Entry Level Qualification 

Post Graduate

Career Fields 

Medical Services

For Specially Abled 

Career Entrance Exam 

JIPMER MSC/MPH, AIIMS MSC

About Career 

A Neuroscientist is a researcher who studies biochemical aspects of the brain and its impact on behaviour and other cognitive functions like learning, memory, thought, perception, language understanding, and problem solving etc. Neuroscientists study how the nervous system works and conduct research to learn about the structure, function, genetics and physiology of the nervous system. They also study what causes (physiological, genetic, biochemical, trauma, external situations, etc.) neurological and psychiatric disorders as well as neurodevelopmental disorders in some people.

Before we further read on to what the Neuroscientists do, let us get a brief understanding of a few terms and concepts associated with the Nervous system

Cognition is the process of knowing and recognizing the information that is sent to the brain with the help of experiences, thoughts and the senses. It is the mental activity which allows the brain to assess and perceive the information of an individual and involves various aspects of functioning and processes such as the formation of knowledge, memory, and judgment, reasoning, planning, problem-solving, etc.

Neurology/ neurological disorder: Neurology is the branch of medicine that deals with disorders of the nervous system i.e. it deals with the diagnosis and treatment of conditions and diseases involving the central and peripheral nervous system. Some of the neurological disorders can be categorized according to the primary location affected, the primary type of dysfunction involved, or the primary type of cause.

Neurodevelopmental disorders: Neurodevelopmental disorders are due to the disturbance caused in the central nervous system. These disorders are due to an abnormal brain development or by damage at an early age or due to other factors such as genetic inheritance, ageing, other diseases affecting mental processes (other diseases such as cardiovascular diseases leading to a cerebral attack) which affect emotion, learning ability, self-control and memory. Some of these are categorized as:

Neurodevelopmental disorder like Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), cerebral palsy, intellectual developmental disability etc. Some of the specific disorders are: Learning disorders like Dyslexia or Dyscalculia, Autism spectrum disorders such as Autistic Disorder, Movement disorder like Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, Tourette’s syndrome, multiple sclerosis, etc., Communication or speech-language disorder like Dysgraphia, Aphasia, etc.; Genetic disorder like cystic fibrosis, Huntington's disease, Down syndrome, etc.

But most importantly what does Structure, function and physiology of Nervous system mean?

In simple terms just like other systems in the body, the nervous system is a complex network of cells and nerves that carries the messages to and from the brain and spinal cord to various other parts of the body and helps in the coordination of actions and sensory information. Any change in environment which impacts the body is detected by the nervous system.

At the cellular level, the nervous system is defined by the presence of special type of cells called:

1. Neuron, also called the nerve cell, and,

2. Glialcells

These neurons or nerve cells are structured in such a way that it allows them to send signals to other cells. These signals are send in the form of electrochemical waves which travel along the thin fiber like structures called the axons. The axons then release chemicals called the neurotransmitters at the junctions called the synapses. (Synapses are structures that allows the neurons to pass an electrical signal to another neuron).

The glial cells are non-neuronal cells that provide support to neurons and hold them in place and supply nutrients to them. These glial cells also generate layers of a fatty substance called myelin that wraps around axons and provides electrical insulation which allows them to transmit action potentials much more rapidly and efficiently.

So, when a cell receives a signal, the neurons get excited or moderated and these connections between the neurons form the neural pathways, neural circuits and other larger networks that produce/generate an organism’s perception (understanding) of the world and control/determine its behaviour. 

The nervous system is divided into the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS). The central nervous system consists of two parts: the brain & the spinal cord. The brain is protected by the skull (the cranial cavity- space within the skull) and the spinal cord runs from the back of the brain. The function of central nervous system is to send signals from one cell to others or from one part of the body to others and receive feedback and integrates the received information and coordinates and influences the activity of all parts of the body. And the peripheral nervous system (PNS) connects the CNS to the limbs and organs and serves as a relay between the brain and spinal cord and the rest of the body.

So why do we need to know about the basics of the nervous system at all?

