NIT Raipur Research Associate-I Recruitment 2026

About This Job

NIT Raipur is hiring Research Staff Research Associate-I (RA-I) for an AR&DB, DRDO Ministry of Defence funded project. The project is in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and focuses on advanced carbon fiber phenolic composite ablatives for rocket motor nozzle applications. The fellowship is Rs. 69,600 per month, including HRA. Send your application by email before 8 July 2026.

NIT Raipur Research Associate-I Recruitment 2026 - 1 Post

National Institute of Technology Raipur, an Institute of National Importance under the Ministry of Education, has released Advertisement No. NITRR/ME/2026/7618. The post is for a time-bound research project titled Advanced Carbon Fiber Phenolic Composite Ablatives: A Solution for Prolonged Durability and Efficiency in Rocket Motor Nozzle Applications. The initial appointment is for one year and may be extended based on performance until the project ends.

Project Team and Funding

• Funding agency: Aeronautics R&D Board (AR&DB), DRDO Ministry of Defence.
• Principal Investigator: Dr. Neigapula Venkata Swamy Naidu, Department of Mechanical Engineering.
• Co-PI: Dr. Bhargavi Rani Anne.
• Project duration: The project duration is 3 years.

Nature of Appointment

• Initial appointment: One year.
• Extension: May be extended in successive one-year periods based on satisfactory performance until the project concludes.
• Type: Purely temporary, time-bound research project post.

Who Can Apply?

Essential Qualification

• Option 1: Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or Polymer Science.
• Option 2: M.E. / M.Tech in Mechanical, Chemical, Polymer Science, or equivalent with 3 years of research experience.
• Publication requirement: For the M.E. / M.Tech route, you need at least two research papers in SCI or other reputed journals.

Preferred Qualification

• Project domain: Research in polymer composites or thermal protection systems will be preferred.
• Technical skill: You should understand design, development, and characterization of polymer composites.
• Research area: Polymer composites, ablative polymer composites, thermal protection systems, and characterization of polymer composites.

Project Fit

• Composite materials: The project is about advanced carbon fiber phenolic composite ablatives.
• Aerospace use: The application area is rocket motor nozzle durability and efficiency.
• Testing work: The notice highlights characterization of polymer composites as a research area.
• Publication value: Applicants with relevant research publications in the project domain will be preferred.

Age Limit

• Age limit: The NIT Raipur notice does not mention a minimum or maximum age limit for this RA-I post.

Salary

• Consolidated fellowship is Rs. 69,600 per month.
• The fellowship is based on Rs. 58,000 plus 20% HRA.
• The appointment is for a project post, so regular institute benefits are not promised in the notice.

Application Fee

• Application fee: The notice does not mention any application fee for this Research Associate-I post.
• Payment step: There is no fee payment instruction in the advertisement.

Selection Process

Selection will be through shortlisting and in-person interview. The notice clearly says no TA/DA will be paid for attending the interview.

1. Application Screening: NIT Raipur will check qualification, research experience, publications, and project fit.
2. Shortlisting: Only shortlisted candidates will get an email notification for the interview.
3. Interview: The interview is scheduled for 9 July 2026.
4. Document Check: You should carry original documents if asked by the institute.

Incomplete applications or applications with false information will be rejected. Selected candidates cannot claim any regular or part-time appointment in NIT Raipur or any other organisation during this project period.

Interview Notes

• Interview mode: Candidates must attend the selection process in person.
• Shortlist communication: Only shortlisted candidates will get an email notification.
• Travel support: No TA/DA will be paid for attending the interview.

How to Apply

1. Fill the application form given in Annexure-1.
2. Sign the undertaking given in Annexure-2.
3. Attach Aadhaar card, category certificate, education certificates, experience certificates, and publication proof.
4. Combine everything into one PDF file.
5. Email the PDF to nvsnaidu.mech@nitrr.ac.in.
6. Use the subject line Application for the Research Staff.
7. Send the complete application before 8 July 2026.

Single PDF Sequence

• First: Application Form and Undertaking.
• Second: Aadhaar Card and Category Certificate, if applicable.
• Third: Educational Qualification Certificates.
• Fourth: Experience Certificates.
• Fifth: Publication Proof.

Official Contact Details

• PI email: nvsnaidu.mech@nitrr.ac.in
• PI mobile: 9963390988
• Co-PI email: branne.mme@nitrr.ac.in
• Co-PI mobile: 7799335487
• Queries: The notice says you may contact the PI or Co-PI in case of queries.

Use the subject line exactly as stated in the notice. Applications without the subject Application for the Research Staff may be discarded.

Before applying, match your degree specialisation, research papers, and experience proof with the project areas named in the notice: polymer composites, ablative polymer composites, thermal protection systems, and composite characterization.

The application is email-based; the notice does not give an online application form, postal submission mode, or separate fee payment step for this RA-I post.

Important Dates

• Notification Date: 25 June 2026
• Application Start: 25 June 2026
• Last Date to Apply: 8 July 2026
• Interview Date: 9 July 2026

• Work on polymer composite research for the AR&DB DRDO funded project
• Prepare and characterize advanced carbon fiber phenolic composite ablatives
• Assist the project investigator with experiments, data analysis, and reports
• Keep proper research records, publications proof, and project documents
• Follow laboratory safety rules while handling materials and testing equipment
• Coordinate with PI, Co-PI, and project team members for scheduled work
• Prepare technical inputs for project reviews, papers, and presentations