IIT Madras Project Associate Recruitment 2026

IIT Madras is hiring 6 Project Associates for the Department of Biotechnology. If you have an M.Tech, or a B.Tech/M.Sc with 2 years of experience, in Biotechnology or a related field, you can apply online. The last date to apply is 27 July 2026. The post carries a consolidated salary of Rs. 54,000 per month for an initial one-year contract.

Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) Project Associate Recruitment 2026 - 6 Posts

The Office of Industrial Consultancy and Sponsored Research (IC&SR) at IIT Madras has released Advertisement No. ICSR/PR/Advt.133/2026, dated 13 July 2026, for 6 Project Associate posts in the Department of Biotechnology under Prof. Guhan Jayaraman. This is a contract position, initially for one year and extendable based on your performance. Hands-on bioreactor and wet-lab experience is highly valued for this role, and candidates with the right technical background are encouraged to apply. As a Project Associate, you will monitor bioprocesses, analyze reactor performance, and support process scale-up activities in a functioning lab.

Who Can Apply?

• Qualification: M.Tech, or B.Tech/M.Sc with 2 years of experience, in Biotechnology or a related field.
• Technical Skills: You should know how to operate a bench-scale bioreactor and have wet-lab experience, along with knowledge of downstream processing equipment such as centrifugation, filtration and chromatography.
• Preferred: Experience in synthetic biology or molecular biology is a plus.
• Other Skills: You should be self-motivated, detail-oriented, able to work with minimal supervision, and have excellent communication skills.
• Nationality: Open to Indian citizens; subjects of Nepal are also eligible with an eligibility certificate from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
• Note: SC/ST candidates may get relaxation in the experience requirement at the Institute's discretion, if enough experienced candidates from these categories are not available. The prescribed qualifications are minimum requirements — a higher qualification does not guarantee that you will be shortlisted.

Salary

• Selected candidates will get a consolidated salary of Rs. 54,000 per month.
• This is a fixed monthly pay for the duration of the contract. No separate DA/HRA structure is mentioned in the notification.

Selection Process

The selection process includes the following stages:

1. Shortlisting: Based on the information you provide in your online application.
2. Skill Test / Interview: Shortlisted candidates may be called for a written test, skill test, or interview at the Institute's discretion.
3. Document Verification: You must produce original certificates. If you are currently working on an IIT Madras project, you need a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) to appear for the test/interview.

Note: Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. Canvassing in any form will disqualify your candidature. The Institute encourages women candidates to apply as part of its commitment to a gender-balanced workforce.

How to Apply

1. Go to icandsr.iitm.ac.in/careers/current_openings.php.
2. Find and select Advt.133/2026 - Project Associate from the list of current openings.
3. Register with your email ID (one login per advertisement) and fill in the online application form.
4. Upload your documents and submit before the deadline.
5. Double-check all details before submitting — the application cannot be edited or reverted once submitted.

If you face any technical issues while applying, email icsrrecruitment@icsrpis.iitm.ac.in or call 044-2257 8843 (Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5:30 PM).

Important Dates

• Advertisement Date: 13 July 2026
• Last Date to Apply Online: 27 July 2026

• Operate bench-scale bioreactor systems and monitor bioprocess performance
• Analyze reactor samples and evaluate conversion efficiency and mass balance
• Compile and summarize process development data into detailed reports
• Troubleshoot process issues and support scale-up activities
• Maintain SOPs, raw material specifications, and batch records
• Support synthetic biology and molecular biology experiments where required
• Ensure lab safety and follow institute policies and procedures