The ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (ICAR-CIFT), Cochin, Kerala, has announced vacancies for Young Professionals (YP-I & YP-II) and Research Fellows under prestigious sponsored research and institutional projects. These positions offer an outstanding career-advancing opportunity for fisheries graduates, post-harvest technologists, and aquatic biochemists to work on cutting-edge seafood preservation, fishing gear innovation, and aquatic product valorization.
Overview & Key Highlights
| Recruiting Institute | ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT) |
| Location | Cochin (Kochi), Kerala & Mumbai Research Centre, India |
| Positions Available | Young Professional-II (YP-II), Young Professional-I (YP-I), Project Associates |
| Stipend / Emoluments | YP-II: ₹42,000/- per month (Fixed) YP-I: ₹30,000/- per month (Fixed) |
| Project Focus Areas | Harvest Technology, Fish Processing, Quality Assurance, Seafood Waste Valorization |
| Interview / Application Date | Walk-in Interview scheduled for October 5, 2026 (09:30 AM onwards) |
| Official Portal | cift.res.in |
Research Domains & Project Objectives
ICAR-CIFT is the premier national institute in India dedicated to research and development across all aspects of harvest and post-harvest fisheries technologies. Appointed candidates will participate in research focused on:
- Fish Processing & Packaging Technology: Formulation of active, biodegradable, and smart packaging materials for chilled and frozen fish products; evaluation of advanced thermal and non-thermal processing methods (high pressure processing, pulse electric field).
- Seafood Quality Assurance & Safety: Rapid biochemical detection and molecular screening of foodborne pathogens, antibiotic residues, and microplastics in commercial finfish and shellfish value chains.
- Harvest Technology & Fishing Craft Dynamics: Design of energy-efficient fishing gears, square mesh codends, turtle excluder devices (TEDs), and bycatch reduction devices for marine artisanal and mechanized sectors.
- Marine Biomolecules & Byproduct Valorization: Extraction and characterization of chitin, chitosan, fish collagen peptides, gelatin, and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) from fish processing waste.
Eligibility Criteria & Educational Qualifications
Candidates must satisfy the following minimum educational requirements as per ICAR guidelines:
- For Young Professional-II (YP-II):
- Postgraduate degree (M.F.Sc.) in Fish Processing Technology, Fishery Engineering, Post Harvest Technology, Aquatic Microbiology, or Fishery Science.
OR - M.Tech / M.Sc. in Food Technology, Food Safety & Quality Management, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, or Industrial Microbiology with at least 60% marks.
- Desirable: Practical experience in microbiological analysis of seafood, chromatographic techniques (HPLC, GC-MS), or sensory evaluation.
- Postgraduate degree (M.F.Sc.) in Fish Processing Technology, Fishery Engineering, Post Harvest Technology, Aquatic Microbiology, or Fishery Science.
- For Young Professional-I (YP-I):
- Bachelor’s degree in Fisheries Science (B.F.Sc.), Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, Zoology, or allied biological sciences.
- Desirable: Basic laboratory analysis skills, computer proficiency, and experience in biochemical assays.
Age Limit & Emoluments
- Age Limit: Minimum 21 years and maximum 45 years as on the date of interview (relaxable for SC/ST/OBC/Women candidates as per Government of India rules).
- Monthly Emoluments:
- Young Professional-II: ₹42,000/- consolidated per month.
- Young Professional-I: ₹30,000/- consolidated per month.
- Tenure: Initially for a period of one year, extendable subject to satisfactory performance and project duration.
How to Attend the Walk-in Interview
Eligible candidates should attend the walk-in interview at ICAR-CIFT with all necessary credentials:
- Download and fill out the prescribed application biodata form available on the official ICAR-CIFT website (www.cift.res.in).
- Bring original certificates/degrees from matriculation onwards, proof of date of birth, caste/category certificate (if applicable), and experience certificates for physical verification.
- Submit one complete set of self-attested photocopies of all educational documents and recent passport-size photographs at the registration desk.
- Candidates must report at the ICAR-CIFT Main Campus, Matsyapuri P.O., Willingdon Island, Cochin – 682 029, Kerala on October 5, 2026 before 09:30 AM for registration and document verification.
For complete official notification details, guidelines, and application formats, visit the official recruitment portal at ICAR-CIFT Official Portal.