NIT Rourkela Project Fellow Recruitment 2026 overview
NIT Rourkela has advertised 4 Project Fellow positions for a research project in hardware security under the Information Security Education and Awareness project Phase III. The recruitment belongs to the Department of Computer Science and Engineering and is published through the Sponsored Research, Industrial Consultancy and Continuing Education Cell.
The official recruitment reference for this article is advertisement number NITR/SR/2025/Advt.-24CS021/L/130 dated 30 March 2026. This is important because the same project title also appears in another nearby advertisement on the official SRICCE page, but this specific notice is the one for 4 Project Fellow posts.
Important dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Advertisement date | 30 March 2026 |
| Last date to submit application | 15 April 2026 |
| Interview date | Will be notified later |
Candidates should avoid waiting for the last day because the application has to be compiled into a single PDF and sent by email with the required subject reference.
Vacancy, tenure and salary
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Post | Project Fellow |
| Number of posts | 04 |
| Tenure of post | 02 years, 00 months |
| Nature of appointment | Temporary and contractual |
| Project status | Co-terminus with the completion of the project |
| Salary | Rs 12,400 per month for Year 1 and Year 2 |
| HRA | Shown as NA in the official notice |
The notification separately shows the project closing date as 31 March 2029. However, the advertised tenure for this post itself is 2 years, so applicants should rely on the post tenure stated in the recruitment notice.
Project, department and contact details
The recruitment is for the project titled Information Security Education and Awareness project Phase III (Hardware Security). The department mentioned in the advertisement is Computer Science and Engineering.
The funding agency details in the notice are listed as CBSD, MeitY. The project code shown in the advertisement is SR/24/CS/021, with project closing date 31 March 2029.
- Principal Investigator: Prof. Shyamapada Mukherjee, Department of Computer Science and Engineering
- Co-Principal Investigator: Prof. Sujata Mahanty, Department of Computer Science and Engineering
- Official contact emails mentioned in the notice: mukherjees@nitrkl.ac.in and sujatam@nitrkl.ac.in
Eligibility criteria
The official notice sets out a specific academic profile for applicants. The minimum qualification is B.E. or B.Tech. in CSE, IT, ECE or a related discipline, or MCA, or M.Sc. in an appropriate branch of science.
Candidates must also have secured at least 6.5 CGPA on a 10-point scale or at least 60% marks in the qualifying B.E. or B.Tech. or equivalent examination. In addition, the advertisement clearly states that PCM, meaning Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, must have been studied in Classes 11 and 12.
The desirable qualification line in the notification states that candidates should be GATE qualified.
Age limit and relaxation
The upper age limit for applying is 28 years as on the last date of receipt of applications.
- Relaxation up to 5 years is available for SC, ST, PwD and female candidates.
- Relaxation up to 3 years is available for OBC non-creamy layer candidates.
The notification also says that the upper age limit will be reckoned on the last date of receipt of applications.
Work area and role expectations
The job description in the official advertisement indicates that the selected candidates may work in research areas connected to hardware security and advanced computing systems.
- MS by Research or M.Tech by Research related work
- Design and implementation of secure hardware architectures on FPGA platforms
- Development and evaluation of machine learning and deep learning models for side-channel attack detection, hardware Trojan identification, and fault injection resilience
This means the role is not a generic project support post. The work is strongly tied to research in secure hardware and applied AI for security analysis.
Selection process
The official notice says mere possession of the minimum qualification does not guarantee an interview call. Candidates will be short-listed based on merit and the need of the project.
The notification further states that only short-listed candidates will be informed for the interview. The SRICCE project fellowship page shows the interview date for this advertisement as will be notified later.
Applicants should therefore expect an initial screening stage followed by an interview round only for shortlisted candidates.
How to apply
The application process is email based. Candidates have to fill and sign the prescribed NIT Rourkela project application form and send it along with supporting documents as a single PDF file.
The advertisement instructs candidates to send the application by email to the investigators mentioned in the notice. The subject line should carry the advertisement reference. No hard copy of the application is required to be sent to the institute.
- Prepare the filled and signed application form
- Attach supporting academic and other relevant documents
- Combine them into one PDF file
- Email the PDF before 15 April 2026
Documents required and what is not yet announced
As per the official advertisement, candidates should send the filled and signed application with documents regarding educational qualification, percentage of marks or division, mark sheets or certificates, research papers if any, and work experience certificate if any.
The official application form also asks for standard personal and academic details, including contact information, academic history from HSC onward, GATE or NET score details where applicable, experience, and publication record.
The following points are still not announced in the official recruitment notice:
- Exact interview date and time
- Shortlist publication date
- Joining date
- Any separate admit card or hall ticket process
If NIT Rourkela releases an update, candidates should check the official SRICCE project fellowship page and the advertisement notice link again.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Project Fellow posts are available in NIT Rourkela Recruitment 2026?
The official notification advertises 4 Project Fellow posts.
What is the last date to apply for NIT Rourkela Project Fellow Recruitment 2026?
The last date to submit the application is 15 April 2026.
What qualifications are required for the NIT Rourkela Project Fellow post?
Applicants need B.E. or B.Tech. in CSE, IT, ECE or a related discipline, or MCA, or M.Sc. in an appropriate science branch, along with the prescribed marks or CGPA requirement.
Is GATE qualification required for the Project Fellow post?
The official notice lists GATE qualified as the desirable qualification.
What is the salary for NIT Rourkela Project Fellow Recruitment 2026?
The advertised salary is Rs 12,400 per month for Year 1 and Year 2. HRA is shown as NA in the notice.
How do I apply for the NIT Rourkela Project Fellow post?
You have to send the filled and signed application form with supporting documents as a single PDF by email to the contacts given in the official notice.
Has NIT Rourkela announced the interview date for the Project Fellow recruitment?
No. The official SRICCE page states that the interview date will be notified later.