Fellowship opportunities for Pharmacy, Life Sciences and Biotech in food and nutritional Biotechnology division at BRIC-NABI

BRIC-National Agri-Food and Biomanufacturing Institute (BRIC-NABI) is an autonomous Institute under the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India. BRIC-NABI aims at catalysing the transformation of the Agri- food sector in India by being a nodal organization for knowledge generation and translational science leading to value-added products based on Agri-Food biotech innovations for improved household nutritional security. Since its inception in 2010, BRIC-NABI is involved in research activities for Bio-fortification, the development of designer crops for improved nutrition, providing sustainable and novel solutions for quality food and nutrition, and the development of evidence-based functional foods to counter malnutrition.

The food and nutritional Biotechnology division at BRIC-NABI requires the following research personnel purely on a temporary basis.

Junior Research Fellow (One position)
Project Title : “ Lignin valorization via biomaterial development, depolymerization and green technology”(GAP-27 CIAB)
Principle Investigator : Dr. Sasikumar Elumalai, Scientist- E, BRIC-NABI
Duration : One Year, extendable on annual basis for subsequent years subject to satisfactory progress, institutional needs and financial provisions.
Duration of Project : 3 years (2024-2027).
Essential Qualification : (i) Master's degree from a recognized University/Institute : M.Sc. (Chemistry/Physical Chemistry/ Electrochemistry/ Material Chemistry/ Medicinal Chemistry) Nanotechnology/ Nanoscience or relevant discipline to the project title. (ii) NET / GATE / any other relevant/equivalent nature of national level test qualified.
Desired Experience : 1. Chemical synthesis and characterization.
Emoluments : Rs. 37,000/- per month + HRA (as admissible or Hostel facility, if available).
Age limit: - 28 Years
Contact Details : Project Investigator : Dr. Sasikumar Elumalai (Scientist E), BRIC-NABI, Mohali

Field Assistant (Plant) (4 positions)
Project Title : BRIC-NABI Biomanufacturing Center “Agri-Food Bio-Mug” (GAP-85) Principle Coordinator: Prof. Ashwani Pareek Principle Investigator : Dr. Jayeeta Bhaumik & Dr. Meena Krishania
Funding Agency : Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India
Duration : One Year, extendable on annual basis for subsequent years’ subject to satisfactory progress, institutional needs, and financial provisions. Duration of Project 2 years (2025-2027).
Essential Qualifications : Bachelor's degree in Life Science/Chemical Science/Food technology Work area : Biomanufacturing.
Job duties : Take care of the biofoundry facility of BRIC NABI and act as support staff. Assist staff in daily plant functioning. Desirable Experience: - Agro waste / Biomass valorization, Process development of biomaterial in a research lab or industry. Emoluments : Rs. 27000/- per month + 18% HRA
Age limit : 50 Years.
Contact Details : Dr. Jayeeta Bhaumik & Dr. Meena Krishania Email: jayeeta@ciab.res.in & meena@ciab.res.in

Research Associate I (One position)
Project Title : “Gene Cloning and Editing in Industrially relevant microbes” (NABI-CORE) Principle Investigators: Dr. Kanthi Kiran Kondepudi, Scientist-F
Duration : The initial appointment will be for one year, with the possibility of extension based on satisfactory performance and project requirements (up to a maximum of two years).
Essential Qualification : A PhD in Life Sciences, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Microbiology, Systems Biology, Synthetic Biology or a related discipline from a reputed University/Research Institute
1. 2 to 3 years of postdoctoral/research experience in gene cloning, gene knock down, gene editing and molecular biology techniques applicable to Gram positive and negative bacteria, Fungi and Yeast.
2. Strong foundational knowledge in molecular biology, microbial genetics, and biochemical pathways, with demonstrated experience in applying these principles to experimental research.
3. Proven track record of designing, optimizing, and troubleshooting molecular and microbiological workflows, supported by THREE (03) research papers as a First Author or Equal First Author research publications in SCI-indexed journals.
4. Hands-on experience in core experimental techniques, including nucleic acid extraction, PCR, agarose gel electrophoresis, cloning, and bacterial transformation.
5. Experience in culturing, maintaining and optimising microbial systems (having experience working with anaerobes is preferable), experience with aseptic techniques and growth optimization under laboratory conditions.
6. Ability to independently plan and execute experiments, analyse data, maintain meticulous laboratory records, and interpret results with scientific rigor.
7. Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary research environment.
Desired Experience :
1. Practical experience in microbial genome editing, including CRISPR-Cas9 and Lambda- Red recombineering or other genome-editing strategies.
2. Working knowledge of protein purification and characterization, including SDS-PAGE, Western blotting, and ELISA.
3. Prior experience with the handling, growth, and experimentation of anaerobic bacterial cultures is highly preferred.
4. Familiarity with bioinformatics tools for plasmid/vector design and sequence analysis.
Key Responsibilities :
1. Engineer bacterial strains for the targeted therapeutic protein expression.
2. Design and construct expression vectors; generate genetically modified microbial strains; perform clone screening and molecular characterization using PCR and DNA sequencing, optimizing culture conditions to achieve high-yield protein expression, development and execution of bioassays to evaluate protein activity and functional characteristics.
3. Supporting laboratory work involving anaerobic bacteria, including culture handling and experimental implementation.
4. Collaborate effectively with team members, and co-investigators on project related activities.
5. Maintain comprehensive experimental documentation, prepare and present data in internal meetings, contribute to publications, technical reports and grant documentation.
Personal Attributes :
1. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving skills and scientific curiosity.
2. Ability to work efficiently in a dynamic, fast-paced and interdisciplinary research setting.
3. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with a commitment to teamwork.
4. Passion for innovation in microbial engineering, sustainable food systems and translational research.
Emoluments : As per DBT norms : Rs. 58,000/- plus HRA per month (as applicable for Research Associate I) (As per DST OM No. DST/PCPM/Z-06/2022 dated 26.06.2023)
Age limit : 40 years (Relaxation is admissible in the case of SC/ST/OBC/PD and women candidates as per GOI instructions)
Contact Details : Dr. Kanthi Kiran Kondepudi, Scientist-F, NABI, India E-mail: kiran@nabi.res.in,

