Indian Institute of Information Technology, Design and Manufacturing (IIITDM), Kurnool, an Institute of National Importance under the Ministry of Education, Government of India, has announced recruitment for the post of Senior Research Fellow (SRF). This temporary position is under a DRDO ARMREB sponsored research project in the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
Job Details
| Attribute | Information |
| Hiring Institution | IIITDM Kurnool (Department of Mechanical Engineering) |
| Open Position | Senior Research Fellow (SRF) – 1 Post |
| Project Name | Development of impact test coupons with superior strain energy absorption characteristics for underbody protection in Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFVs) |
| Sponsoring Agency | DRDO ARMREB (Project No. ARMREB/MAA/2025/306) |
| Principal Investigator | Dr. C. Chandrasekhara Sastry, Assistant Professor |
| Stipend / Salary | ₹42,000 per month (Consolidated) + 10% HRA |
| Estimated Salary Range | ₹5.5 Lakhs – ₹5.8 Lakhs Per Annum (Including HRA) |
| Educational Qualification | B.E./B.Tech & M.E./M.Tech in Mechanical, Aerospace, Material Science, Production, Engineering Design, Manufacturing, or relevant branch with minimum 60% marks or CGPA ≥ 6.5 (GATE/NET qualified) |
| Location | Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh |
| Tenure / Duration | 1.5 Years (Contractual, evaluated every 6 months) |
| Posted Date | 04/08/2026 |
| Application Deadline | 25th August 2026 |
About Company
IIITDM Kurnool is an autonomous technical university established by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, in 2015 as an Institute of National Importance. Located on Jagannathagattu Hill in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, the institute focuses on integrating design, manufacturing, and IT into core engineering education and research. The Department of Mechanical Engineering actively executes high-impact sponsored research projects for defense and industrial organizations, utilizing state-of-the-art design, simulation, and manufacturing facilities.
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Job Description
The Senior Research Fellow (SRF) will lead experimental and computational activities on a high-priority defense research project funded by DRDO ARMREB. The project centers on designing and developing novel impact test coupons with enhanced strain energy absorption properties for underbody blast/impact protection in Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFVs). The fellow will work closely with Principal Investigator Dr. C. Chandrasekhara Sastry across design, dynamic simulation, additive manufacturing, and material characterization stages.
Requirements & Qualifications
1. Essential Qualification
- UG Degree: B.E. / B.Tech in Mechanical, Aerospace, Material Science, Production, Engineering Design, Manufacturing, or any relevant engineering discipline.
- PG Degree: M.E. / M.Tech in a relevant engineering discipline with at least 60% aggregate marks or CGPA $\ge$ 6.5 (out of 10) in both UG and PG degrees. (Final semester M.Tech students can apply subject to timely completion).
- National Examination: Valid GATE score or NET/UGC clearance at any time.
2. Desired Qualification & Experience
- Good academic record and domain expertise in structural design and dynamic analysis.
- Practical knowledge or experience in dynamic impact simulation, additive manufacturing basics, and CAD modeling.
- Strong analytical skills, scientific writing ability, and experience drafting technical reports/publications.
Roles and Responsibilities
- Design & Simulation: Conceptualize impact test coupon geometries and perform finite element dynamic impact simulations.
- Manufacturing & Testing: Utilize additive manufacturing technologies to fabricate energy-absorbing test structures and conduct experimental testing.
- Data Analysis & Writing: Analyze strain energy absorption characteristics, document experimental observations, and draft project reports for DRDO ARMREB.
- Project Governance: Assist the Principal Investigator in managing project deadlines, laboratory equipment, and technical documentation.
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Skills You’ll Gain
| Category | Specific Tools & Competencies Mastered |
| Simulation & Modeling | Dynamic Impact Simulation, Finite Element Analysis (FEA), Structural Optimization. |
| Manufacturing | Additive Manufacturing, Metal/Polymer 3D Printing Protocols, Specimen Fabrication. |
| Defense Research | Blast Mitigation Analysis, Energy Absorption Characterization, DRDO Project Protocols. |
| Technical Writing | Research Article Preparation, DRDO Technical Reporting, Experimental Documentation. |
Application & Contact Details
- Stipend: ₹42,000 per month (Consolidated) + 10% HRA.
- Application Mode: Download the application form from IIITDM Kurnool Official Website, fill it out, merge it with supporting documents (CV, Degree Certificates, GATE Scorecard) as a single PDF file, and send via Email/Speed Post before 25th August 2026.
- Email for Submission:
chandrasekhar@iiitk.ac.in - Contact Phone: +91 8518-289100 Ext: 210 (E)
- Postal Address: Dr. C. Chandrasekhara Sastry, Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIITDM Kurnool, Jagannathagattu Hill, Andhra Pradesh – 518007.
- Official Registration Link:Apply Now
Frequently Asked Interview Questions (With Answers & Solution Guidelines)
Energy Absorption & Dynamic Impact Mechanics
- Question:“How do cellular/lattice structures absorb energy under high-velocity impact, and what metrics are used to measure crashworthiness?”
- Answer & Solution Context: Discuss specific energy absorption (SEA), peak crush force (PCF), and mean crush force (MCF). Explain how plastic deformation, cell buckling, and material distribution maximize strain energy dissipation.
FEA Simulation for Impact Testing
- Question:“What material model formulations and boundary conditions would you apply in explicit dynamic simulation tools (e.g., ANSYS Explicit / LS-DYNA) for impact coupons?”
- Answer & Solution Context: Focus on strain-rate sensitive material models (e.g., Johnson-Cook model), high-strain plastic deformation parameters, erosion criteria, and rigid striker contact formulations.