Junior Research Fellow in Optics and Photonics, IIT Hyderabad (Dr Vandana Sharma, 2 Posts)
Job Description
This JRF in optics at IIT Hyderabad is open to M.Sc. graduates in physics, optics or photonics. Two Junior Research Fellows will join the research group of Dr Vandana Sharma in the Department of Physics. Apply by 15 October 2026.
At a glance
- Post: Junior Research Fellow (JRF), two posts
- Where: Department of Physics, IIT Hyderabad
- Group leader: Dr Vandana Sharma
- Fellowship: ₹37,000 a month + HRA
- Age limit: 28 years on 30 October 2026
- Apply by: 15 October 2026, through a Google form
- Interview: Online, 30 October 2026 at 10:00 am IST
The same advertisement also offers one Lab Support Engineer post for B.Tech graduates in computer science or mechanical engineering, at ₹25,000 a month. This listing covers the two JRF posts. The ad names the field as optics but does not give a project title or a funding agency.
About the JRF in optics at IIT Hyderabad
- Experimental work in a laboratory optics group
- Aligning optical set-ups with lasers, cameras and other optical parts
- Optical simulation, data acquisition, image processing and image analysis
- Data analysis and visualisation with tools such as Python, MATLAB or LabVIEW
The ad lists the skills it wants. It does not list day-to-day duties, so the points above follow those skills.
Why this role matters
Hands-on optics skills are scarce in India and much in demand, from quantum labs to imaging start-ups. A JRF in an experimental group gives you two of the things a PhD application needs most: lab time and a strong reference.
Eligibility
- M.Sc. in Physics, Optics, Photonics or a related subject
- A valid GATE score, or UGC/CSIR NET-JRF
- Desirable: hands-on optical alignment, optical simulation software, and lab work with cameras, lasers or imaging systems
- Desirable: Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW, data acquisition, image processing or scientific computing
- Age: at most 28 years on 30 October 2026
The ad also gives a second age limit of 25 years on 30 October 2026. It does not say which post that limit is for; it most likely applies to the Lab Support Engineer post. Check with the department if you are unsure. Only shortlisted candidates get the meeting link for the online interview.
Pay and duration
- JRF: ₹37,000 a month plus HRA
- The ad does not state the length of the appointment
How to apply
Fill in the online application form by 15 October 2026. The form may ask you to sign in with a Google account. Read the IIT Hyderabad advertisement (PDF) first. It is listed under Postdoc/JRF/SRF positions on the IIT Hyderabad careers page.
Key dates
- Advertised: 30 September 2026
- Last date to apply: 15 October 2026
- Online interview for shortlisted candidates: 30 October 2026, 10:00 am IST
Please read the official IIT Hyderabad advertisement before applying, and browse more Junior Research Fellow jobs on ResearchJobs.in.
Hiring institution: Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad
Official advertisement: iith.ac.in
How to prepare for this application
- Revise core optics: interference, diffraction, polarisation, Gaussian beams and the basics of lens design.
- Be ready to talk about alignment: how you would align a beam through two irises, or couple a laser into a fibre.
- Know your imaging chain: camera sensors, noise, exposure, and how you clean and analyse images in Python or MATLAB.
- Show one simulation: Zemax, COMSOL, Lumerical or your own code. Explain what you modelled and what you learned.
- Look at the group's work: read recent papers from Dr Vandana Sharma's group before the interview. Use our Find a supervisor page to compare optics labs.
About IIT Hyderabad
IIT Hyderabad is one of the Indian Institutes of Technology set up by the Government of India in 2008. Its campus is at Kandi in Sangareddy district, Telangana. Project staff are hired on externally funded research grants run by its faculty.
