Utkal University RUSA 2.0 Jobs 2026: Research Associate, Research Assistant, Field Investigator and Research-cum-Academic Coordinator Vacancies
Here is good news for graduates and postgraduates who love research. The Research and Development Cell of Utkal University, Vani Vihar, Bhubaneswar, has released Advertisement No. R&D-CF-RUSA 2.0 CoEs-01/2026 dated 09 October 2026 for 28 research staff posts. The posts are Research Associate, Research Assistant, Field Investigator and Research-cum-Academic Coordinator, spread across seven RUSA 2.0 Centres of Excellence and the R&D Cell. Monthly pay goes up to ₹47,000. If you are hunting for Odisha government jobs with real research exposure, this one deserves your attention.
This is an offline recruitment. Your form must go by Speed Post and must reach the R&D Cell by 23 October 2026 – dropping it at the post office that day is not enough. All posts are purely temporary and contractual, for 2 to 6 months depending on the post. Graduates can aim for Field Investigator, while the other three posts need a postgraduate degree. Read this full guide from GovtJobsAlert.in before you fill your form, so you do not miss any detail.
Key Highlights of Utkal University Research Staff Recruitment 2026
Utkal University is a NAAC A+ state university in Bhubaneswar. This round is funded by the R&D CF Sustainability Grants for its Centres of Excellence under RUSA 2.0 and for the university’s R&D Cell. All the work happens on the Vani Vihar campus, except that some Field Investigator seats are tied to field sites.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Research and Development Cell, Utkal University (NAAC A+) |
| Advertisement No. | R&D-CF-RUSA 2.0 CoEs-01/2026, dated 09 October 2026 |
| Total Vacancies | 28 |
| Posts | Research Associate, Research Assistant, Field Investigator, Research-cum-Academic Coordinator |
| Nature of Job | Purely temporary and contractual |
| Period | 2 to 6 months (post-wise) |
| Monthly Pay | ₹20,000 to ₹47,000 |
| Who Can Apply | Eligible Indian nationals |
| Mode of Application | Offline, by Speed Post (soft copy by e-mail optional) |
| Last Date (Receipt) | 23 October 2026 |
| Job Location | Utkal University, Vani Vihar, Bhubaneswar, Odisha |
Utkal University Vacancy 2026: Research Associate, Research Assistant, Field Investigator and Coordinator Posts
First, the post-wise total:
| Post | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Research Associate (RA) | 2 |
| Research Assistant (RAt) | 8 |
| Field Investigator (FI) | 17 |
| Research-cum-Academic Coordinator (RAC) | 1 |
| Total | 28 |
Each seat belongs to one specific centre and has its own period of engagement. Pick the row that matches your subject:
| Centre | Post (Period) | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|
| Environment Studies, Climate Change & Public Health | Research Assistant – Life Science seat (6 months) | 1 |
| Environment Studies, Climate Change & Public Health | Research Assistant – Economics, Geography, Geology, Public Health or Environmental Science seat (6 months) | 1 |
| Public Policy & Governance | Research Associate (3 months) | 1 |
| Public Policy & Governance | Research Assistant (6 months) | 1 |
| Public Policy & Governance | Field Investigator (3 months) | 2 |
| North-East India Studies | Research Assistant (6 months) | 1 |
| North-East India Studies | Field Investigator (3 months) | 5 (2 for Odisha sites, 3 for NE sites) |
| Global Centre of Rural Studies | Research Assistant (6 months) | 1 |
| Global Centre of Rural Studies | Field Investigator (6 months) | 1 |
| Study of Unorganized Labour | Research Assistant (5 months) | 1 |
| Study of Unorganized Labour | Field Investigator (2 months) | 6 |
| Study of Language, Literature & Culture | Research Assistant (5 months) | 1 |
| Study of Language, Literature & Culture | Field Investigator (5 months) | 3 |
| High Energy and Condensed Matter Physics | Research Associate (5 months) | 1 |
| High Energy and Condensed Matter Physics | Research Assistant (5 months) | 1 |
| R&D Cell | Research-cum-Academic Coordinator (6 months) | 1 |
The advertisement does not give any category-wise split of these seats. Notice that three of the five North-East India Studies field seats are for NE sites, so think about whether you can travel before you choose that row.
