IISER Thiruvananthapuram Junior Research Fellow Recruitment 2026 – Apply by Email for 1 JRF Post

Vacancies: 1 · Posts: Junior Research Fellow · Type: Research Fellowship · Mode: Email · Fee: Nil · Apply: 21 September 2026–04 October 2026 · Fellowship: ₹31,000 + HRA (SRF upgrade from Year 3) · Selection: Shortlisting + interview · Location: Vithura, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

Cure Parkinson’s UK is funding a focused neuroscience project at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram (IISER TVM), an Institute of National Importance under the Ministry of Education. The School of Biology needs one Junior Research Fellow for “Targeting metabolic dysregulations for neuroprotection in Parkinson’s disease.” Email applications close on 04 October 2026.

This is not a regular IISER staff vacancy. It is a time-bound research fellowship on an externally funded project at the Vithura campus in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The advertisement asks for a first-class postgraduate degree in biological sciences and a joining date from 01 November 2026.

The advertised fellowship is ₹31,000 + HRA, with an upgrade to Senior Research Fellow at the start of the third year. Tenure can run up to three years, but the first offer is only for six months and continues only if performance is satisfactory. Candidates who already hold, or can clear, IISER TVM PhD eligibility are clearly preferred.

Also Read: NPOL Kochi Junior Research Fellow Recruitment 2026 – DRDO Fellowship at Thrikkakara

Who Should Apply?

• M.Sc / Integrated M.Sc / equivalent PG in biological sciences with first class from a recognised university → Junior Research Fellow – 1 position
• PG in biological sciences with first class + wet-lab exposure (IHC, cell culture, mouse work, molecular biology) → same JRF position (preferred, not mandatory)
• PG in biological sciences with first class + valid national eligibility / research-experience certificate, and interest in joining the lab for a PhD → same JRF position (preferred route)

Mandatory vs preferred

• Mandatory: First-class postgraduate degree in biological sciences from a recognised university; ability to join from 01 November 2026; age within the advertised 35-year limit.
• Preferred (gives weightage, not a hard bar): Hands-on IHC, cell culture, mouse work and molecular biology; clearance of IISER TVM PhD eligibility; a national eligibility test certificate or documented research experience; a clear plan to enrol in the institute PhD programme.

Relevant Indian degree names typically include M.Sc / Integrated M.Sc / M.Tech in Life Sciences, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Zoology, Botany, Neuroscience, Molecular Biology or allied biological sciences. The advertisement uses the broad phrase “biological sciences.” Confirm that your exact degree title matches that band before you write to the PI.

Who cannot apply (hard filters)

• No first-class postgraduate degree in biological sciences from a recognised university
• Cannot start work from 01 November 2026
• Age above 35 years as applied in this advertisement (category-wise extra years are not printed in this notice)

No Kerala domicile bar is stated. Indian candidates from other states can apply if they meet the academic and joining conditions.

Important Dates

No extension has been announced as of 22 September 2026. Late emails are generally not accepted.

Quick Overview – IISER Thiruvananthapuram JRF 2026

• Organisation: Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram (IISER TVM)
• Sector: Higher education and scientific research (neuroscience/biology)
• Notification / Advertisement No.: Not printed as a separate Advt. No. on the opening page (opening dated 21 September 2026)
• Post: Junior Research Fellow
• Vacancies: 1
• Project title: Targeting metabolic dysregulations for neuroprotection in Parkinson’s disease
• Funding agency: Cure Parkinson’s UK
• Job location: IISER TVM campus, Maruthamala P.O., Vithura, Thiruvananthapuram – 695551, Kerala
• Official website: IISER TVM current openings page
• Apply by email: poonam@iisertvm.ac.in (open until 04 October 2026)
• Notification PDF: Download IISER Thiruvananthapuram JRF Dr Poonam advertisement 21 September 2026
• Last date: 04 October 2026
• Application mode: Email only
• Fee: Not charged in this advertisement
• Fellowship: ₹31,000 + HRA; SRF upgrade at the start of Year 3
• Selection: Committee shortlisting (if applications are many) → interview → document checks
• Domicile: No state domicile condition stated

What Posts Are Available?

Only one designation is on offer. The table below is the full vacancy set, not a summary.

How to read this opening: This is a single-PI lab hire in Parkinson’s disease biology, not a campus-wide non-teaching drive. Wet-lab readiness and a PhD plan matter more than a generic first-class M.Sc on paper.

