NIT Rourkela Junior Research Fellow Recruitment 2026

NIT Rourkela is hiring 1 Junior Research Fellow (JRF) for a sponsored research project in its Department of Chemical Engineering. If you have a B.E./B.Tech or M.E./M.Tech (First Class) in chemical or allied engineering, or an M.Sc. in Chemistry, Physics, Biophysics, Bioinformatics, or Biochemistry along with a valid GATE or CSIR-UGC NET score, you can apply by email before 14 July 2026. The fellowship pays Rs. 37,000 per month in the first two years, rising to Rs. 42,000 per month in the third year. Selection is through a single online interview — there is no written exam for this post, and there is no application fee either.

National Institute of Technology Rourkela (NIT Rourkela) JRF Recruitment 2026 - 1 Post

NIT Rourkela, an Institute of National Importance under the Ministry of Education, Government of India, has released Advertisement No. 26CH024 dated 2 July 2026 for 1 Junior Research Fellow post. The post is under an ANRF-funded (Anusandhan National Research Foundation) research project titled "Mechanistic Insights into Antifreeze-Mediated Ice Growth Inhibition and Development of Machine Learning Models for Antifreeze Activity Prediction," led by Prof. Ravi Kumar Reddy Addula of the Department of Chemical Engineering. The project code is SR/26/CH/024 and is scheduled to run until 12 May 2029, so the selected candidate can expect multi-year, continuous research exposure. This is a temporary, contractual engagement that is co-terminus with the project — your appointment ends when the project ends or your assigned tenure is complete, whichever comes first. Candidates from chemical engineering, allied engineering branches, or chemistry/physics/biophysics/bioinformatics/biochemistry backgrounds with a valid GATE or NET score should apply. This role is a good fit if you are looking to build a research profile in computational chemical engineering before moving on to a PhD or industry research role. The position is based at the NIT Rourkela campus in Sundergarh district, Odisha, where the Department of Chemical Engineering will host and supervise the project.

Who Can Apply?

• Qualification: B.E./B.Tech or M.E./M.Tech with First Class (or equivalent CGPA) in Chemical Engineering or allied engineering disciplines, OR M.Sc. in Chemistry, Physics, Biophysics, Bioinformatics, or Biochemistry from a recognized University or Institute
• Mandatory: A valid GATE or CSIR-UGC NET (including lectureship) score
• Desirable: A strong foundation in thermodynamics/statistical mechanics and good technical writing skills for research manuscripts and presentation of scientific data
• The JRF is expected to run molecular dynamics simulations of ice growth in the presence of different antifreeze proteins, analyze the simulation data, and build a machine learning model to predict antifreeze activity from protein properties. You are also expected to communicate your findings through publications or conferences.
• Both freshers with a strong academic record and candidates with prior research or simulation experience can apply — what matters most is your GATE/NET score and your understanding of the subject.
• If you don't have a GATE/NET score, you may still be considered for the post of Project Associate-I with a fellowship of Rs. 30,000 per month instead of the JRF fellowship.

Salary

• You will get Rs. 37,000 per month during Year 1 and Year 2 of the project.
• The fellowship increases to Rs. 42,000 per month in Year 3.
• Candidates without a GATE/NET score may instead be engaged as Project Associate-I at Rs. 30,000 per month.
• Since this is a project post, the fellowship is a consolidated monthly amount and not linked to any government pay scale or separate allowances.

Application Fee

There is no application fee for this Junior Research Fellow position. You simply need to email your application and documents before the deadline — no online payment or portal registration is involved.

Selection Process (No Written Exam)

Selection is based on a single stage:

1. Online Interview: scheduled for 16 July 2026 at 10:00 AM, conducted by the Department of Chemical Engineering, NIT Rourkela.

Since there is no written test, your academic record, research aptitude, and understanding of the project area will matter most during the interview. Make sure you read about antifreeze proteins, molecular dynamics simulation, and machine learning basics before the interview, since the panel will likely test your grasp of these topics along with your GATE/NET-level subject knowledge.

How to Apply

1. Prepare your application with complete bio-data, educational qualifications, and research interests. Mention the post (Junior Research Fellow) and project code SR/26/CH/024 clearly.
2. Attach your certificates, mark sheets, and GATE/NET score details.
3. Email your application to Prof. Ravi Kumar Reddy Addula at addular@nitrkl.ac.in before the last date. There is no separate online application portal for this post.
4. For any queries about the position, you can also reach out on the contact number 8919128302.
5. If shortlisted, you will be informed about joining the online interview on 16 July 2026.

Important Dates

• Advertisement Date: 2 July 2026
• Last Date to Apply: 14 July 2026
• Online Interview Date: 16 July 2026 at 10:00 AM

• Carry out molecular dynamics simulations of ice growth in the presence of antifreeze proteins with varied activity
• Analyze simulation data to draw meaningful research conclusions
• Develop machine learning models to predict antifreeze protein activity from protein properties
• Document research findings and help prepare manuscripts for publication
• Present research findings at conferences and seminars
• Assist the Principal Investigator with day-to-day project research tasks