IISER Bhopal-image

PHD in Data Science And Engineering at Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal

Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal is a premier autonomous research institution located in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, established in 2008. Spanning 200 acres, it is recognized for its academic rigor across 10 departments in natural and engineering sciences. The institute offers diverse BS, BS-MS, and PhD programs, attracting over 2600 students.

READ MORE
location

Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh

Compare colleges

About the Specialization

What is Data Science and Engineering at Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal Bhopal?

This Data Science and Engineering PhD program at Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhopal, focuses on advanced research at the intersection of data analytics, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and engineering principles. It addresses the growing demand for deep research capabilities in handling large-scale data and developing innovative, data-driven solutions across various Indian industries, distinguishing itself by its strong emphasis on fundamental research and interdisciplinary applications.

Who Should Apply?

This program is ideal for highly motivated individuals holding M.Tech/M.E. degrees in relevant engineering fields or M.Sc. degrees in Computer Science, Data Science, Mathematics, or Statistics, aspiring to become leading researchers, academics, or high-end industry experts. It caters to those passionate about pushing the boundaries of data science and contributing original research to areas like AI, machine learning, and big data systems within the Indian and global technology landscape.

Why Choose This Course?

Graduates of this program can expect to pursue impactful careers as research scientists in R&D labs, faculty in academic institutions, or lead data scientists/engineers in tech giants and startups within India. Salary ranges for PhD holders are typically high, starting from INR 15-25 LPA for entry-level research positions and significantly increasing with experience. The program provides a strong foundation for both pure and applied research, enabling contributions to cutting-edge technologies and scientific advancements.

Student Success Practices

Foundation Stage

Master Foundational Research Skills- (Semester 1-2)

Engage deeply with coursework like Research Methodology, Machine Learning, and Advanced Algorithms. Focus on understanding theoretical underpinnings and mathematical foundations. Actively participate in seminars and departmental colloquia to grasp current research trends and identify potential research gaps.

Tools & Resources

NPTEL courses for conceptual clarity, Standard textbooks (e.g., Bishop for ML, Cormen for Algorithms), Academic journals (e.g., IEEE/ACM transactions), University library resources

Career Connection

Strong foundational knowledge is crucial for defining a robust PhD problem statement and conducting rigorous research, directly impacting the quality and novelty of thesis work, which is paramount for academic and R&D careers.

Proactive Research Area Exploration- (Semester 1-2)

Actively discuss potential research problems with multiple faculty members within EECS, especially those specializing in Data Science and AI. Attend group meetings of different labs to understand ongoing projects and identify areas of mutual interest, aiming to finalize a research topic and advisor early.

Tools & Resources

Faculty profiles on the IISER Bhopal website, Department research group pages, Google Scholar for faculty publications, Informal meetings with senior PhD students

Career Connection

Early identification of a research area and a good advisor fit ensures focused effort, timely progress, and a strong thesis, accelerating degree completion and subsequent career placement.

Develop Strong Programming and Data Handling Skills- (Semester 1-2)

Complement theoretical coursework with hands-on practice in programming languages vital for data science (Python, R) and tools for data manipulation and analysis (Pandas, NumPy, Scikit-learn). Work on small projects or datasets to solidify understanding of concepts from Machine Learning and Deep Learning.

Tools & Resources

Online platforms like Kaggle, HackerRank, LeetCode, University computing labs, Open-source libraries (TensorFlow, PyTorch), GitHub for version control

Career Connection

Proficiency in programming and data handling is indispensable for implementing research ideas, running experiments, and demonstrating practical applications of theoretical models, a key skill for both academia and industry R&D roles.

Intermediate Stage

In-Depth Literature Review and Problem Formulation- (Semester 3-4)

Conduct an exhaustive literature review specific to the chosen research area, identifying gaps and formulating a clear, novel research problem. Start writing initial drafts of research proposals and presenting them to the doctoral committee and research group for feedback.

Tools & Resources

Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, arXiv, Zotero/Mendeley for reference management, LaTeX for document preparation

Career Connection

A well-defined and novel research problem is the cornerstone of a successful PhD thesis, leading to high-impact publications and making graduates attractive to top research institutions and industrial R&D roles.

Publish and Present Research Findings- (Semester 3-5)

Aim to publish early research findings in reputable peer-reviewed conferences (e.g., NeurIPS, ICML, AAAI, KDD) and journals. Actively present work in internal workshops, departmental seminars, and external conferences to gain feedback and build a professional network.