Research Associate- 1 (One position)
Research associate (One position)
Project Title : (a) Improvement of nutritional quality of wheat (NABI CORE)
Principle Investigators : Dr. Monika Garg, Scientist-F
Duration : Initially for 1 year. Extension will be provided based in performance in first year.
Essential Qualification : Ph.D in Biochemistry/ Biotechnology/Life Sciences, MD/MS/MDS or equivalent degree, or having 3 years of research, teaching, and design and development experience after VSc/M.Pharm/ME/M.Tech with at least one research paper in a Science Citation Indexed (SCI) journal.
Desirable Experience : Prior research or training experience in the field of bioinformatics related to agricultural sciences. Key Responsibilities: Selected candidate will work in close association with the PI on the project to understand the nutritional components diversity in wheat, their biosynthetic pathway, breeding and human health impact studies along with high-throughput sequencing data analysis, Taxonomic profiling and pattern analysis, Assembly, binning, Functional annotation and metabolic pathway reconstruction, Applying machine learning and AI algorithms for diverse applications, Assisting in preparation of research publications, reports, and presentations, project and lab management. Assist the project team in wet-lab project work.
Emoluments : As per DBT norms Rs. 58,000/- plus HRA per month (as applicable for Research Associate I) (As per DST OM No. DST/PCPM/Z-06/2022 dated 26.06.2023)
Age limit : 40 years for RA.
Contact Details : Project Investigator : Dr. Monika Garg, Scientist- F, BRIC-NABI, India Email: monikagarg@nabi.res.in,

Research Associate I (One position)
Project Title : Engineering Microbial Cell Factories for Enhanced Protein and Metabolite Production (under project entitled BRIC-NABI Biomanufacturing Center “Agri-Food Bio- Mug” (GAP-85)
Principle Investigators : Dr. Sandeep Kumar, Scientist-C, BRIC-NABI Duration: The position is purely temporary and co-terminus with the project (initially for one year, extendable based on performance and project continuation up to 2 years).
Essential Qualification : PhD in Biotechnology/Microbiology/Life Science/Biochemical Engineering, etc.
Key Responsibilities : 1. Engineer genetic circuits, metabolic pathways, and regulatory networks for targeted biological functions.
2. Develop and optimize microbial strains (e.g., Pichia pastoris, Yarrowia lipolytica, andSaccharomyces cerevisiae ) for high-yield production of proteins, enzymes, and metabolites through CRISPR/Cas genome editing, and promoter engineering.
3. Integrate synthetic biology designs with bioprocess optimization for lab-to-pilot scale translation..
Emoluments : As per DBT norms: Rs. 58,000/- plus HRA per month (as applicable for Research Associate I) (As per DST OM No. DST/PCPM/Z-06/2022 dated 26.06.2023)
Age limit : 40 years (Relaxation is admissible in the case of SC/ST/OBC/PD and women candidates as per GOI instructions)
Contact Details : Project Investigator : Dr. Sandeep Kumar, Scientist-C, NABI, India E-mail: kumarsandeep.sk@nabi.res.in

