CLRI Project Staff Recruitment 2026 — 57 Vacancies

CSIR-Central Leather Research Institute (CSIR-CLRI), Chennai is hiring 57 project personnel on a temporary basis for multiple research projects. If you have qualifications from Diploma/B.Sc. to B.E./B.Tech, M.Sc., M.Pharm, M.Tech or related degrees, you can attend the selection process. The written test is on 21 May 2026, followed by interviews on 25 and 26 May 2026. Salary ranges from Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 42,000 per month plus HRA.

CSIR-CLRI Project Personnel Recruitment 2026 - 57 Posts

CSIR-Central Leather Research Institute (CSIR-CLRI), Chennai has issued Notification No. 03/2026 for engagement of Project Assistant-II, Project Associate-I, Senior Project Associate and Junior Research Fellow positions. These posts are purely temporary and are linked to project requirements at CLRI, Chennai. The tenure shown in the notification is generally up to 31 March 2027, but it can be extended, reduced, or ended with the project requirement.

Vacancy Breakdown

• Project Associate-I / Junior Research Fellow options: 52 positions
• Project Assistant-II: 4 positions
• Senior Project Associate: 1 position

Total notified positions: 57. The notification has 21 project rows with different qualifications in Leather Technology, Chemical/Civil/Mechanical/Electrical Engineering, Chemistry, Polymer Science, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biotechnology, Life Sciences, Microbiology, Statistics, Computer Science, Physics, Fashion Technology, Textile, Footwear and related areas.

The number of positions is provisional and may increase or decrease at the time of selection.

Who Can Apply?

Project Assistant-II

• Qualification examples: B.Sc. in Physics/Biomechanics, 3-year Diploma in Engineering/Technology in Leather/Textile/Footwear/Mechanical, or B.Sc. in Fashion Technology, Apparel Technology, Fashion Design, Textile or Leather Design.
• Minimum marks: 60% marks from a recognized university or institute where specified.
• Salary: Rs. 20,000 per month plus HRA.
• Upper age: 35 years.

Project Associate-I / Junior Research Fellow

• Qualification examples: B.E./B.Tech in Leather Technology, Chemical, Instrumentation, Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Computer Science, IT, AI/ML, Biotechnology, Biomedical Engineering, or related fields.
• Science qualifications: M.Sc. in Chemistry, Polymer Science, Material Science, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Life Sciences, Microbiology, Environmental Science, Statistics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, Medical Physics, Bioinformatics or related subjects.
• Professional qualifications: M.Pharm, M.Tech Biotechnology/Life Science, MCA, B.Des or other notified equivalent qualifications depending on the project row.
• NET/GATE benefit: For JRF and some Project Associate-I rows, NET/GATE or equivalent national-level qualification can place you in the higher monthly emolument slab.
• Upper age: 28 years for JRF rows and 35 years for Project Associate-I rows, as applicable.

Senior Project Associate

• Qualification: M.Pharm or M.Sc. Biotechnology/Life Sciences with 60% marks and 3 years research experience, or M.Tech Biotechnology/Life Science with 60% marks.
• Preferred experience: Research work in biomaterial fabrication or animal handling.
• Salary: Rs. 42,000 per month plus HRA.
• Upper age: 40 years.

Age Limit

• Project Assistant-II: Up to 35 years.
• Project Associate-I: Up to 35 years.
• Junior Research Fellow: Up to 28 years.
• Senior Project Associate: Up to 40 years.
• Age counted on: Date of written test/interview.
• Relaxation: 5 years for SC/ST/PwBD/Women candidates and 3 years for OBC candidates, or as per Government of India instructions.

Salary

• Project Assistant-II: Rs. 20,000 per month plus HRA.
• Project Associate-I: Rs. 25,000 per month plus HRA for most rows without NET/GATE; some rows have Rs. 30,000 for non-NET/GATE.
• Project Associate-I with NET/GATE or equivalent national exam: Rs. 31,000 or Rs. 37,000 per month plus HRA depending on the project row.
• Junior Research Fellow: Rs. 37,000 per month plus HRA when selected through CSIR-UGC NET/GATE or equivalent national-level examination.
• Senior Project Associate: Rs. 42,000 per month plus HRA.

HRA is payable as per applicable rules. Check the project row in the notification before deciding your salary expectation.

Application Fee

• All categories: No application fee is mentioned in the notification.

Selection Process

1. Written Test: A qualifying MCQ written test will be held for all positions on 21 May 2026.
2. Interview: Candidates who qualify the written test will attend personal interview on 25 May 2026 and 26 May 2026.
3. NET/GATE exemption: Candidates who have qualified NET/GATE or equivalent national-level exams conducted by CSIR, DBT, DST, ICMR, IIT, IISc, IISER, UGC, ICAR etc. need not appear for the written test and can directly attend the interview as per schedule.
4. Document check: Candidates must bring original certificates and self-attested photocopies for verification.

How to Apply

1. Download or use the prescribed application form enclosed with the CSIR-CLRI Notification No. 03/2026.
2. Check the project row carefully and write the correct project code/post details in the application form.
3. Attend the written test at CSIR-Central Leather Research Institute, Sardar Patel Road, Adyar, Chennai - 600020 on 21 May 2026.
4. Reporting time is 09:30 AM. Candidates will not be allowed to report beyond 10:30 AM.
5. If you qualify the written test, attend the interview with the duly filled application form and required documents.
6. Do not send the application by post, speed post or courier. The notification clearly says such applications should not be sent.

Important Dates

• Notification Date: 30 April 2026
• Written Test: 21 May 2026
• Reporting Time: 09:30 AM
• Written Test Time: 11:00 AM to 11:45 AM
• Interview Dates: 25 May 2026 and 26 May 2026
• Venue: Triple Helix Auditorium, CSIR-CLRI, Adyar, Chennai - 600020
• Project Tenure: Up to 31 March 2027, extendable or curtailed as per project requirement

• Work on CSIR-CLRI research and development projects in leather science, materials, biotechnology, chemistry, engineering, design, data, instrumentation and allied areas.
• Support project experiments, testing, data collection, sample analysis, documentation and report preparation as assigned by project leaders.
• Maintain laboratory records, follow safety practices and handle equipment or software tools relevant to the project row.
• Assist with product development, sustainability assessment, material characterization, biological studies, AI/data work or design tasks depending on the selected project.
• Serve only for the project tenure or until the project requirement continues, whichever is earlier.