Project Research Scientist in AI Avatar Co-Therapist for Depression, IIT Delhi (ICMR Project)

Job Description

IIT Delhi has three Project Research Scientist posts in AI for mental health. The project builds and tests an AI avatar that acts as a co-therapist for patients with depressive disorder. It is a multicentre randomised controlled trial funded by ICMR, based in the Department of Electrical Engineering, New Delhi.

At a glance

• Posts: Project Research Scientist-I (Non-Medical) (2) and Project Research Scientist-II (Non-Medical) (1)
• Where: Department of Electrical Engineering, IIT Delhi, New Delhi
• Pay: ₹56,000 (Scientist-I) or ₹67,000 (Scientist-II) a month, each plus 30% HRA
• Duration: Contractual, renewed yearly, up to the end of the project (30 November 2029)
• Apply by: 13 October 2026, 5:00 pm, by email

The advertisement is IITD/IRD/257/2026, dated 28 September 2026. The project is “Development and Validation of an Artificial Intelligence Avatar (AI-Avatar) as co-therapist in managing patients with Depressive Disorder”, a multicentric randomised controlled trial (RP05110G). The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) funds it. The Principal Investigator is Prof. Tanmoy Chakraborty of the Department of Electrical Engineering. Only Indian nationals may apply.

The AI mental health project posts

• Project Research Scientist-I (Non-Medical), 2 posts: for postgraduates and four-year engineering, IT or CS graduates
• Project Research Scientist-II (Non-Medical), 1 post: for candidates with three years’ experience after the qualifying degree, or a PhD
• All three work on an AI avatar that supports therapy for depression, and on testing it in a clinical trial

The advertisement gives the project title but no list of duties. It spells the senior post “Sciwentist – II”, and a “?” appears in the project title where a dash seems meant. Both look like typing errors.

Why this role matters

India has far fewer mental health professionals than patients who need them. An AI co-therapist could extend care between sessions, but only if it is shown to be safe and to work. This project tests that in a proper randomised trial across several centres. You would build AI that is judged on patient outcomes, and that is rare.

Eligibility

• Scientist-I: a postgraduate degree, including integrated PG degrees; or, for engineering, IT or CS, a four-year graduate degree
• Scientist-II: a postgraduate degree with three years’ post-qualification experience, or a PhD; or, for engineering, IT or CS, a four-year graduate degree with three years’ post-qualification experience
• Indian nationals only; SC/ST candidates may get a 5% relaxation in marks

IIT Delhi may set higher criteria for shortlisting. Shortlisted names go up on the IRD website with the online interview details. Only shortlisted candidates are told about the interview. A retired government employee’s pay would be fixed under IRD norms.

Pay and duration

• Project Research Scientist-I (Non-Medical): ₹56,000 a month plus HRA at 30%
• Project Research Scientist-II (Non-Medical): ₹67,000 a month plus HRA at 30%
• Contract renewable yearly, or until the project ends on 30 November 2029, whichever is earlier

How to apply

Download Form No. IRD/REC-4 from the IIT Delhi IRD recruitment page. Fill it in with your marks or division and your work experience. Email it to the PI, Prof. Tanmoy Chakraborty, at the email address given in the advertisement. Put the advertisement number, IITD/IRD/257/2026, in the subject line.

Key dates

• Advertisement dated 28 September 2026
• Last date for emailed applications: 13 October 2026, 5:00 pm
• Shortlist and online interview details: on the IIT Delhi IRD website

Please read the official IIT Delhi advertisement IITD/IRD/257/2026 (PDF) before applying, and browse more artificial intelligence jobs on ResearchJobs.in.