Cross-Disciplinary Research Fellow in AI, Climate-Resilient Agriculture, and Rural Development (PhD-level) Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani in

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus is inviting applications for one Cross-Disciplinary Research Fellow on the project “Enhancing Climate-Resilient Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) through Artificial Intelligence: Evidence from Rajasthan”.

The project sits at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence, climate resilience, climate-smart agriculture, agricultural economics, rural development, and data-driven decision-making. The advertised work includes AI-driven climate resilience for FPOs, strengthening climate-smart FPOs, AI for resilient agriculture, AI-enabled sustainable FPO development, and climate adaptation through smart farming systems.

The position is under the supervision of Prof. Krishna Muniyoor (Department of Economics and Finance) and Prof. Puneet Mishra (Department of EEE), both at BITS Pilani. The post is explicitly stated to be applicable only to PhD aspirants, making it suitable for candidates aiming to build research experience before or during doctoral study.

Eligibility: Master’s degree in Economics, Agricultural Economics, AI, Data Science, EEE, Computer Science, Environmental Science, Rural Management, or a related discipline. Preference is given to candidates with research experience and/or UGC NET qualification. The post also highlights desirable knowledge of AI, IoT, embedded systems, data analytics, climate change, agricultural economics, or smart farming technologies.

Funding: Fellowship of ₹37,000–₹42,000 per month (based on the year of PhD and performance). Hostel or married scholar accommodation may be provided subject to availability and institute rules. The duration follows BITS Pilani norms.

Application deadline: 15 June 2026. Applicants should submit a CV and cover letter demonstrating alignment with the project’s responsibilities and requirements. Shortlisting will be based on the resume, followed by a telephonic/audio-visual interview. No TA/DA will be provided for the personal interview.

Contact: [email protected]