Junior Research Fellow in Lunar Seismology at the Chandrayaan-3 Landing Site, IIT Roorkee (ISRO Project, 2 Posts)
Job Description
Two JRF posts in geophysics are open at IIT Roorkee on an ISRO-funded project investigating the sub-surface scattering structure of the Moon near the Chandrayaan-3 landing site using seismic datasets. Applications reach the Principal Investigator by 5 PM on 8 October 2026, and the interview is on 16 October 2026.
At a glance
- Position: Junior Research Fellow, two posts
- Where: Earth Sciences Department, IIT Roorkee, Uttarakhand
- Pay: Rs 37,000 a month plus HRA
- Duration: Three years
- Apply by: 8 October 2026, 5 PM (not applicable for a walk-in interview); interview on 16 October 2026 at 11 AM
The project is titled “Investigating sub-surface scattering structure of the Moon near the Chandrayaan-3 landing site with seismic datasets” and is sponsored by ISRO, Bengaluru. The Principal Investigator is Simanchal Padhy of the Earth Sciences Department. The advertisement is dated 17 September 2026 and applications are invited from Indian nationals only.
What the JRF in geophysics will do
- Seismic data processing and interpretation
- Work on the sub-surface scattering structure of the Moon in the region around the Chandrayaan-3 landing site
- Contribute to an ISRO-sponsored study over a three-year term
Why this role matters
India has very few people trained on planetary seismic data, and almost no route into it for a fresh M.Sc. graduate. Scattering analysis of lunar records is a demanding, specialised skill: the signals are long, reverberant and unlike anything in terrestrial seismology, and the interpretation says something about how the lunar regolith and crust are built. The advertisement also notes that the selected candidate may get an opportunity for PhD admission, which makes this a plausible start to a research career rather than a three-year detour.
Eligibility
- M.Sc. or M.Tech. in Geophysics or Physics, with mandatory GATE or NET
- Indian nationals only
- Candidates must satisfy themselves that they are eligible before appearing for the interview
Pay and duration
- Rs 37,000 a month plus HRA
- Three years
- Two posts
- Preference will be given to SC/ST candidates on equal qualifications and experience
How to apply
Send an application on plain paper with a detailed CV, giving degrees and certificates in chronological order along with research, industrial, field and other experience, plus attested copies of degree, certificate and experience documents, to the office of the Principal Investigator by email or by post, or produce them at the time of the interview. The Principal Investigator’s email is spadhy@es.iitr.ac.in. Originals must be brought to the interview for verification. No TA or DA is payable for attending the interview. Read the official IIT Roorkee advertisement (PDF) before applying.
Key dates
- Advertisement dated 17 September 2026
- Applications to reach the Principal Investigator by 8 October 2026, 5 PM
- Interview at the Earth Sciences Department, IIT Roorkee, on 16 October 2026 at 11 AM
See more Junior Research Fellow posts, find a PhD supervisor through Find a supervisor, or browse all research jobs on ResearchJobs.in.
Hiring institution: Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
Official advertisement: iitr.ac.in
How to prepare for this application
- Refresh the physics of seismic coda and scattering — envelope broadening, coda Q, single versus multiple scattering — because that, not standard travel-time work, is the core of this project
- Be ready to say what you have processed yourself: SAC, ObsPy, SeisComP or similar, and on what kind of dataset
- Read one or two papers on the Apollo lunar seismic records before the interview; they explain why lunar seismograms look so unlike terrestrial ones, and the answer is exactly what this project studies
- Bring attested copies and originals of every degree, certificate and experience document; the advertisement is explicit that originals are verified at the interview
- Ask at the interview about the PhD admission route the notice mentions, so that you understand how the three years could turn into a doctorate
About IIT Roorkee
The Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee is a public technical institute in Uttarakhand with roots in the engineering college founded at Roorkee in 1847. Its Earth Sciences Department teaches and researches geophysics, geology and related fields, and the Institute runs a large sponsored and consultancy research programme through its Dean SRIC office, which publishes project vacancies on the Institute website.
