GBPUAT Senior Research Fellow Recruitment 2026 - Apply Offline
Job Description
Eligibility
How to Apply
Overview
Gobind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology (GBPUAT), Pantnagar, invites applications for Senior Research Fellow (SRF) positions across various research projects funded by agencies like ICAR, ICMR, DST, and DBT. SRFs work under principal investigators on specialized agricultural, horticultural, veterinary, or allied science research projects. Selected candidates contribute to cutting-edge research while pursuing higher studies (PhD) and receive a monthly fellowship along with HRA. This is a contractual position tied to the duration of the research project, typically ranging from 1-3 years with possible extensions. GBPUAT is a premier agricultural university known for its research contributions and academic excellence in agricultural sciences.
Important Dates
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release | January 2026 (Indicative) |
| Application Start Date | As per notification |
| Application Last Date | 15-21 days from notification |
| Fee Payment Last Date | Same as application deadline |
| Admit Card Release | Not Applicable (Walk-in/Offline) |
| Interview/Selection Date | To be notified separately |
| Result Declaration | Within 7-10 days of interview |
Note: Dates are typical/indicative. Exact dates will be mentioned in the official notification.
Vacancy Details
Vacancy Details
| Category | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| UR (Unreserved) | Variable* |
| SC (Scheduled Caste) | As per roster |
| ST (Scheduled Tribe) | As per roster |
| OBC (Other Backward Classes) | As per roster |
| EWS (Economically Weaker Section) | As per roster |
| Total | Project-based |
Typical/Indicative: Vacancies for SRF positions vary by project requirements. Usually 5-15 positions are advertised annually across different departments. Exact numbers depend on active research projects and funding availability.
Eligibility
Educational Qualification
- Essential: Master's degree in Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry, Veterinary Science, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Agricultural Engineering, Home Science, Biotechnology, or related disciplines with minimum 60% marks (55% for SC/ST/PH candidates)
- Desirable: NET/GATE qualification or equivalent national-level examination
- Preference: Candidates with research experience, publications, or previous JRF/SRF experience
- Specific educational requirements may vary by project; refer to individual project advertisements
Age Limit
| Category | Minimum Age | Maximum Age |
|---|---|---|
| General/UR | 21 years | 35 years |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 21 years | 38 years |
| SC/ST | 21 years | 40 years |
| PwD (Persons with Disabilities) | 21 years | 45 years |
Age Relaxation Table:
| Category | Relaxation |
|---|---|
| OBC | 3 years |
| SC/ST | 5 years |
| PwD (General) | 10 years |
| PwD + OBC | 13 years |
| PwD + SC/ST | 15 years |
Age calculation date: As on the last date of application submission.
Nationality
- Indian citizens only
- Candidates must be citizens of India as per Constitution of India
How to Apply
How to Apply
- Download Application Form: Visit GBPUAT official website (www.gbpuat.ac.in) and download the prescribed application form from Recruitment/Career section or project-specific advertisement
- Fill Application Form: Complete the form in CAPITAL LETTERS with accurate personal, educational, and experience details. Paste recent passport-size photograph
- Attach Documents: Attach self-attested copies of: 10th/12th certificates, Bachelor's degree, Master's degree with marksheets, NET/GATE scorecard (if applicable), caste certificate (if applicable), experience certificates, and research publications
- Prepare Demand Draft: Pay application fee via Demand Draft drawn in favour of 'Comptroller, GBPUAT, Pantnagar' payable at Pantnagar
- Submit Application: Send complete application with all documents and DD in an envelope marked 'APPLICATION FOR SRF - [PROJECT NAME]' to the address mentioned in advertisement
- Retain Acknowledgment: Keep photocopy of complete application and postal receipt for future reference
- Alternative Mode: Some projects may allow walk-in interviews with application submission on interview day; check specific project notification
Application Fees
| Category | Fee Amount |
|---|---|
| General/OBC/EWS | ₹500 |
| SC/ST/PwD | ₹250 |
| Women Candidates | ₹250 |
Payment Mode: Demand Draft only, payable at Pantnagar branch. No other mode accepted.
