CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute is a premier research institution under the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), Department of Scientific & Industrial Research, Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India, engaged in research and development in food science and food technology. The Institute continuously enhances its capabilities through training, strategic innovation and the recruitment of qualified personnel for its R&D activities.
CSIR-CFTRI carries out externally funded (grant-in-aid, sponsored and consultancy) projects as well as in-house projects. To complete projects within the stipulated time, additional manpower is engaged as Project Staff, on a purely temporary basis.
Apply online (PAT Cell portal)
Project positions
| Position | Code | Stipend | Maximum age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Assistant-I | PA-I | ₹18,000 | 35 years |
| Project Assistant-II | PA-II | ₹20,000 | 35 years |
| Project Associate-I | PAT-I | ₹25,000 – ₹31,000 | 35 years |
| Project Associate-II | PAT-II | ₹28,000 – ₹35,000 | 35 years |
| Senior Project Associate | Senior-PAT | ₹42,000 | 40 years |
| Principal Project Associate | Principal-PAT | ₹49,000 | 40 years |
| Project Scientist-I | PS-I | ₹56,000 | 35 years |
Project Assistant-I (PA-I)
- Essential qualification
- SSC / 10th plus ITI.
- Consolidated stipend
- ₹18,000 + HRA, or as per funding agency norms.
- Maximum age limit
- 35 years
Project Assistant-II (PA-II)
- Essential qualification
- B.Sc. or 3-year Diploma in Engineering & Technology.
- Consolidated stipend
- ₹20,000 + HRA, or as per funding agency norms.
- Maximum age limit
- 35 years
Project Associate-I (PAT-I)
- Essential qualification
- Master's / Integrated Master's in Natural, Agricultural or Pharmaceutical Sciences / MVSc / Animal Sciences, or Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Technology or Medicine from a recognised university; or
- any equivalent qualification duly recognised by the concerned authority, as per the functional requirement of the project, recorded in writing by the PI and the Director.
- Consolidated stipend
- (a) ₹31,000 + HRA for candidates who have qualified CSIR-UGC / ICAR / ICMR NET (including lectureship / assistant professorship) or GATE, or national-level examinations conducted by Central Government departments such as DBT / DST or equivalent and/or their agencies / institutions;
- (b) ₹25,000 + HRA for others;
- or as per funding agency norms.
- Maximum age limit
- 35 years
Project Associate-II (PAT-II)
- Essential qualification
- (i) Master's / Integrated Master's in Natural, Agricultural or Pharmaceutical Sciences / MVSc / Animal Sciences, or Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Technology or Medicine from a recognised university or equivalent, and 2 years' experience in research and development in industrial and academic institutions or science and technology organisations and scientific activities and services; or
- (ii) Master's / Integrated Master's in Engineering or Technology from a recognised university.
- Consolidated stipend
- (a) ₹35,000 + HRA for candidates who have qualified CSIR-UGC / ICAR / ICMR NET (including lectureship / assistant professorship) or GATE, or national-level examinations conducted by Central Government departments such as DBT / DST or equivalent and/or their agencies / institutions;
- (b) ₹28,000 + HRA for others;
- or as per funding agency norms.
- Maximum age limit
- 35 years
Senior Project Associate (Senior-PAT)
- Essential qualification
- (i) Master's / Integrated Master's in Natural, Agricultural or Pharmaceutical Sciences / MVSc / Animal Sciences, or Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Technology or Medicine from a recognised university or equivalent, and 3 years' experience in research and development in industrial and academic institutions or science and technology organisations and scientific activities and services; or
- (ii) Master's / Integrated Master's in Engineering or Technology from a recognised university, or Doctoral degree in Science / Pharma / MD / MS from a recognised university or equivalent, and 2 years' experience in research and development as above.
- Consolidated stipend
- ₹42,000 + HRA, or as per funding agency norms.
- Maximum age limit
- 40 years
Principal Project Associate (Principal-PAT)
- Essential qualification
- (i) Master's / Integrated Master's in Natural, Agricultural or Pharmaceutical Sciences / MVSc / Animal Sciences, or Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Technology or Medicine from a recognised university or equivalent, and 6 years' experience in research and development in industrial and academic institutions or science and technology organisations and scientific activities and services; or
- (ii) Master's / Integrated Master's in Engineering or Technology from a recognised university, or Doctoral degree in Science / Engineering / Technology / Pharma / MD / MS from a recognised university or equivalent, and 3 years' experience in research and development as above.
- Consolidated stipend
- ₹49,000 + HRA, or as per funding agency norms.
- Maximum age limit
- 40 years
Project Scientist-I (PS-I)
- Essential qualification
- Doctoral degree in Science, or Master's / Integrated Master's in Engineering or Technology from a recognised university or equivalent, and 4 years' experience in research and development in industrial and academic institutions or science and technology organisations and scientific activities and services.
