7 Powerful DRDO Pharmacy Internship Opportunities in Healthcare, Life Sciences & Biological Research

1. Introduction

If you’re a student or a recent graduate in life sciences, biotechnology, pharmacy, or related fields, landing a DRDO internship could be a major boost for your career. These internships offer exposure to defence R&D, not just in pure engineering but also in biological sciences, physiology, pharmacology, and pharmacy. For those looking for a pharmacy internship for undergraduate students or exploring a pharmacy internship for freshers, DRDO provides some compelling options.

2. Understanding DRDO’s Internship Scheme

DRDO’s Scheme of Internship of Students is designed to give undergraduates and postgraduates hands-on project training in its labs and establishments.

• Internships last from 4 weeks up to 6 months, depending on the lab and project.
• Interns are generally permitted to work only in unclassified areas.
• Importantly, DRDO does not guarantee a job after the internship.

3. Key DRDO Labs for Life-Sciences / Healthcare / Pharmacy

Here are a few DRDO labs where life-science, pharmacy, and biological research happen:

• DIPAS (Defence Institute of Physiology & Allied Sciences) — Focuses on human physiology, biochemistry, nutritional research, and allied sciences.
• INMAS (Institute of Nuclear Medicine & Allied Sciences) — Biomedical research, radiobiology, nuclear medicine (very relevant for pharmacology and pharmacy students).
• DRDE (Defence Research & Development Establishment) — Works on biological sciences, including microbiology, pharmacology, toxicology, immunology, etc.
• DIPR (Defence Institute of Psychological Research) — Carries out psychological research and offers internships in psychology and related fields.

4. Eligible Disciplines & Academic Backgrounds

DRDO internships in the life-sciences domain accept a variety of academic backgrounds, such as:

• Biotechnology, Microbiology, Biochemistry
• Pharmacy / Pharmacology / Toxicology — making it possible for students seeking a pharmacy internship for undergraduate students or pharmacy internship for freshers to apply
• Biomedical Engineering & Physiology
• Molecular Biology / Genetics
• Psychology (for labs such as DIPR)

5. Internship Types

DRDO offers different kinds of internships:

• Unpaid / Certificate-Based: For students who want exposure and are okay without monetary compensation.
• Paid Project-Based: Many labs offer paid internships — for instance, DRDE’s biological sciences internship is paid.
• On-Site: Most of these internships are on-site, especially for lab-based work.

6. Stipend & Benefits

• For DRDE, the stipend is ₹ 5,000/month for a six-month internship.
• Payment is often split: for DRDE, it is paid in two installments (half after 3 months, half after completion).
• Interns usually receive a certificate on successful completion.

7. Eligibility Requirements

Some key eligibility criteria:

• Students should be pursuing their undergraduate or postgraduate degree from a recognized institution.
• For biological sciences internships (e.g., DRDE), a minimum of 75% marks or 7.5 CGPA is required.
• Age limit: For DRDE internships, below 28 years as of a certain date.
• Required documents: Application form, NOC or referral / sponsorship from college, resume, marksheets, identity proof, etc.

8. How to Apply

To go for a DRDO internship, especially in life-sciences or pharmacy:

1. Identify the lab that fits your interest (e.g., INMAS for pharmacy, DRDE for biological sciences, DIPAS for physiology).
2. Go through the official DRDO internship scheme page to understand its “Scheme of Internship.”
3. Download and fill the lab-specific advertisement form (PDFs are usually available on the DRDO site).
   • For DRDE: Application details in their 2025 paid internship advertisement.
   • For DIPAS: Refer to their 2025 internship advertisement.
   • For DIPR: Psychology and engineering paid internships → check their 2025 ad.
4. Submit your application: Depending on the lab, you may need to email scanned documents (application form, referral letter, ID, academic transcripts) or use a provided postal address.
5. Follow up politely or check with your institute to forward your application, as DRDO often requires a recommendation or sponsorship from your college.

9. Selection Process

• Candidates are shortlisted based on academic performance (CGPA / marks), recommendation letter, and completeness of application.
• Some labs may conduct interviews (either via telephone or video conferencing).
• Final approval usually comes from the Lab Director or HR of the lab.

