Nagaland University Project Associate-I Recruitment 2026 – Walk-in Interview for 2 Posts

Nagaland University Project Associate-I Recruitment 2026

Nagaland University, Lumami, a Central University established by an Act of Parliament (No. 35 of 1989), Department of Botany, has issued Notice No. NU/BOT/CRD/NU-MU/2026-04, dated 31 July 2026, announcing a walk-in interview for the selection of 2 (Two) Project Associate-I posts under a DBT (Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science & Technology, New Delhi) sponsored R&D project. The walk-in interview will be held on 19 August 2026 at 11:00 AM. This article covers the complete vacancy details, eligibility criteria and walk-in process for Nagaland University Project Associate-I Recruitment 2026.

Nagaland University PA-I Recruitment 2026 – Overview

About the Project

Project Title: Characterizing Populations of Homalomena aromatica and Gaultheria fragrantissima in North-Eastern India into Elite Chemotypes and Developing Gene Markers for Essential Oil Content and Major Constituent.

This DBT-sponsored R&D project focuses on studying and characterizing wild plant populations of Homalomena aromatica and Gaultheria fragrantissima, both aromatic medicinal plant species found across North-Eastern India, with the aim of identifying elite chemotypes (plants with superior essential oil profiles) and developing gene markers linked to essential oil content and major chemical constituents.

Eligibility Criteria

• Educational Qualification: First class M.Sc./M.Tech degree in Botany/Life Sciences/Biotechnology from any UGC-recognized University.
• Desirable: Preference will be given to candidates who have experience in “Biochemical Analysis of Medicinal Plants and Plant Tissue Culture.”

Fellowship: The fellowship amount will be governed by the rules of the funding agency (DBT).

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Walk-in Interview Process

1. Interested candidates should come for the Walk-in Interview on 19 August 2026 at 11:00 AM, in the Department of Botany, Nagaland University, Lumami.
2. Candidates should bring an application on plain paper, along with xerox copies of all relevant documents in support of their candidature.
3. No TA/DA is admissible for attending the interview.

Applications must be submitted in plain paper format from qualified candidates; there is no separate application form to be downloaded.

How to Apply

There is no advance application submission process for this recruitment. Eligible candidates should directly report for the Walk-in Interview on 19 August 2026 at 11:00 AM at the Department of Botany, Nagaland University, Lumami, carrying their plain-paper application along with photocopies of all relevant supporting documents.

About Nagaland University

Nagaland University, headquartered at Lumami, is a Central University established by an Act of Parliament in 1989, offering undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programmes across sciences, humanities, social sciences and professional disciplines, with additional campuses including Medziphema. The University’s Department of Botany regularly undertakes sponsored research projects funded by national bodies such as the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), reflecting the institution’s engagement with region-specific biodiversity and natural resource research relevant to North-East India’s unique ecological wealth. Such DBT-sponsored projects typically create short-term but academically valuable Project Associate positions, offering M.Sc./M.Tech graduates in life sciences disciplines hands-on exposure to funded scientific research before they pursue further doctoral study or research careers.

Tips for Candidates Attending the Walk-in Interview

• Since applications must be submitted on plain paper rather than a prescribed format, candidates should ensure their application clearly states their name, qualifications, and contact details, along with a request to be considered for the Project Associate-I post.
• Candidates should organize photocopies of their M.Sc./M.Tech mark sheets and degree certificates, along with any experience certificates related to biochemical analysis of medicinal plants or plant tissue culture, well before the interview date.
• Since first class marks in M.Sc./M.Tech is an essential requirement, candidates should double-check their aggregate percentage or CGPA classification before applying, to confirm they meet this threshold.
• Given that no TA/DA is provided, candidates travelling from outside Lumami should plan their travel and any overnight stay independently ahead of the 19 August 2026 interview.

About This Recruitment

This Project Associate-I engagement is linked to a DBT-sponsored research project studying two medicinally and commercially important aromatic plant species native to North-Eastern India: Homalomena aromatica, valued for its essential oil used in perfumery and traditional medicine, and Gaultheria fragrantissima (Indian wintergreen), a well-known source of methyl salicylate used in pharmaceuticals and pain-relief formulations. By characterizing wild populations of these species into “elite chemotypes” and developing molecular gene markers linked to essential oil yield and quality, the project aims to support future breeding, cultivation and conservation efforts for these economically valuable medicinal plants of the North-East. Candidates with an M.Sc./M.Tech in Botany, Life Sciences or Biotechnology, particularly those with prior hands-on experience in biochemical analysis of medicinal plants or plant tissue culture techniques, will find this project a valuable opportunity to contribute to applied plant science research with direct relevance to North-East India’s biodiversity and natural product economy.

