RGCB Technical Officer, Technical Assistant Recruitment 2026

BRIC-Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thiruvananthapuram, has 8 technical posts to fill: 2 Technical Officer posts, 3 Technical Assistant Group II posts and 3 Technical Assistant Group I posts. Indian citizens up to 35 years of age can apply, as long as they have at least one year of documented work experience in a government research institution, PSU, autonomous body or university. You can apply only online, there is no application fee, and the portal closes at 17.00 hrs on 14 December 2026. Selection is through a three-tier examination held only in Thiruvananthapuram.

BRIC-Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology is a biotechnology research institute at Thycaud Post, Poojappura, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. According to the notice, RGCB has sophisticated scientific equipment that supports research across several divisions, along with technology development units and core facilities. These technical posts provide the hands-on support behind that work.

Technical Officer - Category-wise

Technical Assistant Group II - Category-wise

Technical Assistant Group I - Category-wise

The number of positions under each code is provisional and may change at the final selection stage. If more positions are to be filled, the Director, RGCB may fill them from the candidates shortlisted under this advertisement. The selection panel is valid for one year from the date of approval.

Nationality: Only citizens of India can apply.

Age limit: The maximum age for all three posts is 35 years as on the last date for receiving applications. Qualifications and work experience are also counted as on 14 December 2026.

Technical Officer (Code 1)

• First Class B.E./B.Tech. in Biotechnology/ Biomedical Engineering/ Instrumentation Engineering /Electronics & Communication Engineering, OR First Class M.Sc. in Biotechnology/Life Sciences/Physics/Chemistry.
• Minimum of two years of documented work experience in the relevant field in Central or State Government research institutions/ PSU/Autonomous Bodies/ Universities.

Technical Assistant Group II (Code 2)

• First Class Bachelor's Degree in Science.
• Minimum of one year of documented work experience in the relevant field in Central or State Government research institutions/ PSU/Autonomous Bodies/ Universities.

Technical Assistant Group I (Code 3)

• Plus Two / Higher Secondary / VHSE or equivalent with First Class.
• Minimum of one year of documented work experience in the relevant field in Central or State Government research institutions/ PSU/Autonomous Bodies/ Universities.

Age relaxation: Age relaxation is given according to RGCB/Government of India rules.

To claim an OBC reserved post, you must submit a valid OBC non-creamy layer certificate for the applicable date. For an EWS post, the only proof accepted is the Income and Asset Certificate issued by the competent authority in the prescribed format. Without these documents, your application cannot be considered against a reserved post.

For the full eligibility conditions of each post, see the official notification.

Technical Officer

The Technical Officer provides hands-on engineering support to research laboratories, technology development units and institutional facilities. The post needs practical expertise in biomedical instrumentation, electronics, embedded systems and field-level engineering work. The duties include, but are not limited to:

• installing, operating, maintaining, calibrating and troubleshooting biomedical, electronic and laboratory instruments
• hardware prototyping, PCB design, circuit debugging, sensor integration and embedded system development for research and translational projects
• calibration, reliability testing and quality checks of scientific equipment
• supporting field deployments, mobile laboratory operations and outreach programmes, including installation, testing and user training
• preparing technical documentation, equipment specifications and procurement notes for engineering components
• coordinating installation, AMC and compliance of procured systems
• supporting IT-enabled systems, communication interfaces and sensor-based monitoring platforms
• training students, researchers and project staff on instrument handling, safety procedures and good operating practice
• reporting equipment status, updates and replacements in real time, and maintaining all equipment on site

The job description also asks for excellent communication skills, including the ability to explain technical problems and propose solutions.

Technical Assistant Group II

This post provides day-to-day laboratory and research support across RGCB's scientific divisions. The duties include:

• routine laboratory procedures, preparing reagents and buffers, and handling biological and chemical samples
• assisting scientists with experimental workflows and recording observations accurately
• operating and maintaining centrifuges, spectrophotometers, incubators, electrophoresis units, microscopes and PCR systems
• keeping equipment calibrated and clean, and documenting its use
• sample processing, biochemical and molecular assays, and maintaining cell culture materials where required
• managing laboratory inventories and stocks, and following safety protocols and biomedical waste disposal norms
• giving technical help to students and project staff, and coordinating sample submissions with core facilities

Technical Assistant Group I

This post helps with routine work in scientific, clinical and molecular laboratories. The duties include:

• supporting the Laboratory-in-Charge in day-to-day work
• keeping the designated laboratory sections running smoothly
• maintaining laboratory records
• ensuring safety, hygiene, autoclave and waste disposal compliance
• general administrative and support work: keeping work logs, processing orders, indents or invoices, and simple clerical and accounting tasks
• tasks given by the Competent Authority

There is no application fee for any of the posts.

First, an Institutional Screening Committee checks every application against the minimum qualifications. Applications that do not meet them are rejected without further correspondence. Meeting the requirements does not on its own guarantee a place in the selection process. Shortlisted candidates take a three-tier examination, held only in Thiruvananthapuram.

Tier I - Objective Test

Tier II - Descriptive Test

Tier III - Practical Skills Test

Candidates are shortlisted for Tier III based on their combined Tier I and Tier II score (maximum 300 marks). The designated authority decides the cut-off. The list for Tier III is published on the RGCB website and on the notice board at the Main Campus, and no individual messages are sent. Tier III is a qualifying Pass/Fail practical test based on the job description. If you have applied for more than one post, you take a separate skills test for each one.

The final merit list ranks candidates who passed Tier III by their total Tier I and Tier II score. Results are published on the Institute's website, and successful candidates are informed by email.

At every tier you must bring the RGCB Admit Card and one valid Government of India identity card: Aadhaar Card, Passport, PAN Card, Voter ID or Driving Licence. If you cannot show both, you will be disqualified on the spot.

• Selected candidates can be posted to any office or branch of the Institute anywhere in India, as administrative needs require.
• Appointment orders are issued following the procedures used in Autonomous Institutes of the Government of India.
• The Institute may withdraw any or all advertised posts at any time without giving a reason.
• Any canvassing leads to automatic disqualification.

1. Open the Apply Online link on the RGCB positions page ↗.
2. Fill in the online application form and follow the portal's instructions.
3. Upload documents that support your educational qualifications and work experience. Applications that are incomplete, defective or have illegible uploads are rejected.
4. If you are applying for more than one post, submit a separate application for each.
5. Submit the form by 17.00 hrs on 14 December 2026. Applications sent in any other way are rejected.
6. If you work for a Central or State Government body, PSU or Central Autonomous Body, apply online too, and send the hard copy through proper channel. If you cannot do that, bring an NOC from your employer to the selection process if shortlisted. You will not be allowed to take part without it.

Documents: certificates of educational qualification, documented work experience, and an OBC non-creamy layer certificate or EWS Income and Asset Certificate where applicable. For technical problems with the portal, write to [email protected] ↗. Any corrigendum or update will be published only on the institute website.