IITM Project Associate Recruitment 2026

About This Job

IIT Madras is hiring 1 Project Associate in the Department of Ocean Engineering. If you have an M.S. or Ph.D. in Ocean Engineering, Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical, Robotics, Computer Science, Control Systems, or a related discipline, you can apply online. The last date to apply is 5 July 2026. The selected candidate will get a consolidated salary of Rs. 53,000 per month for an 8-month project role.

Indian Institute of Technology Madras Project Associate Recruitment 2026 - 1 Post

Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras), through the Office of Industrial Consultancy and Sponsored Research, has issued Advertisement No. ICSR/PR/Advt. 112/2026 dated 15 June 2026. The opening is for a temporary Project Associate position under Prof. Abhilash Somayajula in the Department of Ocean Engineering. The work is research-heavy, especially for candidates interested in marine robotics, autonomous systems, ship maneuvering, and control algorithms.

This role is not a permanent IIT staff post. It is a contract project position for 8 months, and completion of the contract will not give any right to regularisation or permanency. The notice also says candidates who have submitted their thesis and are waiting for award may apply, so final thesis-submitted researchers can consider this opening if their discipline matches.

Who Can Apply?

Educational Qualification

• Required qualification: You need an M.S. or Ph.D. in Ocean Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, Computer Science, Control Systems, or related disciplines.
• Thesis-submitted candidates: You can apply if you have submitted your thesis and are waiting for the degree award.
• Research fit: Your profile should show research exposure in Naval Architecture, Ocean Engineering, Control Theory, or Marine Robotics.
• Nationality: Indian citizens can apply. Persons covered under the eligibility-certificate condition mentioned in the notice must follow Government of India rules.

Project Areas

• Ship maneuvering: Experimental campaign on maneuvering of ships in waves in the wave basin at IIT Madras.
• Autonomous surface vehicles: Algorithm development for rendezvous of autonomous surface vehicles amidst obstacles.
• Marine robotics: Research work linked to autonomous systems and robotics for ocean engineering applications.

Salary

• Consolidated pay: Rs. 53,000 per month.
• Pay type: Consolidated monthly pay, as stated in the notice.
• Duration: 8 months.
• The notice does not mention a separate HRA, DA, grade pay, or medical allowance for this post.

Selection Process

IIT Madras may shortlist candidates using their qualification, level, relevance of experience, and academic achievements. The notice allows the institute to decide the mode of screening and testing for shortlisting and final selection.

1. Online application: Submit the application through the IIT Madras ICSR staff careers portal for Advt.112/2026.
2. Shortlisting: IIT Madras will shortlist applicants based on the details provided in the online application.
3. Test or interview: Shortlisted candidates may be called for written test, skill test, interview, or another screening mode decided by the institute.
4. Document verification: You must produce the application printout and documents when called for test or interview.
5. Final decision: IIT Madras reserves the right to fill or not fill the advertised position.

The advertisement does not give a fixed written exam pattern, marks, syllabus, or negative marking. Because of that, the separate exam pattern field is left empty, and you should prepare for a research-focused technical discussion.

How to Apply

1. Go to the IIT Madras ICSR careers portal at icsrstaff.iitm.ac.in/careers/current_openings.php.
2. Check the advertisement number Advt.112/2026.
3. Register or log in on the portal and choose the relevant Project Associate position.
4. Fill in your education, thesis, research experience, and contact details carefully.
5. Submit the application online before 5 July 2026.
6. Take a printout of the submitted application and keep it ready for document verification, test, or interview.

Hard copy of the application is not to be sent to IIT Madras. If there is a technical issue while submitting the form, the notice gives icsrrecruitment6@icsrpis.iitm.ac.in and icsrrecruitment@icsrpis.iitm.ac.in for help.

Documents and Application Notes

• Application printout: Keep a printout of the submitted online form because it must be produced when IIT Madras calls you for test, interview, or verification.
• Degree or thesis proof: Keep your M.S./Ph.D. degree certificate, thesis-submission proof, mark sheets, and research records ready.
• Experience proof: Keep documents that show your work in naval architecture, ocean engineering, control theory, marine robotics, or autonomous systems.
• NOC: If you are already working in a project at IIT Madras, you may need a No Objection Certificate through proper channel.

The notice says correspondence will be sent through the email address entered in the online form. Use an active email ID and check it regularly because only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

The crucial date for checking eligibility is the closing date of online application. Make sure your qualification, thesis status, and research experience are true on the form because wrong information can lead to rejection later.

Important Dates

• Notification Date: 15 June 2026
• Last Date to Apply Online: 5 July 2026
• Test / Interview Date: To be announced
• Admit Card / Call Letter: To be announced

• Lead research work linked to ship maneuvering experiments in waves
• Plan and support experimental campaigns in the IIT Madras wave basin
• Develop algorithms for rendezvous of autonomous surface vehicles
• Work on obstacle-aware autonomous vehicle control and testing
• Analyse experiment results and prepare clear technical notes
• Coordinate with the Ocean Engineering research team for project milestones