Junior Research Fellow in Hybrid FRP Composites for Low-Cost Shelter Houses, NITK Surathkal (DST-SYST)
Job Description
NITK Surathkal is hiring a JRF in composite materials for a DST-SYST project on hybrid fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites. The aim is low-cost, sustainable mobile shelter houses.
At a glance
- Post: Junior Research Fellow, one post (Ref. NITK/ME/1578/2026)
- Where: Department of Mechanical Engineering, NITK Surathkal, Mangaluru
- PI and Co-PI: Dr Saurabh Chandraker (PI) and Dr Ranjeet Kumar Sahu (Co-PI)
- Stipend: ₹37,000 a month + 20% HRA
- Duration: About 8 months, or until the project ends
- Apply by: 7 October 2026 (by email)
The project title is “Design and Development of Hybrid-FRP Based Composites for Low-Cost and sustainable Mobile Shelter Houses”. It runs from 2024 to 2027 and is funded by the Department of Science and Technology under SYST. The team plans an origami-style house with composite walls and floor and a solar rooftop.
About the JRF in composite materials
- Fabricate and test hybrid composites for walls and floors
- Check load-carrying capacity and water resistance of the composites
- Build experimental set-ups and characterise the products
- Use tools such as MATLAB, ANSYS or COMSOL where needed
The ad gives the project summary and desired skills. The points above follow them.
Why this role matters
Fast, cheap shelters matter after floods and for migrant workers. This short post gives a GATE-qualified engineer hands-on composites work and a route into research study at an NIT.
Eligibility
- B.E./B.Tech in Mechanical, Production, Automobile, Mechatronics, Metallurgy, Industrial, Electrical, ECE, Chemical or an allied field, with at least 60% or 6.5 CGPA, and a GATE qualification; or
- M.E./M.Tech in Manufacturing/Production, Welding, Machine Design, Mechatronics, Power Electronics, Control, Thermal, Automobile, Chemical or an allied area, with first division in both degrees, and a GATE qualification
- An old GATE score is also accepted
- Age: 35 years (preferred)
- Desired: exposure to MATLAB, ANSYS or COMSOL; teamwork; hands-on experimental work
Only shortlisted candidates will get an email and an offline interview. The interview is likely in the second or third week of October 2026. The post is available at once and is temporary, tied to the project. The candidate is encouraged to apply for an M.Tech (Research) or PhD at NITK.
Pay and duration
- ₹37,000 a month plus 20% HRA
- About 8 months, or until the project ends, subject to review
How to apply
Email Dr Saurabh Chandraker at schandraker@nitk.edu.in by 7 October 2026. Send, as PDFs: the JRF application form, a cover letter, a bio-data with photo, scanned certificates and mark sheets from Class XII onwards, your GATE certificate, and proof of research work or papers. The form is inside the NITK advertisement (PDF).
Key dates
- Advertised: 25 September 2026
- Last date for email applications: 7 October 2026
- Interview: likely in the 2nd or 3rd week of October 2026
Please read the official NITK advertisement page before applying, and browse more Junior Research Fellow jobs on ResearchJobs.in.
Hiring institution: National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK), Surathkal
Official advertisement: www.nitk.ac.in
How to prepare for this application
- Revise composites basics: fibre types, matrix resins, the rule of mixtures and what makes a composite a hybrid.
- Know the test standards: tensile, flexural and impact tests, and water-absorption tests for FRP.
- Show lab work: a project where you made samples, by hand lay-up or compression moulding, will count.
- Think about the use case: low-cost shelters need light, strong, water-resistant panels that are easy to fold and carry.
- Mention further study: the post can lead to an M.Tech (Research) or PhD at NITK. See more JRF jobs.
About NITK Surathkal
The National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal, is one of India's National Institutes of Technology. It began in 1960 as Karnataka Regional Engineering College and became an NIT in 2002. Its campus is on the coast at Surathkal, Mangaluru.
