Junior Research Fellowship – 18 Positions
DRDO Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory (DMRL), Hyderabad, has invited applications from Indian nationals for 18 Junior Research Fellow positions. Advertisement No. DMRL/HRD/JRF/2026/01 was published on the official DRDO website on 6 October 2026. The opportunity concerns research in advanced materials and processing technologies for defence applications.
The official vacancy page lists 27 October 2026 as its end date. The advertisement specifies receipt of applications within 21 days after publication on the DRDO website. Applications must follow the prescribed email procedure; this is not a general online résumé submission or an automatic walk-in appointment.
Fellowship disciplines and vacancies
| Code | Subject | Positions |
|---|---|---|
| JRF-01 | Metallurgical Engineering / Materials Science | 7 |
| JRF-02 | Mechanical Engineering | 7 |
| JRF-03 | Chemical Engineering | 2 |
| JRF-04 | Physics | 2 |
There are 18 advertised positions across these four subjects. The laboratory may decide not to fill positions if suitable candidates are unavailable. Match the subject and fellowship code to your qualification; a degree in an unrelated engineering branch is not enough merely because the advertisement comes from DRDO.
Stipend, tenure and the nature of the opportunity
A JRF receives Rs. 37,000 per month plus HRA as per DRDO rules. The fellowship is temporary, with an initial offer of two years and a maximum tenure of four years. Extension requires the stated internal screening and assessment conditions. After two years, elevation to Senior Research Fellow may be considered subject to satisfactory performance and DRDO guidelines.
This is a paid research fellowship, not a student internship or permanent government appointment. The notice explicitly states that a fellowship offer gives no right to absorption in DRDO. A selected fellow may be allowed to register for a part-time PhD with a university or institution during the fellowship, but only with the required approval of the DMRL Director.
Engineering and Physics eligibility
For the Metallurgical Engineering/Materials Science fellowship, the specified undergraduate route is a first-class BE/BTech in Metallurgical Engineering, Materials Science, Materials Engineering or Materials Technology from a UGC-recognised university, with a valid GATE score. The alternative postgraduate route requires both a first-class ME/MTech and a first-class BE/BTech in the listed relevant disciplines.
Mechanical and Chemical Engineering have corresponding discipline-specific routes: first-class BE/BTech with valid GATE, or first-class ME/MTech together with first-class BE/BTech in the matching discipline. The postgraduate route does not remove the requirement for the stated undergraduate qualification.
For Physics, the essential qualification is an MSc in Physics with First Division from a UGC-recognised university and a valid NET qualification. GATE/NET scores must be valid on the interview date, and the paper and qualifying degree must relate to the advertised subject where applicable.
Only candidates already awarded the required degree or provisional certificate are eligible. The notice also expressly excludes candidates who have previously held JRF positions in a DRDO laboratory or centre. Do not omit this restriction when assessing whether to apply.
Age limit and an important cutoff detail
The maximum age for JRF is 28 years, with the stated relaxation of five years for SC/ST and three years for OBC, or as applicable under government guidelines. Candidates claiming a concession must supply the required self-attested certificate.
The advertisement's age-cutoff wording is “as on the closing date of interview”, while the interview date is to be intimated later. It should not be silently rewritten as 27 October. Applicants whose eligibility depends on that cutoff should confirm the laboratory's interpretation and subsequent interview instructions.
How to email the application correctly
- Visit the official DRDO DMRL JRF vacancy page and obtain the advertisement and prescribed Excel application form.
- Complete every required Excel entry. State qualifying marks as percentages and include your university's supporting CGPA/CPI conversion document where applicable.
- Compile supporting certificates in the order specified by the notice into a single PDF, separate from the completed Excel form.
- Start both filenames with the advertisement's post serial number followed by your name, as instructed, and email the two files to dmrlhrd@gmail.com.
The document list includes relevant degree certificates and marksheets, the qualifying score card as applicable, government photo ID, photograph, and any applicable experience, caste and employer-NOC documents. It also mentions publications and other relevant evidence. Incomplete forms or applications missing required supporting documents can be rejected without an individual intimation.
Shortlisting, interview and final checks
Shortlisting uses valid NET/GATE scores for the applicable undergraduate/MSc routes and qualifying ME/MTech marks for the postgraduate route. Shortlisted candidates will be called for an interview in Hyderabad on a date announced later. Bring original certificates and self-attested copies for verification.
Candidates serving in government or government-owned organisations must follow the proper-channel or NOC requirement. No TA/DA is paid for attending the interview or joining if selected. Send the prescribed application by the official 27 October 2026 deadline and monitor DRDO's vacancy page for updates. Application submission does not guarantee an interview or a fellowship award.
