Research Associate-I in Quantum Annealing and Optimisation (NQM) at IIT Hyderabad
Job Description
IIT Hyderabad’s Department of Physics is hiring a Research Associate-I to develop a quantum annealing simulator and apply it to real-world optimisation problems such as mobility, multi-modal logistics and railway resource scheduling. The project is funded by the DST National Quantum Mission and led by Dr. Atanu Rajak with Dr. Archak Purkayastha.
At a glance
- Position: Research Associate-I (1 post)
- Project: Quantum Annealing and Optimization: Mobility, Multi-modal Logistics, Railway Resource Scheduling and Related Problems
- Funding: DST National Quantum Mission (NQM)
- Pay: Rs 58,000 per month plus HRA, according to funding agency and institute norms
- Duration: 1 year as RA-I, with possible extension for two more years as RA-II and RA-III
- Apply by: 22 September 2026
Quantum annealing tackles optimisation problems by encoding them in the lowest-energy state of a quantum system and slowly evolving towards it. Scheduling trains, routing freight across several transport modes and similar logistics problems are natural test cases, and good classical simulators of annealing help researchers test speed-up ideas before running them on hardware.
About the research associate role
- Develop a quantum annealing simulator with speed-up protocols
- Solve real-world problems, such as mobility, logistics and railway scheduling, using quantum annealing
Eligibility
- Ph.D. in Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics, Quantum Physics, Quantum Chemistry, Computer Science or related fields from a recognised institute or university
- A strong background in, and interest in, programming and numerical studies
- Desirable: research experience in quantum optimisation algorithms, driven-dissipative quantum systems, or AI/ML
Candidates are shortlisted on merit and project requirements. Online interviews are held within a few days of the closing date, and the selected candidate must join immediately.
Pay and duration
- Rs 58,000 per month plus HRA, according to the norms of the funding agency and the institute
- 1 year as RA-I; possible extension for two more years as RA-II and RA-III
How to apply
Prepare a single PDF containing your CV; self-attested Master’s mark sheets or transcripts and your Ph.D. certificate (at least a provisional degree certificate); a statement of at most one page on your motivation and how your expertise fits the project; contact details of two referees; and links to two relevant papers. Submit it through the project’s Google Form, then email atanu@phy.iith.ac.in with no attachment and the subject line “Application for RA, IITH: Your Name”.
Key dates
- Applications close: 22 September 2026
- Online interviews: within a few days of the closing date
Please read the official IIT Hyderabad advertisement (PDF) before applying, and browse more quantum technology jobs on ResearchJobs.in.
Hiring institution: Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad
Official advertisement: iith.ac.in
How to prepare for this application
- Annealing theory: the adiabatic theorem, energy gaps and why they limit annealing speed.
- Problem encoding: practise writing a scheduling or routing problem as a QUBO or Ising model.
- Speed-up ideas: read about counterdiabatic driving and reverse annealing.
- Numerics: be ready to discuss simulating many-body quantum dynamics efficiently, for example with tensor networks.
- Motivation statement: link your Ph.D. work directly to one of the project's application areas.
About IIT Hyderabad
IIT Hyderabad was established in 2008 as one of India's newer Indian Institutes of Technology and has its campus at Kandi, near Sangareddy in Telangana, about an hour from Hyderabad city. It runs a large portfolio of sponsored research, including projects under the National Quantum Mission.
