Research Associate in 2D Materials and Optical Spectroscopy, JNCASR Bengaluru (Dr Medha Dandu, CPMU)
Job Description
JNCASR in Bengaluru has advertised a Research Associate post in optics and 2D materials to carry out experimental work under Dr Medha Dandu in the Chemistry and Physics of Materials Unit (CPMU).
At a glance
- Post: Research Associate, 1 position (temporary)
- Where: Chemistry and Physics of Materials Unit (CPMU), JNCASR, Jakkur, Bengaluru
- Mentor: Dr Medha Dandu
- Pay: ₹58,000 a month plus 30% HRA
- Age limit: 35 years
- Apply by: 5 October 2026, by email
The advertisement is CPMU/INST/67/2026-27, dated 21 September 2026, under JNCASR’s institutional support. It asks for a PhD with at least two papers in SCI journals and lists a wide set of desirable lab skills, which together point to an experimental group working on optics and electronics of two-dimensional materials.
About the 2D materials and optics Research Associate post
- Build, customise and run optical set-ups, including optical spectroscopy
- Exfoliate 2D materials and assemble 2D heterostructures
- Carry out electrical and materials characterisation and nanofabrication
- Automate experiments and write code (Python, LabVIEW, Origin or MATLAB) for data analysis and instrument control
- Manage experimental tasks independently and work in a multidisciplinary team
The ad does not give a separate list of duties; the points above follow its list of desirable skills, which describe the work the post involves. It also does not state the length of the appointment.
Why this role matters
Two-dimensional semiconductors and their stacked heterostructures are a leading platform for new optoelectronic and quantum-light devices, and the work is hands-on: flakes, stacks and custom optics. This post suits a fresh PhD from optics or condensed-matter physics who wants to build instruments and samples, and it offers postdoc-level pay at one of India’s strongest materials-science centres.
Eligibility
- Essential: a PhD with at least two research papers in Science Citation Index (SCI) journals
- Desirable: a PhD in physical sciences or engineering relevant to optics, electronics or materials science
- Desirable: a strong background in solid-state physics, semiconductor devices or the fundamentals of optics
- Desirable: cleanroom or laser-lab experience and strong hands-on instrumentation and automation skills
- Maximum age: 35 years
Candidates who are employed or still doing a PhD must send a No Objection Certificate from their employer or PhD supervisor. Shortlisted candidates may be invited to an online interview, and no TA/DA is paid for attending in person.
Pay and duration
- ₹58,000 a month plus 30% HRA
- Temporary position; duration not stated in the advertisement
How to apply
Fill in the application template available on the JNCASR opening page for this advertisement, and email a scanned copy with scans of your certificates (education, age, experience and publications) and a brief CV to Dr Medha Dandu, CPMU, at mdlab@jncasr.ac.in by 5 October 2026. Include your email address and mobile number, as the ad requires.
Key dates
- Advertisement dated 21 September 2026
- Last date for emailed applications: 5 October 2026
- Shortlisted candidates: online interview (date to be communicated)
Please read the official JNCASR advertisement CPMU/INST/67/2026-27 (PDF) before applying, and browse more Research Associate jobs on ResearchJobs.in.
Hiring institution: Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR)
Official advertisement: www.jncasr.ac.in
How to prepare for this application
- Lead with your set-ups: describe an optical system you aligned or built yourself (PL, Raman, reflectance or pump-probe) and what it measured.
- Show 2D-materials hands: if you have exfoliated flakes or stacked heterostructures, say how (dry transfer, PDMS, hBN encapsulation) and your yield.
- Mention automation: give one example of instrument control or data pipelines in Python or LabVIEW.
- Revise the basics: excitons in monolayer TMDs, interlayer excitons in heterostructures, and how substrate and strain shift optical spectra.
- Send the complete set: template, certificate scans, CV and, if needed, an NOC, in one email. Browse more optics and photonics jobs.
About JNCASR
The Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) in Jakkur, Bengaluru, is an autonomous research institution of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, founded in 1989. Its units include the Chemistry and Physics of Materials Unit, which works on materials chemistry and condensed-matter physics.