✅ Confirmed: 1 JRF, Cure Parkinson’s UK project, first-class PG in biological sciences, ₹31,000 + HRA, join from 01 November 2026, email to poonam@iisertvm.ac.in.
❓ Not specified: exact HRA percentage, exact SRF amount after upgrade, printed category-wise age table, application fee (none stated), separate Advt. No.

Your academic record is screened before any interview

There is no written test in this recruitment. If many applications arrive, a Selection Committee shortlists on qualifications and experience above the minimum. Interview performance then matters only for those who clear that screen. A weak first-class marksheet or an empty wet-lab CV may never reach interview.

Eligibility – Education, Age & Domicile

Education (mandatory): Postgraduate degree in biological sciences from a recognised university, with first class.

Desirable experience: Immunohistochemistry (IHC), cell culture, mouse work, molecular biology.

PhD track: Candidates are encouraged to enrol in the IISER TVM PhD programme. Clearance of any eligibility criterion used for the IISER TVM PhD position is highly desirable. See the IISER TVM PhD programmes page.

Joining condition: Candidates must be able to start from 01 November 2026.

National test/experience proof: The application pack asks for a certificate of national eligibility test or research experience. Treat this as part of the file you must attach, not as an unstated extra.

Domicile: Not restricted to Kerala in the advertisement.

If your marksheet uses CGPA, convert it only with the method your university or this advertisement accepts. Use our CGPA to Percentage Calculator for an indicative figure. The official first-class rule on your transcript prevails.

Hands-on months in IHC, mouse colonies or cell culture can be tallied with our Experience Calculator before you write the CV section the PI asked for.

What Is the Age Limit?

Age cut-off date is not separately printed. Treat 04 October 2026 (last date of application) as the working date unless the PI or Dean R&D office states another date.

Examples:
✅ A 34-year-old candidate born on 05 October 1991 — eligible (within the 35-year limit as on 04 October 2026).
❌ A 36-year-old candidate born on 03 October 1990 — not eligible (exceeds the maximum age by 1 year).

Use our Age Eligibility Calculator to check instantly.

What Is the Junior Research Fellowship in Kerala?

Indicative take-home: About ₹34,000–₹37,000 per month if HRA is in the 10–20% band on ₹31,000 (₹3,100–₹6,200 HRA). This is an estimate, not an offer letter figure. Vithura is a campus outside the Thiruvananthapuram municipal core, so HRA follows institute classification, not a metro 30% rate.

Fellowship is payable subject to attendance, applicable rules and successful continuation of the project. Do not treat ₹31,000 + HRA as a guaranteed 36-month payout.

This rate is the older JRF slab still used on some charity-funded projects. Several recent ANRF / DST / MoE project ads at the same institute quote ₹37,000 + HRA for JRF. Compare the science fit first, then the number.

No DA, NPS or 7th CPC matrix applies to this fellowship. Hostel, mess or medical facilities are not promised in this advertisement. If the institute later allots hostel, it will be on separate student / project-staff rules.

What Is the Application Fee?

No application fee is mentioned. The process is email-only to the PI. Do not pay anyone who calls or messages offering a “form fee,” interview slot or appointment letter.

How to Apply by Email?

Applications are accepted only by email. There is no Samarth / institute recruitment portal form for this JRF.

1. Prepare one application pack with: detailed resume; statement of purpose; educational qualification certificates with marks; certificate of national eligibility test or research experience.
2. Build the CV with the six blocks the advertisement lists: name; phone, email and postal address; education (institution, subject, marks/percentage); research experience or projects (institution, supervisor, duration, title, hands-on work); awards; referees and their contact details.
3. Email the file to poonam@iisertvm.ac.in with this exact subject line from the notice: Application for the JRF position in CP sponsored project: Your Name
4. Send the mail well before 04 October 2026. Keep the sent-mail copy and attachment hashes.
5. Wait for shortlisting communication. Do not treat silence as selection.

Suggested (not stated in the notification): keep the combined PDF under 10 MB, use a filename such as YourName_JRF_CP_IISERTVM.pdf, and send on a weekday so a bounce can be corrected before the deadline.

Serving government or institute employees should keep an NOC ready if their employer needs one at joining. The advertisement does not say NOC must be uploaded with the first email.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Wrong subject line. The notice gives a fixed subject. A blank subject or “JRF application” can be missed in a busy inbox.
2. CV without referees or hands-on detail. The advertisement lists referee contacts and project-level wet-lab description as required CV fields.
3. No statement of purpose. SOP is item 2 in the application list, not an optional extra.
4. Cannot join on 01 November 2026. Notice of period that runs past that date is a hard practical bar.
5. Treating this as regular IISER recruitment. There is no absorption right into IISER TVM or the funding agency when the project closes.

