Ph.D. in Physics

Programme Overview

The Department of Physics, MIT-WPU offers a highly research-intensive Ph.D. programme and provides students with excellent facilities and expert guidance to support their research endeavors. The programme is designed to help postgraduate students develop research skills and prepare for careers in academia or research. The programme provides specialised training in research components such as hypothesis creation, research questions, literature review, research ethics, and the use of online tools and resources. The programme has a strong focus on interdisciplinary research and encourages students to pursue innovative and entrepreneurial ideas in their chosen areas of study.

The areas of research at the Department are Applied Physics, Computational Physics, Theoretical High energy Physics, Quantum Gravity, Material Science, Surface Physics, Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Photonics, Plasmonics, Nonlinear Optics, Radiation physics, Spectroscopy, Nanomaterials, Nanocomposite and nano/micro structured growth and characterization of for various applications in, chemical and biosensors, data storage, detector, energy storage, and conversion applications.

Diverse Areas of Research

Faculty members in the department are highly engaged in research, focusing on priority areas within the domain.

  • 1. Materials
  • Nanomaterials
  • 2D materials
  • Magnetic materials
  • Quantum dots
  • Soft matter
  • Polymers
  • Energy Storage
  • Quantum Materials
  • Semiconductors
  • 2. Optics & Photonics
  • 3. Theoretical & Computational Astrophysics
  • 4. Theoretical High Energy Physics

Duration & Fees

Duration

Minimum 3 Years


Ph.D. admissions are currently closed for the Spring Semester. The application window for AY 2026-27 (Autumn Semester) will open in mid-February 2026. You may leave your enquiry, and we will get in touch with you as soon as the application form is live.

I. Eligibility Criterion for admission to the Ph.D. Programme

The following candidates are eligible to seek admission to the Ph.D. programme

Candidates who have completed:

i) A 1-year/2-semester master’s degree programme after a 4-year/8-semester bachelor’s degree programme or a 2-year/4-semester master’s degree programme after a 3-year bachelor’s degree programme or qualifications declared equivalent to the master’s degree by the corresponding statutory regulatory body, with at least 55% marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade in a point scale wherever grading system is followed or equivalent qualification from a foreign educational institutions accredited by an assessment and accreditation agency which is approved, recognised or authorised by an authority, established or incorporated under a law in its home country or any other statutory authority in that country to assess, accredit or assure quality and standards of the educational institutions.

A relaxation of 5% marks or its equivalent grade may be allowed for those belonging to SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer)/differently-abled, Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and other categories of candidates as per the decision of the commission from time to time.

Provided that a candidate seeking admission after a 4-year/8-semester bachelor’s degree programme should have a minimum of 75% marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade on a point scale wherever the grading system is followed. A relaxation of 5% marks or its equivalent grade may be allowed for those belonging to SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer)/Differently-abled, Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and other categories of candidates as per the decision of commission from time to time.

ii) Candidates who have completed the M. Phil programme with at least 55% marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade in a point scale. A relaxation of 5% marks or its equivalent grade may be allowed for those belonging to SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer)/Differently abled, Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and other categories of candidates as per the decision of commission from time to time.

Reservation is applicable only to Maharashtra domicile candidates provided they submit the necessary documents for reservation before interview. Outside Maharashtra candidates will be considered in open category.

