Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology Allahabad has released a project-based recruitment notice for one Research Associate-I position in the Department of Biotechnology. This is not a regular institute recruitment cycle for permanent posts. It is a temporary research appointment tied to a specific sponsored project titled "Plant growth-promoting bacteria as bioinoculants for combating drought stress in long bean (Vigna unguiculata ssp. sesquipedalis)".
For applicants searching this topic, the important points are straightforward: there is 1 vacancy, the application is to be submitted in prescribed format by email, the deadline is 01 May 2026 by 5:00 PM, and the role is meant for candidates with a Ph.D. or an eligible M.Tech profile with research or teaching experience and at least one SCI journal publication. The position is linked to research work in plant microbe interaction, NGS data analysis, and computational biology tools.
This article is structured to help you quickly check the official eligibility, fellowship amount, tenure, selection flow, documents, and practical application steps. It also highlights the parts that usually confuse candidates in project recruitment, such as whether there is a written exam, how shortlisting happens, and what has to be carried at the interview stage.
Recruitment Overview
MNNIT Allahabad has invited applications from Indian nationals for the post of Research Associate-I on contract in the Department of Biotechnology. The vacancy is connected to a sponsored research project and is not a permanent institute appointment.
The official project title is "Plant growth-promoting bacteria as bioinoculants for combating drought stress in long bean (Vigna unguiculata ssp. sesquipedalis)". The notice states that the project is sanctioned vide letter no. CRD/2022/000585 dated 23 February 2024 from AISTDF Secretariat, SERB, New Delhi.
Post, Vacancy and Project Details
There is 1 vacancy for the post of Research Associate-I. The role is based in the Biotechnology Department of MNNIT Allahabad, Prayagraj.
The project work is research-oriented and the notice specifically mentions plant microbe interaction, NGS data analysis, and computational biology tools. It also notes that previous experience in plant growth promoting bacterial studies will be considered suitable. The project may involve international visits to ASEAN collaborators.
Important Date and Application Mode
The official last date for submission of application is 01 May 2026 up to 5:00 PM. Candidates should not treat this as a general online portal deadline because the notice describes the process as submission of the prescribed application format along with scanned supporting documents by email.
The soft copy of the completed application has to be sent to Dr. Ashutosh Mani at amani@mnnit.ac.in with the subject line "Application for RA-I (on contract) in SERB Project" before the deadline.
Eligibility and Minimum Qualification
The essential qualification is a Ph.D. in Bioinformatics, Biotechnology, Life Sciences, Biochemistry, Plant Genomics, Molecular Biology, or another relevant discipline suitable to the proposed work. Candidates with an M.Tech degree in the above-mentioned or closely related fields are also eligible if they have at least three years of research or teaching experience and at least one publication in a Science Citation Index journal.
This means applicants should not look only at the degree title. The field relevance to the project matters, especially because the work involves biological data analysis and plant-related research. Candidates should match both the academic background and the project-fit requirements before applying.
Fellowship, HRA and Tenure
The fellowship for the Research Associate-I post is Rs. 58,000 per month. In addition, HRA is admissible as per funding agency guidelines.
The appointment is temporary and contractual. The notice states that the appointment will be made on contract basis for a period till 04 September 2026 only. The position is governed by the funding agency rules and the service conditions of the Office of the Dean, Research and Consultancy, MNNIT Allahabad.
Age Limit and Relaxation
The age limit is to be followed as per SERB guidelines. The official notice does not mention a single fixed age number in the publicly visible summary available through the institute listing.
If you are applying under any category-based relaxation or other permitted relaxation under the funding rules, it is sensible to keep supporting documents ready so that the claim can be verified during screening or interview.
Selection Process and Shortlisting
The notice indicates a shortlist-based process rather than open interview for every applicant. Candidates will be shortlisted on the basis of merit and the requirement of the project.
Shortlisted candidates will be informed by email about the interview date. The recruitment notice does not mention any written examination, admit card process, or separate application fee. Because of that, applicants should focus on submitting a complete application, project-relevant CV, and strong supporting record rather than expecting a standard exam cycle.
How to Apply
- Download or prepare the prescribed application format as per the official notice.
- Fill in personal, academic, research, and experience details carefully.
- Attach scanned copies of supporting documents, including qualification records and publications where applicable.
- Send the completed application by email to amani@mnnit.ac.in.
- Use the subject line exactly as instructed in the notice: "Application for RA-I (on contract) in SERB Project".
- Ensure the email reaches before 01 May 2026, 5:00 PM.
Candidates already working in private, government, or any other organization should be prepared to submit a No Objection Certificate from the employer at the interview stage.
Documents to Keep Ready
Applicants should keep their updated CV, degree certificates, mark sheets, proof of research or teaching experience, publication details, and category certificate if applicable ready in scanned form for application submission. Since the post allows M.Tech candidates with specific experience and SCI publication criteria, those applicants should clearly attach evidence for both experience and publication.
Shortlisted candidates will need to present themselves for interview with original documents and attested photocopies of mark sheets and certificates supporting their academic qualifications. It is also practical to keep any research summary, thesis title, and project-relevant software or domain exposure details ready for discussion.
What the Institute Expects From the Role
This is not a generic research post. The project expects work in plant microbe interaction, NGS data analysis, and computational biology tools. That means applicants with only a broad life sciences background but no direct fit to these areas may find the shortlist stage competitive.
The notice also mentions that prior experience in plant growth promoting bacterial studies will be considered suitable. So candidates should make that relevance explicit in their CV and application email instead of assuming the selection committee will infer it from degree names alone.
Important Conditions Before You Apply
The institute has stated that merely possessing the prescribed qualification does not ensure that a candidate will be called for interview. It also reserves the right to relax qualification and experience for otherwise exceptional candidates and to consider candidates based on project needs.
No TA or DA will be paid for appearing in the interview. Candidates are also responsible for the authenticity of the information, documents, and photographs submitted. Because this is a project post, applicants should treat accuracy and document completeness as essential, not optional.
Official Links
Frequently Asked Questions
There is 1 post of Research Associate-I in the Department of Biotechnology.
The official last date is 01 May 2026 up to 5:00 PM.
Applicants need a Ph.D. in a relevant field, or an M.Tech in a relevant field with at least 3 years of research or teaching experience and one SCI journal publication.
The fellowship is Rs. 58,000 per month plus admissible HRA as per funding agency guidelines.
The official notice describes submission of the prescribed application format and supporting documents by email rather than a regular online recruitment portal.
No written exam is mentioned in the official notice. Candidates are to be shortlisted on merit and project requirements and then called for interview.
The appointment is contractual and is stated to be till 04 September 2026 only.