Utkal University Research Staff Eligibility 2026: Who Can Apply?
Every post asks for at least 55% marks in the qualifying degree. Field Investigator needs a graduate degree, while the other three posts need a master’s degree – see our post graduate government jobs page for similar openings.
| Centre and Post | Essential Qualification |
|---|---|
| Environment Studies – Research Assistant (Life Science seat) | M.Sc in Botany, Zoology, Biotechnology or any other Life Science subject with minimum 55%; NET/Ph.D. preferred; hands-on experience in animal cell culture technique preferred (desirable) |
| Environment Studies – Research Assistant (second seat) | MA/M.Sc in Economics, Geography, Geology, Public Health or Environmental Science with minimum 55%; NET/Ph.D. preferred |
| Public Policy & Governance – Research Associate | Postgraduate in a Social Science discipline (preferably Political Science, Public Administration, Economics, Sociology or Development Studies) with minimum 55%, along with NET/Ph.D. and at least two years of research experience |
| Public Policy & Governance – Research Assistant | Postgraduate in a Social Science discipline (preferably Political Science, Public Administration, Economics, Sociology or Development Studies) with minimum 55%; NET/Ph.D. preferred |
| Public Policy & Governance – Field Investigator | Graduate in Social Science with minimum 55%; four-year graduation or postgraduate degree preferred |
| North-East India Studies – Research Assistant | Postgraduate in Social Science & Humanities disciplines with minimum 55%; NET/Ph.D. preferred |
| North-East India Studies – Field Investigator | Graduate in Social Science & Humanities with minimum 55%; four-year graduation or postgraduate degree preferred |
| Rural Studies – Research Assistant | Postgraduate in a Social Science discipline with minimum 55%; NET/Ph.D. preferred |
| Rural Studies – Field Investigator | Graduate in a Social Science discipline with minimum 55%; four-year graduation or postgraduate degree preferred |
| Unorganized Labour – Research Assistant | Postgraduate in Management, PMIR, Social Work or Sociology with minimum 55%; Ph.D./M.Phil./NET with research experience preferred |
| Unorganized Labour – Field Investigator | Graduate in any Management or Social Science discipline with minimum 55%; four-year graduation or postgraduate degree preferred |
| Language, Literature & Culture – Research Assistant | Postgraduate in English, Odia, Sanskrit or any Social Science or Humanities discipline with minimum 55%; NET/Ph.D. preferred |
| Language, Literature & Culture – Field Investigator | Graduate in Social Science & Humanities with minimum 55%; four-year graduation or postgraduate degree preferred |
| Physics – Research Associate | M.Sc in Physics with minimum 55%, with NET/Ph.D. and at least two years of research experience |
| Physics – Research Assistant | M.Sc in Physics with minimum 55%; NET/Ph.D. preferred |
| R&D Cell – Research-cum-Academic Coordinator | Master’s degree in any discipline with minimum 55%; experience in project coordination and documentation, research and policy documentation, computer skills and digital data management preferred |
Look carefully at the difference between “preferred” and “along with”. For the two Research Associate posts, NET/Ph.D. and two years of research experience are part of the essential qualification, so without them you are not eligible. For the other posts, NET/Ph.D. or a four-year degree only gives you an edge – you can still apply without it. If you are a fresh graduate looking for government jobs, the 17 Field Investigator seats are your best entry point.
Is There an Age Limit?
The advertisement does not print any age limit or age relaxation for these posts. Please check the official notice yourself before you post your form, and fill your date of birth correctly in the application.
What Is the Salary for Utkal University Research Staff 2026?
The pay is a fixed monthly amount for each post type:
| Post | Monthly Remuneration |
|---|---|
| Research Associate (RA) | ₹47,000 |
| Research Assistant (RAt) | ₹37,000 |
| Field Investigator (FI) | ₹20,000 |
| Research-cum-Academic Coordinator (RAC) | ₹37,000 |
The advertisement gives these as straight per-month figures and does not list any other allowance. Remember that the engagement runs only for the period shown against your post, and even that is subject to the approved Research Plan, availability of funds and University rules. Treat this as a short research assignment that builds your CV, not a permanent job.
