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ANRF Research Associate – Biosciences

Department of Biosciences, Anantapur Campus

Advertisement No.: SSSIHL/RA/ATP/0726/01
Application Deadline: 30 July 2026
No. of Vacancies: 1

Project Title: Structural anisotropy as a cue for nutritional resilience in tomato fruit – a step towards non-destructive quality assessment
Funding Agency: ANRF under the ARG scheme
Project Duration: 36 months
Pay: Research Associate I: ₹58,000 per month + HRA (10%) as per ANRF norms (Total emoluments: ₹63,800 per month).
Tenure: The appointment is initially for one year and may be extended annually for up to 36 months, subject to satisfactory performance and availability of project funds. The position is purely temporary and co-terminus with the project.
Location: Anantapur Campus (Women applicants only)

DESCRIPTION

A position of Research Associate I is available to work in an ANRF-funded Advanced Research Grant (ARG) project entitled: “Structural anisotropy as a cue for nutritional resilience in tomato fruit – a step towards non-destructive quality assessment” under the supervision of Dr. Udhaya Ponraj (Principal Investigator, Department of Biosciences, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Anantapur campus, Anantapur-515001).

The project aims to investigate structural anisotropy as a predictive determinant of post-harvest quality in tomato using biomechanical imaging, transcriptomics, molecular biology and physiological analyses. The selected candidate will contribute to the understanding of tissue mechanics, fruit quality deterioration, and post-harvest stability in tomato cultivars. The candidate will have the opportunity to work closely with Dr. M Srijaya (Co-Principal Investigator, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Anantapur) and collaborate with Dr. Bharathi Rajeswaran, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, as part of an interdisciplinary research team.

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Conducting experiments related to tomato fruit development, ripening and post-harvest biology.
  • Performing molecular biology experiments, including RNA isolation, gene expression analysis and transcriptomic studies.
  • Assisting in biomechanical and imaging studies including microscopy-based characterization of fruit tissues.
  • Processing, analysing, and integrating structural, molecular and physiological datasets.
  • Preparation of progress reports, project documentation, manuscripts and project deliverables for ANRF.
  • The candidate is expected to work both independently and collaboratively within the project team.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

  • The candidate should have completed a Ph.D. in Plant Biology, Plant Sciences, Biotechnology, Molecular Biology, Genetics, Life Sciences or related disciplines.
  • Candidates who have submitted their Ph.D. thesis and are awaiting the award of the degree may also apply as per the institute and funding agency regulations.
  • Strong background in developmental biology, molecular biology, cell biology and Bioinformatics.
  • Experience in confocal microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy is desirable.
  • Experience working with tomato or other crop plants and familiarity with R, Python or related computational tools will be an added advantage.
  • Demonstrated ability to perform interdisciplinary research and data analysis.
  • Good publication record in peer-reviewed international journals.

PREFERENCE WILL BE GIVEN TO

  • Research experience in Plant Developmental Biology and Molecular Biology
  • Student with good communication and scientific writing skills
  • Appreciation and willingness to live a disciplined life as per the code of conduct of SSSIHL based on the human values enunciated by Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

IMPORTANT NOTES

The position is purely temporary and co-terminus with the project tenure. The selected candidate will have no right to claim permanent employment under SSSIHL and no claim for benefits beyond those specified.

HOW TO APPLY

STEP 1
Download the SSSIHL Employment Application form to your computer.

STEP 2

Fill in the SSSIHL Employment Application PDF form in Adobe Acrobat and attach the following documents as a single PDF file:

  1. Cover letter expressing research interests
  2. Detailed CV
  3. Copies of mark sheets and certificates
  4. List of publications with complete citations
  5. Contact details of two academic referees

STEP 3
Email the completed Application Form along with other attachments, scanned copies of degree certificates and corresponding marks lists to [email protected] before the closing date of application with the subject line: SSSIHL/RA/ATP/0726/01: RA for ANRF Project

  • SSSIHL reserves the right to reject incomplete or non-compliant application forms.
  • SSSIHL reserves the right to call only the requisite number of candidates for an interview after shortlisting, based on the candidate’s suitability for the position. No TA/DA will be provided for attending the interview
  • There will be no personal communication with candidates except those shortlisted for the interview.
  • All applicants are required to ensure that all information submitted (resume, annexure form, and documents) is accurate and correct for scrutiny.
  • If any application is found to contain inaccurate or false information either during the employment process or after the appointment of the candidate, SSSIHL reserves the right to reject the application at any stage or to take stringent action against the employee as deemed suitable.