Understand that the nervous system is the most important part of the body and all the physical and mental activities are directly linked to the proper functioning of the nervous system. A Neuroscientists’ job is to study, research, and investigate how and why the humans/animals behave in a certain manner, what causes them to react in a definite way, what are the reasons some develop neurological disorders (explained above) and how these can be diagnosed. That is why it is important that you have the basic understanding of the nervous system and how it functions.

After understanding in brief about the Nervous system; functions and disorders associated with it let us dig deeper into what exactly a neuroscientist does and what are some of the specialized areas they research in.

As a Neuroscientist, you would explore all the elements of the nervous system to understand how it is structured, how it functions, how it forms, how it breaks down and how it can be improved or changed. You will be concerned about all the facets of the nervous system including molecular, cellular, functional, and structural elements as well as evolutionary, medical and computational aspects.

As a Neuroscientist, you would research and analyse the nervous system in various branches of biology, psychology, computing, anatomy, physiology among many others. For example, as a Behavioural Neuroscientist, you would study the biological explanation for human behaviour. You would deal with questions like what causes normal and abnormal behaviour, what causes reflexes and actions, and what triggers the emotions etc.

As a Computational Neuroscientist you would be studying and investigating how the human brain might perceive the information say while reading and why do you need to read it or what can you learn from it etc. You would be involved in processing, evaluating, and understanding how the electrical and chemical signals produced by the neurons are used in the brain to interpret and process information.

Neurolinguistics research and study how the human brain can process language and how the processing of spoken language is affected when a specific portion of the brain is damaged or non-functional. As a Neurolinguist, you would be dealing with questions like how the human brain combines the words into structured sentences and these sentences derive meaning? How the brain is able to learn and store foreign languages and how does the human brain reacts to sound and what impact does it have on the cognitive functions.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

As a Neuroscientist, you would be involved in the following key roles and responsibilities:

1. You would study and examine the developmental, computational, structural, medical, molecular, cellular, evolutionary, and functional aspects of the human nervous system.

2. You would be involved in preparing tissue and cell samples, and making use of dyes, antibodies, and gene probes to identify the components of the nervous system.

3. You would examine test results of the patients to obtain information about functional status of areas, such as vision, physical strength, coordination, reflexes, sensations, language skills, cognitive abilities, and mental status.

4. You would be using tools and equipment to monitor brain and nerve activity

5. You would identify and research major neurological system diseases and disorders, such as central nervous system infection, crania spinal trauma, dementia, and stroke

6. You would be studying the simplified nervous systems of insects to isolate certain behaviors.

7. You would be diagnosing mental or psychiatric disorders and prescribing medical or non-medical treatments and therapies for patients in clinical settings.

Career Entry Pathway 

Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies – Class 11-12 Physics, Chemistry, and Biology along with any other subject as per scheme of studies – Bachelor’s degree in Biology/ Life Science/ Zoology/ Physiology/ Biochemistry/ Similar – Master’s degree in Biological Sciences/ Life Sciences/ Zoology/ Physiology/ Biochemistry/ Similar – Ph.D. in Neuroscience/ Neurobiology/ similar

After completing Class 11-12 Physics, Chemistry, and Biology along with any other subject as per scheme of studies, you can go for Bachelors in Biology in Biological Science/ Life Science / Zoology/ Physiology/ Biochemistry/ Biophysics/ Immunology/ Molecular Biology/ similar specialisation). After graduation in any of the above discipline you must then pursue a Master degree in the above discipline or in Neuroscience/ Neurobiology/ Cognitive Neuroscience/ Neurophysiology/ Biopsychology/ Cellular Biology/ Molecular & Cellular Biology/ Cell Biology Evolutionary Biology. You can go for further research studies i.e. Ph.D. in Neuroscience/ Neurobiology or similar discipline after which you can also do a Post-Doctoral Fellowship.

Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies – Class 11-12 Physics, Chemistry, and Biology along with any other subject as per scheme of studies - Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Psychology (with specialization in Biopsychology/ Clinical psychology/ Developmental psychology/ Social Psychology or similar field) – Masters of Science in Psychology (with specialization in Biopsychology/ Clinical psychology/ Developmental psychology/ Social Psychology/ Cognitive Psychology/ Addiction Psychology/ Addiction Psychology or similar field or similar field) – Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Psychology/ Neuropsychology/ Neuroscience or similar scientific discipline

After completing Class 11-12 Physics, Chemistry, and Biology along with any other subject as per scheme of studies, you can go for a Bachelor of Science/ B.Sc. in Psychology with specialisation Biopsychology/ Clinical psychology/ Developmental psychology/ Social Psychology/ Cognitive Psychology/ Addiction Psychology/ Addiction Psychology or similar field or similar field. After graduation you must then pursue a master’s of science in Psychology with specialisation in Biopsychology/ Clinical psychology/ Developmental psychology/ Social Psychology or similar field followed by Ph.D. in Psychology/ Neuropsychology/ Cognitive Psychology/ Cognitive Science/ Behavioural Psychology/ Biopsychology/ Neuroscience or similar scientific discipline. After Ph.D. you can also pursue a Post-Doctoral Fellowship.

Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies – Class 11-12 Physics, Chemistry, and Biology along with any other subject as per scheme of studies – MBBS – MD in Medicine/General Medicine/similar – DM in Neurology or Ph.D. in Neurology or Ph.D. in Neuroscience/ Neurobiology / similar field

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After completing Class 11-12 Physics, Chemistry, and Biology along with any other subject as per scheme of studies, you can pursue Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree. Then go for MD in Medicine/General Medicine or similar field followed by DM in DM in Neurology or Ph.D. in Neurology or Ph.D. in Neuroscience/ Neurobiology / similar field

Required Qualification & Competencies 

After completing graduation and post-graduation in your areas of specialisation, you would need to pursueaPost-Doctoral study or research in the area you want to specialise in. You can find the following subjects/specialisation in which you can take up your masters or Ph.D.:

1. Molecular and cellular neuroscience

2. Neurology

3. Neuroscience

4. Neurobiology

5. Neural circuits and systems

6. Cognitive and Behavioural Neuroscience

7. Computational Neuroscience

8. Clinical Neuroscience

9. Evolutionary &Developmental Neuroscience

10. Neuroanatomy         

11. Neurochemistry       

12. Neuroethology

13. Neurogastronomy   

14. Neurogenetics          

15. Neuroimaging          

16. Neuroimmunology  

17. Neuroinformatics     

18. Neurolinguistics       

19. Neurophysics           

20. Neurophysiology     

21. Neuropsychology

22. Paleoneurobiology  

23. Social neuroscience 

24. Systems neuroscience

Compentencies Required

Interest

1. Investigative: You should have interests for Investigative Occupations. Investigative occupations involve working with ideas and quite a lot of thinking, often abstract or conceptual thinking. These involve learning about facts and figures; involve use of data analysis, assessment of situations, decision making and problem-solving.

2. Realistic: You should have interests for Realistic Occupations. Realistic occupations involve more practical and hands-on activities than paperwork or office work. Realistic occupations often involve physical activities for getting things done using various tools and equipment. 

Knowledge

1. Biological Sciences: Knowledge of plants and animals, their anatomical structure, cell structure, tissues, physiological functions, evolution, and all other related aspects.

2. Medicine: Knowledge of the science of diagnosis, treatment and prevention of human diseases, ailment, injuries and disorders. This includes understanding the symptoms, knowledge of the diagnostic processes, knowledge of the treatment procedures and medicines, and preventive healthcare measures.

3. Psychology: Knowledge of why and how humans behave the ways they behave. This includes understanding of mental processes and Knowledge of perception, beliefs, motives, attitudes, personality, values, and interests, learning styles and abilities as well as methods to do research and understand causes of behavioural disorders and treating them.

Skills

1. Active Learning: Focused and continuous learning from various sources of information, observation and otherwise for application in getting work done.

