PAU Research Associate & JRF Recruitment 2026

Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) is hiring for 1 Research Associate and 1 Junior Research Fellow post at its School of Agricultural Biotechnology in Ludhiana. If you have a B.Sc/M.Sc/Ph.D in Agriculture, Biotechnology, or Biosciences, you can apply on a prescribed form. The last date to submit your application is 10 August 2026, and shortlisted candidates will appear before the selection committee on 14 August 2026. Salary ranges from Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 47,000 per month plus 16% HRA.

Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) Research Associate & JRF Recruitment 2026 - 2 Posts

Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana has released a notice for filling 2 project posts — one Research Associate and one Junior Research Fellow — under the School of Agricultural Biotechnology. Both posts are attached to the project "Next-Generation Rice Farming: Multi-Herbicide Tolerant Direct-Seeded Rice" (Misc-89, PC-8007). Direct-seeded rice (DSR) is a water-saving way of growing paddy without the traditional nursery and transplanting steps, and this project works on making DSR fields tolerant to multiple herbicides so farmers can control weeds more easily. No written exam is required for either post — you go straight to a selection committee interview once your application is screened. PAU, Ludhiana, is one of India's leading agricultural universities, so working on a live rice-farming project here gives you direct, hands-on research exposure. This is a solid opportunity for agriculture, biotechnology, and biosciences graduates and postgraduates who want practical research experience in rice crop technology before moving into a longer academic or research career.

Vacancy Breakdown

Who Can Apply?

The eligibility criteria differ slightly for each post, so check the details for the position you are interested in below. Both posts need a background in agriculture, biotechnology, or biosciences, but the Research Associate post asks for more research experience and pays a higher salary.

For Research Associate (Rs. 47,000/month):

• You need a B.Sc in Agriculture/Biotechnology/Biosciences with at least 60% marks, plus an M.Sc in the same field with 65% marks and 2 years of post-M.Sc research or teaching experience.
• A Ph.D in Agriculture/Biotechnology/Biosciences with 65% marks also qualifies, even without a separate Master's degree, as long as your Ph.D subject matches the required discipline.
• You must have cleared GATE/CSIR-UGC NET/ARS-NET/DBT-BET or an equivalent national-level test (Ph.D holders are exempt from this condition).
• Desirable: experience with rice crop field practices, plant tissue culture techniques, or bioinformatics/data handling.

For Junior Research Fellow (Rs. 37,000/month):

• You need a B.Sc in Agriculture/Biotechnology/Biosciences (60% marks) or an M.Sc in the same fields (65% marks) with 2 years of post-M.Sc experience.
• You must have cleared GATE/CSIR-UGC NET/ARS-NET/DBT-BET or an equivalent test (Ph.D holders are exempt). If no NET-qualified candidate is available, a non-NET candidate can still be selected at Rs. 30,000 + 16% HRA per month.

Salary

• The Research Associate gets Rs. 47,000 per month fixed plus 16% HRA.
• The Junior Research Fellow gets Rs. 37,000 per month plus 16% HRA (or Rs. 30,000 + 16% HRA for a non-NET candidate).

Application Fee

• All candidates: Rs. 200, paid online in favour of Comptroller, PAU, Ludhiana.
• Payment details: Bank of Baroda, PAU account, IFSC BARB0PAULUD.

Selection Process (No Written Exam)

Your selection will happen in the following stages:

1. Application Screening: Your application form and certificates are checked against the eligibility criteria.
2. Selection Committee Interview: Shortlisted candidates appear before the selection committee on 14 August 2026 at 11:00 AM at the School of Agricultural Biotechnology, PAU, Ludhiana.

At the interview, bring your original certificates and mark sheets along with the attested copies you submitted with your application — the selection committee will verify these on the spot. No TA/DA is paid for attending the interview. Only selected candidates will be informed by email.

How to Apply

There is no separate online application portal for this recruitment — you apply using a downloadable form and submit it physically. Follow these steps carefully so your application is not rejected for being incomplete.

1. Go to the PAU website at pau.edu and download the prescribed application form.
2. Fill in the form with your personal and educational details.
3. Pay the Rs. 200 application fee online to the Comptroller, PAU account.
4. Attach attested copies of your certificates and mark sheets.
5. Send your completed application to the School of Agricultural Biotechnology, PAU, Ludhiana before the last date.

Important Dates

• Notification Date: 30 July 2026
• Last Date to Apply: 10 August 2026
• Selection Committee Interview: 14 August 2026

Keep an eye on your email after the interview date, since PAU only informs selected candidates directly and does not publish a separate result list for these project posts.

• Conduct field and laboratory research for the direct-seeded rice (DSR) herbicide tolerance project
• Collect and analyze crop data related to multi-herbicide tolerance trials
• Assist with plant tissue culture and bioinformatics data handling
• Prepare research reports, presentations, and project documentation
• Coordinate with the Principal Investigator and field staff for trial management
• Maintain accurate records of experiments and lab protocols
• Support the publication of research findings in scientific journals