VECC Research Associate Recruitment 2026

VECC Kolkata is hiring 6 Research Associates under the Department of Atomic Energy project on advanced experimental facilities for cyclotron use. If you have a Ph.D. in Physics or a Physics-related subject, you can apply by email. The last date to send the application is 19 June 2026. Fellowship is Rs. 58,000 to Rs. 61,000 per month, plus HRA where allowed and an annual contingency grant.

Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre Research Associate Recruitment 2026 - 6 Posts

Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre (VECC), Kolkata, under the Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, has released Advt. No. VECC-3/2026 for Research Associate positions. The posts are linked to the project Advanced Experimental Facilities for Utilization of Cyclotron. Selection is through shortlisting and interview only, so this is mainly for Ph.D. researchers who can discuss their research work clearly.

Research Areas

Total vacancies: VECC has notified 6 Research Associate positions. The notice lists research areas but does not give a separate vacancy count for each area.

• Experimental Nuclear Physics: Light and heavy-ion induced reactions, fission, gamma-ray spectroscopy, GDR studies, and Penning trap work.
• Theoretical Nuclear Physics / Astrophysics: Nuclear astrophysics and related theoretical work.
• Experimental High Energy Nuclear Physics: Experimental work in high-energy nuclear physics.
• Theoretical High Energy Nuclear Physics: Phenomenology of relativistic heavy ion collisions and quark-gluon plasma.
• Quantum Chaos and Many-Body Systems: Thermalisation, random matrix theory, quantum many-body systems, and quantum thermodynamics.
• Radiation Damage Studies: Research linked to radiation damage and related scientific questions.

Who Can Apply?

Educational Qualification

• Qualification: You need a Ph.D. degree in Physics or Physics-related subjects as per the listed research areas.
• Provisional Ph.D.: Candidates with a provisional Ph.D. certificate can apply for RA-1.
• Before joining: If selected with provisional Ph.D., you must complete all requirements of the Ph.D. degree before joining.
• Research fit: Your Ph.D. work, publications, and proposed work plan should match one or more VECC research areas.
• Degree completion: If you hold only a provisional Ph.D. certificate now, you must be ready to complete all Ph.D. formalities before joining the RA position.

Other Useful Requirements

• Publications: You need to attach your list of publications.
• Work plan: You must submit a write-up within 500 words explaining your plan of work at VECC.
• Recommendation: At least one recommendation letter must be sent directly by the referee to the VECC email address.

Fellowship Amount

• RA-1: Rs. 58,000 per month.
• RA-2: Rs. 61,000 per month.
• Contingency Grant: Rs. 60,000 per year as per DAE guidelines.
• HRA: HRA is admissible as per DAE guidelines, but not if accommodation is provided by VECC.
• Duration: Fellowship is initially for 1 year and may be extended up to a maximum of 3 years based on review and availability of positions.

Application Fee

• No application fee is mentioned in the VECC Research Associate advertisement.
• You only need to send the completed application form and supporting documents by email.

Selection Process (No Written Exam)

VECC will select Research Associates through shortlisting and interview. The notice does not mention a written exam.

1. Application Screening: VECC checks whether you meet the Ph.D. qualification and research-area requirements.
2. Shortlisting: Candidates meeting the eligibility conditions and other advertisement criteria are shortlisted.
3. Selection Interview: The final interview may be held in offline or online mode, based on the request of the applicant.
4. RA Level Decision: The committee decides RA-1 or RA-2 based on interview performance, post-Ph.D. research experience, publications, and research outputs.

How to Apply

1. Download the Research Associate application form from the VECC website at vecc.gov.in.
2. Fill the application form carefully and prepare scanned copies of all required documents.
3. Email the complete application to ra2026@vecc.gov.in.
4. Use the email subject line Application for Research Associates 2026.
5. Make sure VECC receives the email application by 19 June 2026.
6. Ask your referee to send the recommendation letter directly to ra2026@vecc.gov.in.

Documents to Attach

• Passport-size photograph in JPEG format, less than 1 MB.
• Birth certificate or 10th pass certificate as date of birth proof.
• Ph.D. degree certificate, provisional or regular.
• List of publications and research outputs.
• Plan of work at VECC within 500 words.
• No Objection Certificate if you are employed under Central/State Government, PSU, corporation, or local government.

Application note: VECC will consider only applications received at ra2026@vecc.gov.in. Keep your scanned files readable, include the prescribed form, and make sure the referee sends the recommendation directly to VECC before the selection process moves ahead.

Important Dates

• Application Start: 19 May 2026
• Last Date to Apply by Email: 19 June 2026
• Tentative Interview Dates: 22 to 24 July 2026
• Tentative Joining Date: 01 September 2026
• Advertisement Number: VECC-3/2026

• Conduct research in the assigned VECC nuclear physics or related research area
• Plan experiments, simulations, calculations, or analysis linked to cyclotron facilities
• Prepare research reports, manuscripts, presentations, and technical documentation
• Work with VECC scientists and research groups on project milestones
• Analyse experimental or theoretical data and maintain clear research records
• Follow laboratory, radiation safety, and institutional research guidelines