IIT Madras Project Associate I Recruitment 2026

IIT Madras is hiring 1 Project Associate I for its Department of Engineering Design, at the Sustainable Mobility & Advanced Research on Transportation (SMART) Lab. If you have a four-year Bachelor's degree or a Master's degree along with a qualifying NET or GATE score, you can apply online. The last date to apply is 20 July 2026. The consolidated salary is Rs. 48,100 per month (Rs. 37,000 + 30% HRA), and the role is based on the IIT Madras main campus in Chennai.

Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) Project Associate I Recruitment 2026 - 1 Post

The Office of Industrial Consultancy and Sponsored Research (IC&SR), IIT Madras has released Advertisement No. ICSR/PR/Advt.128/2026 for 1 Project Associate I position in the Department of Engineering Design. The role is part of an Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) funded project that asks a simple but hard question: can a camera predict the future of traffic and make electric vehicles smarter because of it? You will work on models that read bumper-to-bumper traffic on busy city streets — in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi, or anywhere else — and help an EV predict the chaos coming and adapt its energy use in real time. The project also gives you a rare opportunity to work with Formula Electric Vehicles. The post is purely contractual, initially for one year and extendable based on performance, with no right to further extension, regularization, or permanency at the Institute. Strong performers may get a chance at Ph.D. admission based on institutional norms.

The position is based at the Sustainable Mobility & Advanced Research on Transportation (SMART) Lab, Department of Engineering Design, IIT Madras, Chennai. You will get to work closely with interdisciplinary faculty, gain exposure to industry-standard battery testbeds, and contribute to high-impact research publications.

Who Can Apply?

• Qualification: You need a four-year Bachelor's degree or a Master's degree in a relevant engineering or science discipline.
• Mandatory Test: You must have qualified CSIR-UGC NET (including Lectureship/Assistant Professorship) or GATE.
• Preferred Skills: Knowledge of image and video data processing using PyTorch, TensorFlow, OpenCV, and YOLO frameworks.
• Preferred Skills: Understanding of time-series forecasting and deep learning architectures such as Transformers, LSTM, GRU, or i-Transformer.
• Preferred Skills: Familiarity with Electric Vehicle (EV) powertrains, Battery Management Systems (BMS), Vehicle Control Units (VCU), or Energy Management Systems (EMS).
• Preferred Skills: Knowledge of vehicle dynamics, intelligent transportation systems (ITS), or connected and autonomous vehicle technologies.
• Preferred Skills: Experience with CAN/CAN FD communication, automotive communication protocols, or embedded systems is desirable.
• Note: The experience requirement can be relaxed for exceptionally outstanding candidates, and for SC/ST candidates at the Institute's discretion if suitably experienced candidates are not available.

Salary

• You will get a consolidated compensation of up to Rs. 37,000 per month (based on qualification and experience) plus 30% HRA, for a total of Rs. 48,100 per month.
• This is project-based consolidated pay as per government norms, not a regular pay scale, and does not carry any additional allowances beyond HRA.
• Your final pay within the range depends on your qualification and prior relevant experience, as assessed by the selection committee.

Selection Process

Selection may involve the following stages:

1. Shortlisting based on your online application, qualifications, and relevance of experience.
2. Skill Test (at the Institute's discretion, may be restricted to a reasonable number of candidates).
3. Interview at IIT Madras.
4. Document Verification before joining.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the test/interview. Being called for a test/interview does not guarantee selection. Candidates working on any other project at IIT Madras must apply through proper channel with a No-Objection Certificate, otherwise they cannot appear for the test/interview.

General Instructions

• All positions are on a purely contractual basis — completing the contract period does not confer any right to extension, regularization, or permanency.
• You must apply online only, and a separate application is needed for each post.
• Your application cannot be edited or reverted once submitted — apply carefully.
• The crucial date for determining your eligibility (age, qualification, experience) is the last date for submitting the online application.
• The Institute encourages women candidates to apply, as it strives for a gender-balanced workforce.
• For technical issues while applying, email recruitment@imail.iitm.ac.in or icsrrecruitment@iitm.ac.in, or call 044-2257 9796 (Monday-Friday, 9 AM-5:30 PM).
• You may be asked to submit testimonials from people who know your work and character. If you are currently employed, include a testimonial from your most recent employer or immediate superior.
• The Institute reserves the right to reject any or all applications without assigning a reason, and canvassing in any form will disqualify your candidature.

How to Apply

1. Go to the IIT Madras careers portal at icandsr.iitm.ac.in/careers/current_openings.php.
2. Register with your email ID as your login.
3. Check the advertisement number Advt.128/2026 and select the Project Associate I position.
4. Fill in the online application form with your qualification and experience details.
5. Submit the application before the deadline — it cannot be edited once submitted.

Important Dates

• Advertisement Date: 6 July 2026
• Last Date to Apply Online: 20 July 2026

• Develop and test AI and deep learning models for traffic prediction using camera data
• Process image and video data using PyTorch, TensorFlow, OpenCV, and YOLO frameworks
• Build time-series forecasting models with Transformer, LSTM, or GRU architectures
• Work with Electric Vehicle powertrains, Battery Management Systems, and Vehicle Control Units
• Support Formula Electric Vehicle research and testing activities
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary faculty and research teams
• Document research findings and contribute to publications
• Handle CAN/CAN FD communication and embedded systems integration tasks