BITS Pilani Goa Junior Research Fellow Recruitment 2026

BITS Pilani Goa Junior Research Fellow Recruitment 2026

BITS Pilani, K. K. Birla Goa Campus has invited applications for the post of Junior Research Fellow (JRF) in the Department of Biological Sciences, for an Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) sponsored research project on synthetic biology for biorefinery applications. This article covers the vacancy details, eligibility, fellowship amount and how to apply.

BITS Pilani Goa JRF Recruitment 2026 – Overview

Eligibility Criteria

Postgraduate degree in Basic Science (Biotechnology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, etc.), or a Graduate/Postgraduate degree in a Professional Course (Engineering and Technology: Biotechnology, Biochemical, Bioprocess, Chemical, Food Technology, Pharmacy, etc.), selected through any one of the following:

• Scholars selected through National Eligibility Tests – CSIR-UGC NET, including Lectureship (Assistant Professorship), and GATE.
• Selection through national level examinations conducted by Central Government Departments and Agencies/Institutions such as DST, DBT, DAE, DOS, DRDO, MoE, ICAR, IIT, IISc, IISER, NISER, etc.

Knowledge of microbial fermentation, basic molecular biology techniques (PCR, cloning, DNA sequencing, protein analysis, electrophoresis), enzyme kinetics and chromatographic analysis is desirable.

Fellowship Amount

Rs. 37,000 per month, plus 20% HRA (as applicable), as per Emolument Norms SB/S9/Z-06/2019.

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How to Apply

1. Submit your application using the online form: forms.gle/ZM8wXKurNgseCbXf6.
2. Ensure all required details, qualification proof and national-level exam certificate are correctly filled in.
3. Submit the application on or before 12 September 2026.

Selection Process

Preliminary shortlisting will be based on the form submissions and a telephonic conversation, to be conducted within a week of the application deadline. For the final interview, shortlisted candidates will be informed through email. No TA/DA will be provided in case of a personal interview.

Important Terms and Conditions

• Probable joining is within one month from the application deadline.
• Hostel accommodation will be provided, subject to availability, governed by the Institute’s rules and regulations prevailing at the time of joining.
• The selected candidate will get a chance to apply for the PhD Program at BITS Pilani, K. K. Birla Goa Campus, subject to the applicable PhD program rules.
• The fellowship duration is tied to the 24-month project period.

About This Recruitment

BITS Pilani’s K. K. Birla Goa Campus is recruiting a Junior Research Fellow for an ANRF-sponsored project in Biotechnology, Fermentation Technology and Synthetic Biology, led by Principal Investigator Dr. Sonal Ayakar in the Department of Biological Sciences. The project focuses on developing enhanced fermentative enzyme production through synthetic biology techniques for biorefinery applications – a research area with growing relevance to sustainable industrial biotechnology and bio-based manufacturing in India.

Why This Role Suits Life Sciences and Biotechnology Graduates

Since the essential qualification accepts both a postgraduate degree in Basic Science and a graduate or postgraduate degree in a professional Engineering/Technology course, provided the candidate has cleared a recognized national-level exam like GATE or CSIR-UGC NET, this position is accessible to a fairly wide pool of Biotechnology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering and Food Technology candidates. Candidates with hands-on exposure to microbial fermentation, molecular biology techniques or enzyme kinetics, even if gained during their Master’s dissertation, will likely find their profile well matched to this synthetic biology-focused project.

A Notable Pathway to a PhD at BITS Pilani

One distinctive feature of this JRF opportunity is that the selected candidate gets a chance to apply for the PhD Program at BITS Pilani, K. K. Birla Goa Campus, subject to the Institute’s standard PhD admission rules. This makes the position particularly attractive for candidates who see this fellowship not just as a 24-month research assignment, but as a potential stepping stone into a full doctoral program at one of India’s well-regarded private technical institutes, working within the same research group and building directly on the experience gained during the fellowship.

What to Prepare Before Applying

Since the selection process moves quickly – with telephonic shortlisting conversations expected within a week of the deadline – candidates should ensure their national-level exam certificate (GATE/CSIR-UGC NET or equivalent), postgraduate mark sheets, and a brief summary of any relevant fermentation, molecular biology or enzyme-related project experience are ready before filling out the online Google Form application. Candidates should also keep their contact number and email active and regularly monitored in the days immediately following the 12 September 2026 deadline.