Research Associate-1 (RA-1) (One)
Project Title : “Development of nanomaterials-based biosensing platforms for food contaminants” (NABI CORE)
Principle Investigator : Dr. Vanish Kumar, Scientist-C
Duration : The RA fellowship is a purely temporary assignment and is tenable for a period of 1 year only, and depending upon the progress of the research, and the performance, the committee may recommend for further extension of tenure.
Essential Qualification : Ph.D. in any branch of Life Sciences or Biotechnology or in relevant field with at least two first author peer-reviewed research publications in Science Citation indexed (SCl) journals. Applicants with Ph.D. thesis submitted are also eligible and will receive SRF fellowship till award of the Ph.D.; upon completion of PhD, the fellowship will be converted to RA-I. Desirable Experience :
● Experience in the synthesis of advanced nanomaterial for food contaminants (e.g., heavy metal ions, pesticides, and pathogens) and development of advanced materials-based systems.
● Relevant research publications in peer-reviewed journals.
Responsibilities : Selected individual will play an important role in advancing this research, particularly through planning, designing, and performing experimental work. This individual will work on the development of sensing platforms by modifying nanomaterials surface with desired receptors, and evaluate the performance of the developed materials. Candidate is expected to help in coordinating the project and other existing projects in the lab. Candidate will also help in the collection of samples from field, preparation of reports for funding agencies and writing the manuscripts for publication.
Emoluments : Rs.58000 per month plus HRA (As per DST OM No. DST/PCPM/Z-06/2022 dated 26.06.2023)
Age limit : 40 years (Relaxation is admissible in the case of SC/ST/OBC/PD and women candidates as per GOI instructions)
Contact Details: - Project Investigator: Dr. Vanish Kumar, Scientist C, Email: - vanish.kumar@nabi.res.in;

Senior Research Fellow (01)
Project Title : “Genetic dissection of rancidity and goitrogenic c-glycosyl flavone biosynthesis genes to enhance the shelf-life and nutritional quality of pearl millet flour” (GAP-94)
Principle Investigator : Dr. Rupam Kumar Bhunia, Scientist-E
Duration : The initial appointment will be for a period of one year. Extension will be subject to the submission of a progress report and a subsequent evaluation of the candidate’s performance.
Essential Qualification : a. Postgraduate degree in Life Science/Biotechnology/Botany/Biochemistry.
b. Scholars who are selected through National Eligibility Tests-CSIR-UGC-NET, including Lectureship (Assistant Professorship) and GATE
c. The selection process via National-level examinations conducted by central government departments and their agencies and institutions such as DST, DBT, DAE, DOS, DRDO, MHRD, ICAR, ICMR, IIT, IISc, IISER etc.
d. Two years of research experience.
Desirable Experience : Hands-on experience in molecular biology and plant tissue culture, including Agrobacterium- mediated transformation, regeneration, and handling of transgenic plants.
Responsibilities : i. Identification of candidate genes ii. Transformation of CRISPR constructs
iii. Screening of edited lines and lipid analysis using GC
Emoluments : Rs. 42000/- per month plus HRA (As per DST OM No. DST/PCPM/Z-06/2022 dated 26.06.2023).
Age limit : 32 Years (Relaxation is admissible in case of SC/ST/OBC/PD as per GOI Instructions)
Contact Details: - Dr. Rupam Kumar Bhunia, Scientist-E, NABI, India Email: rupam.bh@nabi.res.in

Application Procedure & Other Conditions
1. All interested candidates may appear for Walk-In-Interview at National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute located at Knowledge city, Sector-81, Mohali, Punjab- 140306, on 08.01.2026 at 09:00 A.M. along with the duly filled application form available on the website nabi.res.in
2. Incomplete application forms and applications that are not in proper format may be summarily rejected.
3. The applications should be submitted strictly as per the prescribed format that can be downloaded from the NABI website.
4. Candidates applying for more than one post can give their preference by writing different designations in the same application form.
5. Candidates should ensure that information mentioned in the application form is accurate. Once the application form is submitted no further request regarding any changes/ information in the application form will be considered.
6. The duly filled application form must be submitted at the time of registration at NABI from 09:00 AM to 10:00 AM on 08.01.2026.
7. The candidates must ascertain their eligibility before applying, as ineligible candidates will not be interviewed.
8. All the candidates are requested to appear for a Walk-In interview with an application form, experience certificates, publications, and original degree certificates and transcripts.
9. Original mark sheets, certificates, award/fellowship, etc must be accomplished for verification at the time of the interview and attach one set of attested copies of the documents with the application form.
10. No TA/DA will be paid for appearing in the interview.
11. Canvassing in any form or bringing influence, political or otherwise, will lead to disqualification of the candidate(s).
12. Candidates should strictly adhere to guidelines issued by World Health Organization and Centre Govt/State Govt on Covid-19.
13. In the event of special circumstances, candidates may request the project investigator (via email) to conduct their interviews online. Such requests must be submitted well in advance, preferably at least one week prior to the scheduled interview date. However, the final decision will be taken by the selection committee to ascertain the special circumstances and allow the candidate (s) for an online interview. The Institute reserves the right to conduct the interview in online/offline mode.
14. Interview results will be published on the NABI website.

Walk-In-Interview at National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute located at Knowledge city, Sector-81, Mohali, Punjab- 140306, on 08.01.2026 at 09:00 A.M.