Principal Project Scientist in Nonlinear Crystal Growth for Quantum Communication, IIT Delhi (DRDO Project, Advt. 250/2026)
Job Description
This quantum communication research job at IIT Delhi is a senior project post: one Principal Project Scientist in the Department of Physics, working on the growth of high-quality single crystals of nonlinear optical materials for quantum communication, under a project funded by DRDO’s Directorate of Futuristic Technology Management (Advt. IITD/IRD/250/2026).
At a glance
- Position: Principal Project Scientist (01 post)
- Where: Department of Physics, IIT Delhi, New Delhi
- Pay: Rs 75,600 to Rs 1,01,610 a month on a fixed slab, plus 27% HRA
- Duration: Contractual, renewable yearly; the project runs up to 11 March 2027
- Apply by: 5:00 pm on 30 September 2026, by email
The project, RP04672G_SN, is titled “High quality single crystal growth of nonlinear crystals for quantum communications”. The Project Investigator is Prof. Kaustuv Manna of the Department of Physics. The advertisement is dated 17 September 2026 and is issued by IIT Delhi’s Industrial Research and Development Unit. It is open to Indian nationals only.
Why this role matters
Entangled-photon sources, frequency converters and many quantum-key-distribution links depend on nonlinear crystals, and the quality of those crystals sets how many useful photon pairs a source can deliver. Most of that material is imported. A DRDO-funded effort to grow such crystals in India, at a senior level where you would own the characterisation and the measurement setups, is a rare opening for a condensed-matter physicist to move into the materials side of quantum technology.
The appointment is contractual on a consolidated pay slab, renewed yearly or up to the end of the project, whichever is earlier.
What the quantum communication research post involves
- Growing and characterising high-quality single crystals of nonlinear materials for quantum-communication use
- Ferroelectric and piezoelectric characterisation, including P-E hysteresis loops, piezoelectric strain and d33 coefficient measurement
- Dielectric, impedance and magnetisation measurements on the grown crystals
- Building and running custom cryogenic measurement setups, with LabVIEW control, and operating cryogenic magnetic-property measurement systems
The advertisement lists the characterisation work as shortlisting criteria rather than as duties; the list above reflects the skills the post is built around.
Eligibility
- Ph.D. in experimental condensed matter physics or electronics, with first class or equivalent in the preceding degree
- Alternatively, a first-class M.Sc. or M.Tech. in science or engineering with 6 years’ experience
- Candidates who have submitted their PhD thesis and are awaiting the defence can apply if they meet the criteria
- Shortlisting requires all of: a PhD in condensed matter physics with a good record of publications in international journals; proficiency in ferroelectric and piezoelectric characterisation (P-E loops, piezoelectric strain, d33, dielectric, impedance and magnetisation studies); proven LabVIEW programming and experience building custom cryogenic measurement setups; and hands-on operating and troubleshooting experience with cryogenic magnetic-property measurement systems
- Supporting documents for each shortlisting criterion must be attached
A 5% relaxation of marks may be granted to SC and ST candidates. IIT Delhi may set higher shortlisting criteria than the advertised minimum, and only shortlisted candidates are informed about the online interview. No age limit is stated in the advertisement. Note that the advertisement spells the investigator’s first name two ways (Kaustuv and Kaustav); both refer to the same person.
Pay and duration
- Rs 75,600 – 77,870 – 80,210 – 82,620 – 85,100 – 87,650 – 90,280 – 92,900 – 95,780 – 98,650 – 1,01,610 a month, plus HRA at 27%
- Consolidated, contractual pay; the point on the slab is not stated in the advertisement
- Renewable yearly, up to the project end date of 11 March 2027
How to apply
Download Form No. IRD/REC-4 from IIT Delhi’s IRD website (ird.iitd.ac.in/rec), fill it in with your educational qualifications (with percentage of marks or division) and your work experience, and email it with the supporting documents to the Project Investigator at the email address printed in the advertisement. Put the advertisement number, IITD/IRD/250/2026, in the subject line. Shortlisted names and the online interview details are posted on the IRD shortlist page. The post is also listed on IIT Delhi IRD current openings.
Key dates
- Advertisement dated 17 September 2026
- Applications by email until 5:00 pm on 30 September 2026
- Interview online, for shortlisted candidates only
- Project end date: 11 March 2027
Please read the official IIT Delhi advertisement (Advt. 250/2026) before applying, and browse more quantum technology jobs on ResearchJobs.in.
Hiring institution: Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
Official advertisement: ird.iitd.ac.in
How to prepare for this application
- Build a one-page evidence sheet for each of the four shortlisting criteria, with the paper, figure or instrument that proves it; the advertisement says you must meet all of them and attach proof
- Be ready to walk through a P-E hysteresis measurement you ran: sample preparation, how you separated leakage from true switching, and how you got d33
- Show a LabVIEW-controlled cryogenic setup you built yourself, with a diagram, rather than describing instruments you only used
- Read up on why crystal quality matters for nonlinear sources (phase matching, absorption, domain quality) so you can connect your characterisation work to quantum-communication performance
- Plan for the short project term: the project ends on 11 March 2027, so think about what you could deliver in under six months
About IIT Delhi
The Indian Institute of Technology Delhi is a public technical university in Hauz Khas, New Delhi, with departments across engineering, the physical sciences, design, humanities and management. Project posts funded by sponsors such as DRDO, DST and industry are recruited through its Industrial Research and Development (IRD) Unit, which numbers each advertisement and publishes shortlists on its own website.
