CSIR SERC Recruitment 2026: CSIR-Structural Engineering Research Centre has released an official recruitment notification (Advt. No. SE-3/2026) for the engagement of Project Associate-I (PAT-I) and Project Associate-II (PAT-II) on a purely temporary/contractual basis.
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According to the official notification dated 14 November 2026, a total of 16 vacancies are available across 15 specialized R&D projects. Eligible engineering graduates and postgraduates must complete the mandatory online pre-registration via the official website (www.serc.res.in) between 16 November 2026 and 25 November 2026 before appearing for the Walk-in Interview on 26 November 2026.
CSIR SERC Recruitment 2026: Overview
Candidates interested in working on cutting-edge structural engineering, railway bridge assessment, offshore wind energy, and AI/ML projects at CSIR-SERC Chennai can review the key highlights in the table below:
| Recruitment Particulars | Details |
| Conducting Body | CSIR-Structural Engineering Research Centre (CSIR-SERC), Chennai |
| Notification Number | SE-3/2026 (No. A1(680)2026-Rct.) |
| Post Name | Project Associate-I (PAT-I) & Project Associate-II (PAT-II) |
| Total Vacancies | 16 Posts (PAT-I: 09 Posts, PAT-II: 07 Posts) |
| Job Nature | Purely Temporary / Contractual (Co-terminus with project) |
| Job & Interview Location | CSIR-SERC, CSIR Road, Taramani, Chennai – 600113 |
| Application Mode | Online Pre-Registration followed by Offline Walk-in Interview |
| Application Fee | Nil (No Registration Fee) |
| Selection Process | Document Verification & Walk-in Interview (Written test if applicants are large) |
| Official Website | [https://serc.res.in/](https://serc.res.in/) |
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CSIR SERC Recruitment 2026: Important Dates
Candidates must strictly adhere to the registration timeline, as only online pre-registered candidates will be permitted to attend the walk-in interview:
- Notification Release Date: 14 November 2026
- Start Date for Online Pre-Registration: 16 November 2026 (from 10:00 AM)
- Last Date for Online Pre-Registration: 25 November 2026 (up to 05:00 PM)
- Date of Walk-in Interview (Offline): 26 November 2026
- Interview Reporting Window: 09:00 AM to 10:30 AM (No entry allowed after 10:30 AM)
CSIR SERC Vacancy 2026 & Project-Wise Details
CSIR-SERC has announced 16 vacancies across 15 distinct research projects. Check the complete project-wise post distribution, project codes, and tenure details below:
| Post Name & Code | Project Code & Title | Vacancies | Initial Tenure (Extendable Up To) |
| Project Associate-II (PAT-II) | FBR040405 – Development of indigenous Cement Asphalt Mortar material for High-Speed Rail Track System | 01 | March 2027 (March 2028) |
| Project Associate-II (PAT-II) | GAP 66 – Enhancing Structural Engineering Education through Model-based Learning | 01 | March 2027 (June 2029) |
| Project Associate-II (PAT-II) | IST552601 – Design and Development of Offshore Wind and Wave Energy Technologies for Indian Coastline | 02 | March 2027 (March 2028) |
| Project Associate-II (PAT-II) | MMP055202 – Assessment and Mitigation Strategy for Geo Hazards in Himalaya (AMOGH) | 01 | March 2027 (March 2028) |
| Project Associate-I (PAT-I) | SSP 479 – Assessing the effect of negative camber on Open Web Girder Bridge No. 47 (Samastipur Div., ECR) | 01 | March 2027 (Mid-October 2027) |
| Project Associate-II (PAT-II) | SSP 479 – Assessing the effect of negative camber on Open Web Girder Bridge No. 47 (Samastipur Div., ECR) | 01 | March 2027 (Mid-October 2027) |
