NIT Silchar Project Associate-I Recruitment 2026 – Apply for Chemistry Department Post

NIT Silchar Project Associate-I Recruitment 2026

The Office of the Dean (Research & Consultancy), National Institute of Technology Silchar has issued Advertisement No. NITS/Dean(R&C)/Chemistry/717/02/2026, dated 12 August 2026, inviting applications from Indian citizens for a temporary post of Project Associate-I under an ANRF, Government of India, sponsored project in the Department of Chemistry, NIT Silchar. This article covers the complete vacancy details, eligibility criteria, salary and application process for NIT Silchar Project Associate-I Recruitment 2026.

NIT Silchar Project Associate-I Recruitment 2026 – Overview

About the Project

Project Title: Rational Computational Engineering of Chiral Frustrated Lewis Pairs for High-Efficiency Asymmetric Imine Hydrogenation.

Project Description: In this project, a diverse library of chiral frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) will be designed and structurally optimized. These catalysts will be employed to activate molecular hydrogen, followed by asymmetric hydrogenation of imines to produce enantioselective chiral amines. The complete reaction energy profiles for the catalytic hydrogenation process using different chiral FLPs will be constructed using density functional theory (DFT). A comprehensive understanding of the structure-activity relationship and the origins of catalytic activity and stereoselectivity will be achieved through a range of advanced computational chemistry methodologies.

Eligibility Criteria

Essential Qualification: M.Sc. in Chemistry or BS-MS in Chemistry.

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Desirable Experience:

• Basic knowledge in physical/theoretical chemistry.
• Prior knowledge of DFT (Density Functional Theory) calculations is advantageous but not mandatory.

Age Limit: 30 years, on the last date of advertisement.

Relaxation: SC/ST/OBC/Women/PwD candidates will get relaxation on age and qualification as per Government of India Rules and Regulations.

Salary Structure

How to Apply

1. Applicants must send the soft copy of the duly filled application form, along with their CV and soft copies of all supporting documents, to the Principal Investigator through email at shanti@che.nits.ac.in.
2. The subject line of the email must read: “Application for the post of Project Associate-I under the project ANRF/ECRG/2025/002592/CS”.
3. The last date for receiving the filled-up application form (soft copy) is 25 August 2026.
4. For any queries, applicants may contact the Principal Investigator at shanti@che.nits.ac.in.

Selection Process

• The interview date and mode (online/offline), along with other details, will be duly notified through email to shortlisted candidates.
• No TA/DA will be paid for appearing in the interview and/or joining the post.
• Employed candidates must submit a No Objection Certificate from their employer at the time of the interview.
• The Institute has the discretion to restrict the number of candidates to be shortlisted for the interview on the basis of screening.
• No candidate will be recruited if suitable candidates are not found.
• Selected candidates will have to sign an agreement at the time of joining.

All the terms and conditions for this recruitment will be as per the guidelines of the sponsoring agency and NIT Silchar.

About NIT Silchar and ANRF-Sponsored Research

National Institute of Technology Silchar is one of the National Institutes of Technology established by the Government of India, offering undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programmes in engineering, science and technology, and hosting a range of sponsored research projects across its academic departments. The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), the apex research funding body under the Government of India that has succeeded and expanded upon the earlier Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) framework, funds early-career researchers through schemes such as the Early Career Research Grant (ECRG), under which this particular project, sanctioned as ANRF/ECRG/2025/002592/CS, falls. Such grants are specifically designed to support young faculty members, like Dr. Shanti Gopal Patra in this case, in establishing independent research programmes, and the Project Associate positions they create form an essential part of the human resource pipeline that keeps India’s institutional research output growing across chemistry, physics, engineering and allied disciplines.

