administrative jobs ike GATE. He publishes 20 papers a year, others publish less than 2 papers a year. Why?

Not everyone can work like that and he is writing from his experience. Setting up labs, especially experimental, is extremely difficult. less than 10% in engineering do experimental work because of the lack of facilities, support etc. Also experimental research is not encouraged in iisc in engineering.

Giridhar Sir's intention is good but he should understand that not everyone can work like him and they find working in IIT/IISc doing experimental work extremely difficult. Maybe he should present this side of the story.

Sundaraman (ex-IISc student)

Anonymous said...

Hello All,

Thank you Prof Giri for such a wonderful blog. This has helped me to understand the situation in Inida much better. It has obviously changed from the days I was a BTech in KGP. I have recently received an appointment for Asst Prof and am planning to move back.
To Ravi(Anonymous) - you seem to be very knowledgeable about NIT/IIT. Kudos to you for such fighting spirits. Can you please tell me something more about the quality of research you do at IIT (like the no. of papers/PhD students/ projects etc). What are the problems you face? From my assessment the problems are (a)the best lot from IIT still moves out abroad or industry (b) bureaucratic delays and caste problems (c) Compared to the US some research areas are totally undeveloped, so that anyone getting an opportunity abroad will automatically move out. Thank you for your comments. Kudos to the hard working IITs/IISC.
-Indra

Neeraj said...

Dear Prof.
Is the faculty selection procedure followed rigorously? I was wondering because I have not yet applied, but recently I visited IISc and apparently the department was so impressed by my presentation, that they assured me that the offer is all but mine and it is just a formality to send in the application. Looking at your post here, I was concerned whether they were just being nice to me?

Anonymous said...

Hi Neeraj,
The same happened for me. My appointment was granted because of my presentation (at IIT). I did not even interview, although they formally request an interview - I was absent during the interview since I am not residing in India. You should definitely apply.
-Indra

Dr Chetan Patel said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Dr Chetan Patel said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Dr Chetan Patel said...

Hi dear
I am from Leeds, UK. I am near completion of my PhD (Software Engineering) form Leeds metropolitan university, UK. I have published 18 papers (5 international journal papers and 13international conference papers) and 2 book chapters. i worked as a part time lecturer at Leeds metropolitan university. Currently i am a lecturer at Bradford College, UK. Is it enough for me to get accepted at IIT as an associate or assistant professor?

Giri@iisc said...

Dear Neeraj,

If the chairman of the department has promised an offer to you, he will see it through various committees. The procedure will still be followed and you will get an offer letter after 2-3 months.

Giridhar

Yogesh Kulkarni said...

Slightly off-beat topic, just a query. Is it possible to pursue a PhD at IIT/IISc on part time /external basis, without taking any leave from job and doing research only on weekends?

Anonymous said...

I too had the same query as Yogesh. Is there a part-time Phd at IISC ?? I am currently working and want to do a phd alongside. If there is any such course, what are the eligibility criteria?

Giri@iisc said...

look at

http://www.iisc.ernet.in/admissions/erp-broc.htm

Anonymous said...

Dear Professor,
I am a regular reader of your blog. Believe me, I always read your blog about the news related to IITs. Your blog is very useful for the candidates who are considering applying for faculty position in IIT and particularly for those who have completed their PhD from US and European universities. Thanks for your wonderful service.
I had competed M.Tech and PhD both from old IIT’s and I have 3 years of post doctoral experience in a US University. I also have very good international journal and conference publications. I had applied for an asst. professor position in an engineering dept of an old IIT. I had received an interview call letter, and it is written in the call letter that they will consider my case in-absentia (as presently I am in US). They have written in the faculty recruitment advertisement that HOD will contact in-absentia candidates, and schedule a conferee or telephonic interview; it was also confirmed to me by Dean (FA). On the day of faculty interview, I have waited for a phone call for full night here in US. But I have not received any phone call. On the next day, I have contacted the Dean (FA), he told me that faculty interviews are over and you are not selected. I do not know how come they have taken this decision without my interview. They should have called me. I have written 3 emails and called 2 times to HOD to talk about this matter but he has not replied even my single email and he do not want to talk to me on phone. Is there any system by which I can know how committee can take a decision without candidate interview? Can you suggest me in this case to whom I should contact? I want to know how come HOD can bypass the rules, made by IIT administrators. Why selection processes are not transparent in IIT’s? I know number of Asst Professors who got selected when his guide was the HOD and the same person was rejected just 6 months before when his guide was not the HOD (I can give you the names of the professors, dept, IIT). We are talking so much about the brand IIT, compare IIT with MIT, Caltech…but why faculty recruitment are not transparent, Why IIT’s do not put on their web site the list of candidates called for interview and list of finally selected candidates? Problem is that most of the professors, HOD, Dean in IIT never reply. If you want to talk to them on phone, they remain busy in meetings.