| Project Associate-I (PAT-I) | MLP002638 – 3D Printed G+1 concrete building for Earthquake-prone regions | 01 | March 2027 (March 2028) |
| Project Associate-II (PAT-II) | SSP 482 – Performance evaluation of AAR H Coupler & VB Coupler | 01 | March 2027 (June 2027) |
| Project Associate-I (PAT-I) | HCP 002601 – CSIR Jigyasa (Civil Engineering) | 01 | March 2027 (March 2031) |
| Project Associate-I (PAT-I) | HCP 002601 – CSIR Jigyasa (Computer Science Engineering) | 01 | March 2027 (March 2031) |
| Project Associate-I (PAT-I) | SSP 458 – Quasi static and dynamic testing of a ground test vehicle of an urban aerial mobility aircraft | 01 | March 2027 (February 2028) |
| Project Associate-I (PAT-I) | NCP 040401 – Fatigue life assessment for railway BRidges using Intelligent SENSing and lEarning (FABRISENSE) | 01 | March 2027 (March 2028) |
| Project Associate-I (PAT-I) | SSP 466 – Continuous health monitoring of steel concrete composite girder for Chennai Metro Rail Limited (ECE/EEE/Instrumentation) | 01 | March 2027 (January 2028) |
| Project Associate-I (PAT-I) | SSP 466 – Continuous health monitoring of steel concrete composite girder for Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CSE/IT/AI & DS) | 01 | March 2027 (January 2028) |
| Project Associate-I (PAT-I) | FIR040402 – Seismic-Responsive Elevation System: Adaptive Lift Technology for Buildings during Earthquake Events (S-Elevate) | 01 | March 2027 (March 2028) |
CSIR SERC Eligibility Criteria 2026
Before applying online, candidates must ensure they meet the educational qualifications, experience requirements, and age criteria as of the date of the walk-in interview (26 November 2026). Note that final-year/semester students awaiting results are not eligible.
1. Educational Qualification & Experience
Project Associate-II (PAT-II):
- Sl. No. 1, 2, 3 & 4 (FBR040405, GAP 66, IST552601, MMP055202): B.E./B.Tech in Civil or Mechanical Engineering (or equivalent) from a recognized university/institute AND 2 years of R&D experience in Industrial/Academic Institutions or S&T Organizations and scientific activities/services.
- Sl. No. 6 (SSP 479): B.E./B.Tech in Civil Engineering (or equivalent) with 2 years of working experience OR M.E./M.Tech/M.S. in Structural Engineering or related fields.
- Sl. No. 8 (SSP 482): B.E./B.Tech in Civil Engineering (or equivalent) AND 2 years of R&D experience in Industrial/Academic Institutions or S&T Organizations.
Project Associate-I (PAT-I):
- Sl. No. 5 (SSP 479): B.E./B.Tech in ECE / EEE / CSE / AI & ML / AI & Data Science from a recognized university/institute.
- Sl. No. 7 & 9 (MLP002638, HCP 002601): B.E./B.Tech in Civil Engineering (or equivalent).
- Sl. No. 10 (HCP 002601): B.E./B.Tech in Computer Science Engineering (or equivalent).
- Sl. No. 11 & 12 (SSP 458, NCP 040401): B.E./B.Tech in Civil Engineering / AI & Data Science / AI & Machine Learning.
- Sl. No. 13 (SSP 466): B.E./B.Tech in ECE / Instrumentation Engineering / EEE.
- Sl. No. 14 (SSP 466): B.E./B.Tech in CSE / Information Technology / AI & Data Science.
- Sl. No. 15 (FIR040402): B.E./B.Tech in Civil / Mechanical Engineering (or equivalent) with or without GATE.
(Note: Knowledge of structural analysis software like STAAD Pro, ANSYS, ABAQUS, ETABS, SAP2000, CAD tools, and programming languages like MATLAB, Python, or C++ is desirable across several projects.)
2. Age Limit & Relaxation
- Upper Age Limit (for all posts): 35 Years (as on the date of the walk-in interview).
- Age Relaxation:
- SC / ST / Women / Persons with Disabilities (PwD): 5 Years
- OBC Candidates: 3 Years
- Maximum CSIR Tenure Cap: Candidates who have already completed a total tenure of 6 years as Project Staff across any CSIR Labs/Institutes are not eligible to apply.
