CSIR NBRI Recruitment 2026: Walk-in for Research Associate, Senior Research Fellow and Young Professional Posts
CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), Lucknow has invited eligible candidates to a walk-in interview for 35 purely temporary project posts. The jobs sit under the sponsored project Mission for Cotton Productivity (Kapas Kanti), GAP-3554. The posts are Research Associate (8), Senior Research Fellow (10), Young Professional II (11) and Young Professional I (6), with monthly pay from ₹30,000 to ₹67,000. This notification has no online form. You carry your documents and walk in. For a life-science student, this is a good chance to work at a CSIR lab.
The interview dates differ by post. Research Associate and Senior Research Fellow candidates must come on 16 November 2026. Young Professional II and Young Professional I candidates must come on 17 November 2026. Both days start at 11:00 AM, and you must reach one hour early for document verification. Read the eligibility for your own post below, because only candidates who fully meet it should turn up. You can also see more central government job notifications on GovtJobsAlert.in.
CSIR NBRI Recruitment 2026 Key Highlights
CSIR-NBRI is a constituent laboratory of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research. It does basic and applied research in plant sciences, and these posts are in the area of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organisation | CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), Lucknow |
| Advertisement No. | 11/Project/2026 |
| Project | Mission for Cotton Productivity (Kapas Kanti), GAP-3554 |
| Posts | Research Associate, Senior Research Fellow, Young Professional II, Young Professional I |
| Total Vacancies | 35 (sum of the four posts) |
| Nature of Job | Purely temporary, project-based |
| Mode | Walk-in interview, no online application |
| Venue | K. N. Kaul Block, CSIR-NBRI, Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow |
| Walk-in Dates | 16 November 2026 and 17 November 2026 |
How Many Vacancies Are There in CSIR NBRI Recruitment 2026?
| Post | Vacancies | Walk-in Date |
|---|---|---|
| Research Associate (RA) | 8 | 16 November 2026 |
| Senior Research Fellow (SRF) | 10 | 16 November 2026 |
| Young Professional II | 11 | 17 November 2026 |
| Young Professional I | 6 | 17 November 2026 |
| Total | 35 |
The notification gives no category-wise split, and it says the number of positions may vary at the time of selection. So treat these numbers as the plan today, not a fixed promise.
What is the Eligibility for CSIR NBRI Recruitment 2026?
| Post | Essential Requirement |
|---|---|
| Research Associate | Either a Doctoral Degree in Life Sciences, Botany, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Microbiology or Bioinformatics. Or M.Sc. in Botany, Biotechnology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Life Sciences or Bioinformatics, along with qualifying NET, at least 3 years of R&D experience in the relevant area and one research paper in an SCI or NAAS-rated (≥4.0) journal |
| Senior Research Fellow | M.Sc. (Ag.) or M.Sc. in Botany, Biotechnology, Microbiology, Biochemistry or Life Sciences, along with qualifying NET and 2 years of R&D experience in the relevant area |
| Young Professional II | M.Sc. in Botany, Biotechnology, Microbiology, Biochemistry or Life Sciences from a recognised university |
| Young Professional I | Graduate in Science, Computer, Management or BA with laboratory experience, or Diploma holder in relevant Agricultural Sciences, Engineering, Technology, Computer, Management or any discipline, from a recognised university |
For the Research Associate post, the printed wording is not fully clear. NET, 3 years of experience and the research paper follow the M.Sc. option in the notification. It does not say plainly whether they also apply to the Ph.D. route. If you are a Ph.D. holder, check the notification PDF once and decide before you travel. Bioinformatics is an essential degree subject for Research Associate only, not SRF or Young Professional II.
Desirable (not compulsory) experience:
| Posts | Desirable Experience |
|---|---|
| Research Associate, SRF, Young Professional II | Advanced molecular biology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Genetic transformation, Genome editing, Cotton fibre biology |
| Young Professional I | Routine molecular biology lab work such as media preparation, autoclaving, lab management, scientific administrative work |
Three rules matter here. Experience is counted only after the date you got the minimum required qualification. If your university gives CGPA, SGPA or OGPA grades, convert them into a percentage using your own university’s formula. And tentative mark sheets, certificates and “result awaited” cases will not be considered. If you are an M.Sc. final-year student, this is the line that matters most. Students with a post graduate degree in life sciences have the widest choice here, while Young Professional I is open to graduates and diploma holders too.
Age Limit
| Post | Age Limit |
|---|---|
| Research Associate | Maximum 40 years |
| Senior Research Fellow | Maximum 35 years |
| Young Professional II | 21 to 45 years |
| Young Professional I | 21 to 45 years |
| Category | Age Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC / ST | 5 years |
| PwBD | 5 years |
| Women | 5 years |
| OBC | 3 years |
🎂 Not sure if you meet the age criteria? Use our free Age Calculator for Government Exams to find your exact age on the cut-off date and instantly check your eligibility — including any age relaxation you qualify for. →
The advertisement does not print an “as on” date for age. The application form, however, asks for your age as on the date of interview, so count your age on 16 or 17 November 2026. The notification mentions no relaxation for any other category, such as EWS or ex-servicemen.
