Biotechnology, Microbiology, or Life Sciences Fellowships at National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute

Application format, details of the vacancies etc. can be downloaded from the institute website: ciab.res.in under heading "Vacancies". National Agri-Food and Biomanufacturing Institute (Formerly Centre of Innovative and Applied Bioprocessing & National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute) is an autonomous national institute under Department of Biotechnology (Govt. of India). This futuristic innovation institute of its own kind in the country has a mission of advancing knowledge, leads and emerging technologies/processes relevant to agri-food sector towards applications and products. It aims to link them with societal benefits through catalysing/promoting entrepreneurial action around bioprocesses, bio-products, value-addition to bio products etc. with special reference to the agri-food sector.

Currently, the four major mandated R&D areas in hand at the institute are (A) Value Addition to Primary Processing Residues/ Wastes for Edible Products; (B) Valorisation of Crop Waste for Speciality Products and Chemicals; (C) Nutritionals, nutraceuticals and upgradation of value or use of bio-products, (D) Biosynthetic technology/synthetic biology for low volume-high value products and industrial enzymes. To support and steer this mission, the institute requires following temporary research positions on stipendiary / fellowship basis.

Post : Junior Research Fellow - Two (02) Posts

Project title : Catalytic transformation of lactose and enzymatic production of high- value biomolecules. The project will be carried out in collaboration with Gujarat Biotechnology University, Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
Duration of the project : Two years
Age Limit : 28 years
Fellowship : 37,000/- per month + HRA as admissible
Tenure : One year initially, extendable up to the project duration based on satisfactory performance, availability of funds, and institutional requirements.

Qualifications : M.Sc. in Biotechnology, Microbiology, or Life Sciences with NET/GATE qualification.
Principal Investigator : Dr. S. Saravanamurugan, Scientist - F
Desirable experience : Enzyme immobilisation, Downstream processing, Purification (and indirectly crystallisation through purification/analytical skills), Process optimisation, Lactose transformation, Biocatalysis, Microorganisms of fermented food origin (via fermentation/food microbiology), Scale-up production, Enzyme purification

Application Procedure
The interested candidates may send their filled-in application form (available on the institute’s website) along with self-attested photocopies of relevant education, experience, and caste (if applicable) certificates by e-mail only to: bricnabifellow@gmail.com latest by 07 August, 2026. Only shortlisted candidates will be called for interview through video- conferencing mode.
• Please note that no hard copy of the application is required at this stage.
Process of Engagement
The applications received will be screened by a committee for shortlisting the candidates for interview. The eligible applicants would be interviewed by a duly constituted committee through video-conferencing mode. The committee would recommend the candidates, if found suitable, for consideration of the competent authority for engagement on a purely Fellowship/Stipendiary basis. Provisions of registration for Ph.D exist at Universities/Institutes having MoU with CIAB subject to scholar’s tangible performance, promise, academic suitability, etc.

General Conditions
1. Incomplete applications and applications that are not in proper format may be summarily rejected.
2. The above research opportunities are open only to Indian Nationals.

Important
• The applications should be submitted in the prescribed format that can be downloaded from the CIAB website : ciab.res.in.
• Completed applications along with self-attested photocopies of all the relevant educational, experience, caste (if applicable) certificates should be sent by e-mail only to: bricnabifellow@gmail.com latest by 07 August, 2026.
• Please note that no hard copy of the application is required at this stage.
• All the positions are based at Mohali, Punjab, but some work may be assigned to be carried out at outstations also.
• Number of positions may vary.
• Relaxation of age for various categories (including women candidates) shall be as per rules of DST and other Government of India agencies.
• If in any area no suitable candidate is found, no selection would be made in that case.
• Candidates found eligible after scrutiny of applications shall be required to appear before a Selection Committee through video-conferencing mode. Kindly note that in case there are substantial number of applicants, the Executive Director, CIAB reserves the right to devise such criteria as deemed fit to shortlist the candidates for the interview. The decision of the Executive Director, CIAB shall be final and binding on all in this respect.