All careers
Science
Research & higher studies
Ask a narrow question for years — lab, field, or theory. Typical path is a strong science UG, then M.Sc/Ph.D via IAT, NEST, JAM, GATE or NET-JRF.
Salary outlook
Indicative: PhD fellowships (JRF/SRF) around ₹4.2–5.2 LPA; assistant professors on UGC scales ~₹8–12 LPA early; industry R&D scientists ₹8–20+ LPA depending on domain (data, pharma, core science).
Indicative ranges. Actuals vary by city, employer, specialisation and years of experience.
Typical path in India
- 1Class 12 science; aim at IISER (IAT), NISER/CEBS (NEST), IISc, or a good B.Sc.
- 2Integrated M.Sc or B.Sc → M.Sc (IIT JAM) → Ph.D (NET-JRF / GATE / institute tests).
- 3Publish, intern at a lab, then academia, national labs, or industry R&D.
Skills that matter
- Patience with slow progress
- Maths or core science depth in one subject
- Reading papers and writing methods clearly
Who this fits
- You like the subject more than the job title
- You can live on a fellowship for several years
Watch-outs
- Ph.D is not a backup for ‘I did not get engineering’ — it is a different life.
- Industry R&D hires unevenly by field (data and pharma hire more than some pure sciences).
Where to study
Most research & higher studies pathways start in the Research & Sciences stream.
Related careers in Science
- Agricultural scientist / agri-business
Crops, soil, food systems, agri-tech or rural banking. ICAR universities plus NABARD / agri-officer exams are common next steps.