10. Challenges & Important Considerations

• As per the Scheme, interns are allowed only in unclassified areas.
• Internship completion does not guarantee a job at DRDO.
• No housing or lodging is typically provided during internships. For example, DIPAS interns must arrange their own accommodation.
• Interns are required to adhere to official secrets rules and IT policies relevant to defence labs.

11. Why Life-Sciences & Pharmacy Interns Are Critical for DRDO

• Bio-defence Research: Pharmacy and biological interns help in research on toxins, immunology, and microbial threats.
• Physiology and Human Performance: Labs like DIPAS study how soldiers’ bodies perform under stress, high-altitude, extreme heat, etc.
• Pharmaceutical Innovation: Pharmacy students can work on drug formulation, stability, or radiopharmaceuticals (especially in labs like INMAS).

12. Real-World DRDO Internship Openings (Current / Recent)

Here are some live or recent DRDO internships (2025) you can check and apply to:

• DRDE (Gwalior) — Paid internship in Biological Sciences (including Pharmacology) for 6 months. Stipend: ₹ 5,000/month.
• DIPAS (Delhi) — Internship in physiology / allied sciences, 6-month program.
• DIPR (Delhi) — Paid internship for Psychology / Engineering (UG/PG), 6 months, ₹ 5,000/month.
• DMSRDE (Kanpur) — Science / Engineering paid internship.
• NPOL (Kochi) — Paid internship for science PG students.

13. How to Strengthen Your Application

• SOP / Cover Letter: Highlight your passion for defence research, pharmacy, or biological sciences.
• Mention Relevant Projects: Lab work, college projects, or any research — especially in microbiology, biochemistry, or pharmacology — will strengthen your case.
• Connect with Faculty / Alumni: Ask professors to guide you or to refer you to DRDO labs.
• Stay Professional: Use formal email, a well-formatted resume, and make sure your referral / NOC letter is on your college’s letterhead.

14. Career Impact

• A DRDO internship gives you real R&D experience — far beyond typical industry internships — which can be especially valuable for pharmacy students wanting research exposure.
• It adds weight to your resume if you plan to apply for PhD programs or research-based roles.
• You build a network with DRDO scientists, potentially opening doors to future collaborations or employment.
• The scientific rigour and discipline you learn (e.g., lab protocols, defence confidentiality) can shape you into a stronger researcher or professional.

15. Conclusion

If you’re seeking a pharmacy internship for undergraduate students or a pharmacy internship for freshers, DRDO is a powerful destination. Through its internship scheme, DRDO offers paid and unpaid opportunities in biological sciences, pharmacology, physiology, and more. While the application process is competitive and requires commitment, the rewards—in terms of skills, networking, and experience—are substantial.

Make sure to regularly check the DRDO internship scheme page DRDO and the websites of specific labs like DRDE, DIPAS, and DIPR for their latest internship ads.

FAQs

1. Can pharmacy undergraduates (B.Pharm) apply for DRDO internships?
Yes — DRDO labs like DRDE have explicitly invited Pharmacology / Pharmacy students to apply for their paid internship scheme.

2. Is there a difference between a “pharmacy internship for undergraduate students” and “pharmacy internship for freshers” at DRDO?
Not much — both undergraduates and fresh graduates who meet the eligibility criteria (degree, CGPA, age) can apply to DRDO internships in pharmaceutical or biological sciences.

3. Do DRDO internships always pay a stipend?
Not always; it depends on the lab and the project. But several labs (like DRDE) do offer a paid internship.

4. How to find the right DRDO lab for pharmacy or life-sciences internships?
You should browse DRDO’s “Scheme of Internship” page and check lab-specific adverts (PDFs) for institutes like DRDE, DIPAS, INMAS, DIPR, etc.

5. Will doing a DRDO internship help me when applying for research roles or PhD later?
Absolutely — working on DRDO projects gives you R&D experience, helps in building a research-oriented portfolio, and can improve your chances for grad-school or research roles.