Job Opportunity: Research Associate At Chanakya National Law University, Patna

Table of Contents

• Role overview
• Eligibility criteria
• Indicative responsibilities
• Ideal candidate profile
• How to strengthen the application
• Likely selection process
• Impact and growth
• Application checklist

Chanakya National Law University (CNLU), Patna has invited applications for one Research Associate on a project-based engagement, seeking an experienced doctoral researcher with strong grounding in Criminal Law, Criminology, and allied social sciences, and a demonstrated track record in field research and legal scholarship. The application window closes on 15 October 2025, and preference is accorded to candidates with prior research on the Arms Act.

Role overview

• Post: Research Associate (Project-based).
• Vacancies: 01.
• Upper age limit: 50 years.
• Application mode: Online; submit within the notified deadline.

Eligibility criteria

• Educational qualifications:
  • Master’s degree in Law/Criminology/Sociology/Social Work/Political Science with at least 55% marks.
  • Ph.D. in any of the above or closely related subjects is mandatory.
• Domain knowledge:
  • Adequate knowledge of Criminal Law and the Constitution of India.
  • Demonstrated research experience in Criminal Law/Criminology/Sociology.
• Experience:
  • Minimum 2 years of relevant research project experience (beyond coursework), preferably involving empirical methods, legal analysis, and policy outputs.
• Preferential consideration:
  • Candidates who have conducted research related to the Arms Act (e.g., licensing, enforcement, crime linkage, trafficking patterns, compliance regimes, and judicial trends).

Indicative responsibilities

• Research execution:
  • Design and implement research methodologies—doctrinal and empirical—aligned with the project’s objectives (legal mapping, case law analysis, field data collection, stakeholder interviews).
  • Conduct rigorous legal analysis of statutory and subordinate frameworks (e.g., Arms Act, CrPC, Evidence Act), constitutional dimensions, and comparative benchmarks.
• Data and analysis:
  • Develop tools (questionnaires, schedules), oversee ethical compliance and consent protocols, and maintain high-quality datasets.
  • Apply mixed-method analysis to synthesize doctrinal findings with field insights; triangulate judicial data, police records, and administrative sources.
• Writing and dissemination:
  • Draft research reports, policy briefs, academic papers, and practitioner toolkits; prepare executive summaries and slide decks for stakeholder workshops.
  • Assist in organizing consultations, roundtables, and training sessions for enforcement officials, civil society, and academic audiences.
• Project management:
  • Maintain research calendars, deliverable trackers, and risk logs; support budget utilization reporting, procurement of research aids, and compliance documentation.
  • Coordinate with principal investigators, partners, and institutional authorities to ensure timely outputs and impact.

Ideal candidate profile

• Academic rigor:
  • Strong publication record or equivalent research artefacts (peer-reviewed articles, credible policy papers, or high-quality institutional reports).
  • Proficiency in legal research databases (SCC Online, Manupatra, Lexis, Westlaw), statutory compendia, and citation standards (Bluebook/OSCOLA/Indian styles).
• Methods and tools:
  • Experience with empirical research workflows—sampling, instrument design, field management, data cleaning—and familiarity with analysis tools (e.g., Excel/Sheets; working knowledge of statistical or qualitative packages is a plus).
• Thematic depth:
  • Prior work on Arms Act issues (licensing, categorization, penalties), crime trends, linkages to organized crime/terror arms routes, or policing practice; understanding of constitutional safeguards and due process.
• Communication and stakeholder engagement:
  • Excellent drafting skills for diverse outputs; comfort with presentations; ability to interface with government departments, police/prosecution, and judiciary.

How to strengthen the application

• Tailor the CV and SOP:
  • Map doctoral and post-doctoral work to Criminal Law/Criminology themes; highlight methods and measurable outcomes (policy uptake, citations, training sessions).
  • Include a focused one-page SOP aligning research trajectory with the project’s goals, especially any Arms Act empirics/doctrinal studies.
• Showcase deliverables:
  • Attach or link two representative writing samples—one doctrinal/legal analysis and one empirical/policy piece—demonstrating breadth and practical utility.
• Document experience:
  • Provide clear evidence of at least two years’ project experience—designation, responsibilities, outputs, and references.
• References:
  • Line up two academic/professional referees familiar with research capabilities, preferably including the Ph.D. supervisor or a project PI.

Likely selection process

• Screening based on eligibility, research depth, and relevance to the project mandate.
• Interview/presentation to evaluate methodological clarity, legal reasoning, and output orientation.
• Final selection subject to document verification and institutional norms.

Impact and growth

• Policy relevance:
  • Opportunity to contribute to a high-impact research agenda at the interface of criminal law enforcement, constitutional safeguards, and sectoral regulation (arms/weaponry).
• Academic visibility:
  • Potential for co-authored publications, conference presentations, and policy dialogues; strengthened profile for future academic or policy roles.
• Capacity building:
  • Hands-on experience in end-to-end research management, from field protocols to stakeholder workshops and policy advocacy.

Application checklist

• Updated CV with publications/projects and contact details.
• Proof of educational qualifications (Master’s and Ph.D.) with mark sheets and degree certificates.
• Evidence of minimum two years of research project experience (appointment letters/experience certificates).
• Writing samples (2) and a brief SOP aligned to Criminal Law/Arms Act focus.
• Any relevant certifications in research methods, ethics, or data protection.
• Ensure submission via the online form before 15 October 2025; retain acknowledgment.

Official Notification:

https://cnlu.ac.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Advertisement-Research-Associate-06.10.2025.pdf

This CNLU, Patna Research Associate role is geared toward a research scholar who can translate doctrinal depth and empirical precision into actionable insights for criminal law and governance—especially valuable for candidates with a Ph.D. and demonstrable work on the Arms Act or adjacent domains in criminology and criminal justice.