What is the Salary for CSIR NBRI Project Posts 2026?
| Post | Monthly Pay |
|---|---|
| Research Associate | ₹67,000 + HRA (Ph.D. holder) or ₹61,000 + HRA (Master’s degree holder) |
| Senior Research Fellow | ₹37,000 + HRA (1st and 2nd year), ₹42,000 + HRA (3rd year) |
| Young Professional II | ₹42,000 (Fixed) |
| Young Professional I | ₹30,000 (Fixed) |
The notification says HRA will be admissible as per sanction in the projects. The two Young Professional posts are marked “Fixed”, so do not count on HRA on top of those amounts. No TA/DA is admissible for attending the interview, so plan your travel budget.
Between the posts, the pay gap is large, so pick the post that truly matches your degree and experience instead of applying for the highest pay. A candidate who meets the Research Associate route can earn more than double the Young Professional I amount. The job lasts only as long as the project. The appointment is co-terminus with the project, subject to your satisfactory progress, receipt of funds from CSIR and the existing rules. The notification does not state how long this project runs. The total tenure of project staff in CSIR projects should not exceed 6 years. The notification allows up to 7 years in total only for certain projects funded by PSUs, industries, start-ups and individual entrepreneurs, running 12 months or less.
What is the Selection Process for CSIR NBRI Walk-in 2026?
| Stage | Detail |
|---|---|
| Document verification | At the venue, one hour before your scheduled time |
| Screening test (only if needed) | A multiple-choice objective test may be held to shortlist candidates if a large number turn up |
| Interview | By the Selection Committee. You may speak in Hindi or English |
| Panel | A panel of recommended candidates is made on interview performance and used when a project needs staff in that field |
If many candidates turn up, the interviews may continue till late evening or even the next day. Plan your return journey accordingly. The notification gives no syllabus. So revise your own research work, your published paper if you have one, and the molecular biology techniques listed under desirable experience. More tips are in our preparation strategy guide.
What are the Important Dates for CSIR NBRI Walk-in 2026?
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Walk-in for Research Associate and Senior Research Fellow | 16 November 2026, 11:00 AM |
| Walk-in for Young Professional II and Young Professional I | 17 November 2026, 11:00 AM |
| Reporting for document verification | One hour before the scheduled time |
Is There Any Application Fee for CSIR NBRI Recruitment 2026?
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Application fee | Not mentioned in the notification or the application form |
How to Apply for CSIR NBRI Walk-in Interview 2026?
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Download the application form (link in Essential Links below) or from www.nbri.res.in. It is also given at the venue on the interview day |
| 2 | Fill a separate form for each post you want to apply for |
| 3 | Stick one latest, self-signed photograph on the form |
| 4 | Write the page number of the enclosed certificate against each qualification, experience and NET entry in the form |
| 5 | Carry original documents with self-attested copies of certificates of all examinations passed (from matriculation), a date of birth certificate and experience certificates |
| 6 | Reach the venue, K. N. Kaul Block, CSIR-NBRI, Lucknow, in person on your date, one hour before 11:00 AM, for document verification and the interview |
Arrange your photocopies in the same order as the entries in the form, so the verification desk can move quickly through your file. Keep one extra set of photocopies with you in case a page is needed twice. The form also asks if you are related to any CSIR employee and whether you have worked in any CSIR lab before, so keep those details ready. It carries a declaration too. If any information is found false, incomplete or misleading, your application or engagement can be ended without notice.
Conditions That Can Cost You the Job
| Condition | What It Means for You |
|---|---|
| Eligibility | Only candidates who strictly meet the eligibility and hold the degree or mark sheet in the stated subjects should turn up |
| Canvassing | Canvassing in any form, or bringing political or other influence, is treated as disqualification |
| Found ineligible later | Even after engagement, if you are found ineligible at any time, the engagement is liable to termination forthwith |
| Cancellation | The Director, CSIR-NBRI may cancel or modify the vacancy, recruitment or selection process without notice or reason |
| Queries | No interim queries will be entertained |
| Language | If the Hindi and English versions differ, the English version prevails |
CSIR NBRI Recruitment 2026 Essential Links
- Download Official Notification PDF for CSIR NBRI Recruitment 2026 (Advt. No. 11/Project/2026)
- Download Application Form to Bring to the Walk-in Interview (separate form for each post)
- Official Notification Page for CSIR NBRI Recruitment 2026 (Kapas Kanti Project Posts)
- Visit CSIR NBRI Official Website
- Join WhatsApp Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Telegram Channel for Government Jobs
A project post is also a strong first step if you want a research career, because the work is hands-on and the experience can help in later applications. If you hold the right degree and meet the age limit, do not miss this walk-in on 16 or 17 November 2026. Keep your documents sorted, reach early and carry a separate form for each post. Check the full notification once before you leave home. Keep visiting GovtJobsAlert.in for more updates, and browse all government jobs in one place.