Research Associate in Chemistry: Key Starting Materials for Healthcare (DST Nodal Centre), IISER Tirupati
Job Description
IISER Tirupati is recruiting a Research Associate in chemistry (Research Associate-1, Advertisement No. 75/2026) for the DST-funded nodal centre at IISER Tirupati that works on developing and producing key starting materials, intermediates and other raw materials the healthcare sector needs.
At a glance
- Position: Research Associate-1 (one post; the institute says the number may change)
- Where: IISER Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh
- Pay: Rs 58,000 per month plus 10% HRA with a PhD certificate (Rs 42,000 plus 10% HRA if the PhD is awaited)
- Duration: seven months at first, renewable
- Apply by: 25 September 2026, 5 PM
The project (code 30123145) is funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India. The advertisement names Dr. Balaraman Ekambaram as Principal Investigator, lists Dr. Kiran Kumar Pulukuri and Dr. Gopinath Purushothaman alongside him, and names Prof. Santanu Bhattacharya as Project Investigator. Many medicines depend on imported starting materials and intermediates, and nodal centres like this one are meant to build the chemistry to make them in India.
About the Research Associate chemistry post at IISER Tirupati
- Research towards making key starting materials and intermediates for the healthcare sector, within the DST nodal centre
- Work in groups whose preferred expertise covers synthetic organic and supramolecular chemistry, the origins of homochirality versus heterochirality, biomaterials, and hydrogels and organogels
The advertisement does not list day-to-day duties; the points above follow from the project title and the experience it prefers.
Eligibility
- A PhD in chemistry. Candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting the degree may also apply
- Evidence of high-quality research during or after the PhD
- Preference for experience in synthetic organic or supramolecular chemistry, origins of homochirality versus heterochirality, biomaterials, or hydrogels and organogels
- Indian nationals only, preferably not more than 40 years old on the closing date
The listed qualifications are the minimum. If many people apply, the screening committee may shortlist on qualifications and experience beyond the minimum, so mention everything relevant. No TA/DA is paid for the interview, and the selected candidate must join immediately.
Pay and duration
- Rs 58,000 per month plus 10% HRA for candidates who produce a PhD certificate
- Rs 42,000 per month plus 10% HRA if the PhD is awaited, with a letter from a competent authority confirming that the thesis is submitted and the viva is pending
- Seven months at first, renewable on satisfactory performance; the post is temporary and ends with the project
How to apply
Fill in the prescribed application form, convert it to PDF, and email it to the addresses given in the advertisement (one of them is eb.raman@labs.iisertirupati.ac.in) by 5 PM on 25 September 2026. Put the post name and project code (“Research Associate-1: 30123145”) in the subject line. A CV on its own is not a complete application. Only shortlisted candidates are contacted, by email, so give an active email address and mobile number in the form.
Key dates
- Advertisement dated 11 September 2026
- Last date: 25 September 2026, 5 PM
- Tentative interview: 30 September 2026, online
Please read the official IISER Tirupati advertisement (No. 75/2026) before applying, and browse more Research Associate jobs on ResearchJobs.in.
Hiring institution: Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Tirupati
Official advertisement: www.iisertirupati.ac.in
How to prepare for this application
- Synthesis talk: prepare 10 to 15 minutes on your best multistep synthesis or methodology work, with yields, scale and the key problem you solved.
- Process thinking: starting materials for medicines must be made cheaply, safely and at scale; be ready to discuss route selection, cost of reagents and impurity control.
- Chirality: since the advertisement mentions homochirality, revise asymmetric synthesis, chiral resolution and how enantiomeric excess is measured.
- Soft materials: if you have hydrogel, organogel or supramolecular work, show how you characterised it (rheology, microscopy, spectroscopy).
- Know the groups: read recent papers from the investigators named in the advertisement so you can say where you would contribute.
About IISER Tirupati
The Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Tirupati is an autonomous institution of national importance under India's Ministry of Education, set up to promote high-quality science education and research. Like the other IISERs, it offers integrated BS-MS and PhD programmes alongside externally funded research projects like this one.