2. Coordination: Skills in working together with other people to get things done.

3. Critical Thinking: Skills in analysis of complex situations, using of logic and reasoning to understand the situations and take appropriate actions or make interpretations and inferences.

4. Judgment and Decision Making: Skills in considering pros and cons of various decision alternatives; considering costs and benefits; taking appropriate and suitable decisions.

5. Problem Solving: Skills in analysis and understanding of problems, evaluating various options to solve the problems and using the best option to solve the problems.

6. Reading Comprehension: Skills in understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

7. Scientific: Skills in using various scientific rules and methods to get things done or solve problems.

Abilities

1. Deductive Reasoning: The ability to apply general rules and common logic to specific problems to produce answers that are logical and make sense. For example, understanding the reasons behind an event or a situation using general rules and common logic

2. Inductive Reasoning: The ability to combine pieces of information from various sources, concepts, and theories to form general rules or conclusions. For example, analysing various events or situations to come out with a set of rules or conclusions

3. Information Ordering: The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

4. Written Comprehension: The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

5. Written Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand

Personality

1. You are somewhat organised in your day-to-day life and activities.

2. You are somewhat careful about your actions and behaviour.

3. You are imaginative sometimes.

4. You prefer to experience new things and have new experiences sometimes.

5. You act independently sometimes but do not do so in some other times.

6. You are always practical or in most situations.

Career - Job Opportunities & Profiles 

As a Neuroscientist, you may find work in:

1. University departments which are involved in neuroscience/ neurobiology research such as National Brain Research Centre, Indian Institute of Science, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), National Centre for Biological Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Harvard University, Yale University, Stanford University, etc.

2. Research institutions such as Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS), Central Drug Research Institute (CSIR), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science &Technology (AIST), National Centre for Cell Science, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research,

3. Medical colleges and medical research institutions such as All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute, etc.

4. Pharmaceutical companiesand research institutions which are involved in drug development research such as Dr. Reddy, Sun Pharmaceutical, Lupin Ltd,  Cipla, Cadila Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Vertex, etc. Research institutions such as Central Drug Research Institute, Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM), Hindustan Antibiotics Ltd, Indian Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Ltd., etc.

5. Universities, companies and private/public sector labs or research institutions involved in high end computer science research, artificial intelligence research, and in robotics such as Indian Institute of Science (IISC), International Institute of Information Technology (Robotics Research Lab), International Business Machines (IBM), Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Indian Institute of Robotics etc.

As a Neuroscientist, you may find the job opportunities as follows:

1. After a Master’s degree, as a (i) Doctoral Fellow (while doing a PhD) or as a (ii) Research Associate

2. After a PhD as a – (i) Post-Doctoral Fellow or as a (ii) Research Scientist/ Scientist

3. In research organisations/companies – Mostly after a PhD as a Scientist or after a Post-Doctoral Fellowship as a Scientist. Some opportunities do exist as a Research Associate after Master’s degree.

4. In university departments and medical colleges, as an Assistant Professor after Ph.D.

Specialisation Tracks In This Career

Neuroscientist (Affective Neuroscience)

Affective Neuroscientists are involved in the research and study of the neural mechanisms of emotion. The study examines how the brain creates emotional responses. These emotional responses are a psychological phenomenon that involves changes to body in form of facial expressions, feeling states (subjective responsive) and the urge to act in a certain way. The study thus aims to understand how the structures and chemicals of brain creates emotions.

Neuroscientist (Behavioural Neuroscience)

Behavioural neuroscientists are involved in the research and study of the neural mechanisms of behaviour. The study examines behaviour genetics, decision making, impulsivity, cognition, motivated behaviour (such as anger, thirst, hunger etc.), learning and memory. Behavioural neuroscientists are also contributing in the areas of psychology, philosophy, and linguistics, etc. as the field of behavioural sciences is vast and includes almost all the important components of branch of neurosciences.

Neuroscientist (Cellular Neuroscience)

Cellular neuroscientists are involved in the research and study of neural mechanisms at the cellular level. The study focuses on how the brain develops and changes over time and responds to everyday experiences. The scientists specialising in cellular neuroscience study the basic mechanisms of neuronal development and function as well as how disorders arise including depression, schizophrenia, an intellectual disability.

