CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysuru is a premier national institute of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, New Delhi. CSIR-CFTRI is committed to excel in Research & Innovation, Knowledge Dissemination, Technology Transfer and Human Resource Development in the areas of Food Science and Technology, through quality attributes practised and implemented at all levels.
Research and innovation in diverse disciplines of food science and technology, including Food Engineering (process development and equipment design, biochemical engineering, downstream processing and bioreactor design), are well supported by excellent infrastructure, state-of-the-art instrumentation and pilot plant facilities, and advanced research training. CSIR-CFTRI, Mysuru offers an excellent research and innovation environment for students who wish to pursue a full-time doctoral (Ph.D.) research programme in Sciences or Engineering under the Academy of Scientific & Innovative Research (AcSIR).
Admissions
The call for the August 2026 session closed on 14 April 2026. Details of the next session will be published here and on the AcSIR website. The eligibility criteria below are those of the August 2026 call.
Ph.D. Sciences (Biological Sciences and Chemical Sciences)
Qualifying degree
- A 2-year / 4-semester Master's degree in Science after a 3-year / 6-semester Bachelor's degree in Science, with at least 55% marks in aggregate or an equivalent grade on a point scale; or
- A 4-year / 8-semester Bachelor's degree in Science with at least 75% marks in aggregate or an equivalent grade on a point scale.
A relaxation of 5% marks, or its equivalent grade, may be allowed for candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer), Differently-Abled and Economically Weaker Section (EWS) categories.
Eligible categories
Any one of the following (tenable at all AcSIR associated research institutes except ICMR institutes):
- National-level fellowship: the applicant should hold a valid national-level fellowship of any funding agency (e.g. CSIR, ICMR, UGC, DBT, INSPIRE, RGNF).
- Temporary project staff of AcSIR associated research institutes: Project Assistants, Senior Research Fellows and other temporary project staff. An NOC from the current employer is mandatory.
- Industry / institute sponsored: permanent employees working in industry, or permanent scientific/technical employees of AcSIR associated research institutes. An NOC from the current employer is mandatory.
Ph.D. Engineering
Qualifying degree
- A 2-year / 4-semester Master's degree in Engineering/Technology after a 4-year / 8-semester Bachelor's degree, with at least 55% marks in aggregate or an equivalent grade on a point scale; or
- A 4-year / 8-semester Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Technology with at least 75% marks in aggregate or an equivalent grade on a point scale.
A relaxation of 5% marks, or its equivalent grade, may be allowed for candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer), Differently-Abled and Economically Weaker Section (EWS) categories.
Eligible categories
Any one of the following (tenable at all AcSIR associated research institutes except ICMR institutes):
- National-level fellowship: the applicant should hold a valid national-level fellowship of any funding agency (e.g. CSIR, ICMR, UGC, DBT, INSPIRE, RGNF).
- Self-sponsored.
- Temporary project staff of AcSIR associated research institutes: Project Assistants, Senior Research Fellows and other temporary project staff. An NOC from the current employer is mandatory.
- Industry / institute sponsored: permanent employees working in industry, or permanent scientific/technical employees of AcSIR associated research institutes. An NOC from the current employer is mandatory.
Additional information
- Applicants whose final results are awaited, but who are otherwise eligible, can also apply. If selected, they will be provisionally admitted. Their continuation in the programme will be subject to securing the required percentage or equivalent grade (depending on the cut-off marks for screening for the specific programme), submitting the marks sheet of their final result, and meeting the other eligibility criteria at the time of joining.
- The tuition fee, once paid by a student selected for Ph.D. admission to any AcSIR research institute, is transferable to any other AcSIR-associated institute where the student has also been selected for admission to the Ph.D. programme (including from the waiting list), subject to the availability of seats. The fee is transferable only until the commencement of the academic session, as notified by AcSIR headquarters, for admission to that semester.
How to apply
Eligible candidates can apply online on the AcSIR website (acsir.res.in), which also has full details of the application and admission procedures.
Application fee: ₹1,000 for General/OBC/EWS candidates and ₹500 for SC/ST/PwD candidates.
Selection
Selection for admission to the Ph.D. programmes of AcSIR at CSIR-CFTRI, Mysuru is on the basis of aptitude tests or interviews (online or in person) of shortlisted candidates, held at CSIR-CFTRI, Mysuru. Candidates should check the AcSIR website for interview dates.
No TA/DA is paid to shortlisted candidates for attending the aptitude tests or interviews at CSIR-CFTRI, Mysuru. Candidates should make their own arrangements for accommodation and food.