The first month is a habituation period — students settle in and get oriented. Coursework, animal handling training, and research begin in the second month and continue for about three months.
During this time, doctoral students rotate through various labs. They attend one seminar and one journal club each week, and are welcome to join the additional teaching sessions held for MPhil students. Each professor typically teaches two or three sessions in their area of expertise. The curriculum is flexible — students must take the initiative to explore available opportunities.
The coursework covers a broad range: statistics, research methodology, computer applications, behavioural science, and basic science. For new graduate students without a research background, this is an opportunity to understand various subdomains. Students with research experience can use this time to brush up on fundamentals while connecting with potential mentors. After choosing a research topic and guide, students should begin a thorough literature review. Some analytical skills specific to your research area may not be covered in the coursework.
From this point on, it’s time to become a proper lab dweller. You focus on prior research from your lab and consult with mentors and peers to plan your PhD study. After the initial draft, there are multiple rounds of discussions and revisions before you present your proposed study — first to your own lab, then to the department faculty. Finally, you submit your PhD proposal for approval to the appropriate committee.
In the meantime, you can work out the specifics, identify potential limitations, and refine other aspects of the study. After receiving preliminary approval, you must obtain ethics clearance. PhD work begins once the institute ethics committee approves the study.
Progress reports are submitted to the doctorate committee every six months, and annual presentations are made to both external and internal examiners. This is an excellent opportunity to accelerate your work and receive feedback from outside the lab. Additionally, one or more PhD students present their research to the entire department each month — another chance for constructive critique.
Pre-PhD exams appear around the 18-month mark. There are two papers of 100 marks each (taken on a digital tablet — no paper exam). Some faculty members conduct mock exams to help students prepare. It’s wise to seek advice from seniors in the same lab who have similar PhD specialisations. After passing Pre-PhD, you earn the title of Doctor!
Students are encouraged to participate in international conferences or seminars to learn and share their research with the broader community. Based on my own experience, this is a brief overview of what happens at the Neurophysiology department at NIMHANS.