ISI Project Associate-I AERU Recruitment 2026

ISI Project Associate-I Recruitment 2026: Overview

Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), an autonomous body funded by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, is hiring a Project Associate-I for its Agricultural and Ecological Research Unit (AERU) in Kolkata. The post sits in the Biological Sciences Division and works on a DBT-funded project called Centre of Excellence for Crop Protection: Sustainable Agrobiologicals for Climate-Resilient Agriculture.

This is a full-time, project-based contract — the job lasts only as long as the project and its funding. If you hold a master's degree in agriculture, botany, zoology, biotechnology or another life-science subject and want hands-on research in crop protection, this opening is worth a look.

The unit gives an edge to people who have already worked on plant nanobiotechnology, plant stress physiology, or plant–microbe and plant–soil interactions. Practical work with pot experiments, greenhouse trials and field trials also counts in your favour, since the project tests agrobiologicals under real growing conditions.

Service Conditions and Caveats

• Two pay tiers: The higher rate is only for candidates with a valid CSIR/UGC-JRF, NET, GATE or similar national-level test conducted by the Central Government; everyone else gets the lower rate. HRA is added as per Institute rules in both cases.
• Tenure: Your first term runs till 31 March 2027 and can be extended or cut short based on your performance and the project's funds. The post is co-terminus with the project.
• No permanent claim: The job is purely contractual. You cannot claim a regular post at ISI or a move to other projects later.
• No housing: ISI does not give residential facilities to contractual staff, so you will need to arrange your own stay in Kolkata.
• Age relaxation for strong profiles: On top of the usual Government of India relaxations, ISI may relax the age limit for exceptionally bright candidates with relevant experience.
• Joining checks: At joining you must show all originals and get a fitness certificate from the Institute's Medical Officer. If you cannot, the offer goes to the next person on the merit list.
• Shortlisting: A written test in the subject area may be held if many people apply, and the selection committee decides how many candidates are called.
• No TA/DA: You will not be paid travel costs for the interview or for joining.

Application Submission Notes

You apply through the online "Application for Project Associate – I" form linked in the advertisement. The form takes scanned uploads of up to 1 MB each in PDF or JPG, and it asks for the details of at least two referees who can write a reference letter for you. Forms with missing information or without supporting documents are rejected outright.

Shortlisted candidates get the interview details by email, so give an address you check often, and carry your original documents to the interview. For any doubt, write to abhimukh.isi@gmail.com.