IIT Madras Project Research Scientist III Advt 211/2026

IIT Madras Project Research Scientist III Recruitment 2026: Overview

Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras), through its Centre for Industrial Consultancy and Sponsored Research (IC&SR), is hiring a Project Research Scientist III for the Department of Applied Mechanics and Biomedical Engineering in Chennai. The post sits under the ICMR project "MolOnco-DnT-CenTr", a translational centre building diagnostic and therapeutic technologies for molecular oncology, coordinated by Prof. Raghavendra Sai V V.

This is a senior, lead-level project role. You will drive the development of U-bent fiber-optic biosensors that detect DNA/RNA biomarkers linked to gastric cancer and other cancers, and take lab-scale assays towards point-of-care prototype devices. The engagement is contractual: it starts for one year and can be extended based on your performance.

The role suits a researcher with a strong background in biosensors, bioassay design, surface chemistry or optical readout systems who can also guide project staff, research fellows and students. Engineering, IT and CS graduates have their own qualification route alongside postgraduates and PhD holders.

Service Conditions and Caveats

• Contract only: All positions are purely on contract, and finishing the contract gives no right to extension, regularisation or a permanent job at the institute.
• Tenure: The first term is one year; any extension depends on performance.
• Cut-off date: Eligibility in every respect is judged as on the closing date of the online application.
• Experience counted: Only experience gained after the minimum qualifying degree counts. The institute may relax qualification or experience for exceptionally outstanding candidates, and experience for SC/ST candidates at its discretion.
• Nationality: You must be an Indian citizen; migrants from Pakistan settling permanently in India and subjects of Nepal need an eligibility certificate from the Government of India.
• Shortlisting: IIT Madras may limit the number of people called for the test or interview based on qualifications and experience above the minimum. Only shortlisted applicants are contacted, and all communication is by email.
• Post title in the notice: The job description paragraph calls the role "Project Research Scientist-I", but the advertisement header, qualification table and pay are for Project Research Scientist III.
• Women candidates: The institute aims for gender balance and encourages women to apply.
• Updates: Any corrigendum or clarification will be posted on the IC&SR website only, with no separate message to applicants.

Application Submission Notes

Apply only online on the IC&SR careers portal and pick advertisement Advt.211/2026 from the list. The portal accepts just one application per registered email for an advertisement, so select every position you want before you submit, because the form cannot be edited afterwards.

Do not post a hard copy. Keep a printout of the submitted form and bring it when you are called for the test, interview or document verification. If you already work on an IIT Madras project, apply through proper channel or carry a No-Objection Certificate; without it you cannot sit the test or interview.

For technical problems with the form only, write to recruitment@imail.iitm.ac.in or icsrrecruitment@iitm.ac.in, or call 044-2257 9796 between 9:00 AM and 5:30 PM, Monday to Friday.

• Lead the development and optimisation of U-bent fiber-optic biosensor platforms for DNA/RNA biomarkers linked to gastric cancer
• Design bioassays, including capture-probe functionalisation, hybridisation/sandwich assays and antibody–nanoparticle conjugation
• Develop and validate DNA/RNA and antigen-based assays for sensitivity, specificity, reproducibility and robustness
• Integrate bioassays with optical/plasmonic readout systems and build multiplexed diagnostic platforms
• Coordinate clinical sample testing and lead the move from lab assays to point-of-care prototype devices
• Coordinate project staff, research fellows and students, and mentor junior researchers
• Keep experimental records, datasets, SOPs and technical documents up to date
• Contribute to reports, publications, patents, proposals and technology-transfer work