IIT Kanpur is recruiting for one Research Associate-I position in the Department of Mechanical Engineering under an ANRF-funded project titled "The science and design of robotic sandworms propulsion of deformable object through particulate media." This is a temporary research position and the initial appointment is for one year, with extension linked to performance.
The official eligibility route is a PhD or equivalent degree. Candidates with an ME or M.Tech can also apply if they have three years of research, teaching, or design and development experience after the degree along with at least one research paper in a Science Citation Indexed journal. The notice also gives a detailed list of desirable skills related to robotics, experimental systems, instrumentation, and programming.
Because aggregator pages can compress or simplify key details, it is better to follow the official IIT Kanpur advertisement for the exact salary, required documents, project context, and application instructions. This page organizes those points in a cleaner, practical format for applicants.
Recruitment overview
IIT Kanpur has announced one Research Associate-I vacancy in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. The position is linked to an ANRF-sponsored research project on robotic sandworm-inspired propulsion through particulate media.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Institute | Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur |
| Post | Research Associate-I |
| Department | Mechanical Engineering |
| Project | The science and design of robotic sandworms propulsion of deformable object through particulate media |
| Advertisement number | P.Rect./R&D/2026/069 |
| Total posts | 1 |
Important dates
The official recruitment listing shows the posting date and the last date clearly. Candidates should send the application before the deadline rather than waiting for the last day.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Posting date | 16 April 2026 |
| Last date to apply | 24 April 2026 |
Vacancy and post details
Only one position has been advertised. The post is Research Associate-I, which is a project-based research role rather than a permanent institute cadre appointment.
- Post name: Research Associate-I
- Number of posts: 1
- Nature of post: Temporary and contractual
- Department: Mechanical Engineering
- Work context: Robotics, mechanisms, experimentation, and particulate media research
Eligibility criteria
The minimum academic requirement in the official notice is specific and should be read carefully. Applicants can qualify through either a doctoral route or an ME or M.Tech route with added experience and publication requirements.
- PhD or equivalent degree, or
- ME or M.Tech with 3 years of research, teaching, or design and development experience after the degree and at least one research paper in a Science Citation Indexed journal
The advertisement does not mention a separate age limit or application fee.
Desirable experience and skills
The official advertisement gives a strong preference to candidates with practical robotics and experimental research experience. These points matter because the project appears to involve prototype building and laboratory validation, not only theoretical work.
- Hands-on experience in building and testing robotic systems, mechanisms, or experimental platforms
- Experience with actuators, sensors, embedded systems, and control of robotic platforms
- Laboratory experimentation, instrumentation, data acquisition, and analysis
- Programming exposure in MATLAB, Python, ROS, or similar tools
- Ability to independently design, build, troubleshoot, and improve experimental robotic prototypes
- Experience in field experiments, unconventional robotic platforms, or deformable and soft systems is especially useful
Salary and tenure
The official IIT Kanpur advertisement states a consolidated pay of Rs. 58,000. HRA is payable as per institute rules. The appointment is initially for one year and can be extended depending on performance.
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Consolidated salary | Rs. 58,000 per month |
| HRA | As per rules |
| Initial appointment period | 1 year |
| Extension | Possible, based on performance |
How to apply
The application process in the official notice is through email submission. Even though some aggregator pages use the phrase apply online, the advertisement itself asks candidates to send the application by email.
- Prepare your complete professional and academic record.
- Attach copies of relevant certificates.
- Add a detailed CV and work experience details.
- Send the application to Satya Prakash by email at beenamishraiitk@gmail.com.
- Make sure the email reaches before 24 April 2026.
Applicants should keep a copy of the sent email and attachments for reference.
Documents and details to include
The official notice specifically asks for the candidate's complete professional academic record, copies of certificates, detailed CV, and work experience. A practical application set should include the following:
- Updated CV
- Educational qualification certificates and mark sheets
- PhD award document or ME or M.Tech details, as applicable
- Experience certificates for research, teaching, or design and development work
- List of publications, especially SCI-indexed papers if applying through the ME or M.Tech route
- Any supporting details relevant to robotics, embedded systems, experimentation, or programming
Selection process and official remarks
The notice does not publish a long stage-by-stage recruitment process, but it clearly mentions that no TA or DA will be paid for attending the interview. That means shortlisted candidates should be prepared for interview-based assessment.
- The post is purely temporary.
- The appointment is contractual.
- No TA or DA will be paid for attending the interview.
- The official notice does not separately mention written test details.
What applicants should verify before sending the email
Before applying, candidates should match their profile with the exact research and skill requirements in the advertisement. This role is best suited to applicants with a strong research background and hands-on capability in experimental robotics and control systems.
- Check whether you meet the PhD or the ME or M.Tech plus experience route.
- Review whether your work aligns with robotics, sensors, embedded systems, and experimentation.
- Confirm that your CV clearly shows publications, projects, and relevant tools such as MATLAB, Python, or ROS.
- Recheck the deadline and the email address before sending the application.
- Read the official advertisement page once before final submission.
Official Links
Frequently Asked Questions
The last date mentioned in the official IIT Kanpur advertisement is 24 April 2026.
There is 1 vacancy for the Research Associate-I post.
Applicants need a PhD or equivalent degree, or an ME or M.Tech with 3 years of relevant experience after the degree and at least one SCI-indexed research paper.
The official advertisement states a consolidated salary of Rs. 58,000 per month plus HRA as per rules.
Candidates have to send their application, certificates, detailed CV, and work experience details by email to the address mentioned in the official notice.
No. The advertisement describes it as a temporary contractual post, initially for one year and extendable based on performance.
No application fee is mentioned in the official advertisement.