DRDO Young Scientists' Laboratory for Smart Materials, Hyderabad, has announced a walk-in interview for one Junior Research Fellowship in a project involving smart-material-based robotic applications. The interview is scheduled for 6 October 2026 at 9:30 AM. The fellowship offers ₹37,000 per month with applicable HRA and other emoluments under DRDO rules, and the initial tenure is two years.
This is a temporary research fellowship, not a student internship, permanent scientist appointment or general recruitment for all engineering branches. The academic routes are specific to Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, with listed postgraduate specializations. Candidates should read the degree requirements, GATE provisions and exclusions before arranging travel. The official advertisement is numbered DYSL-SM/HRD/JRF/REC/2026/1 and dated 4 September 2026.
DRDO DYSL-SM JRF: key details
- Organization: DRDO Young Scientists' Laboratory for Smart Materials.
- Position: Junior Research Fellow.
- Vacancy: One.
- Location: Hyderabad, Telangana; this is not advertised as remote work.
- Research area: Smart materials for robotic applications, including shape memory alloys and piezoelectric materials.
- Monthly fellowship: ₹37,000 plus applicable HRA and other emoluments under DRDO rules.
- Initial tenure: Two years, temporary.
- Walk-in: 6 October 2026, 9:30 AM.
- Venue: DYSL-SM, AMTL Campus, near DMRL, Kanchanbagh, Hyderabad–500058.
- Nationality: Indian nationals.
Educational qualification: check the correct route
The first route is a first-class BE or BTech in Mechanical or Mechatronics Engineering together with a valid GATE score. The notice states that the relevant GATE score must remain valid on the interview date. Applicants using this route should check their score documentation as well as their degree results; having appeared for GATE without the required valid score is not the same as meeting the condition.
The alternative route requires a first-class ME or MTech in the listed Mechanical/Mechatronics, Robotics and Automation, Machine Design or Solid Mechanics areas, together with a first-class BE or BTech in Mechanical or Mechatronics Engineering. A relevant postgraduate qualification alone does not remove the stated undergraduate discipline and first-class requirements. Compare the exact name on your degree with the official qualification table and seek clarification from the laboratory if equivalence is uncertain.
Only candidates who have completed the course and received a degree or provisional certificate are eligible. Students who are still awaiting completion should not assume that a final-semester mark sheet will satisfy this condition. The advertisement does not specify a universal percentage conversion for first class, so applicants should rely on the classification and supporting rules issued by their own university rather than an invented cutoff.
Desirable knowledge and research fit
The desirable areas include finite element packages, CAD, 3D printing, composite materials, basic electronics and instrumentation. These are relevant to a project that connects materials with robotic applications. They are described as desirable criteria and should not be confused with an unrestricted replacement for the essential qualifications. The notice also says that fulfilment of desirable criteria can be considered when applications are screened.
DYSL-SM describes its work as developing smart-material technology for national defence, with interests including accelerated materials development, micro-robotics and stealth technologies. For this particular fellowship, the stated project focuses on shape memory alloy and piezoelectric material applications. The advertisement does not publish a detailed research schedule, software licence list or guaranteed thesis topic, so those details should be discussed during the selection process rather than assumed.
Age limit and important exclusions
The maximum age for JRF is 28 years as on the date of application. The notice provides five years of relaxation for SC/ST candidates and three years for OBC candidates, or relaxation under applicable government guidelines. A self-attested caste certificate should accompany the application where relevant. The age reference is the application date, not an independently invented cutoff linked to the publication date.
Applicants who have already been awarded a JRF position in a DRDO laboratory or centre are not eligible to apply again. This restriction appears both in the general conditions and in the application form, so it should not be overlooked simply because the current laboratory is different. Candidates working in government, public sector undertakings or autonomous bodies must produce a no-objection certificate.
Fellowship amount and tenure
The stated fellowship amount is ₹37,000 per month. Applicable HRA and other emoluments are governed by DRDO rules; the notice does not give one fixed HRA amount or guaranteed total take-home figure. Applicants should therefore distinguish the basic fellowship from any additional payment whose applicability will depend on the relevant rules and their circumstances.
The initial engagement is temporary and lasts two years. Any subsequent progression to Senior Research Fellow grade is subject to DRDO guidelines, not an automatic promise made by this advertisement. Selected fellows may be permitted to register for a part-time PhD during the fellowship, but that requires approval from the Director of DYSL-SM. The award gives no right to permanent absorption in DRDO.
How to apply and attend the interview
- Open the official DRDO vacancy page linked below and download the advertisement and prescribed application form.
- Check every essential qualification, the age condition and the previous-DRDO-JRF exclusion before filling in the form.
- Complete the form accurately, affix a recent passport-size photograph in the designated position and sign the declaration.
- Prepare the supporting certificates, mark sheets and experience documents that apply to your case, including category and GATE proof where relevant.
- Email the completed application with supporting documents in PDF format to hrd.dysl-sm@gov.in. The notice specifies a file size below 10 MB.
- Attend the walk-in at the stated Hyderabad venue on 6 October at 9:30 AM with original documents and one set of self-attested copies. Late arrivals will not be allowed.
Open the official DRDO DYSL-SM JRF vacancy page.
The advertisement specifies both email submission and attendance with documents. It does not state a separate closing date for the email in the general conditions reviewed. Do not treat the interview time as a published email deadline or assume that sending an email replaces the walk-in. Submit the documents in good time and contact the laboratory through the official notice if you need clarification about submission timing.
Documents and selection process
The application form requests education details from SSC or matriculation onward, employment history, qualifying-examination information and previous DRDO interview details. It also includes declarations related to existing employment and a no-objection certificate format. Read the annexures alongside the main notice: downloading only the first page would miss the actual application and employment-related paperwork.
Screening considers academic marks, the applicable GATE score, desirable knowledge and relevant work experience, if any. An interview-based panel can remain valid for one year, but inclusion in that panel does not guarantee an offer. The laboratory retains discretion over selection and can amend or cancel the advertisement; vacancy numbers may also change according to requirements. No travel or daily allowance will be paid for attending the interview or joining.
Before travelling to Hyderabad
As practical editorial advice, keep a separate checklist for originals, self-attested copies, the signed application, photograph and any employer permission. Check that scanned PDFs are readable after compression and retain the email submission record. Revisit the official vacancy page before travelling for any update. Plan arrival with time to locate the correct campus, because the notice expressly excludes latecomers and does not offer a remote interview alternative.
This guide was checked against the official four-page advertisement, including its qualification table and annexures, on 24 September 2026. The DRDO notice remains the authority for eligibility, selection and subsequent changes.