About Homalomena aromatica and Gaultheria fragrantissima

Homalomena aromatica, commonly known as sweet flag or “sugandhmantri” in parts of North-East India, is a rhizomatous aromatic plant traditionally used in perfumery, incense-making and folk medicine, valued for the essential oil extracted from its rhizomes. Gaultheria fragrantissima, widely known as Indian wintergreen, is the primary natural source of methyl salicylate, an important compound used in pain-relief balms, liniments and pharmaceutical preparations, and is commercially harvested across the hill forests of North-East India, including Nagaland, Meghalaya and Sikkim. Both species grow largely in the wild, with considerable natural variation in essential oil yield and chemical composition across different populations and locations, which is precisely the variation this DBT-sponsored project seeks to characterize and map using modern chemotyping and molecular marker techniques, with the eventual goal of identifying “elite” plant populations that could be prioritized for cultivation, conservation or further breeding programmes.

Why This Project Matters for North-East India

Aromatic and medicinal plants such as these two species represent a significant, underexploited natural resource base for North-East India’s bio-economy, offering potential livelihood opportunities for local communities through sustainable harvesting, essential oil extraction and value-added product development. By developing gene markers linked to essential oil content and major chemical constituents, this DBT-funded research at Nagaland University aims to provide a scientific foundation for identifying and propagating high-yielding, high-quality plant chemotypes, which could eventually support commercial cultivation initiatives, quality standardization for essential oil trade, and conservation prioritization for genetically valuable wild populations. For the selected Project Associates, this offers a chance to contribute to applied plant biotechnology research with tangible relevance to regional biodiversity conservation and economic development.

Important Links

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

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How many posts are advertised for Project Associate-I at Nagaland University?

2 posts, in the Department of Botany, under a DBT-sponsored research project.

2. When is the walk-in interview?

19 August 2026, at 11:00 AM.

3. What is the essential qualification?

First class M.Sc./M.Tech degree in Botany/Life Sciences/Biotechnology from a UGC-recognized University.

4. Where is the walk-in interview venue?

Department of Botany, Nagaland University, Lumami.

5. Is TA/DA provided for the interview?

No, no TA/DA is admissible for attending the interview.

6. What is the title of the sponsored research project?

Characterizing Populations of Homalomena aromatica and Gaultheria fragrantissima in North-Eastern India into Elite Chemotypes and Developing Gene Markers for Essential Oil Content and Major Constituent.

7. Who is the Principal Investigator for this project?

Dr. Chitta Ranjan Deb, Senior Professor, Department of Botany, Nagaland University.

8. What experience is preferred for this post?

Experience in Biochemical Analysis of Medicinal Plants and Plant Tissue Culture is preferred, though not mandatory.

9. Is this a permanent university position?

No, the post is co-terminus with the project, meaning the engagement lasts only for the duration of the sponsored research project.

10. What documents should candidates bring to the interview?

A plain-paper application along with xerox copies of all relevant documents in support of their candidature.

11. Which plant species does this DBT project focus on?

Homalomena aromatica and Gaultheria fragrantissima, both aromatic medicinal plant species found in North-Eastern India.

12. What is the format for submitting the application?

Applications are to be submitted in plain paper, not in any specific prescribed form, along with photocopies of supporting documents.

13. What compound is Gaultheria fragrantissima commercially valued for?

It is the primary natural source of methyl salicylate, a compound widely used in pain-relief balms and pharmaceutical preparations.

14. Is fellowship amount fixed for this post?

No specific figure is stated in the notice; the fellowship amount will be governed by the rules of the funding agency, DBT.

15. What happens to this post once the project ends?

Since the position is co-terminus with the project, the engagement automatically ends when the DBT-sponsored research project concludes.

16. Which department at Nagaland University is hosting this project?

The Department of Botany, at the Lumami campus of Nagaland University.

17. Does this project have any international or inter-institutional collaboration?

The notice does not specify external collaborators; the project is coordinated within Nagaland University’s Department of Botany under the Principal Investigator, Dr. Chitta Ranjan Deb.