Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Barauni Refinery
Contractual / Regular

IOCL Research Associate Recruitment 2026

Sourced from Official Government PDF
Sep. 17, 2026
Research AssociateResearch Associate (Microbiology / Biochemistry / Biotechnology)Research Associate (Chemistry)

Required Qualification

Postgraduate298
Ph.D91
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Quick Recruitment Snapshot

Key recruitment parameters at a glance before you apply

Vacancies
02 Posts
Pay Scale
Rs. 66,960/- per month (Consolidated)
Age Limit
Maximum 40 Years (as on 30-09-2026)
Job Location
Haryana34Faridabad6

Crucial Recruitment Dates

Official schedule & key deadlines

Published

Sep 15, 2026

2

Starts

Sep 15, 2026

3

Deadline

Sep 30, 2026

4

Exam Date

TBA

Application Window15 – 30 Sep 2026
Exam / Test DateTo Be Announced

Eligibility Criteria & Educational Qualifications

Who is eligible to apply for this recruitment? Check essential educational qualifications, branch/stream criteria, and age limits.

Educational Qualification

Candidates must possess a Ph.D. degree obtained through regular full-time study from a recognized University or Institute in one of the following domains:

  • Research Associate (Post 1): Ph.D. in Microbiology, Biochemistry, or Biotechnology. Preference for doctoral or post-doctoral research experience in biological conversion of 2G lignin into high-value products via microbial fermentation and bioprocessing.
  • Research Associate (Post 2): Ph.D. in Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, or Physical Chemistry. Preference for doctoral or post-doctoral research experience in chemical catalysis of lignin into biofuels, biochemicals, and bioproducts.

Age Limit & Relaxations

The upper age limit is 40 years as on the closing date of application (30.09.2026). Age relaxation of up to 5 years is admissible for SC, ST, and Women candidates, and up to 3 years for OBC candidates as per Government of India guidelines.

Check Your Age Eligibility

Selection Procedure & Screening Stages

Verified Official Source

Multi-stage interview and rubric-based evaluation procedure.

CV Screening & Doctoral Publication Scrutiny

OnlineQualifying Only

Online Video Interview

OnlineMerit Scored

Selection is conducted through preliminary screening of submitted Curriculum Vitae (CV), doctoral research thesis relevance, peer-reviewed publications, and patents in lignin conversion. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an Online Video Interview before the expert selection committee. No TA/DA is admissible as the interview is held virtually. Final engagement is based on research competence, scientific presentation, and suitability for the DBT project objectives.

Selection Criteria & Marking Scheme

Verified Official Source

Official weightage breakdown, qualification scoring, and interview evaluation criteria.

Evaluation Area / ComponentAssessment Criteria & Guidelines
Doctoral Research Relevance & Academic PedigreeEvaluation of Ph.D. thesis research focus, academic record, and core foundation in microbiology, biochemistry, biotechnology, or chemical sciences.
Specialized Expertise in Lignin ValorizationDemonstrated research competence in biological lignin conversion (microbial bioprocessing/fermentation) or chemical catalysis of lignin into biofuels and biochemicals.
Scientific Publications & Patent RecordAssessment of authored publications in high-impact peer-reviewed international journals, citation metrics, and filed/granted patents.
Online Video Interview PerformanceTechnical presentation of past research methodology, troubleshooting capability, and strategic alignment with DBT biorefinery project deliverables.

Aspirant Ground Reality & Career Trajectory

Verified Official Source

Practical service rules, posting locations, transfer policy, and promotion ladder curated from official gazettes.

Work Culture & Environment

Office/fieldwork balance, duties, organizational environment.

The IndianOil R&D Centre at Sector 13, Faridabad is India's premier downstream petroleum and alternative energy research institute, holding over 1,100 patents. Working as a Research Associate on this DBT-funded project places researchers in advanced bioenergy and biorefinery pilot laboratories. Day-to-day work involves microbial fermentation, bioprocess optimization, catalytic conversion of 2G agricultural lignin, analytical instrumentation (HPLC, GC-MS, NMR), and scaling lab-bench discoveries into demonstration-scale biorefineries. Work hours are typically 09:00 AM to 05:30 PM on weekdays, with access to world-class scientific infrastructure and interdisciplinary teams of scientists and post-docs.

Posting & Transfer Policy

Initial posting criteria, zone preferences, transfer liability.

