Scientist ‘D’ for Impact Assessment and Policy Research at NIF Gandhinagar

Job Description

The National Innovation Foundation – India (NIF), an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology, is recruiting a Scientist ‘D’ (post code PC-01) at its Gandhinagar campus. The post suits a life, environmental or agricultural scientist with a Ph.D. and five years of research experience who has moved into measuring what programmes achieve: impact assessments, evaluations and policy writing about grassroots innovation. It is a regular post at pay Level 12, and applications close 30 days after the advertisement appears in Employment News.

At a glance

• Post: Scientist ‘D’ (PC-01), 1 post, Advertisement No. Adv/02/2026
• Focus: Impact assessment, programme evaluation and policy research on grassroots innovation
• Pay: 7th CPC pay matrix Level 12 (Rs 78,800 – 2,09,200 basic per month)
• Upper age limit: 40 years on the closing date, with relaxations as per Government of India rules
• Where: NIF campus, Grambharti, Amrapur, Gandhinagar, Gujarat
• Apply by: online; closes 30 days after the Employment News notice (earliest 28 September 2026)

NIF supports inventions made by farmers, artisans and other people outside formal research labs. Showing whether that support changes livelihoods, and turning the evidence into advice for government, is the kind of work this senior scientist post points to.

What the post involves

• Designing and running impact assessments, programme evaluations and evidence-based research studies
• Field research in rural, remote, hilly or tribal areas with grassroots innovators, farmers, artisans, self-help groups and farmer producer organisations
• Writing policy briefs, white papers, working papers, case studies, evaluation reports and innovation roadmaps
• Bringing public policy or development studies thinking to NIF’s scientific work

NIF’s advertisement lists essential and desirable qualifications rather than duties; the points above follow its desirable qualifications.

Eligibility

• Ph.D. in a relevant discipline in biological, environmental, agricultural, veterinary or pharmaceutical sciences or biotechnology, or an equivalent discipline (Annexure-I of the advertisement lists equivalents)
• Five years of research and development experience in the relevant field
• At least five original research papers of high standard in national or international journals
• Desirable: a qualification in public policy, development studies or a related social science, and a record of evaluation and policy outputs
• Indian citizens only; upper age limit 40 years on the closing date

NIF’s screening committee may shortlist candidates for a written test and/or interview, so meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee a call. Experience counts only after the essential qualification and not while studying full time. Age and eligibility are judged on the closing date, with relaxations as per Government of India rules. Candidates already working in government, PSUs, autonomous bodies or universities must apply through proper channel or upload a no-objection certificate (or an undertaking to produce it at the interview). The number of posts may change, and a reserve panel stays valid for one year.

Pay and duration

• 7th CPC pay matrix Level 12: Rs 78,800 – 2,09,200 basic pay per month
• A regular post filled by direct recruitment through open, all-India competition

How to apply

Apply online only, through the NIF recruitment portal (jobs.nifindia.org): register with a valid email address and mobile number, complete your profile, then choose the post code and submit. Upload self-attested copies of your date-of-birth proof, degrees, experience certificates (showing designation, dates, duties and pay level), category or PwBD certificates if they apply, a list of publications, and Ph.D. registration and award certificates. UR, OBC and EWS candidates pay a non-refundable fee of Rs 1,000 online; SC, ST, PwBD and women candidates are exempt. Apply for only one post under this advertisement: if you apply for more, NIF considers just one. Queries go to jobs@nifindia.org. NIF’s portal stays open for 30 days from the day the advertisement appears in Employment News/Rozgar Samachar (until 23:59 hrs). NIF’s notice does not give that date, so the earliest it can close is 28 September 2026; apply before then to be safe.

Key dates

• Advertisement No. Adv/02/2026, dated 29 August 2026; online applications opened on 29 August 2026
• Closing: 30 days from publication in Employment News/Rozgar Samachar, 23:59 hrs (earliest possible date 28 September 2026)

Please read the official NIF advertisement No. Adv/02/2026 before applying, and browse more scientist jobs on ResearchJobs.in.