JIPMER Puducherry is hiring for four contract posts on an ICMR-funded depression trial. Applications go by email only, and the last date is 6 October 2026, 4:30 PM. Before anything else, check two things: the post you want must match your degree (Nursing counts for only one of them), and two of the three posts require Tamil.
Quick overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry |
| Project | KOMET Trial (oral ketamine vs oral midazolam added to treatment for major depressive disorder), funded by ICMR |
| Principal Investigator | Dr. Vikas Menon, Professor and HOD, Psychiatry |
| Advertisement No. | JIP/PSY/Komet/2026-01, dated 23 September 2026 |
| Vacancies | 4 |
| Type | Contract, externally funded, 3-year project duration (subject to funding) |
| Pay | ₹67,200 (Project Manager); ₹33,600 (Research Assistant, Data Manager), per month |
| Age | Maximum 35 years as on 6 October 2026 |
| Last date | 6 October 2026, 4:30 PM |
| Apply | Email: komet.icmr@gmail.com |
What the job involves
This is a clinical research job, not a hospital service post. The trial runs at several centres, and each role handles a different part of it.
Project Manager: runs day-to-day trial operations across participating centres, follows the protocol, reports deviations to the PI, verifies paper case report forms (CRFs) against REDCap entries, and handles bill processing and progress reports.
Research Assistant: screens participants, checks eligibility, takes informed consent, carries out blinded baseline and follow-up assessments after training, prepares and gives study drugs, schedules visits, and enters data on paper CRFs and REDCap.
Data Manager: manages the multi-site REDCap database, runs validation checks, audits CRFs, resolves discrepancies, and keeps data secure. The role involves periodic travel to partner institutions, including AIIMS Bhubaneswar, KMC Manipal, MGM Mumbai and NIMHANS Bengaluru.
The notice also mentions a possible “Extramural Project PhD Stream.” Only some applicants will care, but it is the main career angle here (see the PhD section below).
Vacancies
| Post | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Project Research Scientist-I (Non-Medical), i.e. Project Manager | 1 |
| Project Technical Support-III, i.e. Research Assistant | 2 |
| Project Technical Support-III, i.e. Data Manager | 1 |
| Total | 4 |
With one seat each for two of the posts, competition for those will be tight.
Eligibility
Project Manager. Master’s in Social Work, Psychology or Public Health, or an M.Phil in Clinical Psychology or Psychiatric Social Work. Good command of Tamil and English (reading, speaking, writing; typing preferred).
Research Assistant. Any one of: a 3-year graduate degree in Social Work, Psychology, Public Health or Nursing plus 3 years of post-qualification experience; a Master’s in Social Work, Psychology, Public Health or Nursing; or an M.Phil in Clinical Psychology or Psychiatric Social Work. Tamil and English are required.
Data Manager. A 3-year graduate degree in Social Work, Psychology or Public Health plus 3 years of experience, or a Master’s or M.Phil in the same streams. You need data management or data entry experience (clinical or research data preferred), proficiency in Microsoft Excel, and good English. Tamil is not listed as essential for this post. You must also be willing to travel to the partner centres.
| Your background | Posts you can consider |
|---|---|
| Master’s in Social Work / Psychology / Public Health | All three |
| M.Phil in Clinical Psychology / Psychiatric Social Work | All three |
| 3-year graduate in Social Work / Psychology / Public Health + 3 years’ experience | Research Assistant, Data Manager |
| 3-year graduate in Nursing + 3 years’ experience | Research Assistant only |
| Master’s in Nursing | Research Assistant only |
Where people go wrong: Nursing is accepted only for Research Assistant, and the Tamil requirement for two posts is easy to overlook. The age limit is 35, and the notice gives no relaxation. The PI can relax or change qualifications, and if applications are very high, stricter shortlisting criteria may be used. Your experience must be in a relevant field and gained after your essential qualification.
Desirable skills (not required, but they help at the screening stage): experience with randomised controlled trials and multi-centre coordination, REDCap, SPSS/R/Stata, and MS Office. For the Data Manager post, CRF verification, validation checks and data security experience are also listed.
Salary
The pay is consolidated: ₹56,000 plus 20% HRA for the Project Manager, and ₹28,000 plus 20% HRA for the other two posts. No other allowances are given. The one exception is a travel allowance for the Data Manager on visits to partner institutions, as per permitted norms. No TA/DA is paid for the interview.
