CDRI October Interview 2026 for Pharma, Chemistry, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Life Sciences candidates

CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow is a premier institute functioning under the aegis of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), an autonomous body functioning under the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India.

Walk-in-interview for engagement of Project Staff under different Projects are to be held in CSIR-CDRL Lucknow. Walk-In- Interview for position code 001 to 009 (Chemical Sciences area) will be held on 07.10.2026 and for the position code 010 to 023 (Life Sciences area) will be held on 08.10.2026 from 09:00 am onwards as per the details given.

Project Associate-I (PAT-I) — 01 Position
Position Code : 001
Essential qualifications : Master in Chemistry OR M. Pharm in Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Desirable qualifications : Experience in organic synthesis
Stipend : Rs. 25,000 + 20% HRA p.m.
Upper Age limit : 35 Years
Title & Tenure of the project : CSIR-CDRI ULIP (MPL002605) “Discovery and Development of Therapeutics for nationally important diseases with global impact.” Under Work Package 10.2 “Electrochemically Promoted Transition Metal-Catalyzed Arylaive Functionalization of Alkynes”. Tenure upto: 31.03.2027

Project Associate-I (PAT-I) — 01 Position
Position Code : 002
Essential qualifications : M. Sc. Chemistry / M. Pharm in Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Desirable qualifications : Experience in Organic Synthesis
Stipend : (i) Rs. 31,000 + 20% HRA p.m. to scholars selected through (a) National Eligibility Tests — CSIR-UGC NET including lectureship (Assistant Professorship) or GATE or (b) a selection process through National level examinations conducted by Central Government Departments and their Agencies and Institutions. (ii) Rs. 25,000 + 20% HRA for others who do not fall under (i) above
Upper Age limit : 35 Years
Title & Tenure of the project : CSIR (FBR030411) “Assessing Medicinally Relevant Scaffolds via Electrochemical Diversification of Alkenes and Alkynes.” Tenure upto: 31.03.2028

Project Associate-I — 03 Positions
Position Code : 003
Essential qualifications : M.Sc. in Chemistry/Chemical Sciences/Pharmaceutical Chemistry/Pharmaceutical Sciences and qualified CSIR-UGC/ICAR/ICMR NET incl. lectureship/assistant professorship or GATE OR those who have qualified National level examinations conducted by Central Government Department like DBT/DST or equivalent and/or their Agencies/Institutions
Desirable qualifications : Experience in Organic Synthesis
Stipend : Rs. 31,000 + 20% HRA p.m.
Upper Age limit : 35 Years
Title & Tenure of the project : DST (GAP0439) “Creation of Nodal Centers for development and production of key starting materials, intermediates and other raw materials that are required by the Health Care sector.” Tenure upto: 31.03.2027

Project Associate-II — 01 Position
Position Code : 004
Essential qualifications : M.Sc. in Chemistry/Chemical Sciences/Pharmaceutical Chemistry/Pharmaceutical Sciences with two years’ research experience and qualified CSIR-UGC/ICAR/ICMR NET incl. lectureship/assistant professorship or GATE OR those who have qualified National level examinations conducted by Central Government Department like DBT/DST or equivalent and/or their Agencies/Institutions
Desirable qualifications : Experience in Organic Synthesis
Stipend : Rs. 35,000 + 20% HRA p.m.
Upper Age limit : 35 Years
Title & Tenure of the project : DST (GAP0439) “Creation of Nodal Centers for development and production of key starting materials, intermediates and other raw materials that are required by the Health Care sector.” Tenure upto: 31.03.2027

Project Associate-I — 01 Position
Position Code : 005
Essential qualifications : M. Sc./M. Tech in Chemistry or M. Pharm in Medicinal Chemistry
Desirable qualifications : >55% marks in M. Sc. or M. Pharm (Organic Chemistry/Medicinal Chemistry/Pharmaceutical major) or equivalent CGPA
Stipend : (i) Rs. 37,000 + 20% HRA p.m. to scholars selected through (a) National Eligibility Tests — CSIR-UGC NET including lectureship (Assistant Professorship) or GATE or (b) a selection process through National level examinations conducted by Central Government Departments and their Agencies and Institutions. (ii) Rs. 30,000 + 20% HRA for others who do not fall under (i) above
Upper Age limit : 50 Years
Title & Tenure of the project : ANRF (GAP0460) “Stereoselective Synthesis of Diverse Sp3-rich Polycyclic Scaffolds: Generation of High valued New Molecular Entities (NMEs) for GPCR Modulators.” Tenure upto: 22.02.2027

