PhD Position (JRF) in Quantum Annealing and Optimisation, IIT Hyderabad (National Quantum Mission, Physics)
Job Description
This PhD position in quantum technology at IIT Hyderabad is funded by the DST National Quantum Mission. The project is “Quantum annealing and optimization: mobility, multi-modal logistics, railway resource scheduling and related problems”. Apply by email by 15 October 2026.
At a glance
- Post: PhD position, 1 post, Department of Physics
- Supervisors: Dr Archak Purkayastha and Dr Atanu Rajak
- Pay: JRF ₹37,000 a month for 2 years, then SRF ₹42,000 a month for 2 years, plus HRA
- Must have: A valid GATE score above the cut-off, and an MTech or MSc
- Apply by: 15 October 2026, by email
The project is funded by the Department of Science and Technology’s National Quantum Mission (DST-NQM). It applies quantum annealing to optimisation problems in mobility, logistics and railway resource scheduling.
About the quantum annealing PhD project
- Study quantum annealing as a way to solve hard optimisation problems
- Map real problems, such as railway resource scheduling and multi-modal logistics, onto spin models
- Use quantum and classical spin-system methods, including tensor networks in one and two dimensions
Why this role matters
India’s National Quantum Mission funds work that links quantum methods with national needs. Railway scheduling is a huge real-world optimisation problem. You would work on physics methods with a clear use case, and get four years of funded PhD support.
Eligibility
- GATE score of at least 455 (General), 432 (OBC), 343 (EWS/PwD) or 240 (SC/ST)
- MTech or MSc in Physics, Quantum Technology or a related field
- Highly desired: an MTech or MSc in Quantum Technology
- Highly desired: experience with quantum and classical spin systems, and tensor network methods in 1D and 2D
- The advertisement states no age limit
Selection is by an online interview. Shortlisted candidates will hear the interview date by 20 October 2026.
Pay and duration
- JRF: ₹37,000 a month for 2 years
- SRF: ₹42,000 a month for 2 years
- Plus HRA as per institute norms
How to apply
Email archak.p@phy.iith.ac.in with the subject “PhD application NQM Quantum Annealing”. Attach a cover letter, a CV naming at least one referee for a recommendation letter, your GATE score card, and your OBC/EWS/PwD/SC/ST certificate if it applies. The last date is 15 October 2026.
Key dates
- Last date: 15 October 2026
- Interview dates sent to shortlisted candidates by 20 October 2026 (online interview)
Please read the official IIT Hyderabad advertisement before applying, and browse more quantum technology jobs on ResearchJobs.in.
Hiring institution: Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad
Official advertisement: iith.ac.in
How to prepare for this application
- Revise the transverse-field Ising model and the adiabatic theorem
- Practise writing a simple scheduling problem as a QUBO or Ising Hamiltonian
- Learn the basics of matrix product states and DMRG if you have not used tensor networks
- Check your GATE score against your category cut-off before you apply
- In your cover letter, name one optimisation problem you would like to attack and why
About IIT Hyderabad
The Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad was set up in 2008. Its campus is at Kandi in Sangareddy district, Telangana. It offers engineering, science, design and liberal arts programmes.