Neuroscientist (Clinical Neuroscience)

Clinical Neuroscientists are involved in the research and study of fundamental mechanisms that underlie diseases and disorders of the brain and central nervous system. They develop diagnostic methods and ways to prevent and treat neurobiological disorders. These disorders include addiction, Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, anxiety disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, bipolar disorder, brain tumour, depression, Down syndrome, dyslexia, epilepsy, Huntington's disease, multiple sclerosis, neurological AIDS, neurological trauma, pain, obsessive-compulsive disorder, Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, sleep disorders, stroke and Tourette syndrome.

Neuroscientist (Cognitive Neuroscience)

Cognitive Neuroscientists are involved in exploring the relationship between neural circuits and mental processing. They find out how our brains contribute to our cognitive function i.e. how the physical and biological parts of the brain create the less tangible parts like thoughts, emotions, perception, attention, language understanding, memory, problem solving, and decision-making and behaviour.

Cognitive neuroscientists also study how neurons process and represent information, how learning may occur through change of properties of neurons and their connections.

Neuroscientist (Computational Neuroscience)

Computational Neuroscientists are involved in the research and study of brain structure development and functioning through mathematical models, computer simulation and theoretical assessment. In simpler terms Computational neuroscientists study the development, structure, physiology and cognitive abilities of the nervous system using the computational approaches such as mathematics, statistics, computer simulations, and abstractions.

Neuroscientist (Neuropsychology)

Neuropsychologists focus on the relationships between the brain and neuropsychological functioning – typically, the changes in behaviour following a neurological illness or injury. The study focuses to understand how behaviour and cognition are influenced/effected by brain functioning and is concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of the neurological disorders.

Neuroscientist (Developmental Neuroscience)

Developmental Neuroscientists are involved in the research and study of the field of developmental biology. It is the study of the process by which animals and plants grow and develop. (Including the regeneration, reproduction or the metamorphosis). The developmental neuroscientists study the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which complex nervous systems develop. The defect in the neural development can lead to deformities or sensory and motor impairments.

Neuroscientist (Evolutionary Neuroscience)

Evolutionary neuroscientists are involved in the research and study of evolution of the nervous system. Evolutionary neuroscientists examine the evolution and natural history of the nervous system, its structure and functions. The study focuses on the concepts and findings from both neuroscience and evolutionary biology.

Neuroscientist (Molecular Neuroscience)

Molecular neuroscientists are involved in the research and study of the nervous system with molecular biology, molecular genetics, and protein chemistry. They focus on neurons’ molecular behaviour and processes, examine the structure of the nervous system, as well as how it functions and develops. Research in Molecular and cellular neuroscience helps understand the mechanisms by which neurons express and respond to molecular signals and how axons form complex connectivity patterns.

Neuroscientist (Neural Engineering)

The study of neural systems and circuits, with a focus on intricacies like how neural circuits are formed and how they produce functions like reflexes, memory and emotional responses. A key area of research is how networks of neurons underpin complex processes and behaviours.

Neuroscientist (Neuroanatomy)

Scientists specialising in Neuroanatomy study the structure and organization of the nervous system i.e. they study the anatomy of the nervous system. Neuroanatomy is related to developmental biology, embryology, comparative anatomy, and evolutionary biology.

Neuroscientist (Neurochemistry)

Neurochemists are involved in the research and study of how neurochemicals interact and influence the function of neurons. They examine the biochemistry and molecular biology of organic compounds in the nervous system, and their roles in such neural processes including cortical plasticity, neurogenesis, and neural differentiation. Cortical plasticity, also called neural plasticity, is the ability of the brain to change and evolve throughout an individual’s lifetime. Neurogenesis is the process by which nervous cells are produced by neural stem cells. Neural differentiation refers to the process that generate, shape, and reshape the nervous system.

Neuroscientist (Neuroethology)

Neuro-ethologists are involved in the study of animal behaviour and the underlying mechanistic control by the nervous system.

