Junior Research Fellow in Hydrogen Reduction of Iron Ore, IIT Indore (Indo-German IGSTC Project)
Job Description
This JRF in green steel research at IIT Indore studies how impurities affect the hydrogen reduction of low-grade iron ore. The Indo-German Science and Technology Centre funds it. Apply by email by 30 October 2026.
At a glance
- Post: Junior Research Fellow (JRF), one post
- Where: Department of Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Science, IIT Indore
- Principal Investigator: Dr Khushubo Devi, Assistant Professor
- Funded by: Indo-German Science & Technology Centre (IGSTC)
- Fellowship: ₹37,000 a month; ₹42,000 a month in the third year
- Duration: Up to 36 months, or until the project ends
- Age: Preferably up to 29 years, with relaxation for SC/ST and OBC
- Apply by: 30 October 2026, 5:00 pm, by email
The project is titled “Understanding Impurity Effects on Agglomeration and Microstructure in Hydrogen-Reduced Low-Grade Iron Ores” (IGSTC/WISER 25/P04). The selected candidate is encouraged to join the Ph.D. programme at IIT Indore.
About the hydrogen-reduced iron ore JRF at IIT Indore
- Study hydrogen-based direct reduction of hematite and low-grade iron ores
- Find out how gangue impurities change reduction speed and final metallisation
- Run reduction experiments and characterise phases and microstructure
- Build thermodynamic and kinetic models to find processing windows that tolerate impurities
Why this role matters
Steelmaking with hydrogen can cut most of the industry’s carbon dioxide. India’s ores carry more impurities than many others, so this question matters here. The Indo-German link also gives you a European network early on.
Eligibility
- M.Tech./M.E. in Metallurgical and Materials, Mechanical, Materials, Nanoscience, Nanotechnology, Production or Manufacturing Engineering, or equivalent, with first division
- Or a postgraduate degree in Physics, Chemistry or Materials Science with first division and a valid NET or GATE certificate
- Final-year M.Tech. students can also apply
- Wanted: physical, extractive or mechanical metallurgy, materials characterisation, solid state physics or basic electrochemistry
- Age: preferably up to 29 years; 5 years’ relaxation for SC/ST and 3 years for OBC
Only shortlisted candidates hear about the interview, by email. The interview runs on Google Meet. The post is temporary and ends with the project. In the PDF the deadline line is split across the page; the IIT Indore careers page lists the last date as 30 October 2026.
Pay and duration
- ₹37,000 a month, consolidated, in years one and two
- ₹42,000 a month in the third year
- Up to 36 months, or until the project ends
How to apply
Email a detailed bio-data, a statement of purpose and copies of your qualifications and other documents to the PI at khushubo@iiti.ac.in by 30 October 2026, 5:00 pm. Read the IIT Indore advertisement (PDF) first. It is listed on the IIT Indore JRF/SRF careers page.
Key dates
- Last date to apply: 30 October 2026, 5:00 pm
- Interview: online, for shortlisted candidates
Please read the official IIT Indore advertisement before applying, and browse more Junior Research Fellow jobs on ResearchJobs.in.
Hiring institution: Indian Institute of Technology Indore
Official advertisement: www.iiti.ac.in
How to prepare for this application
- Write a sharp statement of purpose: say why green steel interests you and what you can do in the lab from day one.
- Revise reduction basics: the hematite to magnetite to wüstite to iron sequence, and the Baur-Glaessner diagram.
- Know your gangue: silica, alumina and phosphorus in Indian ores, and how they slow reduction or cause sticking.
- Show characterisation skills: XRD, SEM-EDS and thermogravimetry are the core tools here.
- Read the PI's work: look up Dr Khushubo Devi's papers before the interview. Use our Find a supervisor page to compare metallurgy labs.
About IIT Indore
IIT Indore is one of the Indian Institutes of Technology set up by the Government of India in 2009. Its campus is at Simrol, on Khandwa Road near Indore in Madhya Pradesh. Project staff are hired on externally funded research grants run by its faculty, and the institute posts these ads on its careers page.