ഐഐഎസ്ഇആർ തിരുവനന്തപുരം ജൂനിയർ റിസർച്ച് ഫെലോ ഭർത്തി 2026 – 1 പോസ്റ്റിന് ഇമെയിൽ വഴി അപേക്ഷിക്കുക

ഐഐഐഎസ്ഇആർ തിരുവനന്തപുരം സ്കൂൾ ഓഫ് ബയോളജിയിൽ പാർക്കിൻസൺ രോഗവുമായി ബന്ധപ്പെട്ട ഒരു ബാഹ്യ ധനസഹായ പദ്ധതിയിലേക്ക് ഒരു ജൂനിയർ റിസർച്ച് ഫെലോ ഒഴിവ് പ്രഖ്യാപിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു. ക്യൂർ പാർക്കിൻസൺസ് യുകെ ആണ് ഫണ്ട് നൽകുന്നത്. ഇമെയിൽ അപേക്ഷയുടെ അവസാന തീയതി 04 ഒക്ടോബർ 2026 ആണ്. ഫെലോഷിപ്പ് പ്രതിമാസം ₹31,000 + എച്ച്.ആർ.എ.

ആർക്ക് അപേക്ഷിക്കാം?

അംഗീകൃത സർവകലാശാലയിൽ നിന്ന് ബയോളജിക്കൽ സയൻസസിൽ ഫസ്റ്റ് ക്ലാസോടുകൂടിയ ബിരുദാനന്തര ബിരുദം നിർബന്ധമാണ്. IHC, സെൽ കൾച്ചർ, മൗസ് വർക്ക്, മോളിക്യുലർ ബയോളജി എന്നിവയിൽ പരിചയമുള്ളവർക്ക് മുൻഗണനയുണ്ട്. ഐഐഎസ്ഇആർ ടിവിഎം പിഎച്ച്ഡി യോഗ്യത ലഭിച്ചവർക്ക് പ്രത്യേക പരിഗണന. 01 നവംബർ 2026 മുതൽ ജോലി തുടങ്ങാൻ കഴിയണം. പരമാവധി പ്രായം 35 വയസ്സ്.

ഫെലോഷിപ്പും തിരഞ്ഞെടുപ്പും എന്താണ്?

ഇത് സ്ഥിരം സർക്കാർ തസ്തികയല്ല. പരമാവധി മൂന്ന് വർഷം നീളാവുന്ന പ്രോജക്ട് ഫെലോഷിപ്പാണ്. ആദ്യ നിയമനം ആറ് മാസം മാത്രം. മൂന്നാം വർഷം തുടക്കത്തിൽ എസ്.ആർ.എഫ് ആയി ഉയർത്താമെന്ന് പരസ്യത്തിൽ പറയുന്നു. രേഖാമൂലം പരീക്ഷയില്ല. അപേക്ഷകൾ കൂടിയാൽ യോഗ്യതയും പരിചയവും നോക്കി ഷോർട്ട്‌ലിസ്റ്റ് ചെയ്ത് ഓൺലൈൻ അഭിമുഖം നടത്തും.

എങ്ങനെ അപേക്ഷിക്കാം?

poonam@iisertvm.ac.in എന്ന വിലാസത്തിലേക്ക് അപേക്ഷ അയയ്ക്കുക. വിഷയ വരി: Application for the JRF position in CP sponsored project: Your Name. റെസ്യൂമെ, ഉദ്ദേശ്യ പ്രസ്താവന, മാർക്കുള്ള സർട്ടിഫിക്കറ്റ്, നെറ്റ് അല്ലെങ്കിൽ റിസർച്ച് അനുഭവ സർട്ടിഫിക്കറ്റ് എന്നിവ ചേർക്കണം. ഔദ്യോഗിക വിവരം IISER TVM openings എന്ന പേജിൽ ലഭ്യമാണ്.

How Are Candidates Selected?

Selection is a short chain, not a single event.

1. Email scrutiny of the CV, SOP, marksheets and NET / research-experience certificate.
2. Committee shortlisting if the number of applications is high, using qualifications and experience above the advertised minimum.
3. Interview (advertisement indicates online mode, tentatively in mid-October 2026).
4. Document verification of first-class PG, identity and any national-test / experience claims.
5. Offer and joining from 01 November 2026, if selected.

No interview stage is skipped in the usual IISER project-staff pattern, but no written CBT is mentioned. No interview marks table is printed. Final engagement still depends on verification and project-fund rules.

