IIT Madras Junior Research Fellow Recruitment 2026 - Apply Online

The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) invites applications for Junior Research Fellow (JRF) positions across various research projects funded by government agencies and industry partners. IIT Madras is a premier technical institute located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, and regularly recruits JRFs to support cutting-edge research in engineering, science, and interdisciplinary domains. These positions offer opportunities to pursue doctoral studies while receiving a stipend and working on innovative research projects. JRFs selected through this recruitment will work under the guidance of faculty members in state-of-the-art laboratories. The positions are typically project-based and may lead to PhD registration subject to fulfilling institute norms and project requirements.

Typical / Indicative dates

Typical / Indicative vacancy distribution

Educational Qualification

• Essential: Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Technology (BE/BTech) from a recognized university/institute with minimum 60% marks (55% for SC/ST candidates)
• OR Master's degree in Science (MSc) or equivalent in relevant discipline with minimum 60% marks (55% for SC/ST)
• Preferred: GATE qualification or NET/CSIR-UGC JRF qualification
• Discipline: Relevant specialization as per the specific project requirements (Mechanical, Electrical, Civil, Computer Science, Chemical, Aerospace, etc.)
• Final year students awaiting results may apply provisionally

Age Limit

Age Relaxation

Nationality

• Indian citizens only
• Candidates with OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) status may be considered for certain projects subject to funding agency approval

1. Visit the official IIT Madras recruitment portal or the specific project advertisement link provided in the notification
2. Click on "Apply Online" for the desired JRF position
3. Register as a new user by providing basic details (name, email ID, mobile number)
4. Log in using credentials received via email/SMS
5. Fill in the online application form with personal details, educational qualifications, research interests, and experience
6. Upload scanned copies of required documents (photograph, signature, educational certificates, caste certificate if applicable, GATE scorecard)
7. Pay the application fee through online mode (Net Banking/Credit Card/Debit Card/UPI)
8. Review the filled application form carefully
9. Submit the application and save/print the confirmation page for future reference
10. Note down the application/registration number for tracking

Application Fees

Note: Application fees are non-refundable. Some project-specific JRF positions may not require application fees.

1. Screening of Applications: All received applications are screened based on eligibility criteria, educational qualifications, GATE/NET scores, and relevant research experience. Only shortlisted candidates are called for further rounds.

1. Written Test/Technical Assessment: Shortlisted candidates may be required to appear for a written test or technical assessment covering fundamentals of their engineering discipline, research aptitude, and analytical skills. This stage may be waived for candidates with valid GATE/NET scores.

1. Personal Interview: Candidates who clear the written test/screening are invited for personal interview conducted by a panel of faculty members. The interview assesses technical knowledge, research interest, project understanding, communication skills, and motivation for research.

1. Presentation/Seminar: Candidates may be asked to give a brief presentation on their previous academic projects, research work, or a given topic related to the research area.

1. Document Verification: Finally selected candidates must submit original documents for verification including educational certificates, mark sheets, category certificates, GATE scorecard, and identity proof.

1. Medical Fitness: Selected candidates may need to undergo medical examination to certify fitness for research work as per institute norms.

Written Test Pattern (If Applicable)

Negative Marking: 0.25 marks deducted for each wrong answer in objective type questions

Interview Pattern

Note: Many JRF positions conduct only interviews for candidates with valid GATE/NET scores, without a separate written test.

Engineering Fundamentals (Discipline-Specific)

• Core concepts from undergraduate engineering curriculum relevant to the candidate's specialization
• Mathematics: Calculus, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Probability and Statistics
• Problem-solving and analytical reasoning in engineering context
• Recent developments and applications in the specific engineering domain

Mechanical Engineering

• Engineering Mechanics, Strength of Materials, Theory of Machines
• Thermodynamics, Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics
• Manufacturing Processes, Machine Design
• CAD/CAM, Robotics, Mechatronics

Electrical Engineering

• Circuit Theory, Electromagnetic Theory
• Signals and Systems, Control Systems
• Power Systems, Power Electronics, Electric Machines
• Digital Electronics, Microprocessors

Computer Science & Engineering

• Data Structures and Algorithms
• Database Management Systems, Operating Systems
• Computer Networks, Computer Architecture
• Programming Languages, Software Engineering
• Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning basics

Civil Engineering

• Structural Analysis and Design
• Geotechnical Engineering, Foundation Engineering
• Transportation Engineering, Highway Engineering
• Environmental Engineering, Water Resources Engineering
• Construction Materials and Management

Chemical Engineering

• Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics
• Fluid Mechanics, Heat Transfer, Mass Transfer
• Chemical Reaction Engineering
• Process Control, Process Design

Research Aptitude

• Research methodology and scientific approach
• Literature review and critical analysis
• Data interpretation and statistical analysis
• Research ethics and integrity
• Technical writing and communication skills
• Project planning and management

Typical / Indicative figures for JRF positions at IIT Madras

Additional Benefits:

• Medical facilities at institute health centre
• Hostel accommodation (subject to availability) or HRA if accommodation not provided
• Access to library, computing facilities, and research infrastructure
• Travel grants for attending conferences/workshops
• Annual increment/upgrade to SRF after completion of 2 years with satisfactory performance
• Possibility of PhD registration leading to higher fellowship as per UGC/CSIR norms

Junior Research Fellows at IIT Madras have excellent career progression opportunities. After successful completion of 2 years and assessment, JRFs are upgraded to Senior Research Fellow (SRF) positions with enhanced stipend (₹35,000 per month). Those who register for PhD programs can continue research leading to doctoral degrees, opening pathways to academic positions, research scientist roles in national laboratories like ISRO, DRDO, CSIR, or R&D positions in leading industries and startups.

Admit cards for the written test/interview are typically released 7-10 days before the scheduled date. Shortlisted candidates can download their admit cards from the official IIT Madras recruitment portal or the specific project link using their application number and date of birth. The admit card contains important details including candidate name, roll number, exam centre address, reporting time, and instructions. Candidates must bring a printed copy of the admit card along with valid photo ID proof to the examination/interview venue.

Results are typically declared within 2-4 weeks after completion of the interview process. The final merit list of selected candidates is published on the official IIT Madras website and the recruitment portal. Selected candidates are individually informed via email and SMS. The result includes category-wise list of selected candidates. Candidates can check their selection status using their application/registration number on the portal.

Typical / Indicative cutoff ranges: The cutoff for JRF positions at IIT Madras varies significantly based on the specific project, funding availability, and candidate quality. Generally, candidates with GATE scores above 450-500 (for engineering disciplines) or valid NET-JRF qualification have better selection chances. Interview cutoff typically ranges from 50-60 marks out of 100 for General category, with 5-10 marks relaxation for reserved categories. The final selection is based on combined performance in written test (if applicable) and interview, with minimum qualifying marks being 50% for General/EWS and 45% for SC/ST/OBC/PwD candidates.

Written Test/Interview Centres (when conducted):

• South: Chennai (Primary Centre - IIT Madras Campus), Bangalore, Hyderabad, Coimbatore
• North: Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Chandigarh
• West: Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad
• East: Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, Patna
• Northeast: Guwahati
• Central: Nagpur, Indore

Note: Most interviews are conducted at IIT Madras campus in Chennai. Some projects may offer online interview options. Specific exam centres are mentioned in the admit card.