Neuroethology is the branch of behavioural neuroscience and explores to understand how the central nervous system translates biologically relevant stimuli into natural behaviour i.e. how animals find their mates, how they navigate or how the avoid their predators etc. Ethology is the study of animal behaviour in natural conditions

Neuroscientist (Neurogastronomy)

Neurogastronomists are involved in the research and study of flavour and how it affects sensation, cognition, and memory. The study focuses on how olfaction contributes to flavour, obesity, food addiction or certain taste preferences.

Neuroscientist (Neurogenetics)

Neurogenetics studies the role of genetics in the development and function of the nervous system. It considers neural characteristics as phenotypes (i.e. manifestations, measurable or not, of the genetic character of an individual), and is based on the observation that the nervous systems of individuals are not entirely identical.

Neuroscientist (Neuroimaging)

Neuroimagists are involved in the imaging of the structure, function, or pharmacology of the nervous system. The neuroimaging is divided into two parts Structural imaging, which deals with the structure of the nervous system and the diagnosis intracranial disease (such as a Tumour) and injury. Functional Imagining, which deals with the diagnosis of metabolic diseases and lesions (such as Alzheimer's disease) and also for neurological and cognitive psychology research and building brain-computer interfaces.

Neuroscientist (Neuroimmunology)

Neuroimmunologists are involved in the research and study of the interactions between nervous system and the immune system. The study focuses to understand the physiological functioning of the two systems in health and disease, malfunction of either and or both systems that leads to disorders, and the physical, chemical, and environmental stressors that affect the two systems on a daily basis.

Neuroscientist (Neuroinformatics)

Neuroinformaticians are involved in the study of organization of neuroscience data and application of computational models and analytical tools. Neuroinformaticians facilitate the understanding of the brain to deeper levels by providing computational tools, mathematical models, and creating interoperable databases for clinicians and research scientists.

Neuroscientist (Neurolinguistics)

Neurolinguists are involved in the research and study of the neural mechanisms in the human brain that control the comprehension, production, and acquisition of language. They study physiological mechanisms by which the brain processes information related to language, and evaluate linguistic and psycholinguistic theories, using aphasiology, brain imaging, electrophysiology, and computer modelling.

Neuroscientist (Neurophysics)

Neurophysicists deal with the development of physical experimental tools to explore more about the nervous system. Some of the techniques used by neurophysicists are magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), patch clamp, tomography, and two-photon excitation microscopy.

Neuroscientist (Neurophysiology)

Neurophysiologists are involved in the study and research of the functioning of the nervous system. They use primary tools for research such as electrophysiological recordings, such as patch clamp, voltage clamp, extracellular single-unit recording and recording of local field potentials, as well as some of the methods of calcium imaging, optogenetics, and molecular biology.

Neuroscientist (Paleoneurobiology)

Paleoneurobiologists are involved in the study of brain evolution, especially that of the human brain. Paleoneurobiologists analyse endocasts that reproduce details of the external morphology of brains that have been imprinted on the internal surfaces of skulls. Endocast is the internal cast of a hollow object, often referring to the cranial vault in the study of brain development in humans and other organisms. Paleoneurobiologists use artificial endocast to examine the hollow, inaccessible space.

Neuroscientist (Social Neuroscience)

Social Neuroscientists are involved in understanding how biological systems implement social processes and behaviour, and to using biological concepts and methods to inform and refine theories of social processes and behaviour.

Neuroscientist (Systems Neuroscience)

Systems Neuroscientists are involved in the research and study of the function of neural circuits and systems. They are concerned with how nerve cells behave when connected together to form neural pathways, neural circuits, and larger brain networks. Systems neuroscientists adopt various techniques for understanding networks of neurons as they are seen to function, by way of electrophysiology using either single-unit recording or multi-electrode recording, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and PET scans.

Career Growth

If you start as a Research fellow in any university or institute, you would progress as:

After M.Sc. you can work as a Research Associate. And then you can become a Senior Research Associate. If you have joined as a Doctoral Fellow, then you will first get a position of a Junior Research Fellow and then Senior Research Fellow. After Ph.D. you can join as a Post-Doctoral Fellow.

