Ph.D. Program in Brain and Artificial Intelligence

Over the past decade or two, neurobiologists have made significant conceptual advances in our understanding of the brain through technical breakthroughs that have yielded unprecedented opportunities to gather large-scale structural and functional data. On the other hand, over the same period, computer scientists and electrical engineers have developed mathematical techniques and algorithms to address many questions in signal processing, machine learning and data analytics. These tools are not only helpful in advancing our understanding and emulating of brain function, but also are radically transforming many applications in information and communication technologies, with significant implications for biological research methodologies as well.

The rapidly expanding nature of these technical as well as conceptual advances, on both the neurobiological as well as the machine intelligence aspects, has necessitated specialized curricula that seamlessly integrate both disciplines. There is an acute need for students and scientists who understand the biological and engineering sides of this interdisciplinary area, to enable integrated innovation that ensures maximal cross-benefits.

The goal of this Ph.D. programme in Brain and Artificial Intelligence (BAI) is to train students such that they are able to address significant research questions in brain, computation and machine intelligence. The theme governing the research training programme as well as the projects driving Ph.D. theses would be to blur the boundaries of disciplines, and to provide wholesome training that spans all aspects of this interdisciplinary research area. The broader goal is also to foster synergistic interactions among neurobiologists and computer scientists and electrical engineers that would yield outstanding discoveries and inventions on this important research discipline.

Pratiksha Travel Fellowships

Pratiksha Trust has made a generous endowment to IISc towards supporting research in the general areas of Electrical, Electronics and Computer Sciences having broad relevance to brain research, data science, machine learning, or neuromorphic computing. Under this initiative, funds are available to support travel of students, postdoctoral fellows, and young faculty members for participation in top-tier international conferences and workshops. Each travel fellowship would be up to Rs. 1.0 lakh and can be used for expenses towards travel and registration fees. In an year there would be about fifteen such travel fellowships available for students and young faculty members of IISc.

Pratiksha Postdoctoral Fellowship

The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) invites applications for Pratiksha Postdoctoral Fellowship. This fellowship is supported by an endowment by Pratiksha Trust set up by Mr. Kris Gopalakrishnan and Mrs. Sudha Gopalakrishnan. The main objective of the fellowship is to promote interdisciplinary research that interfaces computer science with neurobiology.