IITM Research Fellow Recruitment 2026

About This Job

IITM Pune has released notification for 20 IITM Research Fellow posts under the Ministry of Earth Sciences. Candidates with a Post Graduate degree in Physical, Chemical, or Mathematical Sciences along with NET/GATE/JEST qualification can apply online. Last date to apply is 27 April 2026. You will receive a monthly salary of Rs. 37,000 plus HRA.

IITM Research Fellow Recruitment 2026 - 20 Posts

Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune is a premier autonomous research organization fully funded by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India. IITM is devoted to cutting-edge research in atmospheric and oceanic sciences and has announced 20 Research Fellow positions through Advertisement No. PER/03/2026 dated 12 March 2026. This includes 15 regular posts and 5 backlog posts across UR, OBC, SC, ST, and EWS categories. If you hold a postgraduate degree in science or engineering with a valid national-level exam score, this is a strong opportunity to launch your research career at one of India's top meteorological research institutes.

Category-wise Vacancy Breakdown

Regular Posts (15):

• UR (Unreserved): 5 posts
• OBC: 3 posts
• SC: 3 posts
• ST: 2 posts
• EWS: 2 posts

Backlog Posts (5):

• SC: 3 posts
• ST: 1 post
• OBC: 1 post

Who Can Apply?

• Qualification: You need a Post Graduate degree in Physical Sciences (Physics, Applied Physics, Atmospheric Sciences, Meteorology, Oceanography, Climate Science, Geophysics, Environmental Sciences, Electronics, or related), Chemical Sciences (Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, or related), or Mathematical Sciences (Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Statistics, or related) from a recognised university.
• Alternative Qualification: M.Tech in Atmospheric or Oceanic Sciences or a related field, OR Master's degree in any branch of Engineering.
• National-level Exam: You must have qualified CSIR-UGC NET / UGC NET / ICAR NET / GATE / JEST.
• Minimum Marks: At least 55% marks in your Master's degree (50% for SC/ST/PwBD candidates).
• UG Requirement: You must have studied Physics AND Mathematics at the Bachelor's level.
• Nationality: Only Indian nationals can apply.

Age Limit

• Maximum age: 28 years as on 27 April 2026.
• SC/ST/PwBD/Women: 5 years relaxation (up to 33 years).
• OBC-NCL: 3 years relaxation (up to 31 years).

Salary

• Selected candidates will get Rs. 37,000 per month as fellowship amount.
• You will also receive House Rent Allowance (HRA) as per government norms.
• The fellowship is for the duration of the research project on a temporary and contract basis.

Application Fee

• No application fee for any category.
• All candidates can apply free of cost.

Selection Process

The selection will be done in the following stages:

1. Shortlisting of Applications: Based on your qualifications, marks, and eligibility, IITM will shortlist candidates from the applications received.
2. Written Test and/or Interview: Shortlisted candidates will be called for a written test and/or interview conducted by the selection committee at IITM Pune.

How to Apply

1. Go to the IITM careers portal at www.tropmet.res.in/Careers.
2. Click on the "Apply" link next to the IITM Research Fellow advertisement (PER/03/2026).
3. Register yourself on the application portal.
4. Fill in the online application form with your personal, educational, and category details.
5. Upload scanned copies of your passport-size photograph, original certificates, category certificate (if applicable), and a brief resume.
6. Submit the application and note down your Application ID for future reference.
7. Take a printout of the submitted application form.

The application portal is active from 12 March 2026 (1700 hrs) to 27 April 2026 (1700 hrs).

Important Dates

• Notification Date: 12 March 2026
• Online Application Start: 12 March 2026 (1700 hrs)
• Last Date to Apply Online: 27 April 2026 (1700 hrs)
• Written Test / Interview Date: To be announced

• Conduct research in atmospheric sciences, climate science, oceanography, or related fields under the guidance of senior scientists
• Assist in data collection, analysis, and interpretation of meteorological and environmental observations
• Work with numerical weather prediction models, satellite data, and high-performance computing systems
• Prepare research papers and contribute to publication-quality manuscripts for national and international journals
• Participate in field campaigns and observational experiments as required by the assigned project
• Maintain laboratory instruments, scientific equipment, and data records
• Present research findings at seminars, workshops, and scientific conferences