Project Associate-I (PAT-I) — 01 Position
Position Code : 006
Essential qualifications : M.Sc. in Chemistry/M. Pharm in Chemistry and qualified CSIR-UGC/ICAR/ICMR NET incl. lectureship/assistant professorship or GATE OR those who have qualified National level examinations conducted by Central Government Department like DBT/DST or equivalent and/or their Agencies/Institutions
Desirable qualifications : Experience in Organic Synthesis
Stipend : Rs. 31,000 + 20% HRA p.m.
Upper Age limit : 35 Years
Title & Tenure of the project : CSIR (MMP035203) “Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients for Affordable Health Care.” Tenure upto: 31.03.2028

Project Associate-I (PAT-I) — 01 Position
Position Code : 007
Essential qualifications : Master's degree in Chemical Sciences and qualified CSIR-UGC/ICAR/ICMR NET incl. lectureship/assistant professorship or GATE OR those who have qualified National level examinations conducted by Central Government Department like DBT/DST or equivalent and/or their Agencies/Institutions.
Desirable qualifications : Research Experience in Organic Synthesis and Medicinal Chemistry
Stipend : Rs. 31,000 + 20% HRA p.m.
Upper Age limit : 35 Years
Title & Tenure of the project : CSIR-CDRI ULIP (MPL002605) “Discovery and Development of Therapeutics for nationally important diseases with global impact.” Under Work Package 4.7 “S-011-1793 (Anti-malaria) synthesis”. Tenure upto: 31.03.2027
Project Associate-I (PAT-I) — 01 Position
Position Code : 008
Essential qualifications : M.Sc. in Chemistry/Chemical Sciences/Pharmaceutical Chemistry/Pharmaceutical Sciences
Desirable qualifications : Experience in Organic Synthesis
Stipend : Rs. 25,000 + 20% HRA p.m.
Upper Age limit : 35 Years
Title & Tenure of the project : CSIR-CDRI ULIP (MPL002605) “Discovery and Development of Therapeutics for nationally important diseases with global impact.” Under Work Package 8.7 “EZH2 inhibitor for cancer”. Tenure upto: 31.03.2027

Project Assistant — 02 Positions
Position Code : 009
Essential qualifications : B.Sc. with Chemistry as one of the subjects
Desirable qualifications : Experience of working in a Chemistry lab
Stipend : Rs. 20,000 + 20% HRA p.m.
Upper Age limit : 50 Years
Title & Tenure of the project : Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), (GAP0500) “Towards Discovery and Development of Novel Drugs and Pharmaceuticals (Deep Ocean Mission)” Tenure upto: 26.01.2027

Research Associate-I — 01 Position
Position Code : 010
Name & Number of Positions :
Essential qualifications : Ph.D. in Biochemistry/Biotechnology/Life Sciences or Equivalent.
Desirable qualifications : 1. At least one publication in SCI Journal as First Author. 2. Experience in working with C. elegans.
Stipend : Rs. 47,000 + 16% HRA p.m.
Upper Age limit : 40 Years
Title & Tenure of the project : Ministry of AYUSH (GAP0481) “Centre of Excellence for Fundamental and Translational Research in Ayurveda at Central.” Tenure upto: 25.03.2027

Senior Research Fellow (Project) — 01 Position
Position Code : 011
Name & Number of Positions :
Essential qualifications : M.Sc. degree in basic science, life science or equivalent and Scholars selected through National eligibility test Like NET, GATE etc and 2 year of research experience
Desirable qualifications : Experience in cell based/animal studies.
Stipend : Rs. 35,000 + 16% HRA p.m.
Upper Age limit : 35 Years
Title & Tenure of the project : Ministry of AYUSH (GAP0481) “Centre of Excellence for Fundamental and Translational Research in Ayurveda at Central.” Tenure upto: 25.03.2027