Anonymous said...

I am sure if you take out this age barrier you will get more talented faculties. I don't understand why Indian Govt have to have an age limit for their jobs.

Candor_humane said...

Dear Professor Giri,
I had applied to several places in India in May of last year and I also visited many places and gave talk in August-September of 2009. A few places told me that they cannot offer me as my research interest areas were not a priority-area for the institute. In the meantime, I got a few industrial job offers in the US, where I am currently a Post-Doc (after my PhD also from US) and when I contacted IISc they mentioned that my application had been short-listed and recommended, but no written offer was made. As I had to respond to my offers within a short-time, I accepted one of my Industrial offers in the US and withdrew my application from IISc as I felt it was morally the right thing to do. Will this hurt my chance of applying again in the future at IISc? Thank you for all your posts and reply.
Siva

Giri@iisc said...

After the shortlisting and recommendation, it takes 3-4 months till the final offer is made. You should not have withdrawn your application because IISc gives you a minimum of 6 months and, maybe, a year for joining after the written offer is made . Contact the chairman again and tell him the timeframe when you are likely to come and ask them to make an offer now.

Candor_humane said...

Thank you Professor Giri.
The Manager of the company asked me if can commit for at least ~3 years (though not legally a contract) and hence I think it is reasonable too as they need to obtain a visa and other papers for me. So I am planning to return after three years from now, that is the reason I felt it was right to be open about this (I was candid with the Departmental Chair about this) and withdraw my application. But I am committed to returning after this time frame and I was wondering if my withdrawal now will automatically decrease my chances in the future. If yes what can I do to remedy it?
Thank you again for your time and advise.
Siva

sandy said...

Dear Prof,

Does IIsc or IIT accept folks with considerable industrial experience (10 years) with publications in ACM/IEEE conferences as assistant professors even if they donot have a Ph.D? All the positions mention Ph.D as a minimum requirement, Is this a must?

Anonymous said...

Dear Sir,

I am a PhD. Student in architectural history at an American University. I am defending in a few months this year. Recently, an IIT put up a posting for architecture and architecture history related positions. I am keen on working in the humanities and the social science in India. I have a B-Arch at an Indian college of national reputation. What do you think my prospects will be? I sent in an application to the IIT and am also trying to contact the other IITs over possibilities.

Thanking you
Sincerely

Anonymous said...

Subject: My experience in seeking an academic career at IIT

I have done PhD in Mechanical Engg from abroad (the thesis is under examination). After submitting my thesis (for examination… around mid 2009), I immediately sent applications/enquiries to “all” the IITs back home, including the new ones (for the post of Assistant Prof). I had been hearing for quite some time (especially in those years while I was aborad) that IITs are working on attracting new faculties/there are quite a bit of vacancies etc.

The responses I got from the IITs were rather strange. Only one IIT (new) came back to me and said they would consider my resume for the next round of applications. I have heard “nothing” from the other IITs in 1st 2 months.

From the 3rd month, I started to send my resume directly to the departments… and here also I found some not-so-specific responses, e.g “we will let you know soon”… but “soon” did not arrive even after 6 months.