About This Recruitment

This Project Associate-I position at NIT Silchar’s Department of Chemistry offers an opportunity for M.Sc./BS-MS Chemistry graduates to work on an ANRF-sponsored research project involving advanced computational chemistry techniques, including density functional theory (DFT) modelling of chiral catalysts for asymmetric hydrogenation reactions. Since the project is led by Dr. Shanti Gopal Patra and centres on frustrated Lewis pair chemistry, a specialized and growing area of catalysis research, candidates with a background or interest in physical/theoretical chemistry and computational methods will find this an academically rich engagement, even though the position itself is temporary and tied to project funding for an initial 12-month period, extendable based on project completion and performance. The salary structure, which offers a meaningfully higher rate for NET/GATE-qualified candidates, reflects the standard scientific manpower norms followed across ANRF and DST-sponsored projects at Indian technical institutes.

Understanding Chiral Frustrated Lewis Pairs Research

Frustrated Lewis Pairs (FLPs) are a distinctive class of chemical compounds where a Lewis acid and a Lewis base, which would normally combine to form a stable adduct, are instead sterically prevented from bonding to each other, leaving both reactive sites “frustrated” and highly available to interact with other molecules, most notably molecular hydrogen. This unusual reactivity allows FLPs to activate hydrogen gas without the need for transition metal catalysts, a discovery that has opened up an entirely new, metal-free branch of catalysis over the past two decades. Chiral FLPs extend this concept further by introducing molecular asymmetry into the catalyst design, enabling the selective production of one mirror-image form (enantiomer) of a target molecule over the other, a capability of enormous value in pharmaceutical and fine chemical synthesis, where the biological activity of a drug molecule often depends critically on which enantiomer is produced. The computational modelling approach adopted in this NIT Silchar project, using density functional theory to map reaction energy profiles, allows researchers to understand and predict catalyst performance before committing to expensive and time-consuming laboratory synthesis, making it a valuable and increasingly common methodology in modern chemistry research.

Career Value of Project Associate Positions in Research

Project Associate positions such as this one at NIT Silchar are widely regarded as valuable stepping stones for M.Sc. and BS-MS Chemistry graduates aspiring toward a research career, whether in academia, national research laboratories, or industry R&D. Working directly under an Assistant Professor on a funded ANRF project offers hands-on exposure to computational chemistry tools and methodologies, co-authorship opportunities on research publications arising from the project, and a strong foundation for candidates who may later wish to pursue a Ph.D. in chemistry or a related discipline. Since the position also carries a notably higher salary band for candidates who have already qualified CSIR-UGC NET, GATE, or an equivalent national-level examination, it additionally rewards candidates who have already demonstrated competitive academic merit at the national level.

Important Links

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

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How many posts are advertised for Project Associate-I at NIT Silchar?

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

2. What is the last date to apply?

25 August 2026.

3. What is the essential qualification?

M.Sc. in Chemistry or BS-MS in Chemistry.

4. What is the age limit?

30 years, on the last date of advertisement, with relaxation for SC/ST/OBC/Women/PwD candidates.

5. What is the salary for this post?

Rs. 37,000/- + HRA for NET/GATE-qualified candidates, or Rs. 30,000/- + HRA for others.

6. What is the mode of application?

Soft copy of the application form, CV and supporting documents must be emailed to shanti@che.nits.ac.in.

7. What is the duration of this position?

12 months initially, extendable until project completion, subject to availability of funds and performance review.

8. Is prior DFT knowledge mandatory?

No, prior knowledge of DFT calculations is advantageous but not mandatory.

9. Is TA/DA provided for the interview?

No, no TA/DA will be paid for appearing in the interview or joining the post.

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

Rational Computational Engineering of Chiral Frustrated Lewis Pairs for High-Efficiency Asymmetric Imine Hydrogenation.

11. Who is the sponsoring agency for this project?

The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), Government of India, under sanction number ANRF/ECRG/2025/002592/CS.

12. Do employed candidates need to submit any additional certificate?

Yes, employed candidates must submit a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their present employer at the time of the interview.

13. Does the Institute guarantee that the post will be filled?

No, the Institute reserves the right to not recruit any candidate if a suitable candidate is not found during the screening and interview process.

14. Is a formal agreement required upon joining?

Yes, the selected candidate will have to sign an agreement with NIT Silchar at the time of joining the post.