IIM Ahmedabad Research Associates: Transportation and Logistics, Civil Aviation
The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad has invited applications for full-time Research Associates in Transportation and Logistics, focused on civil aviation. The projects concern aviation policy, operations and management. Candidates need a relevant master’s qualification and a strong quantitative background, including economic theory and econometric methods applied to policy questions. The application deadline is 30 September 2026.
The position is initially for six months, with work in Delhi or Ahmedabad according to project requirements. It may be extended based on performance at the faculty supervisor’s discretion. This is a research appointment, not an internship, a permanent faculty vacancy or an admission route to an academic programme. Compensation is governed by IIMA policy and depends on qualifications and experience; the notice does not publish a salary amount.
Key details
- Institution: Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad.
- Role: Research Associates in Transportation and Logistics, Civil Aviation.
- Number of positions: Multiple candidates; an exact count is not stated.
- Employment: Full-time research work.
- Initial duration: Six months.
- Location: Delhi or Ahmedabad, based on requirements.
- Travel: Travel within India may be required.
- Supervision: Prof. Debjit Roy and Prof. Sandip Chakrabarti.
- Deadline: 30 September 2026.
- Application mode: Online only, with one consolidated PDF attachment.
What the research work covers
The appointment supports projects related to aviation policy, operations and management. The notice describes a combination of research and project-support responsibilities rather than a single narrowly defined analysis task. Applicants should be interested in using quantitative evidence to investigate policy and operational questions, while also contributing to the written outputs and administrative work needed to complete a project.
Data and information collection are part of the advertised responsibilities. So are data cleaning and processing, literature reviews, quantitative analysis, drafting and editing reports, and project-administration activities. These duties span the research process from finding relevant material to communicating results. The source does not name specific datasets, software packages or a predetermined number of publications.
Prior academic or professional experience in transportation or logistics is desirable but not essential. A candidate should not rule themselves out solely because an earlier project was in another sector, provided the required education and analytical foundation are present. Equally, an interest in aviation does not replace the stated quantitative and academic requirements.
Required educational background
Applicants must have a master’s degree in business administration, such as an MBA or a similar qualification, or economics, such as an MSc or MA or a similar qualification. An equivalent programme with significant coursework or concentration in data analytics is also included. The institute asks candidates who do not meet the stated qualifications not to apply.
The notice expects a strong foundation in core economic theory and in-depth knowledge of econometric methods, including their use in policy contexts. It also asks for good grades in undergraduate and postgraduate courses in statistics, econometrics, data analytics or similar subjects. No numerical percentage or CGPA cutoff is published, so this summary does not invent one.
Excellent written and oral communication is essential, and a writing sample is mandatory. Prior research-assistantship experience at an academic institution is an advantage. The advertisement also explains that promising candidates without previous research-assistantship experience may initially be appointed as Research Assistant rather than Research Associate. That possibility does not waive the required educational or analytical background.
Duration, location and compensation
The initial appointment lasts six months. Any extension depends on performance and is at the discretion of the faculty supervisor. It is therefore not a guaranteed year-long or permanent position. Applicants should consider whether they can commit to the full initial period and discuss any course, employment or notice-period obligations before accepting an appointment.
The work location is Delhi or Ahmedabad according to requirements, and domestic travel may be necessary. The notice does not advertise a work-from-home arrangement or state that candidates can freely choose between the two cities. Questions about the initial reporting location, travel frequency, reimbursement or relocation support should be directed through the recruitment process.
Salary is described as being governed by IIMA policy and commensurate with qualifications and experience. There is no official monthly range in the notice. Figures attached to unrelated IIMA research positions should not be copied into this vacancy. Obtain the actual compensation and appointment conditions from the institute if you progress through selection.
Documents required for the application
The notice asks for a single consolidated PDF containing three components: a cover letter stating education and relevant work experience, a detailed CV, and a relevant writing sample of three to five pages. Applicants should mention any previous work or research connected with aviation. The required three-to-five-page length applies to the writing sample, not necessarily to the complete consolidated file.
The cover letter should make the connection between your qualifications and the advertised research work clear. The CV should provide sufficient detail about education, analytical training and relevant experience. The writing sample is especially important because written communication is an explicit selection requirement, not an optional addition to an otherwise technical application.
The source does not prescribe a particular sample topic, font, file-size limit or CV template in the notice itself. Follow any additional instructions displayed in the live application form. If a proposed sample was co-authored, identify your contribution accurately; if it contains confidential information, use an authorised alternative rather than upload restricted material.
How to apply
- Check IIMA’s official Research Assistant recruitment page and the notice for Transportation and Logistics, Civil Aviation.
- Read the official vacancy notice to confirm the current terms.
- Prepare the cover letter, detailed CV and three-to-five-page writing sample as one consolidated PDF.
- Use the online application form linked by IIM Ahmedabad. Google sign-in may be required.
- Submit the requested details and attachment by 30 September 2026, then retain any confirmation provided.
Applications are accepted online only. The notice does not give a closing hour, so applicants should not assume that a particular late-evening cutoff is guaranteed. Verify the form’s current availability and complete the submission before the final day where possible. Opening the form or uploading a draft does not by itself establish that an application has been submitted.
Selection and communication
Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an online or in-person interview. The institute states that it will contact only candidates selected for interview, will not send rejection letters to other applicants, and will not entertain emails requesting application-status updates. Applicants should plan around that communication policy rather than expect an individual response to every submission.
The notice does not publish a written-test syllabus, a guaranteed interview date or a selection-result timetable. Any preparation suggestions here are editorial guidance, not an official test pattern. Candidates can usefully revisit the methods used in their own research and be ready to explain their writing sample, analytical choices and limitations.
Preparing a strong, accurate application
A relevant project example can show how you moved from a research question to data collection, cleaning, analysis and interpretation. Explain what you personally did and why the chosen method was appropriate. If a result had limitations, acknowledge them. Clear reasoning and an honest account of your contribution are more useful than overstating a project’s policy impact.
For applicants without aviation experience, demonstrate the transferable foundation identified in the notice: economic reasoning, quantitative methods, analytical writing and reliable project work. Do not invent an aviation specialisation to match the title. The source explicitly makes transportation or logistics experience desirable rather than essential, while keeping the academic requirements firm.
Before submission, verify that the PDF contains all three required components, that the sample is within the prescribed page range, and that the file opens correctly. This opportunity suits quantitatively trained postgraduate applicants interested in applied civil-aviation research who can meet the full-time location and duration requirements. The institute’s current notice and application form remain the authoritative sources.