One IIT responded (after 4 months) that my area of research is not Mechanical Engineering… but then after few weeks they made a completely U-turn and called me for a telephonic presentation within 3/4 day notice. By this time, I had joined industry back home (India) and was designing industrial plants based on some of my learning of PhD (and note: I design mechanical systems for super thermal power plants; hence I suspect the person who commented my research was not mechanical engg must be somewhat ignorant about the wide spectrum of mechanical engineering). I did manage to find some time for ppt, but this IIT never came back to me afterwards.

Another IIT responded (after 4 months) that they do not have any vacancy… but then they came back to me after few weeks asked me to travel to their institute in days for ppt+interview within 3 days. I had to cancel my official trips and buy air-tickets (though they only reimbursed train fares). I could not answer “all” the questions at interview, but you can not me expect to know everything in 2/3 days of preparation… and if I could remember all that I read about 10 years ago (if I had that capability), I would have applied to MIT etc (why to IIT??!!).

I had to pay application processing fee in another IIT, but they asked to me to send my application twice in 2 months – with all enclosures etc. When they asked me to submit it again (this is the 3rd time in 3 months), I refused to do so. I do not think people have time to send the same thing thrice.

Recently I have started to deal with private universities (some reputed ones) here in India. The response has been quite good (and prompt) till now… and there are some possibilities that I will be getting into one of these in few months time.

I do have high respect for the IITs. The IIT brand has made us proud in many ways… but should not it do some “walk the talk”? Is it too difficult to make an acknowledgement to the applications/respond to the emails etc and let the applicant know about the status of applications?? I, myself, a pass out from one of the old IITs with CGPA of 9.7 (I stood 1st in every semester) and then got fellowship from abroad. I have about 10 peer reviewed publications from my research. However, I understand there may be better candidates than me… but would not it be proper for the IITs to let me know this/or for whatever reason?. I repeat, I do not expect I can get through everywhere, but I do expect it is in my rights and curtsy that I am being told whether I will be called for interview or not (and if yes, then when). I am concerned that my experience in dealing with the IITs has not been that good, and this should indicate that not “all is well” for the IITs. The system has to be more prompt, transparent, responsible and respectful.

Note: As I said, I have high respect for them, but do believe things can be improved. The above is my experience only. Someone else may have a much better experience. Good luck.

PM

Anonymous said...

Hi Giri,
I am a postdoc in UK after completing a PhD degree from abroad. I have 12 international journal papers.

I got call from several IITs but I did not get in any of the IITs. Can you give details of points given for qualification, presentation, interview performance etc?

Is the final selection based only on interview performance?

Pintu

Anonymous said...

Dear Prof. Giri,

I am an ex-student of IISc and currently a post-doc in USA. As you are aware post-docs take more time to publish papers as they published during their PhD tenure. My question is what is the basis that IISc /IIT takes into consideration for Assistant faculty. From my experience of application procedure I feel they want MIT/Harvard grade researchers. My another question is what do the faculty generally ask during an interview for assistant professor. Do they ask about past work. Likewise I have Master's in Physics and had even taught Physics are UG level and then went on to get a Phd in Biophysics from IISc, my question that remains is whether they will ask me physics or biophysics??? because now its like 11 years that I touched hard core physics I know everything about Biophysics mainly Diffraction...and solid state physics but to answer questions about quantum mechanics that i learned long back is little impossible because wherever I apply for Biotech/Biophysics field they call me for an interview in Physics as the new Institutes they practically stress upon teaching. How to deal with such a situation

Anonymous said...

Sunder@UK
Dear Prof Giri
First of all thanks for running such a wonderful and informative blog.
I am a lecturer in a leading UK university with 3 years experience (25 medium to high impact journal articles, 34 international conference articles). I am looking forward to relocate to India but not sure what positions can I aim for (assistant/associate/professor etc.?). Do you have any suggestions? My nationality is British but I have overseas citizen of India status. Am I eligible to apply for the posts in IIT, NIT etc. I found the salry scales work differently in India compared to UK. I will be ever so greatful if your could explain what will be the net pay after tax.
Best wishes