PhD Opportunity at Manipal Academy of Higher Education
Are you a physician looking to transition into cutting-edge research? The Clinical Research Training Program (CRTP) for rare diseases offers an excellent opportunity for medical and postgraduate graduates to pursue a fully funded Ph.D. This program is designed to bridge the gap between clinical practice and advanced scientific research. Participants will gain hands-on experience in molecular biology, genomics, and translational medicine. With a strong focus on rare genetic diseases, this training prepares candidates to become multi-domain experts. This PhD Opportunity at Manipal Academy of Higher Education is ideal for doctors who want to explore innovation beyond traditional patient care.
About Manipal Academy of Higher Education:
Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) is a renowned private deemed-to-be university in India, known for its excellence in medical, health sciences, engineering, and research education. Headquartered in Manipal, MAHE has a strong global presence with campuses in India and abroad.
The institution is particularly recognized for its advanced healthcare education ecosystem, including Kasturba Medical College, one of the top medical colleges in India. MAHE emphasizes interdisciplinary research, innovation, and international collaboration, making it a leading hub for clinical and translational research programs such as CRTP.
PhD Opportunity Details:
- Program: Ph.D. in Clinical Research (Rare Genetic Diseases)
- Duration: 3–4 years (Full-time)
- Location: MAHE Manipal, Bengaluru, Hyderabad + International Collaborations
- Fellowships Available: 6 Positions
- Funding: ₹50,00,000 per candidate (covers salary, research, travel)
- Training Includes: Molecular biology, sequencing, genomics, cell culture, animal models, systems biology, drug development
Background:
The program is part of the core research activities of the Center for Rare Disease Diagnosis, Research and Training, a virtual center being established by Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal; Institute of Bioinformatics, Bengaluru; and Dr. Reddy’s Institute of Life Sciences, Hyderabad. This activity is funded by DBT Wellcome Trust India Alliance.
Who can apply for this PhD Opportunity?
Post-graduates and graduates in Medical or Dental Sciences (DM/MCh/MD/MS/MBBS or equivalent qualifications) are eligible.
Program details:
A full-time program of 3-4 years with training in basic science research for physicians: Handling samples, sequencing, analysis of Sanger sequencing and next-generation sequencing data, molecular biology, cell culture, animal models, systems biology, and exposure to drug development in a clinical and laboratory environment. Students will complete the first 12 months of their training at MAHE, Manipal, and will subsequently train at MAHE or one or more of the participating institutions, as well as have opportunities to
train abroad with our international collaborators
Mentorship:
Mentors are MAHE-approved Ph.D. guides (physicians and scientists) from the three participating institutions:
- Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal (MAHE)
- Institute of Bioinformatics, Bangalore (IOB)
- Dr. Reddy’s Institute of Life Sciences, Hyderabad (DRILS)
International collaborators:
- Students have an opportunity to stay and learn at state-of-the-art facilities from one of our several international collaborators listed below:
- Antwerp University Hospital and University of Antwerp, Belgium
- Institute of Human Genetics at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany
- Manchester Center for Genomic Medicine, St. Mary’s Hospital, Manchester University Foundation NHS Trust, Health Innovation Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
- Department of Clinical Genomics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
Funding:
A budget of Rs. 50,00,000 is allocated per candidate. This amount will cover salaries, research expenses, and travel. Six such fellowships are available.
Opportunities:
Candidates may be absorbed into a suitable permanent position based on availability at the host institution, post successful completion of the program.