Selection Process
Selection Stages
- Application Screening: Initial screening based on educational qualifications, NET/GATE scores, research experience, and publications. Only shortlisted candidates are called for interview
- Written Test (if applicable): Some projects conduct subject-specific written tests covering research methodology, statistics, and core subject knowledge relevant to the project. Duration typically 2 hours with objective and descriptive questions
- Personal Interview: Candidates appear before a selection committee comprising Principal Investigator, Co-Investigators, and subject experts. Assessment covers subject knowledge, research aptitude, project understanding, and communication skills
- Document Verification: Original certificates and documents are verified during or immediately after the interview. Discrepancies lead to disqualification
- Final Selection: Merit list prepared based on interview performance (70% weightage) and academic record (30% weightage). Selected candidates receive appointment letters specifying fellowship amount and project duration
Exam Pattern
Written Test Pattern (If Applicable)
Prelims/Screening Test
| Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research Aptitude & Methodology | 25 | 50 | 2 hours |
| Subject Specific Knowledge | 40 | 80 | (Total) |
| Statistics & Data Analysis | 15 | 30 | |
| Total | 80 | 160 | 120 mins |
Negative Marking: 0.25 marks deducted for each wrong answer in objective questions.
Interview Pattern
| Component | Maximum Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Subject Knowledge | 40 | 20-30 mins |
| Research Aptitude | 30 | (Total) |
| Project Understanding | 20 | |
| Communication Skills | 10 | |
| Total | 100 | 20-30 mins |
Note: Exam pattern varies by project. Some projects conduct only interviews without written tests. Refer to specific project notification for exact pattern.
Syllabus
Syllabus (Project-Specific)
Research Methodology & Statistics
- Research design and experimental techniques
- Sampling methods and survey techniques
- Statistical measures: mean, median, mode, standard deviation
- Hypothesis testing and significance tests
- Correlation and regression analysis
- Analysis of variance (ANOVA)
- Completely Randomized Design (CRD) and Randomized Block Design (RBD)
- Data interpretation and presentation
Agricultural Sciences (For Agronomy/Crop Science Projects)
- Crop production technologies and agronomic practices
- Soil health management and nutrient dynamics
- Integrated nutrient management (INM)
- Water management and irrigation techniques
- Weed management strategies
- Cropping systems and sustainable agriculture
- Climate-smart agriculture practices
Horticulture (For Horticulture Projects)
- Fruit and vegetable production techniques
- Post-harvest management and value addition
- Protected cultivation technologies
- Plant propagation methods
- Soil and water management in horticulture
- Integrated pest and disease management
- Hi-tech horticulture practices
Plant Protection (For Entomology/Pathology Projects)
- Insect taxonomy and classification
- Pest biology and ecology
- Plant disease identification and management
- Integrated pest management (IPM)
- Biological control agents
- Pesticide chemistry and application
- Resistance management strategies
Biotechnology (For Molecular Biology Projects)
- Molecular biology techniques: PCR, gel electrophoresis
- Genetic engineering and recombinant DNA technology
- Bioinformatics tools and sequence analysis
- Plant tissue culture techniques
- Marker-assisted selection
- CRISPR and genome editing
Animal Sciences (For Veterinary/Animal Husbandry Projects)
- Animal nutrition and feed formulation
- Livestock production and management
- Animal breeding and genetics
- Veterinary microbiology and immunology
- Animal disease diagnosis and control
- Dairy technology and milk processing
Note: Syllabus is indicative and varies significantly based on specific research project requirements. Candidates should refer to project advertisement for detailed topic coverage.
Salary
Fellowship & Allowances (Typical/Indicative)
| Component | Amount (Monthly) |
|---|---|
| Starting Basic Fellowship | ₹35,000 |
| HRA (House Rent Allowance) | ₹7,000 - ₹8,400 |
| Contingency Grant (Annual) | ₹20,000 - ₹30,000 |
| Gross Monthly Fellowship | ₹42,000 - ₹43,400 |
| In-Hand Fellowship | ₹40,000 - ₹41,500 |
Additional Benefits
- Fellowship Amount: As per DST/ICAR/CSIR norms - ₹35,000 per month (may vary by funding agency)
- HRA: 20-24% of basic fellowship depending on city classification
- Contingency: Annual grant for research-related expenses, books, and conference participation
- Leave: 30 days casual leave per year
- Medical: Access to university health center facilities
- No PF/Pension: Being contractual fellowship, no provident fund or pension benefits
Note: Fellowship amounts follow funding agency guidelines (ICAR/DBT/DST/ICMR) and may differ by ₹3,000-5,000 across agencies. Above figures are typical for ICAR-funded SRF positions.