Which post should you pick? If you hold a master’s degree with NET or a Ph.D. and two years of research work, the Research Associate seat at ₹47,000 is clearly the strongest. A fresh postgraduate fits best as a Research Assistant at ₹37,000. If you are still building your profile, a Field Investigator role at ₹20,000 gives you real field-data experience that helps later with Ph.D. admissions and project jobs.
What Is the Selection Process for Utkal University Research Staff 2026?
The advertisement does not lay out a detailed selection method. This is what it does say:
| What the Notice Says | Detail |
|---|---|
| Shortlisting | Shortlisted candidates will be informed by e-mail or phone |
| Selection committee | No T.A./D.A. is paid for attending the selection committee or for joining the first appointment |
| Interview | The application form has an office-use line “Eligible for Interview”, and its declaration refers to appearing for the interview |
No date for any interview or meeting is given yet. Keep your phone reachable and check your e-mail, including spam, after 23 October 2026. The University also reserves the right to amend, alter or cancel any or all conditions without giving a reason.
How to Apply Offline for Utkal University Research Staff Recruitment 2026?
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Download the application form from the University’s recruitment page (official website link in Essential Links), or copy the format printed on pages 5–6 of the advertisement |
| 2 | Fill it in completely, paste a self-attested photograph and sign the declaration |
| 3 | Attach self-attested copies of certificates and mark sheets, copies of achievements and research works, experience certificate (if any) and reprints of all research paper publications |
| 4 | If you are employed, attach the forwarding of your application by your employer; in-service candidates may send an advance copy and follow it with the forwarded application |
| 5 | Superscribe the envelope: “APPLICATION FOR THE POST OF ______ IN THE COE IN ______ (Name of the COE) UNDER RUSA-2.0 COE / R&D CELL” |
| 6 | Send it by Speed Post to the Director, Research and Development (R&D Cell), Utkal University, Vani Vihar, Bhubaneswar – 751004, so that it reaches by 23 October 2026 |
| 7 | Optionally, e-mail a soft copy of the application to director.rd.uu@gmail.com |
Applying for more than one post? Send a separate application for each post. The date is for receipt, not dispatch, so post your envelope several days early. An incomplete form can be rejected outright, so check your mark sheets and experience certificate before sealing the envelope. Write the exact post name and the full centre name on the envelope, because the same post name appears under several centres.
Utkal University Research Staff 2026 Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Advertisement date | 09 October 2026 |
| Last date for receipt of application | 23 October 2026 |
| Shortlisting / interview | To be informed to shortlisted candidates by e-mail or phone |
The window from advertisement to last date is only about two weeks. Aim to post your envelope early, so that Speed Post has enough time to deliver it to Vani Vihar before 23 October 2026.
Utkal University Research Staff 2026 Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| All candidates | Not mentioned in the advertisement |
The advertisement does not mention any application fee or payment mode. If the University’s recruitment page asks for one later, follow what it says there.
Utkal University Conditions You Must Not Ignore
These lines from the advertisement can cost you the job, so read each one.
| Condition | What It Means for You |
|---|---|
| Separate applications | Candidates applying for different posts must apply separately |
| Incomplete application | Applications incomplete in any respect are liable to be summarily rejected, and no correspondence will be entertained |
| Canvassing | Canvassing in any form by or on behalf of the candidate will be considered as disqualification |
| Wrong information | The declaration states that if your information is found incorrect, you may be disqualified to appear for the interview |
| Travel cost | No T.A./D.A. for attending the selection committee or joining the first appointment |
| Place of engagement | Engagement is exclusively for the concerned CoE under RUSA 2.0 / R&D Cell at Utkal University, Vani Vihar |
| Period | Engagement is for the period against each post, subject to the approved Research Plan, availability of funds and University rules |
| Right to change | The University may amend, alter or cancel any or all conditions without assigning any reason |
Essential Links for Utkal University Research Staff Recruitment 2026
- Download Utkal University Research Staff Advertisement PDF 2026
- Visit Utkal University Official Website
- Join WhatsApp Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Telegram Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Odisha Government Jobs Telegram Channel
If your degree matches one of these centres, do not wait for the last week. Download the form, collect your self-attested documents, write the post and centre clearly on the envelope, and send it by Speed Post so that it reaches Vani Vihar well before 23 October 2026. Even a two-month research post at a NAAC A+ university is a strong line on your CV. Keep visiting GovtJobsAlert.in for more Odisha government jobs and research openings.