Young Professional-II in Plant Virology: Soybean Yellow Mottle Mosaic Virus Vectors for Legume Genomics (ICAR-NASF), ICAR-IARI New Delhi
Job Description
ICAR-IARI’s Division of Seed Science and Technology in New Delhi is recruiting a Young Professional-II in plant virology and molecular biology for an ICAR-NASF project that is building a soybean yellow mottle mosaic virus-based vector for gene expression and gene silencing studies in legumes.
At a glance
- Position: Young Professional-II (one post)
- Where: Division of Seed Science and Technology, ICAR-IARI, New Delhi
- Pay: Rs 42,000 per month, consolidated
- Duration: contractual, extendable with performance until the project ends
- Apply by: 30 September 2026, by email
The project, funded by ICAR’s National Agricultural Science Fund (NASF), is titled “Development of soybean yellow mottle mosaic virus based gene expression and silencing vector for functional genomics studies in legumes”. Virus-based vectors let researchers switch a plant gene down, or express a new one, within weeks instead of making stable transgenic lines, which makes them valuable tools for finding what genes do.
Why this role matters
Legumes such as soybean are hard to transform, so a working virus vector would speed up functional genomics across the crop group. The post suits a master’s graduate who wants hands-on cloning, vector construction and bioinformatics experience before a PhD.
About the Young Professional-II molecular biology post at IARI
- Molecular cloning and recombinant vector development based on soybean yellow mottle mosaic virus
- Nucleic acid isolation, PCR, plasmid work and dsRNA-related work, and bioinformatics of transcriptomic and proteomic data, the skills the advertisement prefers
- Scientific writing for the project, which the advertisement also lists
The advertisement does not list duties; the points above follow from the project title and its desirable experience.
Eligibility
- A master’s degree in molecular biology, biotechnology, plant pathology or any relevant life-science discipline
- Desirable: basic molecular techniques (nucleic acid isolation, PCR, plasmid isolation, restriction, ligation, cloning), recombinant vector development, dsRNA, bioinformatics (transcriptomics and proteomics) and scientific writing, shown by publications
- Age: at most 45 on the interview date, with relaxation for SC/ST/OBC/PwD, women and other exempted categories under Government of India rules
Only candidates who meet the essential qualification are interviewed, no TA/DA is paid for the interview or for joining, and canvassing disqualifies. The post gives no claim to regular appointment. The advertisement says results will be posted on the institute website 10 days after the interview, and asks candidates not to phone before then.
Pay and duration
- Rs 42,000 per month, consolidated
- Contractual, extendable periodically on performance until the project ends
How to apply
Send your biodata or CV in the prescribed format from the advertisement, with copies of certificates from matriculation onwards, date-of-birth proof, NET/LS/GATE or equivalent certificate, degree certificates, a recent photograph, proof of experience, a no-objection certificate if employed, and your publications, to Seedpathology.iari@gmail.com by 30 September 2026. Shortlisted candidates are called for an in-person interview at the Division of Seed Science and Technology, ICAR-IARI; the advertisement says reporting closes at 10:00 AM on the day.
Key dates
- Advertisement posted on the IARI jobs page on 15 September 2026
- Last date: 30 September 2026
- Interview: offline, for shortlisted candidates
Please read the official ICAR-IARI advertisement (Division of Seed Science and Technology) before applying, and browse more Research Assistant jobs on ResearchJobs.in.
Hiring institution: ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI)
Official advertisement: iari.res.in
How to prepare for this application
- Virus vectors: revise virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) and virus-based expression: how an insert is placed, delivered and checked.
- Cloning in detail: be ready to walk through a cloning you have done, including restriction or Gibson/Golden Gate assembly, screening and sequencing.
- Legume focus: read about soybean yellow mottle mosaic virus and why transformation is slow in legumes such as soybean.
- Bioinformatics: show any transcriptome or proteome analysis, even a course project, with the tools you used.
- Publications count: the advertisement asks for scientific writing shown by publications, so list papers, posters or theses clearly.
About ICAR-IARI
The ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), widely known as the Pusa Institute, is the flagship research and teaching institute of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), based on the Pusa campus in New Delhi. It is a deemed university whose Graduate School trains master's and PhD students, and its divisions cover crop improvement, plant protection, horticulture, natural resources and agricultural technology. Its breeding programmes have released many varieties of wheat, rice, pulses, vegetables and fruit. Project fellowships at IARI are a common first step into agricultural research and PhD programmes.
