CSIR NEERI Project Associate II CO2 Biorefinery 2026

CSIR NEERI Project Associate-II Recruitment 2026: Overview

CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), the Nagpur laboratory of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, is looking for a Project Associate-II for its CO2 bio-refinery project (project code GAP-3103). The project captures carbon dioxide from flue gas and uses it to grow microbial biomass at medium-to-large scale, which then becomes feedstock for biofuels and other value-added products.

You will be posted at CSIR-NEERI, Nagpur on a temporary project engagement that runs only as long as the project does. Chemical, mechanical and environmental engineers who know process and reactor design and have worked with tools such as Aspen or DWSIM are the best fit; knowledge of algae-based CO2 sequestration and of writing technical reports and scientific articles is also part of the job profile.

Service Conditions and Caveats

• Two pay bands: The higher pay applies only if you have cleared CSIR-UGC, ICAR or ICMR NET (lectureship/assistant professorship), GATE, or a national-level exam run by a central department such as DBT or DST. Everyone else gets the lower band.
• Project-bound job: The post ends with the project and gives you no claim to a regular CSIR or CSIR-NEERI post. The tenure may be extended or shortened depending on the project and on your performance and conduct.
• Tenure ceiling: Total time on CSIR contract research projects cannot go beyond six or seven years, as set out in CSIR OM No. 5-1(342)/2017-PD.
• Waiting list: The institute expects that up to two people may eventually be engaged if funds allow, with the second taken from the waiting list.
• Funding and extension: Your first offer covers only the funded period. A review committee checks your work before recommending an extension.
• No upgrade: Project staff are not moved up within the same or a new project; you must apply afresh and clear a new interview.
• Switching projects: If you already work on another project, your resignation there must be accepted before you join.
• Confidentiality: You sign an undertaking to keep project findings and related intellectual property confidential.
• Notice period: Either side can end the engagement with one month's notice, or you can pay one month's salary instead, at the competent authority's discretion.
• Accommodation: You arrange your own stay in Nagpur; HRA is paid as per rules.
• Joining: You join after the medical examination and character verification, within the time given in the offer letter. The offer can be withdrawn at any stage if a discrepancy is found.

Application Submission Notes

Apply online as the official notification directs; the advertisement is listed with an apply button on the CSIR-NEERI project staff recruitment portal. The interview is held online over MS Teams, Skype or a similar platform, and its date will be posted separately on www.neeri.res.in.