CSIR SERC Salary / Monthly Emoluments 2026
Selected candidates will receive a consolidated monthly stipend plus House Rent Allowance (HRA) based on whether they hold a valid national-level exam qualification (CSIR-UGC NET including lectureship/assistant professorship, GATE, or national-level exams conducted by DST/DBT or central government agencies):
| Post Name | Category (i): With CSIR-UGC NET / GATE / National Level Exam | Category (ii): Others (Without NET / GATE) |
| Project Associate-II (PAT-II) | ₹35,000/- per month + HRA | ₹28,000/- per month + HRA |
| Project Associate-I (PAT-I) | ₹31,000/- per month + HRA | ₹25,000/- per month + HRA |
How to Apply for CSIR SERC Recruitment 2026?
Candidates must complete both Online Registration and Offline Walk-in Attendance. No hard copies of applications should be sent by post.
Step 1: Online Pre-Registration (16 Nov to 25 Nov 2026)
- Visit the official website of CSIR-SERC at
[https://serc.res.in/](https://serc.res.in/)or directly go to[https://serc.res.in/csir-recruitment](https://serc.res.in/csir-recruitment). - Click on the link for Notification No. SE-3/2026 (Engagement of Project Associate-I/II).
- Fill out the online application/registration form carefully with personal, academic, and experience details.
- Upload scanned copies of all requisite certificates (Educational qualifications, mark sheets, Date of Birth proof, Category certificate, Experience certificates, and GATE/NET scorecard if applicable).
- Submit the form before 25 November 2026 (05:00 PM) and take a printout of the submitted application form.
Step 2: Attend the Walk-in Interview (26 Nov 2026)
Report in person at CSIR-SERC, CSIR Road, Taramani, Chennai – 600113 on 26 November 2026 between 09:00 AM and 10:30 AM. No Travelling Allowance (TA) will be paid for attending the interview.
Documents Required at the Interview Venue
- Duly signed printout of the online application form
- Original certificates and mark sheets (10th, 12th, B.E./B.Tech, M.E./M.Tech) for verification
- Valid GATE / CSIR-UGC NET Scorecard (if applicable)
- Experience certificates (mandatory for PAT-II posts)
- Valid Photo ID proof (Aadhaar Card) and Caste/PwD certificate (if claiming relaxation)
- One set of self-attested photocopies of all the above documents
Check Officail Recruitment Notice PDF Here
CSIR SERC Selection Process 2026
- Screening & Shortlisting: If the number of registered applicants is large, CSIR-SERC may shortlist candidates based on higher educational qualifications, higher relevant experience, academic marks, or by conducting a written test.
- Document Verification: Verification of original testimonials on the morning of the interview.
- Personal Interview: Evaluation by the Selection Committee. Suitable candidates may also be empaneled for future project requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What is the last date to register online for CSIR SERC Project Associate Recruitment 2026?
The online pre-registration portal closes on 25 November 2026 at 05:00 PM.
Q2. Can I attend the CSIR SERC walk-in interview without online registration?
No. As per Notification No. SE-3/2026, only candidates who complete online registration on www.serc.res.in within the deadline will be allowed to attend the walk-in interview on 26 November 2026.
Q3. Is GATE or NET mandatory for CSIR SERC Project Associate-I and II posts?
No, GATE or CSIR-UGC NET is not mandatory to apply. However, candidates with valid GATE/NET scores receive higher monthly emoluments (₹31,000 + HRA for PAT-I and ₹35,000 + HRA for PAT-II) compared to non-GATE/NET candidates (₹25,000 + HRA for PAT-I and ₹28,000 + HRA for PAT-II).
Q4. Is there any application fee for CSIR SERC Recruitment 2026?
No, there is zero registration or application fee for any category.
Q5. What is the maximum age limit for Project Associate-I & II at CSIR-SERC?
The upper age limit is 35 years as of 26 November 2026, with 5 years of relaxation for SC/ST/Women/PwD candidates and 3 years for OBC candidates
