The Office of Industrial Consultancy and Sponsored Research (IC&SR), Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu has released a notification for Project Associate Recruitment at the IITM FedEx SMART Center. The post is temporary and contractual, and 2 vacancies are open under the coordination of Prof. Arshinder Kaur, Department of Management Studies. Selected candidates will work on supply chain, logistics, analytics, and AI-driven research projects. The monthly pay ranges from ₹40,000 to ₹60,000, depending on qualifications and experience. Interested candidates can apply online on or before 05 October 2026.
Date Posted: 28 September 2026
Institution Name: Office of Industrial Consultancy and Sponsored Research (IC&SR), Indian Institute of Technology Madras
Advertisement/Notification No.: ICSR/PR/Advt.198/2026, Dated 21/09/2026
Employment Type: Temporary/Contractual (purely on contract basis)
Post Name/Designation: The Institute is hiring for
- Project Associate at the IITM FedEx SMART Center, IIT Madras
Total Vacancies: 2
Required Educational Qualifications for Project Associate: Candidates should have
- A 4-year UG degree or any Non-Engineering PG degree
- A Master’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Industrial Engineering, Operations Research, Computer Science, Data Science, Management, or a closely related discipline
Candidate Profile: The Institute is looking for candidates who
- Have knowledge or experience in three or more of the following areas: Supply Chain Management and Logistics, Reverse Logistics/Sustainable Supply Chains, Warehouse Management and Operations, Operations Research and Optimization, Data Analytics and Problem Solving, Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning, Digital Twin/Simulation, and Python or other data analytics tools
- Have prior project, research, internship, or industry experience in Supply Chain, Logistics, Warehousing, AI, Data Analytics, or related areas (desirable)
- Have basic knowledge of Python, optimization, simulation, or data analytics tools (desirable)
- Have strong analytical and problem-solving skills, along with good communication and documentation skills (desirable)
Key Responsibilities: Selected candidates will be expected to
- Conduct research and analysis related to supply chain and logistics projects
- Support data collection, analysis, modelling, and optimization activities
- Develop analytical models and research-based solutions
- Conduct literature reviews and document research findings
- Prepare technical reports and project deliverables
- Work closely with faculty, researchers, and industry stakeholders
- Support project implementation, experimentation, and validation
Required Experience: Relevant experience is preferred, but fresh Master’s graduates may also be considered based on their skills and academic or project experience. Only experience gained after the minimum qualifying degree will be counted.
Pay Scale/Pay Level:
₹40,000 – ₹60,000 per month, based on qualifications and experience.
Selection Process: Candidates will be selected through the following stages
- Shortlisting of candidates based on the information provided in the online application
- Written test/skill test/interview, as decided by the Institute
- Document verification, for which the printout of the online application must be produced
Job Location: IIT Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Important Dates:
| Activity | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Date | 21 September 2026 |
| Application Start Date | 21 September 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 05 October 2026 |
| Walk-in/Interview Date | Not Applicable – Details will be sent to the communication channel mentioned in the notification for shortlisted candidates |
Apply Mode: Online Application Link
How to Apply for this Project Associate Position?
Candidates need to register and submit the application on the IC&SR careers portal of IIT Madras, selecting Advt. No. 198/2026 and the relevant post. No hard copy has to be sent to the Institute, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted by email.
Application Procedure: Candidates need to follow the steps given below to apply for this post
- Visit the IC&SR careers portal and open the current openings page
- Register with a valid and active email address
- Select Advertisement No. 198/2026 and the Project Associate post
- Fill in the application form carefully, as it cannot be edited or reverted after submission
- Submit the form and keep a printout of the application for use at the test, interview, or document verification
Documents Required: Candidates should keep the following documents ready
- Printout of the submitted online application form
- Updated resume/CV
- Educational certificates and mark sheets
- Age proof/Date of birth certificate
- Experience certificates, if any
- Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC/EWS), if applicable
- Recent passport-size photograph
- Government-issued ID proof
- No Objection Certificate (NOC), for candidates already working in any project at IIT Madras
- Testimonials from the most recent employer or immediate superior, if available
Important Links:
| Link Type | Details |
|---|---|
| Official Notification | IIT Madras Project Associate Recruitment Notification — (This link is taken from the institution official website) |
| Institution Official Website | https://www.iitm.ac.in/ |
| Application Link | Apply Online – IC&SR Careers Portal |
Disclaimer for Candidates: Candidates are requested to carefully read and review the official notification before applying, as the information above is presented for general reference only and the official advertisement shall be treated as final and authoritative in case of any discrepancy.
Institution address:
Office of Industrial Consultancy and Sponsored Research,
Indian Institute of Technology Madras,
Chennai – 600036,
Tamil Nadu, India.
Benefits of Joining IIT Madras:
- Chance to work on industry-linked research at the IITM FedEx SMART Center
- Exposure to supply chain, logistics, AI, and digital twin projects
- Opportunity to work closely with faculty, researchers, and industry stakeholders
- Hands-on experience in modelling, optimization, and technical report writing
- Valuable experience that adds weight to future research and career opportunities
Frequently Asked Questions for Project Associate Recruitment
- How many vacancies are there for this post?
There are 2 vacancies for the post of Project Associate. - What is the last date to apply online?
05 October 2026. - What is the monthly pay for this post?
₹40,000 to ₹60,000 per month, based on qualifications and experience. - Is this a permanent post?
No, it is purely a contractual post, initially for 6 months and extendable based on performance. - Can the contract be regularized later?
No, completion of the contract does not give any right to extension, regularization, or permanency. - Can fresh graduates apply?
Yes, fresh Master’s graduates may be considered based on their skills and academic or project experience. - Is there any age relaxation mentioned?
The notification does not mention any age limit or age relaxation. - What is the selection process?
Shortlisting based on the online application, followed by a test or interview and document verification. - Do I need to send a hard copy of my application?
No, the hard copy is not to be sent to the Institute. Keep the printout for the test or interview. - Is there an application fee or refund policy?
The notification does not mention any application fee or refund policy.
If you have a strong background in supply chain, analytics, or data science, this is a good chance to gain hands-on research experience at one of India’s leading institutes. With a competitive monthly pay and exposure to industry-linked projects, eligible candidates should apply online before 05 October 2026 and keep all documents ready.