Understanding Biorefinery Research and Its Growing Importance

Biorefineries convert biomass into a range of valuable products – fuels, chemicals and materials – much like a conventional petroleum refinery converts crude oil, but using renewable biological feedstocks instead. Enhancing fermentative enzyme production through synthetic biology, the focus of this ANRF-funded project, is a key enabling step for making biorefinery processes more efficient and commercially viable. As India increasingly invests in bio-based manufacturing and sustainable alternatives to fossil-fuel-derived chemicals, research positions in this space, such as this JRF role, offer candidates the opportunity to work at the leading edge of a research area with strong future relevance to both academia and industry, spanning applications from biofuels and specialty chemicals to enzyme-based industrial processes.

Life at BITS Pilani’s Goa Campus

The K. K. Birla Goa Campus is one of BITS Pilani’s four campuses (alongside Pilani, Hyderabad and Dubai), known for its strong research infrastructure in the sciences and engineering, along with a residential campus environment. Since hostel accommodation is offered to the selected JRF subject to availability, candidates relocating from other parts of India for this fellowship can expect institutional support in settling into campus life while focused on their two-year research assignment in the Department of Biological Sciences, alongside access to the campus’s shared research facilities and instrumentation commonly available to postgraduate researchers at BITS Pilani.

Documents to Prepare Before Applying

Since the application is submitted through an online Google Form rather than a lengthy postal or portal-based process, candidates should still prepare all relevant materials in advance – scanned copies of postgraduate mark sheets and degree certificates, the qualifying national-level exam scorecard or certificate, and a brief write-up of any laboratory or project experience relevant to fermentation, molecular biology or enzyme kinetics. Having these details ready before starting the form ensures the application can be completed accurately in one sitting, without last-minute gaps that could affect how the application is evaluated during preliminary shortlisting, especially given how quickly BITS Pilani expects to move to the telephonic shortlisting stage after the deadline closes, leaving very little time to assemble documents once shortlisting calls actually begin.

Comparing This Opportunity to Other JRF Positions

Compared to many JRF postings that require only a basic postgraduate qualification, this BITS Pilani Goa position sets a similar competitive bar to positions at institutes like PGIMER or IITs, by mandating a cleared national-level examination alongside the postgraduate degree. This filtering criterion tends to result in a smaller, more qualified applicant pool, which candidates who meet the bar should view as a genuine advantage rather than a barrier, since it somewhat reduces the scale of competition compared to JRF postings open to all postgraduates regardless of national-level exam status, while still leaving the field open to candidates from a genuinely wide range of Basic Science and applied Engineering backgrounds.

Important Links

• Notification PDF
• Official Website
• NaukriPatra App
• WhatsApp Channel
• Telegram Channel

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How many JRF posts are advertised at BITS Pilani Goa?

1 post, in the Department of Biological Sciences, under an ANRF-sponsored project.

2. What is the application deadline?

12 September 2026.

3. What is the fellowship amount?

Rs. 37,000 per month, plus 20% HRA (as applicable).

4. What qualification is required?

A postgraduate degree in Basic Science, or a graduate/postgraduate degree in a professional course, along with a national-level exam qualification (GATE/CSIR-UGC NET or equivalent).

5. Is there an application fee?

No fee is mentioned in this notice.

6. How should candidates apply?

By submitting the online Google Form at forms.gle/ZM8wXKurNgseCbXf6.

7. What is the duration of this fellowship?

24 months, matching the project duration.

8. When will the selection process be conducted?

Preliminary shortlisting via telephonic conversation within a week of the deadline; final interview details communicated by email.

9. Is TA/DA paid for the interview?

No, no TA/DA is provided for a personal interview.

10. What is the research project about?

Development of enhanced fermentative enzyme production through synthetic biology for biorefinery applications.

11. Who is the Principal Investigator for this project?

Dr. Sonal Ayakar, Department of Biological Sciences, BITS Pilani, K. K. Birla Goa Campus.

12. Can the selected candidate pursue a PhD afterward?

Yes, the selected candidate gets a chance to apply for the PhD Program at BITS Pilani, K. K. Birla Goa Campus.

13. Is hostel accommodation provided?

Yes, subject to availability and Institute rules prevailing at the time of joining.

14. When is the probable joining date?

Within one month from the application deadline.

15. Is prior research experience mandatory?

No, knowledge of fermentation and molecular biology techniques is desirable, not mandatory.