Junior Research Fellow in Solar Physics: Acoustic Heating of the Solar Atmosphere, IIT Delhi (Prof. Nitin Yadav)
Job Description
IIT Delhi is hiring a JRF in solar physics for a CSIR-funded project on acoustic heating of the solar atmosphere. The post is in the Department of Physics, with Prof. Nitin Yadav as the Principal Investigator.
At a glance
- Post: Junior Research Fellow, one post (Advt. IITD/IRD/255/2026)
- Where: Department of Physics, IIT Delhi, New Delhi
- Principal Investigator: Prof. Nitin Yadav
- Fellowship: As per CSIR guidelines (the ad gives no figure)
- Project runs until: 17 July 2028
- Apply by: 9 October 2026, 5:00 pm (by email)
The project is titled “Revisiting the Potential of Acoustic Heating in the Solar Atmosphere” (RP05081G). It is funded by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). The ad calls it a time-bound project on a purely contract basis.
About the JRF in solar physics
- Run magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations of the solar atmosphere
- Use forward-modelling methods to compare simulations with what telescopes would see
- Study how magnetoacoustic waves travel and how they heat the plasma
Why this role matters
How the Sun’s outer atmosphere gets so hot is still an open question. With India’s Aditya-L1 mission returning data, skills in solar MHD modelling are in demand, and this post is a clear route into a solar physics PhD.
Eligibility
- BS-MS, M.Sc., B.E. or B.Tech or an equivalent degree, with 55% marks
- You must have passed NET or GATE in Physics
- Desirable: scientific programming in Python, C/C++ or Fortran
- Age limit: 28 years for JRF. Up to 5 years of relaxation for SC/ST/OBC, women and candidates with a disability
The ad does not state a fellowship figure. It says the fellowship follows CSIR guidelines and points to the CSIR-HRDG website. Only shortlisted candidates will be called for an online interview.
Pay and duration
- Fellowship as per CSIR guidelines (see csirhrdg.res.in); no amount is printed in the ad
- The project tenure runs to 17 July 2028
How to apply
Download Form No. IRD/REC-4 from the IIT Delhi IRD website. Fill it in with your marks or division and any work experience. Email it to Prof. Nitin Yadav at nyadav@iitd.ac.in. Put the advertisement number, IITD/IRD/255/2026, in the subject line. The last date is 9 October 2026 at 5:00 pm.
Key dates
- Last date for email applications: 9 October 2026, 5:00 pm
- Online interview: for shortlisted candidates only
Please read the official IIT Delhi advertisement (IITD/IRD/255/2026) before applying, and browse more Junior Research Fellow jobs on ResearchJobs.in.
Hiring institution: Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
Official advertisement: ird.iitd.ac.in
How to prepare for this application
- Revise MHD: the ideal MHD equations, the plasma beta, and the slow, fast and Alfvén wave modes.
- Know the coronal heating problem: why the corona is hotter than the surface, and the wave and nanoflare ideas.
- Show code you wrote: a numerical solver in Python, C or Fortran, with plots. Mention any MPI or GPU use.
- Read a few papers from the group: look up Prof. Nitin Yadav's recent work on waves in the solar atmosphere.
- Mention your NET or GATE Physics score clearly: it is essential. See more JRF jobs.
About IIT Delhi
IIT Delhi is one of the Indian Institutes of Technology. It was set up in 1961 and its campus is at Hauz Khas, New Delhi. Its Industrial Research and Development Unit (IRD) handles hiring for externally funded research projects.