- Consolidated stipend
- ₹56,000 + HRA, or as per funding agency norms.
- Maximum age limit
- 35 years
Project staff employed in grant-in-aid projects funded by Government departments such as DST, DBT, DAE, ICMR and ICAR are paid the stipend and other benefits approved by the funding agency. The stipends above are consolidated and may vary as per project norms.
Subject areas
- Biological Sciences: Agricultural Science & Technology, Biotechnology, Food Science & Technology including Nutrition, Life Sciences, Microbiology.
- Engineering Sciences: Chemical, Electronics, Electrical, Instrumentation, Mechanical and Production Engineering.
- Management Science & IT: Bioinformatics, Business Administration, Computer Science & Applications.
- Physical & Chemical Sciences: Biochemistry, Chemistry, Mathematical Sciences, Nano Science & Technology, Physics.
I. Other details
- Mere submission of an application does not vest any right in a candidate for engagement as Project Assistant / Associate.
- The terms and conditions of engagement of Project Staff may be amended from time to time.
- The engagement is purely on a temporary and contract basis under the externally funded / sponsored / network / other project undertaken by CSIR-CFTRI.
- Engagement under a project does not confer any right or claim whatsoever, explicitly or implicitly, to regular appointment in CSIR / CFTRI against any post or otherwise, under any legal condition or precedent.
- Only candidates who have completed their degree with the requisite educational qualifications need apply.
- The position of Project Assistant / Project Associate is not transferable to other projects.
- On completion of tenure in one project, a candidate who wants to be engaged in another project must go through the selection process, if advertised.
- Appointment under a new project is made only after submission of a 'No Demand Certificate' for the previous project.
- The performance of Project Staff is reviewed periodically, so that anyone not found up to the mark can be replaced.
- The offer of engagement may be for a short duration (6 months / 1 year) and may be extended on the recommendation of the Project Investigator(s) / Leader(s).
- Resigning before completion of tenure in order to join another project is discouraged.
- The tenure of Project Assistants / Project Associates is co-terminus with the duration of the project.
- The maximum period for which Project Assistants / Project Associates can be engaged in different projects taken together is 5 years.
II. Benefits
- Ph.D. registration is allowed for Project Assistants / Project Associates who have worked for at least two years and have cleared at least CSIR-UGC lectureship (NET) or GATE, or published 2 papers in international peer-reviewed ISI-indexed journals. At any time, not more than 30% of Project Assistants / Project Associates may register for a Ph.D., and CSIR-CFTRI may set further criteria to maintain quality. Ph.D. registration will not be a means of extending tenure beyond five years.
- Project Assistants / Project Associates are not entitled to medical facilities through the CSIR-CFTRI dispensary or under the CS (MA) Rules. In emergencies CSIR-CFTRI may provide treatment or consultation, but medical expenses are not reimbursable.
- Project Assistants / Project Associates are entitled to one day's leave for each completed month of service. In extraordinary circumstances the Principal Investigator and/or the Director, CSIR-CFTRI may relax this rule.
- TA/DA: Project Staff are entitled to TA/DA as applicable to JRF, SRF and RA respectively while on official tour.
III. Reservation
Other things being equal, candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC communities are given preference over General candidates to ensure their representation.
IV. Recruitment / engagement procedure
- When a project needs manpower, its Principal Investigator / Project Investigator notifies an advertisement on the Institute website, giving the number of positions, level, duration of engagement, qualifications (as per project requirement and these guidelines) and subject panel(s), and allowing 48 hours for new candidates to apply. Applications already active in the relevant subject panels that meet the eligibility requirements are considered by default.
- After the notification period, the Principal Investigator / Project Investigator screens the applications and shortlists at least 10 candidates for each position (1:10), and submits the list to the Chairman, Committee for Engagement of Project Staff for Externally Funded Projects at CSIR-CFTRI.
- The Chairman then constitutes a Sub-Committee of the Principal Investigator / Project Investigator, the Head of the concerned Department, one or two subject experts and a member of the Committee.
- The Sub-Committee interviews the candidates and recommends the candidate(s) to be engaged under the project to the Chairman of the Committee.
- The Committee endorses the Sub-Committee's recommendations and forwards them to the PAT Cell, which issues the offer(s) of engagement after confirming the project's manpower requirement and availability of funds with PMC, TTBD and Finance & Accounts. The Principal Investigator / Project Investigator co-ordinates these requirements with the PAT Cell.
- Moving from one project to another by resigning before completing the tenure is discouraged. A Project Assistant who wishes to apply for a position under another project is considered a fresh candidate, subject to (i) certification by the Principal Investigator / Project Investigator that they have completed their tenure, or will join the new project on completing it if recommended, and (ii) their performance under the previous project.