Answer: Online research and teaching seminars are possible in special circumstances, with decisions made on a case-by-case basis. The initial interaction with the department can be conducted online, and candidates can visit the campus when they are in India. The department offers flexibility in scheduling seminars throughout the year.
However, we strongly encourage candidates to visit the campus for seminars. This provides an invaluable opportunity to experience the institute firsthand and interact with students and faculty members. Please note that the final interview with the external expert committee can be conducted online.
Answer: While there is no fixed timeline, the institute aims to make a decision on applications within three months. The candidates, who progress through various stages of their application, are informed by the department. Candidates may also contact the Head of the Department at any point to inquire about the status of their application.
Answer: There is no fixed rubric for the initial shortlisting. Instead, applications are evaluated holistically, taking into account the candidate’s publications, academic training, and alignment with the department’s priority hiring areas.
Please note that there is no minimum requirement for postdoctoral or teaching experience—fresh PhD graduates are welcome to apply.
Answer: New faculty members are expected to establish and lead a research group, mentor students, and secure external research grants. Ideally, these grants should support nationally recognized, challenging projects that leverage the department's existing facilities and expertise.
In addition to research, a strong emphasis is placed on teaching. As a core value, IIT Kanpur prides itself on rigorous teaching standards. New faculty members are encouraged to uphold these standards and are welcome to introduce innovative methods to enhance student engagement. They're also expected to teach Institute core courses for undergraduate students, such as numerical methods, strength of materials, and engineering drawing. Faculty members can select a course based on their teaching interests.
Faculty members are also expected to serve on committees that manage academic and student issues within the department and the institute. However, the involvement of new faculty members in such committees is kept to a minimum.
Answer: In our department, lab spaces are not assigned directly to individual faculty members but are designated for specific specializations. New faculty members can use all the existing lab facilities within their specialization. If a faculty member wishes, they can have a dedicated space for their own activities within the lab. If some facilities are not available, faculty members can establish them using their initiation grant and external sponsored projects, for which space is provided in the existing labs. New lab spaces are sometimes provided by the institute depending on research requirements.
Answer: Yes, faculty members have the freedom to decide if they want to excel in teaching or research. They can inform the institute if they wish their performance to be evaluated on either research or teaching. However, faculty members who opt for the research stream are still required to undertake a regular teaching load, and similarly, those who choose the teaching stream are expected to engage in research activities and mentor research students.
Answer: IIT Kanpur generally discourages its own PhD graduates from applying for faculty positions at the institute. However, this policy may be waived for exceptional candidates who have established their own independent identity within the research community after graduating from IIT Kanpur. This typically involves gaining postdoctoral experience and making a mark in research and teaching at other institutes.
Answer: At IIT Kanpur, new faculty members are treated at the same level as their senior colleagues. This means that when it comes to things like course allocation for teaching or student selection for research, a new faculty member gets just as much importance and choice as someone who has been here for many years. This equality in treatment, regardless of seniority, is unique to IIT Kanpur among research institutions in India.