Project Associate-I (PAT-I) — 01 Position
Position Code : 012
Essential qualifications : Masters in Biological/Life Sciences and qualified CSIR-UGC/ICAR/ICMR NET incl. lectureship/assistant professorship or GATE OR those who have qualified National level examinations conducted by Central Government Departments like DBT/DST or equivalent and/or their Agencies/Institutions.
Desirable qualifications : Basic cell biology laboratory techniques
Stipend : Rs. 31,000 + 20% HRA p.m.
Upper Age limit : 35 Years
Title & Tenure of the project : CSIR-CDRI ULIP (MPL002605) “Discovery and Development of Therapeutics for nationally important diseases with global impact.” Under Work Package 7.1 “Small molecule/peptide inhibitors of Sclerostin.” Tenure upto: 31.03.2027

Project Associate-I (PAT-I) — 01 Position
Position Code : 013
Essential qualifications : MSc. in Life Sciences/Biological Sciences and qualified CSIR-UGC/ICMR NET incl. lectureship/assistant professorship or GATE OR those who have qualified National level examinations conducted by Central Government Departments like DBT/DST or equivalent and/or their Agencies/Institutions.
Desirable qualifications : M.Sc. in Life Sciences/Biological Sciences with hands-on experience in mammalian cell culture, parasite culture, molecular cloning, molecular biology techniques, including PCR and immunoblotting, as well as experience in laboratory animal handling.
Stipend : Rs. 31,000 + 20% HRA p.m.
Upper Age limit : 35 Years
Title & Tenure of the project : CSIR-CDRI ULIP (MPL002605) “Discovery and Development of Therapeutics for nationally important diseases with global impact.” Under Work Package 4.1 Validation of L. donovani ubiquitinating enzymes (Ld-DUB10 & Ld-DUB11). Tenure upto: 31.03.2027

Project Associate-I — 01 Position
Position Code : 014
Essential qualifications : M.Sc. in Life Sciences with NET or GATE qualification
Desirable qualifications : Experience in rodents dosing, neurobehavioral assays and cell culture works. Minimum 60% Marks in M.Sc. in Life Sciences
Stipend : Rs. 31,000 + 20% HRA p.m.
Upper Age limit : 35 Years
Title & Tenure of the project : BFI-BIOME (GAP0497) “Development of peripheral and biased kappa opioid receptor agonist SB/CDRI/105 for chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathic pain.” Tenure upto: 31.03.2027

Project Associate-I — 01 Position
Position Code : 015
Essential qualifications : Master's Degree in any life science subject and qualified CSIR-UGC/ICAR/ICMR NET incl. lectureship/assistant professorship or GATE OR those who have qualified National level examinations conducted by Central Government Department like DBT/DST or equivalent and/or their Agencies/Institutions.
Desirable qualifications : Phd, M.Pharm, MSc
Stipend : Rs. 31,000 + 20% HRA p.m.
Upper Age limit : 35 Years
Title & Tenure of the project : Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), (GAP0500) “Towards Discovery and Development of Novel Drugs and Pharmaceuticals (Deep Ocean Mission)” Tenure upto: 26.01.2027

Project Associate-I (PAT-I) — 01 Position
Position Code : 016
Essential qualifications : M.Sc. in Life Sciences and equivalent relevant areas and qualified CSIR-UGC/ICAR/ICMR NET incl. lectureship/assistant professorship or GATE OR those who have qualified National level examinations conducted by Central Government Department like DBT/DST or equivalent and/or their Agencies/Institutions.
Desirable qualifications : Prior experience and hands on in protein biology such as protein purification and characterization.
Stipend : Rs. 31,000 + 20% HRA p.m.
Upper Age limit : 35 Years
Title & Tenure of the project : CSIR (NCP070401) “Pathogen-Targeted High-Resolution Functional and Inhibitor Development Exploration Research” (PATHFINDER). Tenure upto: 31.03.2028