If you are engaged in teaching at university/institutions, you may grow as:

Assistant Professor – Associate Professor – Professor – Dean/ Director

If you are engaged in scientific private research institutes or universities, you may grow as:

Scientist – Senior Scientist – Principal or Lead Scientist – Vice President – President / Chief Scientific Officer / Executive Director    

If you are engaged in scientific government research institutes like CSIR, you may grow as:

Project Assistant I – Project Assistant II – Project Assistant III – Research Associate I – Research Associate II – Research Associate III – Project Scientist

Salary Offered  

1. If you begin your career after a Master’s degree as a Research Associate, you will earn about Rs.15, 000-35,000 a month. However, if you enrol for a Ph.D. and join as a Doctoral Fellow, you will receive about Rs.35, 000-38,000 a month.

2. If you begin your career as a Post-Doctoral Fellow after your Ph.D., you will earn about Rs.40, 000-45,000 a month.

3. If you begin your career as a Scientist after your Ph.D., you will earn about Rs.70, 000-1, 50,000 a month or even more.

4. If you begin your career as an Assistant Professor, you will earn about Rs.70, 000-80,000 a month in the beginning.

5. Through any whichever way, you will be in the career progression path of a Scientist or that of a Professor.

6. As a Scientist with about 2-4 years of experience, you will make about Rs.70, 000 – 1, 80,000 or more a month.

7. As a Senior Scientist with about 5-12 years of experience, you can earn about Rs.1, 20,000 – 4, 00,000 or more per month.

8. As a Principal Scientist or in an equivalent position, with about 15-20 years or more experience, you will earn about Rs.2, 00,000 – 7, 00,000 or even more a month.

9. In senior-level position such as a Director – Research/ Chief Scientific Officer or similar, you may get about Rs.2, 60,000 – 15, 00,000 or even more a month.

10. If you are in teaching and research, you will earn about Rs.1, 20,000 – 2, 10,000 as an Associate Professor with about 8-15 years of experience and about Rs.2, 20,000-3, 00,000 a month as a Professor with about 20-25 years of more experience. As a Dean/ Director, you will earn about Rs.2, 50,000-3, 00,000 per month.

Monthly Earnings In Indian Rupee

1. Entry level: 0 - 2 years of work experience 

2. Junior Level: From 1 to 12 years of work experience 

3. Mid-Level: From 5 to 20+ years of work experience 

4. Senior Level: From 10 to 25+ years of work experience (there could be exceptions in some high-end technical, financial, engineering, creative, management, sports, and other careers; also in the near future, people will reach these levels much faster in many careers and in some careers, these levels will have no meaning as those careers will be completely tech skill driven such as even now, there is almost no level in a Cyber Security Expert’s job)

Famous Personalities 

Information not available.

Work Activities 

1. Analyzing and interpreting data and information: Analysis of data and information to find facts, trends, reasons behind situations, etc.; interpretation of data to aid in decision making.

2. Communicating with co-workers and others: Communicating with people in writing, verbally or otherwise inside your workplace and various other people who have professional relationships with your place of work including vendors, government officials, etc. or with people at large

3. Decision making and problem-solving: Analysis of data and information; evaluation of alternative decisions and results of decisions; taking the right decisions and solving problems.

4. Getting Information and learning: Observing, hearing, reading, using computers, or otherwise obtaining information and learning from it.

5. Providing advices and consultation to others: Giving advices or consultation to others about various issues, conceptual matters, know-hows, scientific matters, products or services.

6. Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

7. Inspecting situations, events, and people: Inspecting situations, events, and people to understand the reasons and causes for the situation or events to happen; inspecting people to understand reasons behind their behavior and actions.

8. Training and teaching: Understanding educational and training needs of others, developing training programs and educational programs, conducting training programs, teaching and instructing others.

9. Working in a team: Working in a team of people; developing team; maintaining professional relationships among team members.