BITS Goa Research Associate Trade and AI 2026

BITS Goa Research Associate Recruitment 2026: Overview

Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani (BITS Pilani), K K Birla Goa Campus is engaging a Research Associate for an Indian Council of Social Science Research-funded project in the Department of Economics. The study examines welfare gains from India's regional trade agreements through a computational framework built around terms of trade and AI/ML-based automation. Its subject mix spans trade and development, the blue economy, maritime economics and artificial intelligence, giving you a role at the intersection of economics and applied computing. The project is led by Prof. Rajesh Barik with three co-principal investigators from the institute.

The role is designed for a postgraduate who wants to work on policy-relevant economic research while learning how computational methods can support trade analysis. You will join a campus research environment with access to computing and laboratory facilities, and your cover letter should explain how your background connects with the project's questions. The advertisement values alignment with the actual research theme, not just possession of the minimum degree.

The selected researcher may get a chance to apply to the BITS Pilani PhD programme, subject to the institute's normal doctoral rules. This opportunity is separate from selection for the project role and does not guarantee PhD admission. The research appointment itself remains tied to the ICSSR project and its academic objectives.

Service Conditions and Caveats

• Project duration: The advertised ICSSR research project runs for two years, and the role is linked to that funded work.
• Academic setting: You will work from the K K Birla Goa Campus with its research, computing and laboratory facilities.
• Accommodation: Hostel space, including single or married accommodation, may be provided only if available and remains subject to institute rules at the time you join.
• PhD pathway: You may apply for a PhD at BITS Pilani, but the regular programme rules and admission process still apply.
• Interview expense: If the final interaction is held in person, the institute will not pay TA or DA.

Application Submission Notes

Apply through the Google Form named in the official advertisement and attach your CV and cover letter. The cover letter should connect your education and interests with the role's expected contribution to trade-agreement analysis and computational research.

Preliminary scrutiny is based on your resume and a telephone or audio-visual interaction. BITS Pilani will contact shortlisted applicants by email about the final interview, so use an active email address and monitor it after applying. For role-related questions, the notice names Prof. Rajesh Barik at the Department of Economics as the contact person.

• Support research on welfare gains from India's regional trade agreements
• Build and test computational workflows for terms-of-trade analysis
• Assist with AI and machine-learning automation used in the project framework
• Review literature on trade, development, blue economy and maritime economics
• Organise research data and keep analysis records reproducible
• Prepare findings, charts and draft material for project discussions and reports