No TA/DA is paid for appearing in the interview.

Ties, if any, will be resolved as per the procedure prescribed by the institute. No tie-break rule is printed in this opening.

Why Does IISER Thiruvananthapuram Matter?

IISER Thiruvananthapuram is a centrally funded Institute of National Importance set up in 2008 under the Ministry of Education. The campus at Vithura runs integrated science education with research in biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics and related centres.

This JRF sits in a Parkinson’s disease laboratory that already trains PhD students in neurobiology. The work is wet-lab heavy: tissue staining, culture systems and mouse models rather than a desk-only literature review.

Candidates search “IISER TVM JRF,” “IISER Thiruvananthapuram project fellow” and “Parkinson’s research Kerala” because the institute brand helps a later PhD or postdoc file. The honest limit is scale. One charity-funded seat is not a campus placement drive, and the ₹31,000 slab is thinner than many current ANRF/DST JRF ads at the same higher-education research sector. Hostel and city life at Vithura are campus-bound, not a Thiruvananthapuram city posting. See the IISER Thiruvananthapuram organisation page and Kerala government job listings for related openings.

The SahisarkariJobs.in Analyst’s Take

A first-class M.Sc looking at neuroscience JRF ads in South India will usually compare this file with other IISER TVM School of Biology project seats, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB) Thiruvananthapuram project staff, SCTIMST lab posts, and NIMHANS / national-lab Parkinson’s groups. Those drives often use a national-test shortlist and, in recent central-project ads, a ₹37,000 JRF line. This opening is smaller, email-led and PI-specific.

Also Read: Atal Awasiya Vidyalaya Bareilly PGT & TGT Recruitment 2026 – Apply Offline for 12 Posts

Best fit: A wet-lab M.Sc in life sciences who already handles IHC or mouse work, can move to Vithura by 01 November 2026, and wants this lab as a bridge into the IISER TVM PhD pipeline.

Skip this if you need permanence, a 7th CPC Level, or a city-centre posting. Also skip if you cannot name a referee or describe actual bench work. A first-class marksheet alone is a weak screen here.

Practical tip: Write the SOP around metabolic and neuroprotection angles in Parkinson’s disease, and list mouse / IHC / culture protocols by name. Then confirm, in one line, that you can join on 01 November 2026 and that you have checked IISER TVM PhD eligibility. That is the filter this advertisement is written around.

From similar institute project cycles, expect a short runway: close on 04 October, interview in mid-October, join in November if selected. Career path on paper is JRF → SRF in Year 3 → separate PhD admission if you clear institute rules. Project end does not convert into regular IISER employment.

What Documents Are Required?

Attach what the advertisement lists, in one mail:

• Detailed resume with the six CV blocks named in the notice
• Statement of purpose
• Educational certificates with marks (PG first-class proof)
• National eligibility test certificate or research-experience certificate
• Identity proof (keep ready for later verification even if not listed as a first-mail item)
• Referee names and working email/phone

Document alert

• First-class must be visible on the transcript, not only in your email text.
• Research-experience letters should name the technique (IHC, culture, mouse colony), supervisor and dates.
• PhD-eligibility proof (NET/GATE or institute-listed equivalent) is “highly desirable.” If you have it, put it in the same PDF.

Service Conditions

Appointment is purely temporary. It ends automatically when the research project closes, without further notice or compensation.

The appointed candidate has no right to claim appointment or absorption into IISER Thiruvananthapuram or into the funding agency during or after the project.

Terms follow the funding agency rules for this specific post. The qualifying degree must be from a recognised university or institution.

Initial appointment is six months. Continuation up to three years depends on satisfactory performance and project need.

What Happens After Selection?

1. The PI/committee conveys the interview outcome and asks for any extra documents.
2. You receive a project-staff offer stating the fellowship, HRA rules, and the six-month start term.
3. You join at IISER TVM, Vithura, from 01 November 2026 or the date on the offer.
4. Institute onboarding covers ID, lab-safety briefing and access to the Thakur lab benches.
5. Performance in the first six months decides continuation toward the three-year cap and the Year-3 SRF upgrade.
6. If you plan a PhD, you still apply through the separate IISER TVM PhD admission cycle. This JRF offer is not a PhD admission letter.

