Research Associate-I in Computational Biophysical Chemistry (Protein–Nucleic Acid Interaction), IISER Kolkata (Dr Susmita Roy, DBT)

Application ends: October 11, 2026
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Job Description

IISER Kolkata has one Research Associate post in computational biophysical chemistry, on how proteins and nucleic acids interact. The post is in Dr Susmita Roy’s group in the Department of Chemical Sciences and is funded by DBT. Email your CV by 11 October 2026.

At a glance

  • Position: Research Associate-I (RA-1), 1 post
  • Where: Department of Chemical Sciences, IISER Kolkata, Mohanpur
  • Pay: Rs 58,000 a month plus HRA
  • Duration: One year, extendable up to two years
  • Apply by: 11 October 2026 (email); interview 12 October 2026, 3:00 PM, hybrid

The ad is listed under project positions on the IISER Kolkata advertisements page. The funding agency is DBT; the ad does not give a project title.

What the computational biophysical chemistry RA will work on

  • Theoretical and computational biophysical chemistry, with a focus on protein–nucleic acid interaction
  • Molecular dynamics, including enhanced sampling methods
  • Machine learning on protein and nucleic acid sequence and structure data

Why this role matters

How proteins recognise RNA and DNA sits behind gene regulation and many drug targets. Simulation and machine learning can now answer questions experiments find hard. This post gives a fresh computational PhD a funded year, at postdoc pay, in a group working on exactly that.

Eligibility

  • A PhD with proven expertise in computational chemistry, physics, biophysics, biotechnology, bioinformatics or bioengineering
  • Desirable: Python and shell scripting; working knowledge of bioinformatics; experience handling large biological datasets with AI/ML frameworks
  • Desirable: machine learning for protein and nucleic acid sequence-structure analysis
  • Desirable: molecular dynamics and enhanced sampling (metadynamics, umbrella sampling, replica exchange)

The ad says qualification, experience and age may be relaxed for outstanding candidates. The essential-qualification line reads “Ph.D. in with proven expertise”; a word appears to be missing, so read it as a PhD in one of the listed subjects. The post can end with 30 days’ notice if performance is not satisfactory.

Pay and duration

  • Rs 58,000 a month plus HRA
  • One year at first, extendable up to two years based on progress

How to apply

Email a detailed CV to Dr Susmita Roy at susmita.roy@iiserkol.ac.in by 11 October 2026. Shortlisted candidates get the online link on 11 October. The interview is on 12 October 2026 at 3:00 PM in the DCS Meeting Room, Research Complex (3rd floor), IISER Kolkata, online or in person. Bring two sealed recommendation letters, self-attested copies of your degree certificates with the originals, and other relevant documents. No TA/DA is paid.

Key dates

  • Last date to email your CV: 11 October 2026
  • Interview: 12 October 2026, 3:00 PM (hybrid)

Please read the official IISER Kolkata advertisement (PDF) before applying, and browse more Research Associate jobs on ResearchJobs.in.

How to prepare for this application

  • Lead with your MD work. Name the systems you simulated, the force fields and the sampling methods you used.
  • Show your ML side. A short line on any model you trained on sequence or structure data will stand out.
  • Read the group's recent papers. Dr Roy works on RNA structure and protein–RNA interaction; know one paper well.
  • Arrange letters now. You need two sealed letters at the interview, one day after the deadline.
  • Explore related groups. Find other computational biophysics PIs on our Find a supervisor page.

About IISER Kolkata

IISER Kolkata was one of the first two Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research, set up in 2006 by the Ministry of Education. Its campus is at Mohanpur in Nadia district, West Bengal, and it runs BS-MS, integrated PhD and PhD programmes.

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