List of Acceptable Undergraduate and Postgraduate Degrees for Ph.D. in Physics

NAME OF Ph.D. PROGRAM RELEVANT UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE (UG) RELEVANT POST GRADUATE DEGREE (PG)
Ph.D. in Physics Four-year Graduation in (with CGPA requirement as per NEP 2020)
▪ Physics,
▪ Applied Physics
▪ Engineering Physics
▪ Computational Physics
▪ Astrophysics
▪ Quantum Science (Technology)
▪ Space Science
▪ Defence Science (Technology)
▪ Atmospheric Science
▪ Climate Science
▪ Medical Physics
▪ Biophysics
▪ Aerospace Engineering
▪ Materials Science and Engineering
▪ Electronics
▪ Electrical Engineering
▪ Mechanical Engineering
OR
▪ any related field
Two-year Post-Graduation (after three years UG degree) OR one-year Post-Graduation (after four-year UG degree) in
▪ Physics,
▪ Applied Physics
▪ Engineering Physics
▪ Computational Physics
▪ Astrophysics
▪ Quantum Science (Technology)
▪ Space Science
▪ Defence Science (Technology)
▪ Atmospheric Science
▪ Climate Science
▪ Medical Physics
▪ Biophysics
▪ Aerospace Engineering
▪ Materials Science and Engineering
▪ Electronics
▪ Electrical Engineering
▪ Mechanical Engineering
OR
▪ Any related field

II. Selection Process for the admission to the Ph.D. program

1. Candidates satisfying eligibility criteria shall be called to appear for the Ph.D. entrance test conducted by MITWPU. The exemption will be given from Ph.D. entrance tests for those students who qualify UGC-NET /UGC-CSIR NET /GATE (valid score)/CEED/GPAT (valid score)and similar national tests.

2. Ph.D. entrance test shall be qualifying with qualifying marks as 50% provided that relaxation from 50% to 45% shall be allowed for the candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC (Non creamy layer)/Differently abled category, Economically Weaker section (EWS) and other category of candidates. The syllabus of the entrance test shall consist of 50% of research methodology and 50% shall be subject specific.

3. The interview/viva-voce will be conducted by the university for test qualifying candidates. For selection of candidates a weightage of 70% to the entrance test and 30% to the performance in the interview/Viva-voce shall be given. For GATE/NET/JRF /SET/GPAT/CEED qualified students, the selection will be based on Interview/Viva Voce

4. The recommended candidates will be intimated through email about their selection and the candidates will be offered Ph.D. provisional admission.

5. The eligibility of a candidate is provisional as per information provided by the candidate in his/her application form and is subject to verification of minimum eligibility conditions for admission to the programme, educational documents and reservation documents (if any).

6. University keep rights to cancel admission of the Ph.D. scholars in the case of misconduct by the scholar, unsatisfactory progress/absent for consecutive two progress seminars, failure in any examination related to Ph.D., fabrication found in educational and reservation documents, candidate is found ineligible, involved in plagiarism in paper publications and thesis.

7. Provisional eligibility to appear in the selection process is no guarantee for admission to the programme.

8. Candidates who will join Ph.D. programme full time, they will be provided with the stipend as per MITWPU norms.

9. Ph.D. admission will be confirmed after successful completion of the coursework with 55% or more as per UGC norms. Ph.D. programme should be minimum of three years including coursework and maximum of six years from the date of admission to the Ph.D. programme.

10. A maximum of an additional two years (2) years can be given through the process of re-registration provided, however, that the total period for completion of a Ph.D. programme should not exceed eight (8) years from the date of admission in the Ph.D. programme.

11. Provided further that, female Ph.D. scholars and persons with Disabilities (having more than 40% disability) may be allowed an additional relaxation of two years (2) ; however, the total period for completion of a Ph.D. programme in such cases should not exceed ten (10) years from the date of admission of the programme.

12. Female candidates may be provided Maternity Leave/Child Care Leave for up to 240 days in the entire duration of Ph.D. programme.