Contact & Helpline

• PI email (application address): poonam@iisertvm.ac.in
• PI (faculty listing): Dr Poonam Thakur, Assistant Professor Grade I (Biology), School of Biology
• Faculty phone (institute page): +91 (0)471-2778254
• Lab page: Thakur Lab
• Postal campus: Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Thiruvananthapuram, Maruthamala P.O., Vithura, Thiruvananthapuram – 695551, Kerala
• Openings page: https://www.iisertvm.ac.in/openings

Use the PI email for this JRF. Do not send the application to a generic dean or registrar inbox unless the institute later says so.

⚠️ Contact details sourced from the official notification and the institute faculty page. Verify before contacting. NEVER pay any money over the phone or to any person claiming to offer job assistance. Report fraud to cybercrime.gov.in.

Important Links – IISER Thiruvananthapuram JRF 2026

FAQs – IISER Thiruvananthapuram JRF 2026

What is the last date to apply for IISER Thiruvananthapuram JRF 2026?

04 October 2026. Send the complete email pack to poonam@iisertvm.ac.in on or before that date. No extension is announced as of 22 September 2026. Late applications are generally not accepted.

What is the age limit for IISER Thiruvananthapuram JRF?

35 years, as printed in the opening. Category-wise extra years are not listed in this advertisement. Do not assume a standard OBC +3 or SC/ST +5 figure until the institute confirms it. Age is best reckoned as on 04 October 2026 unless told otherwise.

Is there an exam for this JRF, or is it interview-based?

No written exam is mentioned. If applications are many, a Selection Committee shortlists on qualifications and experience. Shortlisted candidates face an interview, indicated as online, tentatively in mid-October 2026. Final joining still needs document checks.

What is the salary of an IISER Thiruvananthapuram JRF?

₹31,000 per month plus HRA, with an upgrade to SRF at the start of the third year. Indicative in-hand is about ₹34,000–₹37,000 if HRA is 10–20% of ₹31,000. The exact HRA rate and the later SRF figure are not printed.

Can final-year students or result-awaited candidates apply for this JRF?

The notice asks for a postgraduate degree with first class and mark certificates in the application pack. It does not say final-year students may apply. Safer reading: hold the PG result before 04 October 2026. Produce the degree at verification if selected.

Is IISER Thiruvananthapuram JRF a permanent government job?

No. This is a project research fellowship. The first term is six months and the cap is three years. The advertisement states there is no right to absorption in IISER TVM or the funding agency when the project ends.

Can candidates from other states apply for this recruitment?

Yes. No Kerala domicile condition is printed. You still need a first-class PG in biological sciences, must fit the 35-year age line, and must be able to join at Vithura from 01 November 2026.

Where will I be posted if I get selected?

At the IISER TVM campus, Maruthamala P.O., Vithura, Thiruvananthapuram – 695551, Kerala. This is a single-lab posting, not an all-India transfer cadre.

Is GATE or NET mandatory for this JRF?

Not as a standalone mandatory line. The minimum printed bar is a first-class PG in biological sciences. A national eligibility certificate or research-experience certificate is part of the application list, and IISER TVM PhD eligibility is highly desirable.

Will I get a PhD seat automatically if I join this lab?

No. The advertisement only encourages enrolment and prefers candidates who already meet PhD criteria. You must still satisfy the separate PhD admission rules of IISER TVM.

What are the disadvantages of this research fellowship?

The honest downside is pay plus permanence. ₹31,000 + HRA sits below many current ₹37,000 JRF ads at the same institute, the first contract is only six months, and project closure ends the job with no absorption claim.

Is an IISER project JRF worth doing after M.Sc?

Yes, if you want Parkinson’s wet-lab time and a possible PhD path in this group. No if you need a regular Group A/B post, metro HRA at 30%, or a locked three-year salary. Match the lab methods to your CV before you mail.

How much do project JRFs earn in Kerala research institutes?

It depends on the funder. This Cure Parkinson’s UK seat lists ₹31,000 + HRA. Several other 2026 project ads on the same IISER TVM openings board list ₹37,000 + HRA. Always read the fellowship line on that specific advertisement.

Final Checklist – Is This the Right Job for You?

• You hold a first-class PG in biological sciences from a recognised university.
• You are 35 or below as on the working cut-off (treat as 04 October 2026 unless told otherwise).
• You can join from 01 November 2026 at Vithura.
• You are accepting a project fellowship, not regular IISER service.
• Your email pack has CV (six blocks), SOP, marksheets, and NET / research-experience proof.
• Subject line matches the notice: Application for the JRF position in CP sponsored project: Your Name.

📄 Source: Official opening published by IISER Thiruvananthapuram on 21 September 2026. Core details confirmed from the IISER TVM official opening page and the advertisement dated 21 September 2026.