IIT Madras Project Research Scientist II Biomedical 2026

IIT Madras Project Research Scientist II Recruitment 2026: Overview

Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras), through its Centre for Industrial Consultancy and Sponsored Research (IC&SR), is hiring a Project Research Scientist II for the Department of Applied Mechanics and Biomedical Engineering on its Chennai campus. The post sits inside an ICMR-funded project that is building a multiplex, point-of-care nucleic acid biosensor to tell drug-resistant tuberculosis apart from regular TB. The lab is led by project coordinator Prof. Raghavendra Sai V V.

This is a contract research post tied to the project, not a permanent faculty or staff job. You will be the senior scientist at the bench: designing the molecular assays, joining them to an optical or other biosensor readout, and pushing the work towards a diagnostic module that can be tested on clinical samples. If you have built PCR or RCA-based assays and want to see lab work turn into a real TB test, this role is a strong fit.

Service Conditions and Caveats

• Contract only: The job is purely contractual. Finishing the contract gives you no right to an extension, a regular post or permanency at IIT Madras.
• Tenure: The first term is one year; it can be extended based on your performance.
• Citizenship: You must be an Indian citizen. Subjects of Nepal and people who moved from Pakistan to settle permanently in India can also apply, but they need a certificate of eligibility from the Ministry of Home Affairs before joining.
• Experience counting: Only experience gained after your minimum qualifying degree counts. IIT Madras may relax the qualification or experience for exceptionally strong candidates, and may relax experience for SC/ST candidates if too few experienced candidates from these groups apply.
• Cut-off date: Every eligibility condition is checked as on the closing date of the online application.
• Shortlisting: The institute can limit how many candidates it calls for the test or interview, using qualifications and experience above the minimum. Only shortlisted candidates are contacted, and all communication happens by email.
• Current IIT Madras project staff: If you already work on any IIT Madras project, apply through proper channel or bring a No-Objection Certificate. Without the NOC you will not be allowed into the test or interview.
• Women candidates: The institute aims for a gender-balanced team and encourages women to apply.
• Updates: Any corrigendum or clarification is posted only on the IC&SR website; no separate message is sent.

Application Submission Notes

Apply only online on the IC&SR careers portal. Find advertisement number Advt.216/2026 in the current openings list and apply against that entry. The portal takes one application per login email for each advertisement, so select every position you want before you press submit. You cannot edit or take back the form after submission.

Do not post a hard copy to the institute. Keep a printout of your submitted form and bring it when you are called for the test, interview or document check. You may also send testimonials; if you are employed, the reference should come from your latest employer or immediate superior.

For technical problems with the form, write to recruitment@imail.iitm.ac.in or icsrrecruitment@iitm.ac.in, or call 044-2257 9796 between 9:00 AM and 5:30 PM, Monday to Friday. These contacts handle only technical issues, not questions about the selection.

• Design and optimise multiplex nucleic-acid assays that detect TB and drug-resistant TB quickly
• Run nucleic acid extraction, PCR, RCA and related amplification work
• Select biomarkers and targets, and link the assays with optical or other biosensor readouts
• Build and validate point-of-care diagnostic modules, including sample processing and assay integration
• Plan experiments, solve technical problems and analyse data so results are reliable and repeatable
• Guide project fellows and technical staff, and keep proper research records
• Prepare reports, presentations and manuscripts for the project
• Coordinate with clinical and partner institutions for sample collection and validation studies