Selection process
The process has three stages: screening of applications, a written screening test of 60 single-response MCQs, and an interview. Only candidates who clear the screening test are called for the interview. The notice does not state the exam duration, negative marking, qualifying marks, or how marks are combined for final selection.
Tentative schedule (dates may change):
| Stage | Date |
|---|---|
| Shortlist on JIPMER website | 9 October 2026 |
| Reporting time | 16 October, 8:30 AM |
| Certificate verification | 16 October, 8:45 AM |
| Written test | 16 October, 9:30 AM, Exam Hall-1, fourth floor, JIPMER Academic Center Building (near Women and Children’s Hospital) |
| Interview | 16 October, 1:45 PM, Seminar Room, Dept. of Psychiatry, Ground floor, Old Hospital Building |
| Result | 19 October 2026 |
| Expected joining | 21 October 2026 |
The test and interview are on the same day, so plan travel to Puducherry accordingly. The PI may hold interviews by video call instead. In that case, you need a device with a camera, audio and a stable internet connection.
PhD stream
The notice says these project posts may be considered for an “Extramural Project PhD Stream.” You must state in your application whether you want to be considered if the institute approves a PhD position later. It is not a promise: PhD consideration needs institutional approval, an additional written exam, and the PI’s concurrence after selection. Selection for the project post does not guarantee PhD admission. See the PhD guidelines on the JIPMER website for details.
How to apply
- Download the prescribed application form from the official advertisement PDF.
- Fill it in completely, including whether you want to be considered for the PhD stream.
- Attach your CV and supporting documents.
- Scan everything into one PDF.
- Name the file as Candidate name_Post-name_year_application, for example James_PTSIII_2026_application or James_PRSI_2026_application.
- Send it to komet.icmr@gmail.com, with the subject line naming the post, for example “Application for the post of Project Technical Support-III (Research Assistant).”
- Make sure it reaches by 6 October 2026, 4:30 PM. Late applications will not be considered under any circumstances.
A valid email ID and mobile number are compulsory.
Documents to keep ready
You need the filled application form in the prescribed format, your CV, and certificates proving your qualification, experience and age, all scanned into one PDF. The notice gives no detailed checklist. Applications sent with a CV alone, without the prescribed form and certificates, will be rejected.
Common mistakes
- Sending only a CV without the prescribed application form. The notice says these applications will be rejected.
- Applying for a post your degree doesn’t cover (especially Nursing for Project Manager or Data Manager).
- Sending several files instead of one combined PDF.
- Ignoring the file-name and subject-line format.
- Skipping the PhD stream question in the form.
- Being over 35 on 6 October and assuming a relaxation applies.
- Sending the email close to 4:30 PM on the last day.
How to prepare
The notice lists “tentative areas” for the written test rather than a full syllabus, so use them as a study map.
Project Manager: RCT methods, coordinating trials across sites, GCP guidelines and research ethics, participant recruitment and retention, handling unblinding events and protocol deviations, verifying CRFs, basic biostatistics, and project administration and finances.
Research Assistant: participant screening and eligibility, informed consent, safety and efficacy outcome assessment, blinded drug administration, scheduling and retention, paper CRF and REDCap data entry, and maintaining study logs. The interview also tests your Tamil and English communication for taking informed consent.
Data Manager: data management principles, REDCap structure, validation checks and query management, source-document auditing, data security and confidentiality, Microsoft Excel, and RCT data management basics.
FAQs
Is this a permanent job?
No. It is a contract position tied to project funding, and it gives no claim to a regular JIPMER post.
Can I apply by post or in person?
The notice provides for email applications only.
Do I need Tamil for the Data Manager post?
The notice does not list Tamil as essential for it, unlike the other two posts.
Will I get TA/DA to attend the interview?
No.
Can the qualification rules change?
Yes. The notice says qualifications, experience and other conditions may be relaxed or altered at the PI’s discretion.
Is the interview always in person?
No. The PI may hold it in person or by video call.
Does the shortlist appear on the website?
Yes, tentatively on 9 October at jipmer.edu.in.
Where can I send questions?
Email komet.icmr@gmail.com with the subject “Enquiries about KOMET TRIAL project recruitment.”
