Penn State-IISc 2026 Doctoral Scholarship for Research in Bangalore, India
The Penn State–Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Doctoral Scholarship 2026 offers a unique opportunity for Penn State doctoral students to conduct research at India’s No. 1 university in Bangalore — widely known as the Silicon Valley of India. This prestigious program fosters global academic collaboration, cutting-edge research, and cross-cultural exchange.
Degree Level
Doctoral (PhD) level research program.
Available Subjects
This scholarship is open to all doctoral research fields offered at Penn State that align with collaborative projects at IISc, including but not limited to:
Engineering and Technology
Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence
Physical and Life Sciences
Environmental Studies and Sustainability
Management, Economics, and Policy Research
Benefits
Successful awardees will receive:
Monthly fellowship from IISc (equivalent to IISc’s own doctoral students).
12 weeks of accommodation in the IISc campus guest house.
$800 travel grant from Penn State Global (credited to the student’s LionPATH account upon arrival at IISc).
Access to world-class laboratories and specialized research centers at IISc.
Exposure to Bangalore’s thriving tech and innovation ecosystem.
Eligible Nationalities
Open exclusively to Penn State doctoral students of any nationality who meet the eligibility criteria.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for the Penn State–IISc Doctoral Scholarship 2026, applicants must:
Be currently enrolled as a doctoral student at Penn State in good academic standing.
Demonstrate a clear plan for research and education collaboration with IISc faculty and/or industry in Bangalore.
Have supervisory contacts at both Penn State and IISc with documented communication.
Secure a letter of recommendation from their direct faculty supervisor at Penn State.
Application Procedure
Applicants must prepare and submit the following as one combined PDF via InfoReady:
Section 1 – Cover Page
Full name, citizenship, PSU ID number, PSU email address.
Degree program and doctoral field of study.
Academic department or office.
Campus address and contact details.
Desired dates of participation.
Section 2 – Statement of Purpose
A brief description (max 2 double-spaced pages) outlining:
Purpose of the trip.
Evidence of collaboration with IISc.
Names of supervisory contacts at Penn State and IISc.
Expected research outcomes during the stay.
Section 3 – Letter of Support
One letter of recommendation from your direct Penn State faculty supervisor explaining how the visit will contribute to joint research, publications, or academic projects.
Submission: Upload the PDF to the official InfoReady portal.
Key Dates
Application Deadline: Monday, February 2, 2026
Award Notification: Monday, February 9, 2026
Post-Award Requirements
Awardees must:
Register their travel in Penn State’s Global Safety Network.
Follow funder’s travel protocol for flights.
Submit a summary report within 30 days after returning from IISc.
Be available for future Penn State Global events.
About the Indian Institute of Science (IISc)
Founded in 1909, IISc Bangalore is India’s premier public research university, ranked No. 1 in India and No. 4 in Asia (Times Higher Education Asia University Rankings 2025). Located in Bangalore, it offers a world-class research environment in the heart of India’s innovation hub.
