SRF and Research Associate in Crop Genome Editing for Climate Resilience, ICAR-IARI New Delhi (3 Posts)
Job Description
These SRF and research associate jobs in plant biotechnology at ICAR-IARI New Delhi use genome editing to make crops climate resilient. There are two SRF posts and one RA post. Send your biodata by 11 November 2026.
At a glance
- Posts: Senior Research Fellow (two posts) and Research Associate (one post)
- Where: Division of Plant Physiology with the Division of Biochemistry, ICAR-IARI, New Delhi
- Funded by: ICAR Genome Editing Scheme
- SRF pay: ₹37,000 a month plus 30% HRA
- RA pay: ₹61,000 a month plus 30% HRA (Master’s holders); ₹67,000 plus 30% HRA (PhD holders)
- Duration: Six months to start, or the project term if shorter; extendable
- Apply by: 11 November 2026
The project is titled “Enhancing climate resilience and ensuring food security with genome editing tools”. The posts are unreserved and temporary. The same ad also has one Young Professional-II post, which is not covered here. The ad says it will also appear in Employment News dated 24-30 October 2026.
About the genome editing SRF and RA posts at IARI
- CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, prime editing and making new gene constructs
- Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of soybean, mustard or pigeon pea, and particle-gun transformation
- Molecular and physiological analysis of transgenic and edited plants
- Data analysis, statistics and research paper writing
These points come from the ad’s eligibility and desirable-skills lists.
Why this role matters
Genome editing is moving from lab trials to India’s first edited crop varieties. Hands-on CRISPR and plant transformation skills are in short supply. These posts give you both, at India’s leading farm research institute.
Eligibility
- RA: PhD in Biotechnology, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, or a related plant science, with thesis work mainly on CRISPR-Cas9 editing, prime editing, transgenics, gene constructs and evaluation of transgenic lines
- SRF: Master’s in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Biotechnology, Plant Physiology, Plant Biochemistry or Life Sciences, with a 4-year or 5-year Bachelor’s (first division); or a PhD in these subjects
- SRF with a 3-year Bachelor’s and 2-year Master’s: you need NET, GATE or ICAR-SRF (PhD entrance), plus two years of research experience
- SRF with a 5-year B.Tech. + M.Tech.: both qualifications must be on the degree
- Age: SRF up to 35 (men) or 40 (women); RA up to 40 (men) or 45 (women); relaxation for SC/ST, OBC and PwD as per rules
If you work now, you need an NOC from your employer. Only candidates with the essential and desirable qualifications are called for interview, by email. Bring your thesis, experience certificates and papers. No TA/DA is paid. The posts end with the scheme.
Pay and duration
- SRF: ₹37,000 a month plus 30% HRA
- RA: ₹61,000 a month plus 30% HRA with a Master’s; ₹67,000 plus 30% HRA with a PhD
- Six months to start, or until the project ends if sooner; extendable on performance
How to apply
Send your biodata in the format of Annexure 1 by 11 November 2026, with self-attested scans of your 10th, 12th, UG, PG and PhD certificates and mark sheets, plus NET or GATE proof. Give your marks from 10th standard onwards, because they are used to score your application. Also fill the online Google form linked in the ad. The ad prints two different form links, on page 1 and page 4, so read the official advertisement (PDF) with care. The ad is listed on the IARI jobs page.
Key dates
- Advertisement dated 22 October 2026
- Last date for biodata: 11 November 2026
- Interview: date sent by email to shortlisted candidates
Please read the official ICAR-IARI advertisement before applying, and browse more Senior Research Fellow jobs on ResearchJobs.in.
Hiring institution: ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI)
Official advertisement: iari.res.in
How to prepare for this application
- Know your editing tools: Cas9 versus Cas12a, base editing and prime editing, and when each fits.
- Explain a construct you built: guide RNA design, promoter choice, vector backbone and cloning steps.
- Revise transformation: Agrobacterium strains, explant choice and selection markers in legumes and mustard.
- Know how to screen edits: PCR-RE assays, Sanger decoding and checking for off-targets.
- Link it to climate: name a drought or heat tolerance trait that editing could improve, and how you would test it.
About ICAR-IARI
The Indian Agricultural Research Institute in Pusa, New Delhi, is an institute of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). It does research, teaching and extension in crop science. Its Divisions of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry study how crops cope with stress.
