Research Associate in Quantum Key Distribution, IIT Roorkee (DST NQM Project)
Job Description
IIT Roorkee is hiring a Research Associate in quantum key distribution (QKD) for a project funded by the Department of Science and Technology under the National Quantum Mission. The project, “Towards Trusted-Node-Free Hybrid Quantum Secure Communication Networks”, is led by Dr. Anshul Jaiswal in the Department of Electronics and Communications Engineering.
At a glance
- Position: Research Associate (one post)
- Where: Department of Electronics and Communications Engineering, IIT Roorkee, Uttarakhand
- Pay: Rs 58,000 per month plus HRA, rising to Rs 61,000 plus HRA
- Duration: two years initially, extendable to March 2031
- Apply by: 30 September 2026, 5 PM (first deadline; open until filled)
Most quantum key distribution networks deployed today rely on “trusted nodes”: relay stations where the secret key briefly exists in usable form, so each station must be physically secured. Removing that dependence is one of the main open problems in making quantum-secure networks practical at scale, and it is the focus of this project.
About the Research Associate role in QKD
The Research Associate will lead the project’s hands-on experimental work:
- Setting up an experimental testbed for quantum key distribution and quantum routing
- Developing the software that runs the testbed
- Preparing project work reports and budget documents
Eligibility
- A PhD in EE, EC, CS, Physics or equivalent, or
- An M.Tech in a relevant area with at least three years of experience after it
- Open to Indian nationals
Among equally qualified and experienced candidates, SC/ST candidates will be preferred.
Salary and duration
- Rs 58,000 per month plus HRA for the first two years, then Rs 61,000 plus HRA
- Two years initially, extendable to the end of the project in March 2031
How to apply
Email a detailed CV and copies of your degrees and certificates to the Principal Investigator at anshul.jaiswal@ece.iitr.ac.in, or bring them to the interview. The advertisement stays open until the post is filled, and the first deadline is 30 September 2026, 5 PM. See the official IIT Roorkee advertisement for full details.
The same project is also recruiting a Junior Research Fellow. Explore more research jobs on ResearchJobs.in.
Hiring institution: Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
Official advertisement: iitr.ac.in
How to prepare for the Research Associate interview
- Present your research: prepare a ten-minute talk on your PhD or most relevant project, including one slide on results you could reproduce on a testbed.
- Experimental QKD: single-photon sources and detectors, secret key rate versus distance, and how you would calibrate and characterise a QKD link.
- Networking: trusted-node relays, key management, and the ETSI standardisation work on QKD interfaces.
- Running a project: as the senior researcher on the team, you may be asked how you would plan milestones, procure equipment and guide a JRF.
- Publications: bring a list of your papers and be ready to explain your own contribution to each.
About IIT Roorkee
IIT Roorkee traces its origins to 1847, when it was founded as a college of civil engineering, which makes it one of the oldest technical institutions in Asia. It became the University of Roorkee in 1949 and an Indian Institute of Technology in 2001. Today it is home to departments across engineering, the sciences, management and the humanities, and hosts many externally funded research projects like this one.
