IIT ISM Dhanbad CE2F 2026 Apply for 30 Early Faculty Fellowship Posts

IIT (ISM) Dhanbad CE2F 2026: Apply for 30 Early Faculty Fellowships with Monthly Fellowship of ₹1 Lakh

There is a great opportunity this year for young researchers who want to start their careers in academia. The Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad is inviting applications for its Centenary Early Faculty Fellowship (CE2F) 2026. The program is intended for early-career PhD graduates who want to continue their careers in teaching.

To further enhance their recruitment process, IIT (ISM) has issued a corrigendum, stating that all applicants must fill in a Google Form along with the other submission requirements. The institute has stated that the other requirements of eligibility and the deadlines will remain the same.

Unlike a typical faculty recruitment process, the CE2F program is designed like a fellowship that offers independent research, teaching, and mentoring by the regular faculty, along with the opportunity to do externally funded projects.

IIT (ISM) Dhanbad CE2F 2026 Fellowship Vacancies

IIT (ISM) Dhanbad has 30 fellowship slots, with the following breakdown of the reservations.

The fellowship will be for one year with the possibility of extending for a maximum of one more year, based on satisfactory performance by the fellow as evaluated by the Performance Appraisal Committee (PAC).

Who Can Apply?

This fellowship targets early-career researchers. Requirements include:

• A PhD awarded in the last five years.
• Strong academic credentials.
• A minimum of three papers published as the first or corresponding author in journals listed in the SCI, SCIE, SSCI or AHCI.

The fellowship is open to Indian nationals and international applicants. PhD graduates from IIT (ISM) Dhanbad must wait three years from their award to be eligible.

Significance of Research Proposal

This fellowship prioritizes the planning of research. Applicants must:

• Familiarize themselves with the research interests of the department.
• Reach out to faculty members concerning their area of research.
• Select up to three potential advisors.
• Submit a self-drafted research proposal with their application.

The fellowship initiative has stated that research proposals will be screened for plagiarism first, and those that will proceed for departmental review will have a similarity index of 10% or less. The application form also states that research proposals will not be accepted if they include AI-generated content.

Fellowship Package Benefits

Those who are selected will receive a competitive fellowship package that will include:

• A fellowship of ₹1,00,000 per month
• House Rent Allowance (HRA) as applicable
• An annual contingency grant of ₹1 lak
• Contingency grant funds support for conference attendance
• Access to medical services at the institute health centre
• An annual leave entitlement of 30 days
• Maternity and paternity leave as per Government of India guidelines

Fellows will work under the supervision of a regular faculty member of IIT (ISM) and will partake in teaching and research duties.

Selection Procedure

The application will go through various levels of evaluation:

• Screening for plagiarism
• Review by the department
• Recommendation by the Faculty Selection Committee
• Interview

Candidates selected for offline interviews will be reimbursed the Second AC train fare. Faculty Selection Committee will interview candidates residing outside India in online mode.

Documents Required

The applicant must submit:

• PhD certificate
• Degree and mark sheets
• Three best published papers
• Certificate for availing category benefits (if applicable)
• Research proposal
• Contact information for three referees and the PhD supervisor

Completed applications must be submitted to pdf@iitism.ac.in by August 5, 2026. After the most recent corrigendum, candidates must also fill out the Google Form provided by the institute.

Importance of the Fellowship

The CE2F programme is designed to provide a pathway to teach and undertake research for early-career researchers, in addition to providing financial support. As such, early-career researchers who recently completed their PhD and aspire to a long-term academic career will be able to pursue independent research and have institutional support while working at one of the leading technical institutes in India.

Final Thoughts

For recent PhD graduates, the IIT (ISM) Dhanbad Centenary Early Faculty Fellowship (CE2F) 2026 provides a path to professionalization in the field of their PhD for several good reasons. In addition to a fellowship of ₹1 lakh per month, the program offers an opportunity to develop a variety of skills and abilities when coupled with a supportive, mentoring, funded position at one of the premier technical institutions in India.

Good researchers with a competitive publication record and a well-thought-out, original research proposal must be sure to both formally apply in accordance with all given directions and also complete the new Google Form by the August 5, 2026 cutoff. The research proposals are going to be screened for plagiarism, and there is a strict no-allowance for generation by AI, so the proposals must be well thought out, academically structured, and proposed to be developed in order to be competitive for selection.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the last date to apply for IIT (ISM) Dhanbad CE2F 2026?

The last date to apply is August 5, 2026. All applications must be complete with supporting documentation. The Google Form posted in the corrigendum must also be completed.

2. How many fellowship positions are available under IIT (ISM) Dhanbad CE2F 2026?

There are 30 CE2F fellowships, which include positions in the UR, OBC (NCL), SC, ST, and EWS fellowships.

3. Who is eligible to apply for the CE2F Fellowship 2026?

At a minimum, applicants must have a PhD completed in the last 5 years and be able to demonstrate a good, consistent academic record along with at least 3 first- or corresponding-authored research papers published in journals that are indexed in the SCI, SCIE, SSCI, or AHCI.

4. Can Those with a PhD from IIT (ISM) Dhanbad Apply for This Fellowship?

Not yet. PhD alumni from IIT (ISM) Dhanbad can apply three years after the award of their PhD.

5. What Is the Fellowship Amount?

Fellows will receive a consolidated amount of ₹1,00,000 per month, applicable HRA, and a research contingency grant of ₹1 lakh per year.

6. What Is the Duration of IIT (ISM) CE2F Fellowship?

The fellowship will be awarded for one year in the first instance, and based on the performance appraisal by the Committee (PAC), may be extended for one more year, up to a maximum of two years.

Click Here for More Jobs