Career Growth
SRF position serves as stepping stone for academic and research careers. After completing fellowship tenure and obtaining PhD, candidates can apply for Assistant Professor positions in agricultural universities, Scientist positions in ICAR institutes, or pursue post-doctoral research. Successful SRFs often transition to permanent faculty positions through NET-qualified recruitment or lateral entry schemes in state agricultural universities and central research organizations.
Admit Card
For projects conducting written tests, admit cards are issued 7-10 days before examination date through email or downloadable from GBPUAT website using application number. For walk-in interviews, no admit card is required; candidates directly appear with application form and original documents on specified date. Always check project-specific notification for admit card details and interview schedule.
Result
Selection results are typically declared within 7-10 days of interview completion. Results are published on GBPUAT official website under Recruitment/Results section and also displayed on department notice boards. Selected candidates receive appointment letters via registered post or email. A waitlist of 2-3 candidates per position is usually maintained for 3-6 months in case selected candidates decline the offer.
Expected Cutoff
Typical cutoff marks vary significantly by project competition and funding. For written tests (when conducted), General category candidates typically need 55-60% marks to qualify for interview, while SC/ST candidates require 50-55%. Interview cutoff is usually 60-65% for final selection. NET/GATE qualified candidates receive additional weightage of 5-10 marks. Cutoffs are higher for popular research areas like biotechnology and molecular biology compared to conventional agricultural sciences.
Exam Centres
Examination/Interview Centres
Most interviews and examinations are conducted at:
Primary Centre: GBPUAT Campus, Pantnagar, Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand
Alternative Centres (if mentioned):
- North: Pantnagar (Uttarakhand), Delhi, Lucknow (UP), Hisar (Haryana)
- West: Pune (Maharashtra), Anand (Gujarat)
- South: Bangalore (Karnataka), Hyderabad (Telangana), Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu)
- East: Bhubaneswar (Odisha), Ranchi (Jharkhand)
- Northeast: Jorhat (Assam), Imphal (Manipur)
Note: Typically, candidates must appear at GBPUAT Pantnagar campus only. Multi-centre exams are rare for SRF recruitment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the educational qualification required for GBPUAT SRF positions?
Master's degree in Agriculture, Horticulture, Veterinary Science, Biotechnology, or related disciplines with minimum 60% marks (55% for SC/ST/PH) is required. NET/GATE qualification is desirable and provides additional advantage during selection. Specific requirements vary by research project.
What is the application fee for GBPUAT SRF recruitment?
General/OBC/EWS candidates pay ₹500, while SC/ST/PwD and women candidates pay ₹250 through Demand Draft. The DD should be drawn in favour of 'Comptroller, GBPUAT, Pantnagar' and payable at Pantnagar branch.
How many vacancies are available for SRF positions?
Vacancy count is project-specific and not fixed. Typically, 5-15 SRF positions are advertised annually across different departments depending on active research projects and funding availability. Each project notification specifies the exact number of positions available.
What is the fellowship amount for Senior Research Fellows?
SRF fellowship is ₹35,000 per month plus HRA of ₹7,000-8,400 depending on city classification, totaling approximately ₹40,000-41,500 in-hand monthly. An annual contingency grant of ₹20,000-30,000 is provided for research expenses. Amounts follow funding agency norms.
How many attempts are allowed for GBPUAT SRF application?
There is no restriction on number of attempts as long as candidate meets age criteria. Candidates can apply for multiple SRF positions across different projects. However, age limit of 35 years (40 for SC/ST, 38 for OBC with relaxations) must be satisfied.
Is there negative marking in the written test?
Yes, when written tests are conducted, there is negative marking of 0.25 marks for each incorrect answer in objective-type questions. Descriptive questions typically do not have negative marking. However, many SRF recruitments involve only interviews without written tests.
Is the application process online or offline?
GBPUAT SRF recruitment follows offline application mode. Candidates must download the prescribed form, fill it manually, attach required documents and fee DD, and send by post to the address mentioned in notification or submit during walk-in interviews as specified.
What are the stages in the selection process?
Selection involves application screening based on eligibility, followed by written test (if applicable for specific projects), personal interview before selection committee, and document verification. Final merit list is prepared based on interview performance (70% weightage) and academic record (30% weightage).