IIT Delhi Abu Dhabi Postdoctoral Fellowships: Complete Guide for Early-Career Researchers

Introduction: Why the IIT Delhi Abu Dhabi Postdoctoral Fellowships Matter

The IIT Delhi Abu Dhabi postdoctoral fellowships offer a rare opportunity for early-career researchers to shape a new international campus from the ground up. These positions combine high-quality research, infrastructure-building, and close engagement with a rapidly growing academic ecosystem in the UAE.

Through this program, selected postdoctoral fellows help establish laboratories, launch collaborative projects, and support research-focused events in strategic areas such as energy, quantum technologies and advanced materials. Consequently, the fellowships suit ambitious scholars who wish to strengthen their academic track record while gaining international experience in a research-centric campus.

In this guide, you will find a clear overview of the programme structure, eligibility, research areas, funding package, application steps and practical tips to submit a strong application for the IIT Delhi Abu Dhabi postdoctoral fellowships.

Overview of IIT Delhi Abu Dhabi and the Postdoctoral Programme

IIT Delhi Abu Dhabi extends the legacy of IIT Delhi into the Gulf region, with a strong emphasis on research, innovation and global collaboration. The campus is envisioned as a research-centric hub that supports advanced degrees and high-impact projects aligned with Abu Dhabi’s strategic priorities. 

Within this vision, Postdoctoral Fellows (PDFs) play a central role. They contribute to the institute’s

research and development agenda by:

• • Setting up and strengthening teaching and research laboratories

  • Driving collaborative research initiatives

  • Coordinating seminars, bootcamps, conferences and other research-oriented activities

The initial appointment runs for one year, with the possibility of a one-year extension based on performance and institutional requirements. This structure offers stability while also maintaining a clear performance-based progression path.

Key Research Areas in the IIT Delhi Abu Dhabi Postdoctoral Fellowships

The call focuses on a set of high-impact and strategically important research domains. As a result, candidates from these areas have strong alignment with the campus priorities:

• • Energy and Sustainability

  • Quantum Technologies

  • Catalysis and Reaction Engineering

  • Organic Synthesis

  • Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS)

  • Thermal Management of Energy Systems

  • Electrical Energy Systems

  • Construction Materials

  • Energy Storage Devices

  • AI for Energy Systems

  • Materials Characterization using SEM and AFM

  • High Performance Computing

  • Photonics Technologies for Health

These themes cut across engineering, physical sciences and computational sciences. Therefore, the programme is

particularly attractive to researchers interested in energy transition, digital transformation and health-related technologies.

Eligibility: Who Should Apply for IIT Delhi Abu Dhabi Postdoctoral Fellowships?

Core Academic Eligibility

The eligibility criteria focus on academic quality and readiness for independent research:

• • Applicants must have successfully defended a PhD thesis in a relevant area of engineering, science or mathematics.

  • Their academic track record during doctoral studies should demonstrate strong performance, including publications or significant research outputs.

Moreover, the programme is specifically designed for early-career researchers rather than very recent IIT Delhi graduates. Consequently, the call notes that:

• • Applicants should not be recent PhD graduates from IIT Delhi. Their PhD degree from IIT Delhi must have been awarded at least six months before the application date.

General Requirements and Research Track Record

Beyond the basic degree requirements, the call emphasises research maturity and focus:

• • A minimum of two peer-reviewed journal publications or conference presentations in recognised venues is expected.

  • Candidates should show a clear, coherent research trajectory supported by their dissertation and related outputs.

Additionally,

applicants must not hold conflicting professional commitments. In practical terms, they should not be engaged in other externally funded projects, industrial collaborations, or paid assignments that would limit their availability for full-time work at IIT Delhi Abu Dhabi.

Compensation, Benefits and Working Conditions

The IIT Delhi Abu Dhabi postdoctoral fellowships offer a competitive and well-structured support package. According to the official call, successful applicants receive:

• • A competitive monthly stipend, aligned with the high cost of living and professional status of postdoctoral researchers

  • Visa sponsorship, which simplifies relocation and residence in the UAE

  • Round-trip airfare to the fellow’s home country once each year

  • Medical insurance provided by IIT Delhi Abu Dhabi

Fellows hold full-time, campus-based appointments that report to the Office of the Vice Provost for Research and External Engagement. Each fellow may work under the supervision of a faculty mentor or in a more independent mode, depending on the research topics and projects defined in their plan.

This structure ensures that postdocs receive both guidance and autonomy, making it easier to launch new labs or projects while still benefiting from

senior support.

Roles and Responsibilities of Postdoctoral Fellows

The programme expects postdoctoral fellows to engage across three broad areas: research, infrastructure support and outreach.

Research and Academic Activities

Fellows contribute directly to the research agenda by:

• • Drafting and submitting research proposals to internal and external funding agencies

  • Designing and implementing research programmes aligned with the campus priorities

  • Publishing articles in high-quality journals and filing patents where appropriate

In addition, many fellows will be involved in supervising students, supporting coursework-related projects and contributing to academic discussions within their research groups.

