Junior Research Fellow in Quantum Secure Communication, IIT Roorkee (DST NQM Project)
Job Description
IIT Roorkee is recruiting a Junior Research Fellow (JRF) in quantum communication for a research project funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) under the National Quantum Mission. The project, “Towards Trusted-Node-Free Hybrid Quantum Secure Communication Networks”, is led by Dr. Anshul Jaiswal in the Department of Electronics and Communications Engineering.
Most quantum key distribution networks deployed today rely on “trusted nodes”: relay stations where the secret key briefly exists in usable form, so each station must be physically secured. Removing that dependence is one of the main open problems in making quantum-secure networks practical at scale, and it is the focus of this project.
About the JRF role in quantum communication
The fellow will work on the hardware and software that make quantum key distribution (QKD) networks work in practice:
- FPGA prototyping for a quantum-noise transceiver, QKD and quantum routing
- Software for key management in QKD networks and for field-deployed quantum networks, including ETSI interfaces
- Project reports and other documentation
Eligibility
Open to Indian nationals with one of the following:
- M.E./M.Tech in EE, EC, Physics, CS or equivalent, with a CGPA of at least 6.0
- B.E./B.Tech in ECE, CSE or equivalent, with a CGPA of at least 7.5 out of 10
- M.Sc./MCA in Physics, Instrumentation, Electronics, or Computer Science and Engineering or equivalent, with a CGPA of at least 7.5
Candidates must also have qualified a national-level test such as GATE or NET, or hold a degree from a centrally funded technical institution (CFTI). Among equally qualified candidates, SC/ST candidates will be preferred. The advertisement’s summary lists one JRF post, while its table lists two.
Fellowship and duration
- Rs 37,000 per month plus HRA for the first two years, then Rs 42,000 plus HRA
- Two years initially, extendable to the end of the project in March 2031
- The selected candidate may get an opportunity for PhD admission
How to apply
Email a detailed CV with copies of your degrees and certificates to the Principal Investigator at anshul.jaiswal@ece.iitr.ac.in, or bring them to the interview. The advertisement stays open until the posts are filled, but the first deadline is 30 September 2026, 5 PM. Read the official IIT Roorkee advertisement before applying.
The same project is also hiring a Research Associate. Browse more JRF positions on ResearchJobs.in.
Hiring institution: Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
Official advertisement: iitr.ac.in
How to prepare for this JRF interview
Project interviews at IITs are usually short and technical. For a quantum communication JRF, be ready to discuss:
- QKD basics: how the BB84 protocol works, why an eavesdropper introduces detectable errors, and what trusted nodes are and why removing them matters.
- Digital design: the FPGA development flow, Verilog or VHDL, timing constraints, and any boards you have used.
- Software: Python or C/C++ projects you have built, networking fundamentals, and how you would structure key-management software.
- Your own work: a two-minute summary of your M.Tech or B.Tech project: what you built, what went wrong and what you learned.
- Documents: original certificates, your GATE or NET scorecard, and printed copies of your CV.
Before the interview, skim a recent review article on QKD networks and read the project title closely: questions often start from it.
About IIT Roorkee
IIT Roorkee traces its origins to 1847, when it was founded as a college of civil engineering, which makes it one of the oldest technical institutions in Asia. It became the University of Roorkee in 1949 and an Indian Institute of Technology in 2001. Today it is home to departments across engineering, the sciences, management and the humanities, and hosts many externally funded research projects like this one.
