IIT Madras Project Research Scientist I Biomedical 2026

IIT Madras Project Research Scientist I Recruitment 2026: Overview

Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) is hiring Project Research Scientist I staff for the Department of Applied Mechanics and Biomedical Engineering on its Chennai campus. The posts are advertised by the institute's Centre for Industrial Consultancy and Sponsored Research (IC&SR) under advertisement ICSR/PR/Advt.213/2026, and the project is coordinated by Prof. Raghavendra Sai V V.

The work sits inside an ICMR-funded project called MolOnco-DnT-CenTr, a translational centre that builds diagnostic and therapeutic technologies for molecular oncology. Your part of it is sensor research for early detection of cervical cancer biomarkers in serum and blood samples — so expect hands-on bench work with biosensor chemistry, not desk research. You will also handle large batches of clinical samples for pre-clinical validation, where careful record-keeping matters as much as the science.

The coordinator wants someone who is already comfortable with surface functionalization, antibody immobilization and gold nanoparticle bioconjugation. If you have worked on biosensors in industry, especially on lateral flow assay (LFA) development, you have an edge. This is a contract project post that starts for one year and can be extended if your performance is good.

Service Conditions and Caveats

• Contract only: The post is purely contractual. Finishing the contract gives you no right to an extension, regularisation or a permanent job at IIT Madras.
• Tenure: The first term is one year; any extension depends on how well you perform.
• Nationality: You must be an Indian citizen. Subjects of Nepal and people who migrated from Pakistan to settle permanently in India can also apply, but they need an eligibility certificate from the Ministry of Home Affairs before appointment.
• Current IIT Madras project staff: Apply through proper channel, or bring a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) to the document check, test or interview. Without the NOC you will not be allowed to appear.
• Experience rules: Only experience gained after your minimum qualifying degree counts. The institute may relax qualification or experience rules for exceptionally outstanding candidates.
• Shortlisting: IIT Madras can limit how many people it calls for the written test, skill test or interview, using qualifications and experience above the minimum. Only shortlisted applicants are contacted.
• Cut-off for eligibility: Every eligibility condition is judged as on the closing date of the online application.
• Testimonials: You may send testimonials from people who know your work well; if you are employed, your most recent employer or immediate superior should be the referee.
• Women candidates: The institute aims for a gender-balanced workforce and encourages women to apply.
• Updates: Any corrigendum or clarification will be posted only on the IIT Madras website; no separate message will be sent.

Application Submission Notes

Apply only through the IC&SR careers portal of IIT Madras. In the current openings list, find advertisement Advt.213/2026 and apply against that position. The portal accepts one application per login email for each advertisement, and you cannot edit it after you submit, so check every entry first.

Do not post a hard copy to the institute. Keep a printout of the submitted form, because you must hand it over if you are called for the test, interview or document verification. All communication comes by email only, so give an address you check daily.

For technical problems with the online form, write to recruitment@imail.iitm.ac.in or icsrrecruitment@iitm.ac.in, or call 044-2257 9796 between 9 AM and 5:30 PM, Monday to Friday. These contacts handle technical issues only, not questions about selection.

• Design, plan and run experiments for biosensors that detect cervical cancer biomarkers in serum and blood
• Prepare sensor surfaces using functionalization methods such as silanization, and apply surface passivation
• Handle antibodies and immobilize them on sensor surfaces
• Prepare gold nanoparticles and bioconjugate them for biosensor assays
• Process large batches of clinical samples for pre-clinical validation studies
• Follow Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) and keep accurate lab records
• Analyse experimental data and prepare technical reports for the project