BARC Research Associate Fellowship 2026 – Complete Guide to 25 Research Projects | Advertisement No. 3/2026(R-V) Government of India · Bhabha Atomic Research Centre · Official Recruitment Notice Advertisement No. 3/2026(R-V) BARC Research Associate Fellowship 2026 — Everything You Need to Know A complete, plain-English breakdown of all 25 research projects, eligibility criteria, stipend details, and step-by-step application guide. 25Research Projects 60+RA Vacancies ₹67KMax Monthly Stipend 3 YrsFellowship Duration ⚠ Last Date to Apply: 24 April 2026  |  Applications via post only · No email applications accepted Overview What Is the BARC RA Fellowship — and Why Should You Care? If you’ve just earned your PhD or are a recently graduated researcher looking for a meaningful, well-funded position in India’s premier nuclear science institution, this might be one of the most important notifications you’ll read this year. The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), situated at Trombay in Mumbai, has released its 2026 Research Associate (RA) Fellowship advertisement — officially numbered 3/2026(R-V). Through this recruitment, BARC is inviting PhD holders and qualified B.Tech/M.Tech candidates (for select projects) to work across cutting-edge disciplines — from quantum computing and nuclear agriculture to rare earth metallurgy and advanced desalination technologies. Think of it this way: BARC is offering PhD researchers the chance to continue their scientific journey inside one of India’s most well-equipped national research laboratories — with a competitive stipend, world-class infrastructure, and the mentorship of senior scientists. In this guide, we’ve taken the official PDF advertisement and broken it into something genuinely readable — project by project, section by section. Whether you’re a chemist, physicist, engineer, biologist, or bioinformatician, there’s very likely a project here that matches your expertise. Table of Contents Quick Facts at a Glance Fellowship Levels & Stipend Amounts All 25 Research Projects Explained General Eligibility Criteria How to Apply — Step by Step Documents Required Important Notes & Warnings Frequently Asked Questions At a Glance Key Details You Should Know Before Reading Further 🏛️OrganisationBARC, Trombay, Mumbai – 400 085 📋Advertisement No.3/2026(R-V) 📅Last Date24 April 2026 🔬Total Projects25 distinct R&D projects 🎓Basic QualificationPhD (most) / B.Tech/M.Tech (Project 21) ⏳DurationMaximum 3 years (varies) 📬Mode of ApplicationPhysical post only (no email) 🌐Official Websitewww.barc.gov.in Compensation How Much Will You Earn? Fellowship Levels Explained BARC structures the RA fellowship into three levels — RA-I, RA-II, and RA-III — and your placement depends on your qualifications and interview performance. Level Monthly Stipend Annual Contingency Grant Additional RA-I ₹58,000 / month ₹20,000 / year HRA as applicable RA-II ₹62,000 / month ₹20,000 / year HRA as applicable RA-III ₹67,000 / month ₹25,000 / year HRA as applicable The contingency grant covers research-related expenses — conference travel, consumables, software, and similar costs. HRA is paid over and above the stipend based on BARC’s internal norms. How is your level decided? The interview committee evaluates three things: the quality of your PhD thesis, post-doctoral research output (publications and products), and your performance on the day of the selection interview. It is a holistic, merit-based assessment. One crucial point to note: BARC does not grant the fellowship to candidates who have submitted their thesis but are still awaiting evaluation. Your degree must be formally awarded — even provisionally — before you are eligible to apply. The Research Projects All 25 Research Projects, Plainly Explained Below is a plain-language summary of every project from the official advertisement, grouped by research domain. For each project you’ll find the field, required qualification, number of openings, and what the work actually involves day to day. Category A — Radiochemical Research & Nuclear Fuels (Projects 1–5) 01 Solid Polymer Electrolytes for Li-ion Batteries PhD – Chemical / Physical / Polymer Science 1 Post Polymer Composites · Spectroscopy · Li-ion This project focuses on next-generation battery technology. You’ll synthesise polymer-based electrolytes and investigate how ions move through them — knowledge that is critical for making lithium-ion batteries safer and more efficient. Two advanced spectroscopic techniques are at the core: broadband dielectric spectroscopy and positron annihilation spectroscopy. Candidates who have already worked with Li-ion cells or broadband spectroscopy have a clear advantage. Mathematics at undergraduate level is compulsory. Duration: Up to 30 June 2029 or 3 years, whichever is earlier 02 Computational Studies on Actinide Complexes PhD (computational background preferred) 1 Post Molecular Dynamics · Nuclear Chemistry · Simulation An entirely computational role. The work involves building molecular dynamics models and electrochemical/spectroscopic simulations of actinide elements — the heavy radioactive metals that lie at the heart of nuclear fuel cycles. If you enjoy solving complex nuclear chemistry problems through computational modelling rather than wet lab work, this is the position for you. Duration: Up to 30 June 2029 or 3 years, whichever is earlier 03 Nanoparticles for Ultra-Trace Metal Detection PhD – Chemical Sciences (multidentate ligand synthesis) 1 Post Nanoparticles · Cloud Point Extraction · Lanthanides The goal here is to detect lanthanides and actinides at incredibly low concentrations in nuclear materials. You’ll work with functionalized magnetic-optical nanoparticles (such as Fe₃O₄@Au and Fe₃O₄@CdSe) and design novel chromophoric ligands that enable cloud point extraction (CPE) — a selective preconcentration technique. Expertise in multidentate ligand synthesis is the core requirement. Duration: Up to 30 June 2029 or 3 years, whichever is earlier 04 Electrochemistry of Indian Molten Salt Reactor Fuels PhD – Chemical Sciences 1 Post Electrochemistry · IMSR · Redox · Molten Salts This project directly supports the development of India’s Molten Salt Reactor (IMSR) — one of India’s advanced nuclear energy programmes. The work involves studying redox behaviour and mass transport of fuels and corrosion products in high-temperature molten salt environments using electrochemical methods. Prior electrochemistry lab experience is preferred. Duration: Up to 30 June 2029 or 3 years, whichever is earlier 05 Thermophysical Properties of Nuclear Materials PhD – Chemical Sciences 1 Post XRD · SEM · Thermal Expansion · Heat Capacity Fission products interact with surrounding fuel materials in complex ways. This project synthesises multi-component phases to study those interactions systematically — using XRD and SEM for structural analysis and measuring thermal