Research Planning and Infrastructure

Postdocs play an important role in shaping the physical and digital research environment:

• • Developing laboratory manuals, standard operating procedures and documentation

  • Supporting experimental setups, instrumentation training and data management workflows

  • Assisting with the planning and optimisation of research infrastructure

These activities help ensure that laboratories and computational resources remain safe, efficient and aligned with best practices.

Outreach and Extensional Activities

Finally, fellows support the broader research culture at IIT Delhi Abu Dhabi by:

• • Organising and documenting seminars, bootcamps and workshops

  • Contributing to conferences and specialised meetings hosted on campus

  • Helping to position the campus as a regional hub for innovation and knowledge exchange

For many early-career researchers, this blend of responsibilities offers valuable experience in leadership, event organisation and academic service.

Step-by-Step: How to Apply for IIT Delhi Abu Dhabi Postdoctoral Fellowships

The application process is straightforward but requires careful preparation.

1. Review the Official Call

Firstly, download and read the “Call for Postdoctoral Fellowships (AY 2025–2026)” from the IIT Delhi Abu Dhabi website. Pay attention to research areas, eligibility and timelines.

2. Access the Online Application Form

Secondly, use the PDFs Application Form link or QR code provided in the call document. The link leads to a dedicated online form where you will submit all required information.

3. Prepare the Required Documents

Before starting the form, prepare the following materials carefully:

• • A Statement of Purpose (SoP) explaining your motivation, relevant experience and planned contributions to IIT Delhi Abu Dhabi

  • An updated curriculum vitae (CV) highlighting education, publications, conference presentations, awards and relevant professional experience

  • Supporting documentation of academic and research achievements, including full citation details for journal papers and conferences

Therefore, it is wise to consolidate your publication list and PDFs of key outputs in advance, so you can upload or reference them quickly.

4. Submit the Application Before the Deadline

The current call requires candidates to submit their completed applications by 30 November 2025. Late submissions may not be considered, so plan to finish at least a week earlier as a buffer.

After submission, monitor your email for acknowledgements or further instructions. For any clarifications, you may contact the Office of the Vice Provost for Research and External Engagement at the official email address provided in the call.

Expert Tips and Common Mistakes to Avoid

Well-prepared applications stand out quickly. Therefore, you should keep the following advice in mind:

• • Align your proposal with campus priorities. Clearly show how your research strengthens one or more of the listed areas, such as energy transition or quantum technologies.

  • Demonstrate independence and collaboration. Explain how you can lead your own project while also working effectively with faculty and other researchers.

  • Avoid generic SoPs. Make your Statement of Purpose specific to IIT Delhi Abu Dhabi, rather than reusing text written for other postdoc calls.

  • Check for conflicting commitments. If you hold ongoing contracts elsewhere, clarify your plans to end them before the fellowship starts.

  • Proofread everything. Simple errors in dates, names or publication lists can raise doubts about your attention to detail.

In addition, you can benchmark your profile against successful postdoctoral trajectories at other research-focused institutions. For example, compare your number of high-quality publications, research independence and international experience with typical expectations in your field. This approach can highlight areas to strengthen before applying.

Conclusion: Is the IIT Delhi Abu Dhabi Postdoctoral Fellowship Right for You?

The IIT Delhi Abu Dhabi postdoctoral fellowships offer a compelling blend of competitive funding, cutting-edge research areas and strategic location. Fellows help to build a research-centric campus that connects the strengths of IIT Delhi with the innovation-focused environment of Abu Dhabi.

If you are a recent PhD graduate with a strong research record, clear academic goals and an interest in energy, digital technologies or advanced materials, this programme deserves serious consideration. Moreover, it provides practical experience in lab establishment, proposal writing and academic event organisation, all of which are crucial for long-term academic careers.

Therefore, start by reviewing the official call, mapping your experience to the stated requirements and preparing a focused, well-evidenced application. Early preparation will not only reduce stress near the deadline but also significantly improve the quality and clarity of your submission.

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Program Summary Table

Feature	Details
Program	Postdoctoral Fellowships (PDFs) at IIT Delhi – Abu Dhabi for AY 2025–2026
Host	United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi)
Funded	Indian Institute of Technology Delhi – Abu Dhabi
Duration	Initial 12 months, extendable by an additional 12 months based on performance
Study	Full-time, campus-based
Eligibility	PhD in a relevant area of engineering, science or mathematics; strong research record; not a very recent IIT Delhi PhD graduate (degree at least six months old); no conflicting professional commitments
Financial	Competitive monthly stipend; visa sponsorship; annual round-trip airfare to home country; medical insurance provided by IIT   Delhi – Abu Dhabi
Fields	Energy and Sustainability; Quantum Technologies; Catalysis and Reaction Engineering; Organic Synthesis; CCUS; Thermal   Management of Energy Systems; Electrical Energy Systems; Construction Materials; Energy Storage Devices; AI for Energy   Systems; Materials Characterization using SEM/AFM; High Performance Computing; Photonics Technologies for Health
Deadline	30/11/2025
Official	IIT Delhi – Abu Dhabi PostDocs

 

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