Join the Lab
We are actively recruiting at multiple levels.
Open Positions
Undergraduate and postgraduate students from VIT or other institutions are welcome for short-term projects (3–6 months). We have rolling openings depending on active grants and collaborations. Projects may be computational, experimental, or a combination of both. Remote participation is possible for computation-only projects.
We are looking for motivated students to join as PhD candidates under the VIT PhD programme. Projects span microbial ecology, oxidative stress biology, gut microbiome, antimicrobial resistance, multi-omics integration, and biomolecular simulations. Positions are subject to VIT PhD admission and fellowship cycles.
We welcome researchers interested in applying for externally funded fellowships to work with the lab. If you hold or plan to apply for an ANRF National Post Doctoral Fellowship, DBT Research Associateship, ICMR Post Doctoral Fellowship, or similar schemes, we are happy to serve as host lab and co-develop the research proposal. Candidates with a background in computational biology, microbial genomics, structural bioinformatics, or multi-omics analysis are a strong fit.
What We Look For
We care more about how you think than what you already know.
- Curiosity-driven. You ask why before asking how.
- Comfortable, or willing to become comfortable, with Linux, R/Python, and basic statistics.
- Able to read a primary research paper and identify the central argument.
- Genuine interest in at least one of: microbiology, genomics, structural biology, or computational modelling.
- Honest about what you know and what you do not.
- Strong written English. You can write clearly in your own words, without leaning on AI to do the thinking.
How to Apply
Send an email to bharat.manna@vit.ac.in with the following:
- Subject line: [PhD Application] or [Project Inquiry] or [Fellowship Discussion]
- Write a short paragraph describing what research area listed on the Research page excites you most, why you are drawn to this lab in particular, and what unique strengths you bring to the table.
- Your CV or resume as a PDF attachment.
Applications without a clear reference to a specific research interest will not receive a response.