ICMR-NITVAR Project Research Scientist I Recruitment 2026

1. Walk-In Schedule & Venue Details

Candidates aiming to secure this prestigious research role must strictly adhere to the designated time frames. ICMR-NITVAR management explicitly states that punctuality is paramount; late arrivals will not be entertained or permitted into the screening areas under any circumstances.

2. Post Details, Vacancies & Tenure Framework

This recruitment drive is tailored exclusively for a specific, highly monitored short-term research project focused on advanced tuberculosis prevention and tracking methodologies in India.

• Designation: Project Research Scientist I (Medical)
• Total Number of Vacancies: 02 Openings
• Project Duration & Extensions: The initial term of engagement for the selected consultants/scientists shall be for a period of 12 Months. Subsequent extensions, if any, can be considered strictly on a case-to-case basis. These extensions depend heavily upon the ongoing job requirements, the time frame for project completion, and successful performance evaluations conducted by the Competent Authority. However, the total continuous duration of engagement in ICMR (Institutes) will not exceed a maximum cap of 5 years.
• Nature of Employment: The position is purely on a temporary contract basis and mandates full-time on-site dedication. It does not confer any right, implicit or explicit, to regular employment within the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) or any of its constituent institutes.

3. Qualification & Experience Prerequisites

The institute demands highly qualified medical professionals who can seamlessly integrate into clinical trial environments and execute the stringent demands of the TB Extended Follow-up Study effectively.

Essential Medical Qualifications

• Candidates must possess a recognized MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery) degree.
• All qualifications must be obtained from a reputable medical institution recognized by the relevant statutory medical boards in India.

Desirable Qualifications & Prior Experience

While the essential qualification establishes baseline eligibility, the evaluation board will heavily favor candidates presenting the following advanced credentials:

• Demonstrated prior experience functioning in the demanding fields of operational or clinical research, specifically tied to public health initiatives.
• Candidates holding a postgraduate MD (Doctor of Medicine) degree in Community Medicine, TB & Chest Diseases, or other closely related subjects will be given distinct preference.
• It is crucial to note that any experience claimed by the candidate should have been gained strictly after acquiring the minimum essential MBBS qualification.

Exclusion Clause: Persons currently holding regular time-scale service positions under any Central or State Government Department, Public Sector Undertaking, or Autonomous Organization are strictly prohibited from applying for these contractual roles.

4. Emoluments, Age Limit & Exclusions

The financial compensation packages and age restrictions are rigidly defined in accordance with standard ICMR project guidelines.

• Maximum Age Limit: The absolute upper age limit for applying candidates is set at 35 years. The cut-off date for computing the exact age limit will be the date of the walk-in interview itself (i.e., 04 June 2026). Standard age relaxations will be granted as per the overarching guidelines formulated by ICMR.
• Monthly Emoluments: Successfully selected candidates will be compensated with a handsome consolidated monthly stipend of Rs. 67,000/- plus House Rent Allowance (HRA) as applicable.
• Benefit Exclusions: As these are non-institutional human resource positions, selected candidates will not be entitled to standard governmental benefits. Benefits such as the Provident Fund, Pension Schemes, Leave Travel Concession (LTC), Medical claim reimbursements, Staff Quarters, and other facilities applicable to the regular staff of ICMR are entirely not admissible.

5. Extensive Scope of Work & Clinical Duties

The selected Project Research Scientist I (Medical) personnel will serve as the clinical backbone of the TB Extended Follow-up Study. Their daily operational mandate will encompass:

• Clinical Execution: Conducting exhaustive clinical examinations and ordering necessary investigations to ensure accurate TB diagnosis among the study participants.
• Data Integrity: Meticulously managing sensitive study documents, ensuring ethical compliance, and overseeing accurate data entry operations to maintain the trial's scientific validity.
• Field Operations: Executing mandatory home visits for specific study participants to monitor progress, ensure protocol adherence, and evaluate the long-term effectiveness of the VPM1002 vaccine compared to placebos among household contacts of persons with pulmonary tuberculosis.
• Administrative Leadership: Handling overall study clinic management and executing any additional strategic or clinical responsibilities assigned directly by the Principal Investigator (PI).

6. Selection Procedure & Contingency Plans

The selection architecture devised by ICMR-NITVAR is highly dynamic and scalable, depending heavily on the volume of eligible walk-in candidates arriving on the designated date.

• Primary Selection Methodology: The core selection process will be driven by the candidate's performance in the personal Walk-In Interview conducted by an expert panel. Shortlisting for the interview will be done initially on the basis of educational qualifications and declared experience.
• Written Test Contingency: In the event that the number of eligible candidates reporting exceeds 30 individuals for each available position, the institute reserves the absolute right to conduct a preliminary Written Test or specific assignment. This mechanism will be used to filter and shortlist a manageable number of candidates for the final personal interview.
• Tie-Breaking Protocol: In case of a scoring tie at any stage of the evaluation, all candidates securing the same identical marks will be considered to have qualified for further evaluation rounds.
• Document Verification Gate: Only those candidates whose original documents are successfully authenticated on-site by ICMR-NITVAR staff will be allowed to proceed to the interview board.
• Travel Expenses: The institute clarifies that no Travelling Allowance (TA) or Dearness Allowance (DA) will be disbursed to candidates attending the interview or personal discussion. Applicants must arrange their transport and accommodation independently.

7. Walk-In Preparation & Application Guide

Candidates aiming for success must arrive fully prepared with their comprehensively organized application dossiers to ensure a frictionless verification process at the venue.

1. Proforma Acquisition: Candidates must download and print the prescribed Bio-Data/Application Form attached directly to the official advertisement PDF.
2. Form Completion: Fill out the application form comprehensively using BLOCK LETTERS. Ensure all academic and professional timelines match your official certificates exactly.
3. Photographic Requirement: Affix a recent passport-size color photograph in the designated space on the top-right corner of the application form.
4. Curriculum Vitae: Prepare a detailed Bio-data/CV outlining your complete academic journey, clinical research experience, indexed journal publications (if any), fellowships/awards, and current employment status.
5. Original Document Portfolio: You must carry all original documents for physical verification. This includes your 10th standard mark-sheet (acting as age proof), MBBS degree certificate, MD degree (if claiming desirable qualifications), experience certificates clearly showing start and end dates, caste certificates (if claiming age relaxation), and a valid government-issued Photo ID (such as an Aadhar Card, Indian Passport, PAN Card, or Driving License).
6. Photocopy Set: Alongside the originals, carry exactly one complete set of self-attested photocopies of all the aforementioned documents. Applications lacking either the originals or the complete photocopy set will face immediate rejection at the registration desk.
7. Punctuality: Ensure you arrive at the ICMR-NITVAR Auditorium in Bhosari, Pune, strictly between the reporting window of 09:00 AM and 10:00 AM on 04 June 2026.

9. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)