Part-time Research Associate at Chanakya National Law University, Patna (Missing Children in Bihar Project)

Chanakya National Law University (CNLU), Patna invites applications (Advt. No. 45/2026-27) for engagement as a Part-time Research Associate under the research project "Lost and Found: A Pilot Socio-legal Inquiry into Missing Children in Bihar", sanctioned vide Office Order No. CNLU/45(a)/2026-2318 dated 05.02.2026.

The pilot project seeks to explore the push and pull factors behind children going missing, map hotspot and high-recovery districts across Bihar, identify intersectional factors (gender, caste, class, age) affecting risk of trafficking and exploitation, and examine the processes and protocols followed by stakeholders in handling missing children cases on the ground.

The Principal Investigator is Dr. Ayushi Dube (Assistant Professor (Research)-cum-Director, Gender Resource Centre, CNLU) and the Co-Investigator is Dr. Fr. Peter Ladis F. (Assistant Professor of Law, CNLU). The engagement is contractual, project-specific and part-time, running from August 1, 2026 to October 31, 2026 in hybrid mode (the role may require travel within Bihar for research and stakeholder consultations).

• Postgraduation in Sociology, Social Work, Gender Studies, Women's Studies or allied disciplines, with a minimum of 55% marks.
• Minimum two years of experience in qualitative research, demonstrating proficiency in qualitative data analysis and report writing.
• Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills.
• Fluency in English and Hindi.
• Age limit: 35 years.
• Desirable: Familiarity with government institutions dealing with child protection.

Remuneration: Rs. 40,000 (Rupees Forty Thousand only), disbursed on a milestone basis against satisfactory completion of assigned deliverables.

Period of Engagement: August 1, 2026 to October 31, 2026. The selected candidate shall devote a minimum of 24 hours per week (ordinarily spread over six working days, averaging approximately four hours per day) and be available for field visits, meetings and training sessions. The engagement is purely temporary and project-specific with no claim to a permanent post; no TA/DA is payable.

Interested candidates must submit the following through the official Google Form by July 19, 2026:

• Updated Curriculum Vitae
• Statement of Purpose (maximum 500 words) explaining their interest in the project
• Copies of relevant academic transcripts/mark sheets and experience certificates (single PDF)
• One sample of academic writing/research paper (published or unpublished, if available)

Apply via the Google Form: https://forms.gle/ALmcfWNyngQN6ug7A. For queries relating to the project or application process, contact ayushi.dube@cnlu.ac.in.