PhD Admission for January 2027 in Astronomy, Astrophysics and Atmospheric Sciences, ARIES Nainital
Job Description
PhD admission at ARIES Nainital for January 2027 is open in astronomy, astrophysics and atmospheric sciences. The fellowship is Rs 37,000 a month as a JRF and Rs 42,000 as an SRF. The last date for the online application is 31 October 2026.
At a glance
- Programme: PhD, January 2027 session
- Where: ARIES, Manora Peak, Nainital, Uttarakhand
- Fellowship: Rs 37,000 a month (JRF), Rs 42,000 a month (SRF)
- Must have: a valid JEST or GATE or CSIR/UGC NET (JRF, LS or PhD)
- Apply by: 31 October 2026
Read the official ARIES PhD programme page before you apply. The application portal opened on 10 September 2026.
What the ARIES PhD admission for January 2027 covers
Astronomy and astrophysics: solar physics, extrasolar planets, stellar physics, supernovae, active galactic nuclei, galaxy morphology and relativistic astrophysics.
Atmospheric sciences: atmospheric chemistry, trace gases, boundary layer meteorology and aerosols.
ARIES runs optical telescopes in the central Himalaya, including the 3.6-metre Devasthal Optical Telescope. A PhD here usually means observing time, instrument work and long nights with real data.
Eligibility
- A master’s degree in physics, astrophysics or atmospheric sciences with at least 55% marks
- Or a bachelor’s degree with at least 75% marks
- A relaxation of 5% is allowed for SC, ST, OBC, EWS and differently-abled candidates
- A valid JEST, or GATE, or CSIR/UGC NET (JRF, LS or PhD) is mandatory
Fellowship and duration
The advertisement states Rs 37,000 a month for a Junior Research Fellow and Rs 42,000 a month for a Senior Research Fellow. The move from JRF to SRF follows the usual assessment after the first two years.
How to apply
The online application through the AcSIR portal is mandatory. ARIES is one of the institutes whose PhD is awarded through AcSIR, so register there and choose ARIES. Submit by 31 October 2026.
Key dates
- Portal opened: 10 September 2026
- Last date for online application: 31 October 2026
- Shortlist, tentative: 20 November 2026
- Interview dates: to be announced
- Selection announced about a week after the final interviews
- Joining: between 11 and 15 January 2027 (tentative)
Browse more PhD positions on ResearchJobs.in, or search our Find a supervisor page.
Hiring institution: Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital
Official advertisement: www.aries.res.in
How to prepare for this application
- JEST is the natural route for astronomy. GATE and CSIR/UGC NET are accepted too, and one of the three is compulsory.
- Pick solar, stellar, extragalactic or atmospheric. These are separate groups with separate instruments. Naming one shows you have read the page.
- Read about the Devasthal telescopes. ARIES is an observational institute, and interviews often turn to what you would actually do with telescope time.
- Brush up your physics fundamentals. Mechanics, electromagnetism, thermodynamics and quantum mechanics carry most astronomy interviews.
- Register on AcSIR first. The ARIES application runs through the AcSIR portal, and that step is mandatory.
About ARIES
The Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences is an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology, at Manora Peak near Nainital in Uttarakhand. It works on observational astronomy and astrophysics and on atmospheric sciences, and operates optical telescopes in the central Himalaya including the 3.6-metre Devasthal Optical Telescope.