Project Associate-I (PAT-I) — 01 Position
Position Code : 017
Essential qualifications : Master degree in Life Sciences
Desirable qualifications : Experience in animal handling, dosing, blood collection, histopathology. The candidate should also have expertise in animal genotyping.
Stipend : Rs. 25,000 + 20% HRA p.m.
Upper Age limit : 35 Years
Title & Tenure of the project : CSIR FIRST (FIR070405) “Determine the role of host poroxetine in regulating intra-organellar cholesterol shuttling during Salmonella infection.” Tenure upto: 31.03.2028

Project Associate-I — 01 Position
Position Code : 018
Essential qualifications : Masters in Microbiology / biotechnology
Desirable qualifications : Working experience in Microbiology / biotechnology research
Stipend : Rs. 25,000 + 20% HRA p.m.
Upper Age limit : 35 Years
Title & Tenure of the project : Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), (GAP0500) “Towards Discovery and Development of Novel Drugs and Pharmaceuticals (Deep Ocean Mission)” Tenure upto: 26.01.2027

Project Research Scientist-I (Non-Medical) — 01 Position
Position Code : 019
Essential qualifications : Post Graduate Degree, including the equivalent PG degree (Life Sciences or degree in Biology streams)
Desirable qualifications : Experience in Molecular cloning, genetic manipulation, cell culture, animal handling, mosquito dissection, FACS etc.
Stipend : Rs. 56,000 + 20% HRA p.m.
Upper Age limit : 35 Years
Title & Tenure of the project : ICMR (GAP0524) “Multi-stage Vaccine Candidate for Prevention of Plasmodium vivax Infection in Humans and Blocking Mosquito Development to Minimize its Community Transmission.” Tenure upto: 28.02.2027

Project Technical Support-II — 01 Position
Position Code : 020
Essential qualifications : Three Years Graduate degree in relevant subject field + two years’ experience in relevant subject
Desirable qualifications : Experience in mosquito and animal handling.
Stipend : Rs. 20,000 + 20% HRA p.m.
Upper Age limit : 30 Years
Title & Tenure of the project : ICMR (GAP0524) “Multi-stage Vaccine Candidate for Prevention of Plasmodium vivax Infection in Humans and Blocking Mosquito Development to Minimize its Community Transmission.” Tenure upto: 28.02.2027

Project Technical Support-III — 01 Position
Position Code : 021
Essential qualifications : Three years graduate degree in Science + three year post qualification experience OR PG in Life Sciences or any Biology streams.
Desirable qualifications : Experience in mammalian cell culture, molecular biology techniques (protein and RNA isolation, qPCR, western blotting, cloning etc.).
Stipend : Rs. 28,000 + 20% HRA p.m.
Upper Age limit : 35 Years
Title & Tenure of the project : ICMR (GAP0524) “Multi-stage Vaccine Candidate for Prevention of Plasmodium vivax Infection in Humans and Blocking Mosquito Development to Minimize its Community Transmission.” Tenure upto: 28.02.2027

Project Assistant-II (PA-II) — 01 Position
Position Code : 022
Essential qualifications : B.Sc. in Life Sciences
Desirable qualifications : Not specified
Stipend : Rs. 20,000 + 20% HRA p.m.
Upper Age limit : 35 Years
Title & Tenure of the project : CSIR-CDRI ULIP (MPL002605) “Discovery and Development of Therapeutics for nationally important diseases with global impact.” Tenure upto: 31.03.2031

Project Assistant-II (PA-II) — 01 Position
Position Code : 023
Name & Number of Positions :
Essential qualifications : B.Sc. OR 3 Yr Diploma in Engineering/Technology
Desirable qualifications : M.Sc. in Life Sciences with minimum 55% marks with CSIR-NET-LS OR M.Sc. in Life Sciences with minimum 55% marks and 2 years of experience in the area of Biochemistry, Immunology, Molecular Biology.
Stipend : Rs. 20,000 + 20% HRA p.m.
Upper Age limit : 35 Years
Title & Tenure of the project : CSIR (HPC0047) “Phenome India-CSIR Health Cohort Knowledgebase.” Tenure upto: 31.03.2027

