BITS Pilani Recruitment 2026 – Apply for ANRF Project Assistant Post

The Project Assistant operates in the Department of Biological Sciences at BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus (Vidya Vihar, Pilani, Rajasthan) under Associate Professor Dr. Sandhya Marathe. The laboratory specializes in microbial genetics, Salmonella pathogenesis, and bacterial host-pathogen interactions. Funded by the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF, Govt. of India), the research investigates repurposing endogenous bacterial CRISPR-Cas defense systems as a novel anti-microbial modality to counteract multidrug-resistant Salmonella infections. Daily duties involve cultivating bacterial strains in Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) settings, executing molecular cloning, PCR amplification, gel electrophoresis, RNA/DNA isolation, in vitro growth assays, and maintaining meticulous laboratory records. The environment is academically rigorous and research-focused, providing daily collaboration with PhD scholars and postdoctoral fellows.

Stationed at Department of Biological Sciences, BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus, Vidya Vihar, Pilani, Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan – 333031. The appointment is on a temporary project contract basis for a tenure of four (04) months (terminating on 31 January 2027), aligned with the specific milestone cycle of the ANRF grant.

Paid a fixed monthly fellowship of ₹20,000/- plus 9% HRA (total ₹21,800/- per month). While the project tenure is short-term without permanent absorption, gaining hands-on experimental proficiency in CRISPR-Cas biology and bacterial genetics at an Institute of Eminence (BITS Pilani) on an ANRF central project provides a gold-standard recommendation letter and premier qualifications for competitive Ph.D. admissions across IITs, IISERs, CSIR institutes, and international universities.