BITS JRF Network Security Recruitment 2026

BITS JRF Network Security Recruitment 2026: Overview

Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani (BITS Pilani) is recruiting Junior Research Fellows through its Department of Computer Science and Information Systems for an ANRF-sponsored network-security project. The work is shared across the K. K. Birla Goa Campus and Pilani Campus, bringing researchers at both locations into one operational-technology security programme.

The project is called INDRA-OT: Integrated Network Defense Response and Analysis for OT and SCADA Networks. It focuses on protecting the connected systems used in industrial and operational settings, where a cyber incident can affect physical equipment as well as data. If you want to work where computer networks meet real infrastructure, this project offers a focused research setting rather than a general software assignment.

Professor Vinayak Naik leads the project, whose broad research area is network security. As a fellow, you can expect to study threats, defensive responses and analysis methods for OT and SCADA environments while working with the research team. The five-year project window gives the group time to move from problem definition and experimental design to tested security approaches and research outputs.

The fellowship also creates a route into deeper academic work. A selected fellow gets a chance to apply to the BITS Pilani PhD programme, although normal doctoral admission rules still apply. This makes the role a useful fit if you have qualified through a recognised national examination and want to build a research profile in cyber-physical or industrial-network security.

Service Conditions and Caveats

• Project term: The sponsored research project runs for five years, and the fellowship is tied to that project rather than a regular institute post.
• Campus placement: Work is connected with the Goa and Pilani campuses; your assigned campus and research arrangements will follow the project team's requirements.
• Accommodation: Hostel accommodation may be provided only when space is available and remains subject to the institute rules in force when you join.
• Shortlisting: Only shortlisted applicants will receive interview communication by email.
• Interview format: The interview may be online or in person at the Goa Campus, and no travel or daily allowance will be paid.
• Doctoral route: Selection as JRF does not automatically admit you to a PhD; you must separately meet the BITS Pilani PhD rules.

Application Submission Notes

Email your application and detailed curriculum vitae, including your research-experience information, to vinayak@goa.bits-pilani.ac.in. The notice uses email submission and does not provide a separate application form or public registration link.

Keep the material clear enough for the project team to assess your professional degree, national-examination route and research fit. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted, so watch the email address used in your application for the interview message.

• Study security risks in operational technology and SCADA networks
• Design network-defence and incident-response research experiments
• Analyse traffic, attacks and defensive outcomes from project test environments
• Build and evaluate methods for integrated threat detection and response
• Keep research data, experiment notes and technical documentation organised
• Prepare project reports, presentations and research manuscripts
• Coordinate research tasks with teams at the Goa and Pilani campuses