IISER Pune JRF & Project Associate-II Recruitment 2026 — 2 Posts, Apply Online by 18 Aug (Maharashtra)

IISER Pune JRF & Project Associate-II Recruitment 2026 is out — the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Pune, an institute of national importance under the Ministry of Education, has released Advertisement No. 65/2026 announcing 2 government job vacancies for Junior Research Fellow and Project Associate-II. Candidates holding a Master's degree in Biotechnology/Microbiology/Botany/Life Sciences with a valid national-level test score, or a Master's in Natural/Agricultural Sciences with 1 year of R&D experience, are eligible to apply for IISER Pune Recruitment 2026. Selected candidates will support plant molecular biology and biotechnology research at IISER Pune, with preference given to candidates with experience in Plant Tissue Culture, Plant Transformation, recombinant DNA technology, cloning, and CRISPR-mediated genome editing. The selection process for IISER Pune JRF & Project Associate-II 2026 consists of shortlisting of candidates, followed by document verification and an interview. The salary is ₹37,000 per month plus 27% HRA for JRF, and ₹33,000 per month plus 30% HRA for Project Associate-II — a strong opportunity for life sciences postgraduates seeking research experience at a premier science education and research institute. The IISER Pune JRF & Project Associate-II 2026 online application closes on 18 August 2026. No application fee is required for any category. Candidates must apply using the separate Google Form links provided for each post, and should read the complete official notification PDF before applying, since eligibility and preferred experience differ between the JRF and Project Associate-II positions.

Candidates applying for Junior Research Fellow must hold a Master's degree in Biotechnology, Microbiology, Botany, Life Sciences, or related areas, or a B.Tech/BS or equivalent degree in any other relevant quantitative field, along with a valid CSIR-NET/GATE/DBT-JRF or any other National Level Test score conducted by Central Government Departments and their agencies/Institutions. Candidates with demonstrated work experience in Plant Tissue Culture, Plant Transformation, recombinant DNA tools, and CRISPR-mediated genome editing will be preferred. Candidates applying for Project Associate-II must hold a Master's degree in Natural Sciences, Biotechnology, Microbiology, or Agricultural Sciences from a recognised University or equivalent, with 1 year of relevant R&D experience in academic institutions. Candidates with experience in plant molecular biology, recombinant DNA technology, cloning, plant transformation, and tissue culture techniques, and having published a primary research paper in a peer-reviewed international journal, will be preferred.

• Junior Research Fellow: Maximum 28 years
• Project Associate-II: Maximum 35 years
• Age relaxation may be considered for candidates with qualification and experience higher than advertised, with prior approval of the competent authority

• JRF: Master's in Biotechnology/Microbiology/Botany/Life Sciences, or B.Tech/BS in a relevant quantitative field, with valid CSIR-NET/GATE/DBT-JRF or equivalent national-level test score
• Project Associate-II: Master's in Natural/Biotechnology/Microbiology/Agricultural Sciences, with 1 year of R&D experience in academic institutions
• JRF: Maximum age 28 years; Project Associate-II: Maximum age 35 years, with possible relaxation for higher qualification/experience
• No application fee for any category
• Preference given to candidates with plant molecular biology, recombinant DNA, tissue culture, or CRISPR experience
• These are temporary, contractual research positions at IISER Pune

No application fee has been mentioned in the official IISER Pune Recruitment 2026 notification for any category of candidates.

• Junior Research Fellow: ₹37,000 per month plus 27% HRA
• Project Associate-II: ₹33,000 per month plus 30% HRA
• These are temporary, contractual research positions at IISER Pune

1. Visit the official IISER Pune website at iiserpune.ac.in to locate the JRF & Project Associate-II Recruitment 2026 notification (Advt No. 65/2026)
2. Download and carefully read the complete official notification PDF to confirm the exact eligibility for your chosen post
3. Access the correct online application Google Form: use the JRF-specific link for Junior Research Fellow, or the Project Associate-II-specific link for that post
4. Fill the application form carefully with personal, educational, and experience details
5. Upload scanned copies of required documents, including educational certificates, national-level test scorecard (for JRF), experience certificates, and published research paper proof (if applicable)
6. Review all entered details carefully before final submission
7. Submit the completed application form before the last date of 18 August 2026
8. Take a screenshot or save a confirmation of the submitted Google Form response for future reference
9. Monitor your registered email regularly for any communication regarding shortlisting
10. Prepare all original documents and certificates for verification if shortlisted for interview