Research Scholar

Sr. No. Name of Research Scholar Name of Research Supervisor Research Area Batch
1 Aparna Madhukar Patil Dr. Jagadish Naik Experimental Polymer Physics 2022-23
2 Pranay Agrawal Dr. Apurv C. Nellikka Experimental Optics 2023-24
3 Ankita Suryakant Sutar Dr. Shital Kahane Nanomaterials and Quantum Dots 2023-24
4 Gaurang Potdar Dr. Aavishkar Katti Theoretical Optics 2023-24
5 Athira Anil Dr. Rahul Aher Material Science 2023-24
7 Shruti Gunvantrao Patil Dr. Apurv C. Nellikka Material Science 2024-25
9 Shailesh Sharad Kulkarni Dr. Rahul Aher Material Science 2024-25
10 Abhishek Umesh Karwat Dr. Apurv C. Nellikka Experimental Optics 2024-25
11 Komal Sujit Bankar Dr. Deobrat Singh Material Science 2025-26
12 Ruchi Nitin Jangid Dr. Jagadish Naik Antenna Reactor Complexes 2025-26
13 Aishwarya Manoj Naidu Dr. Shital Kahane Energy Harvesting Materials 2025-26
14 Chetan Pradeep Thakur Dr. Abhijit Bendre Computational Astronomy 2025-26
15 Saba Nawab Sheikh Dr. Rahul Aher Material Science 2025-26
16 Pragati Yuvraj Kharbade Dr. Raju Ingale Material Science 2025-26
17 Sumedha Ambasta Dr. Shital Kahane Material Science 2025-26
18 Ajay Premshankar Yadav Dr. Debabrata Saha Semiconctor Materials 2025-26
19 Prajakta Vinayak Rayate Dr. Jagadish Naik 2D Materials 2025-26
20 Tejas Dattaram More Dr. Deobrat Singh Atmospheric Science and Ocenography 2025-26
21 Bhende Jay Narendra Dr. Deobrat Singh Quantum Gravity 2026-27
22 Pandey Siddhant Omprakash Dr. Raju Ingale Material Science 2026-27
23 Swamy Ishan Vinod Dr. Deobrat Singh Cosmic Strings and Black Holes 2026-27

Research Supervisor

Sr. No. Name of the Research Supervisor Research areas of the Supervisor Email address of the Supervisor Scopus ID of the Supervisor

1

Dr. Jagadish Naik,
Assistant Professor,
Department of Physics

His research focuses on fundamentals of variations in structural and physical properties of particulate filled polymers for wide range of technical applications (Experimental)

jagadish.naik@mitwpu.edu.in

Scopus Author ID: 56225585900

2

Dr. Apurv Chaitanya Nellikka,
Assistant Professor,
Department of Physics

Nonlinear optics,Nanophotonics, Quantum optics. (Experimental)

apurv.nellikka@mitwpu.edu.in

Scopus Author ID: 56210838000
Scopus Author ID: 56362977800
Scopus Author ID: 57216489670

3

Dr. Debabrata Saha,
Assistant Professor,
Department of Physics

His research interests are in the areas of semiconductor, ferroelectric and dielectric thin films for fabrication of solid- state devices including photovoltaics, photodetectors, thin film transistors, tunnel junctions etc. (Experimental)

debabrata.saha@mitwpu.edu.in

Scopus Author ID: 55828097100

4

Dr. Rahul Aher,
Assistant Professor,
Department of Physics

His research interests include Advanced 2D Materials, Quantum Materials, Opto- magneto-electronics, Field emission, Electrochemistry, Photodetector, and Photo- catalysis materials.

rahul.aher@mitwpu.edu.in

Scopus Author ID: 57225239893

5

Dr. Abhijit Bendre

His research interests include Theoretical and Computational Astrophysics

abhijit.bendre@mitwpu.edu.in Scopus ID: 55600446700

6

Dr. Raju S. Ingale

His research interests include experimental Nanomaterials and sensor technology

raju.ingale@mitwpu.edu.in

Scopus ID: 57226736745

7

Dr. Shital Kahane

Her research interests include experimental Nanomaterials and Soft matter physics

shital.kahane@mitwpu.edu.in

Scopus ID: 55352375000

8

Dr. Deobrat Singh

His research interests include theoretical Astrophysics and Atmospheric Science, Theoretical High Energy Physics, String Theory and Quantum Gravity, Material Science and AI/ML

deobrat.singh@mitwpu.edu.in

Scopus ID: 57198856954

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