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Science, Environment & Agriculture

Research Scientist (Physics & Chemistry)

शोध वैज्ञानिक (भौतिकी और रसायन विज्ञान)

Asks and answers new questions about matter, energy and materials through experiments and theory, in labs, observatories and research institutes.

See when you could start working, and what it could pay

What people in India report they earn

See research scientist salaries shared by employees: Glassdoor India(opens in a new tab) · Indeed India(opens in a new tab).

These figures are self-reported on those sites and aren't checked by Edukrish. Pay varies a lot by city, employer and experience.

Class 11–12 stream
Science (PCM), Science (PCMB)
Key subjects
Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics
Often valued in this work
Creativity & independence, Impact on others, Global exposure

What the work looks like

  • Designing and running experiments or simulations
  • Analysing data and reading the latest research
  • Writing papers, presenting results and applying for research funding

The realities

A long road: a PhD, which takes several years, is the usual entry ticket to scientist and faculty posts, and permanent positions are competitive. Curiosity and patience matter more than quick results.

The usual route in India

A five-year BS-MS at an IISER, an integrated M.Sc at NISER, or a B.Sc followed by an M.Sc (IIT JAM for IITs and other central institutes), then a PhD with a research fellowship. Scientist and faculty posts usually also need postdoctoral research.

Entrance exams and tests

Linked exams open their official dates and sources.

Other ways in

Engineering graduates can move into research through an M.Tech or a direct PhD; fellowships through exams such as GATE and CSIR-UGC NET support many PhD students.

Colleges with courses for this career

From courses we've collected from official college websites. Not a ranking, and not every college that offers it.

Browse all colleges with course details

Sources and checks

Not yet expert-checked: Written by the Edukrish team and not yet reviewed by a counsellor or subject expert. Verify important details with official sources.

Written by the Edukrish team and not yet reviewed by a counsellor or subject expert. Exam names, eligibility and routes change, so always confirm with the official body before deciding.

Last updated

Your future as a research scientist (physics & chemistry)

When you could start working, what the work could look like by then, and what it could pay.

No reliable pay data yet
Where are you now?

Pay data for

You could start working
2034in about 8 years · as phd scholar on a research fellowship
Pay in India
We show India pay only where there's an official public figure, such as government pay scales. This career doesn't have one yet.

How we work this out

Your pay over the career

Shown only where reliable data exists.

No reliable pay data for India yet

  • India's official survey data (PLFS) can be used commercially only under a licence, and salary websites don't allow reuse. Rather than show a guess, we leave India pay out until there's a figure we're allowed to use.

Your path from today

Five-year dual degree with research projects, then a PhD on a research fellowship.

  1. Today

    Class 10 · 2026–27

  2. Finish Class 12

    May 2029

  3. BS-MS (dual degree)

    Aug 2029 – Jun 2034

  4. First role: PhD scholar on a research fellowship

    Jul 2034

  5. Growing in the role

    2039 (5 years in)

  6. Senior roles, for some

    2044+ (10 years in)

  • A PhD takes several years and is paid through a fellowship; scientist and faculty posts usually need it, plus postdoctoral research. This timeline ends where the PhD begins.

A plan, not a promise: a repeated year, a break or a change of course moves these dates.

How we work this out: sources, assumptions and limits

Why “no reliable pay data yet”

  • India's official survey data (PLFS) can be used commercially only under a licence, and salary websites don't allow reuse. Rather than show a guess, we leave India pay out until there's a figure we're allowed to use.

Timeline assumptions

  • Today is in the 2026–27 school year (April to March).
  • One class per year, with no repeated year.
  • Class 12 results arrive around May; college intakes start on the months shown.
  • Admission in the first year you apply.
  • Courses take their standard length; a failed year or a break adds time.
  • The first job starts about a month after the last stage ends.

Sources

Read the full method