The engagement is purely temporary on a sponsored project grant, co-terminus with the DBT scheme. Initial appointment is offered until 14th September 2027 (or 1 year), extendable based on annual progress assessment by the Principal Investigator and competent authority. The position is stationed at IndianOil R&D Centre, Sector 13, Faridabad, Haryana.

Career & Promotion Ladder

Promotion timeline, seniority ladder, pay grade scaling.

Because this is an extramural project fellowship funded by the Department of Biotechnology, there is no automatic absorption or regular career ladder into permanent Indian Oil Corporation Limited executive cadres. However, publications, patents, and high-impact R&D experience from IOCL Faridabad significantly elevate profiles for regular Scientist/Officer recruitments at CSIR, DBT institutes, IITs, or PSU research wings.
Crucial Application Warnings & Eligibility Traps

Avoid common application rejection triggers, photo/signature guidelines, and certificate validity windows.

  • Ph.D. Degree Mandatory: Only candidates who have already completed and been awarded their Ph.D. degree in the specified disciplines are eligible to apply.
  • Strict Domain Alignment: Applicants must possess demonstrable research background in lignin valorization, 2G biorefineries, microbial fermentation, or chemical catalysis.
  • Email Application Format: Applications must be submitted exclusively via email with a comprehensive CV sent directly to [email protected] on or before 30.09.2026.
  • Online Virtual Interview: Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed remotely via video conference; no physical interview will be held and no TA/DA is admissible.
  • Co-Terminus Project Terms: The positions are purely temporary and terminate automatically upon project completion without conferring any right for permanent employment in IOCL.

Category-Wise Vacancy Breakdown & Pay Scale

Detailed post distribution across UR, OBC, EWS, SC, ST quotas and 7th CPC Pay Matrix / Monthly Stipend.

Category-Wise Vacancy Distribution

  • Research Associate (Microbiology / Biochemistry / Biotechnology)1
  • Research Associate (Chemistry)1
  • Total2
Total Vacancies02 Posts

Pay Scale & Monthly Remuneration

Consolidated research fellowship of Rs. 66,960/- per month as sanctioned by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT).

Consolidated monthly fellowship of Rs. 66,960/- as per Department of Biotechnology (DBT) / Department of Science and Technology (DST) sanctioned research project grant guidelines. Positions are purely temporary and co-terminus with the project scheme. The initial appointment will be offered till 14th September 2027 or till the tenability of the project, whichever is earlier.

How to Apply Online Step-by-Step?

Follow this verified step-by-step application procedure on the official recruitment portal.

Application Procedure

  1. Verify essential qualifications: Ph.D. in Microbiology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, or Chemistry disciplines, with research experience in lignin valorization, fermentation, or chemical catalysis.
  2. Verify age eligibility: Candidate must be aged 40 years or below as on 30.09.2026 (relaxations applicable for SC/ST/OBC/Women).
  3. Prepare an updated Curriculum Vitae (CV) containing detailed academic qualifications, Ph.D. thesis title, list of publications in SCI/Scopus indexed journals, patents, and relevant post-doctoral experience.
  4. Email the detailed CV directly to [email protected] with an appropriate email subject line (e.g., "Application for Research Associate - DBT Project at IndianOil R&D Centre").
  5. Submit the application email on or before the closing deadline of 30th September 2026.

Application Fee & Category Concessions

Nil. No application fee is payable for this email-based recruitment.

Official Notification & Portal Verification

Direct links to the authorized government portal, official notification PDF, and career portal.

Verified Official Domain
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Frequently Asked Questions & Crucial Aspirant Queries

5 Queries Resolved

Clear, verified answers to top eligibility, exam format, salary calculation, and application queries for this notification.

Applicants must hold a Ph.D. in Microbiology, Biochemistry, or Biotechnology (for Post 1) or a Ph.D. in Chemistry, Organic, Inorganic, Analytical, or Physical Chemistry (for Post 2). Research experience in 2G lignin valorization, microbial fermentation, or chemical catalysis is preferred.

Sarkari Job Khojo is an independent information service and job discovery platform. All recruitment insights, syllabi, previous year exam cutoffs, and selection stages are compiled from official government notifications, gazettes, and recruitment portals. We are not affiliated with, authorized by, or an official representative of any government agency or recruitment board. Always verify details in the official advertisement PDF before applying.

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