General Conditions
1. The relaxation in the age limit for the candidates belonging to the category of SC/ST/PwBD/Women and the Category of OBC shall be 05 years and 03 years respectively or as per Govt, of India instructions issued in this regard from time to time.
2. Suitable Candidates may be empanelled for future requirement if any, under different projects.
3. The date for determining age/qualification and experience shall be the date of interview.
4.Your Total Period of engagement under one project and/or different laboratories of CSIR, cumulatively taken together shall not exceed 6 years, unless otherwise provided for under these guidelines. However, you shall be allowed to continue beyond 6 years only in case of contract/consultancy/sponsored projects funded by Public Sector Undertaking (PSUs), Industries, Start-ups and Individual entrepreneurs, that are of 12 months or less duration. In such an event, you’re the total period of engagement under one project and/or combination of different projects, either in the same laboratory and/or different laboratories of CSIR cumulatively taken together shall not exceed 7 years.
5. The above positions are purely temporary and co-terminus with the aforementioned projects. The engagement in these projects will not confer any right implicit or explicit on the candidate for consideration for higher degree or regularization permanent employment against any CSIR-CDRI post(s).
6. Project personnel engaged as per these guidelines shall be eligible to medical facilities at CSIR dispensaries of the institute, to the extent of consultation and/or available medicines at the dispensary and transport facilities, if any, as per the term and conditions with which it is provided by the Institute.
7. Project personnel engaged in the projects may be covered under Group Medical Insurance Scheme, subject to their willingness, for which the cost shall be borne by the individual concerned.
8. Women project personnel shall be eligible for maternity leave of 180 days and the male project personnel shall be eligible for paternity leave of 15 days only in case of two surviving children as per CSIR norms. Further, the Project Staff shall be paid the stipend for the period of aforesaid leave only after re-joining the office after availing such leave and submission of relevant medical reports/documents.
9. The project personnel are entitled to avail leaves as per extant rules of CSIR i.e., 12 days of leave (at the rate of one-day leave per month). Any leave availed beyond this shall be without emoluments calculated pro-rata.
10. The project personnel may be allowed to register for higher degree (i.e., Ph.D.) as per the policy of the Institute, if they fulfill all the requirements laid down for such purposes, provided that the project duration is at least 3 years or more, apart from any other conditions laid down by the concerned Institute/Laboratory. The permission to register for PhD is subject to the condition that the work of the project is not affected and it will be without any financial obligation to CSIR/Project. The tenure of the project personnel shall not be extended merely on the ground that he/she has not completed the Ph.D.

11. The number of positions against the various projects/Scheme can vary at the time of selection depending on the requirement of the institute.
12. Position Code will be cancelled if funds are not available in the advertised concerned projects.
13. The Director, CSIR-CDRI has discretion to increase or decrease the number of positions or cancel the recruitment process at any stage.
14. Interim queries will not be entertained.

Timing:- Eligible Candidates are required to report for the Walk-In-Interview for position code 001 to 009 (Chemical Sciences area) on 07.10.2026 and for Position Code 010 to 023 (Life Sciences are) on 08.10.2026 from 09:00 am onwards. Candidates reporting after 10:00 A.M will not be entertained. The eligible candidates may appear before the Selection Committee for interview on the date and time mentioned above at CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Sector 10, Jankipuram Extension, Sitapur Road, Lucknow-226031.

No TA/DA will be paid to the candidates for attending the interview.
Note:- Candidates who fulfils the requisite qualification and age will be allowed to appear before the Selection Committee for interview. Written test in the subject area will be held, if required, to shortlist candidates for the interview on the same day depending upon the number of candidates. The interview may be continued for the subsequent days also, therefore candidates coming from outstations are requested to make their own arrangements accordingly.

Eligible candidates must bring with them a duly filled application & undertaking (which can be downloaded from our website cdri.res.in with original & self-attested copies of mark sheets/certificates etc. along with a recent passport size photograph. Tentative mark sheets/certificates and ‘result awaited’ will not be considered. Any experience certificate to project personnel shall be issued by the Administration of the concerned Laboratory/Institute. However, any other recommendation letter of reference letter shall be issued by the Principal Investigator/Project Leader in all cases Project Manager and such letter shall not commit on any administrative aspects. For project Manager, such recommendation or reference letter shall be issued by the Director/Head of the Laboratory/Institute.