Tools & Resources

Conference proceedings, Journal submission guidelines, Peer feedback from advisor and research group, Professional networking platforms

Career Connection

Publications are critical for academic career progression and enhance visibility for industry research roles. Presenting builds communication skills and expands professional networks, opening doors for future collaborations and opportunities.

Develop Specialised Technical Expertise- (Semester 4-5)

Dive deep into advanced topics relevant to the research, such as specific deep learning architectures, advanced optimization techniques, distributed computing for data, or specialized NLP/CV models. Participate in advanced workshops or build complex prototypes related to the research problem.

Tools & Resources

Specialized libraries (e.g., Hugging Face, OpenCV), High-performance computing clusters (e.g., HPC facilities at IISER Bhopal), Specific research papers and tutorials

Career Connection

Developing niche expertise makes a PhD graduate highly valuable for specialized research positions, enabling them to lead projects in cutting-edge areas of Data Science and Engineering.

Advanced Stage

Thesis Writing and Defense Preparation- (Semester 6-7)

Focus rigorously on writing the PhD thesis, synthesizing research contributions, and ensuring logical flow and academic rigor. Prepare for the pre-synopsis and final thesis defense through mock presentations and discussions with the doctoral committee.

Tools & Resources

LaTeX thesis templates, Academic writing guides, Continuous feedback from advisor, Presentation tools (e.g., Beamer)

Career Connection

A well-written and successfully defended thesis is the ultimate output of a PhD, demonstrating independent research capability essential for securing positions in academia, post-doctoral research, or senior R&D roles.

Network for Post-PhD Opportunities- (Semester 7-8)

Actively engage in networking activities at conferences, workshops, and university career fairs. Connect with faculty from other institutions for post-doctoral opportunities or with industry R&D managers for research scientist positions. Prepare a compelling CV and research statement.

Tools & Resources

LinkedIn, academic social networks, University career services, Faculty recommendations, Professional conferences and workshops

Career Connection

Proactive networking significantly increases the chances of securing desirable post-PhD positions, whether in leading academic institutions, government research labs, or top-tier industry R&D departments.

Develop Mentorship and Leadership Skills- (Semester 7-8)

Mentor junior PhD or Master''''s students, assist in teaching assistant duties, or lead small research projects within the lab. This helps in refining communication, delegation, and leadership qualities essential for future academic or industry leadership roles.

Tools & Resources

Departmental mentorship programs, Teaching assistant training, Leading collaborative research projects, Attending leadership workshops

Career Connection

Demonstrating mentorship and leadership capabilities makes a PhD graduate a more well-rounded candidate for faculty positions, team lead roles in industry, and enhances overall professional growth.

Program Structure and Curriculum

Eligibility:

  • M.Tech./M.E. degree in Electrical Engineering/Electronics Engineering/Computer Science Engineering/Data Science/Computer Applications with a minimum CPI of 6.5 (or 65% of marks) OR M.Sc. degree in Computer Science/Data Science/Mathematics/Statistics with a minimum CPI of 7.0 (or 70% of marks). Specific requirements may vary based on department.

Duration: Normally 5 years

Credits: Minimum 16 credits (for coursework) Credits

Assessment: Assessment pattern not specified

Semester-wise Curriculum Table

Semester 1

Subject CodeSubject NameSubject TypeCreditsKey Topics
EES 710RESEARCH METHODOLOGYCore (typically mandatory for PhD)2Research Problem Formulation, Literature Review Techniques, Research Design and Methods, Data Collection and Analysis, Academic Writing and Ethics, Thesis Structure and Presentation
EES 701MACHINE LEARNINGElective (recommended for Data Science & Engineering)6Supervised Learning (Regression, Classification), Unsupervised Learning (Clustering, PCA), Model Evaluation and Selection, Ensemble Methods, Kernel Methods and SVMs, Neural Networks Fundamentals
EES 703ADVANCED ALGORITHMSElective (recommended for Data Science & Engineering)6Amortized Analysis, Randomized Algorithms, Approximation Algorithms, Online Algorithms, Parallel and Distributed Algorithms, Advanced Data Structures

Semester 2

Subject CodeSubject NameSubject TypeCreditsKey Topics
EES 702DEEP LEARNINGElective (recommended for Data Science & Engineering)6Neural Network Architectures, Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs) and LSTMs, Transformers and Attention Mechanisms, Optimization and Regularization Techniques, Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs)
whatsapp

Chat with us