Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Tirupati, an Autonomous Institution of National Importance under the Ministry of Education, Govt. of India, invites applications from eligible Indian nationals for the post of Junior Research Fellow (JRF) / Project Associate-I. The temporary appointment is funded by DST-SERB under a computational chemistry research project.
Job Details
| Attribute | Information |
| Hiring Institution | Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Tirupati |
| Advertisement No. | Advt. No. 77/2026 |
| Name of the Post | Junior Research Fellow (JRF) / Project Associate-I |
| Project Title | “A Multiscale Study of Photoswitchable Drugs for Optimal Control of G-Protein Coupled Receptors” |
| Sponsoring Agency / Code | DST-SERB, Govt. of India (Project Code: 30223165) |
| Principal Investigator | Dr. Padmabati Mondal |
| No. of Posts | 01 Position |
| Tenure | Temporary for 3 months, extendable after performance review |
| Upper Age Limit | Preferably not more than 50 years as of the closing date |
| Job Location | IISER Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India |
| Application Deadline | October 08, 2026 (up to 5:00 PM) |
Fellowship & Salary Structure
- NET / GATE Qualified Candidates: ₹37,000/- per month + 10% HRA for scholars selected through CSIR-UGC NET (including Lectureship/Assistant Professorship), GATE, or national-level examinations conducted by Central Government agencies/institutions.
- Non-NET / Non-GATE Candidates: ₹30,000/- per month + 10% HRA for candidates without national test qualifications.
Qualification & Experience Criteria
Minimum Qualifications
- Essential Education: M.Sc. in Physics, Chemistry, or equivalent degree with a minimum of 55% marks or equivalent CGPA/grade.
- Desirable Experience: Hands-on experience in quantum chemical calculations or molecular dynamics (MD) simulations within computational chemistry.
- Result Awaited Note: Candidates awaiting results of their final qualifying examination are not eligible to apply.
About Institution
IISER Tirupati is a premier autonomous research and education institute established by the Ministry of Education, Govt. of India. Selected candidates in this project role are also eligible to apply for IISER Tirupati’s regular Ph.D. program, subject to meeting standard eligibility criteria.
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Key Responsibilities
- Multiscale Modeling: Perform quantum chemical calculations and atomistic molecular dynamics simulations on photoswitchable drug compounds interacting with G-Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCRs).
- Data Analysis: Study photo-isomerization mechanisms, binding affinities, and structural conformations using computational toolkits.
- Project Execution: Support the Principal Investigator in research documentation, progress reporting, and drafting research papers.
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Skills You’ll Gain
| Category | Specific Tools & Competencies Mastered |
| Quantum Chemistry | Electronic Structure Calculations, Density Functional Theory (DFT), Gaussian/ORCA Software. |
| Molecular Dynamics (MD) | GPCR Modeling, Photopharmacology Simulations, AMBER/GROMACS Toolkits. |
| Academic Pathways | DST-SERB Research Management, Ph.D. Track Eligibility at IISER Tirupati. |
Selection Process
- Applications will be screened by a Screening Committee based on academic merit and relevant experience.
- Shortlisted candidates will be notified via email for an interview.
- No TA/DA will be admissible for attending the interview.
Frequently Asked Interview Questions (With Answers & Solution Guidelines)
Computational Photopharmacology & GPCRs
- Question:“How do quantum chemical calculations and molecular dynamics simulations complement each other when modeling photoswitchable drug activation in GPCRs?”
- Answer & Solution Context: Quantum chemical methods (e.g., DFT or CASSCF/TD-DFT) model the ground and excited electronic states of the photoswitch molecule (such as azobenzene derivatives) during photo-isomerization. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations then use the resulting novel isomer structures to simulate larger, microsecond-scale conformational changes within the membrane-embedded GPCR protein environment.
Molecular Dynamics & Force Fields
- Question:“Which force fields and parameterization steps are required when running GROMACS or AMBER simulations for non-standard ligand photoswitches?”
- Answer & Solution Context: Non-standard ligands require custom force field parameter generation (e.g., using Antechamber/GAFF in AMBER or CGenFF in CHARMM). Partial atomic charges should be calculated using QM calculations (like RESP charges at the HF/6-31G* level) before embedding the ligand-GPCR complex into a lipid bilayer membrane environment.
How to Apply & Registration Details
- Prepare Application: Download the prescribed application form available at the bottom of the official advertisement and convert the filled document into PDF format.
- Email Submission: Send the completed application form via email to:
- Email Address:
padmabati.mondal@labs.iisertirupati.ac.in - Subject Line Format: Mention the post name and project code (e.g.,
Application for JRF/PA-I - Project Code: 30223165). - (Note: Sending standalone CVs/resumes without the official application form will lead to rejection).
- Email Address:
- Application Deadline:October 08, 2026 by 5:00 PM IST
- Official Job Portal Link:View IISER Tirupati Job Portal
- Official Notification PDF:Download Advt 77/2026 PDF