The ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA), located at Kausalyaganga, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, invites applications and walk-in interviews for Young Professional-I (YP-I), Young Professional-II (YP-II), Junior Research Fellows (JRF), and Senior Research Fellows (SRF) in 2026. As the premier national institute for freshwater aquaculture under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), ICAR-CIFA leads revolutionary research in selective breeding of Indian Major Carps, catfish culture, freshwater pearl production, biofloc technology, and fish health management.
Program Overview: Freshwater Aquaculture Research at ICAR-CIFA
Freshwater aquaculture contributes over 85% of India’s total inland aquaculture production. ICAR-CIFA is globally recognized for developing landmark technologies including the improved ‘Jayanti’ Rohu (achieving over 17 generations of selection for fast growth and disease resistance), CIFA-GIFT Tilapia, and the specialized carp broodstock diet ‘CIFABROOD’. Selected fellows participate directly in high-impact scientific trials across hatchery operations, genetic stock enhancement, feed technology, and aquatic pathology.
| Key Parameter | Recruitment Specifications |
|---|---|
| Host Institution | ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA), Kausalyaganga, Bhubaneswar, Odisha |
| Positions Available | Young Professional-I (YP-I), Young Professional-II (YP-II), and Junior/Senior Research Fellows (JRF/SRF) |
| Core Research Divisions | Fish Genetics & Biotechnology, Aquaculture Production & Environment, Fish Nutrition & Physiology, Fish Health Management, Social Science |
| Monthly Emoluments | YP-I: ₹30,000 / month (consolidated) YP-II: ₹42,000 / month (consolidated) JRF/SRF: ₹37,000 – ₹42,000 / month + HRA (as per ICAR/DST guidelines) |
| Age Limit | 21 to 45 years (with age relaxation for SC/ST/OBC/PwD/Women candidates as per GoI rules) |
| Selection Mode | Screening of applications followed by Walk-in Interview / Virtual Interview at CIFA Campus, Bhubaneswar |
Priority Research Themes & Technologies
- Fish Selective Breeding & Quantitative Genomics: Family-based selective breeding for growth rate, disease resistance (e.g., Aeromonas hydrophila resilience), and fillet yield in Rohu (Labeo rohita), Catla (Gibelion catla), and Freshwater Prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii).
- Catfish & Air-Breathing Fish Culture: Induced breeding protocols, larval nutrition, live-feed enrichment, and rearing standardization for high-value indigenous catfishes such as Magur (Clarias magur) and Singhi (Heteropneustes fossilis).
- Freshwater Pearl Culture: Surgical mantle graft implantation, captive conditioning, and round pearl production using indigenous freshwater bivalves (Lamellidens marginalis, Lamellidens corrianus, and Parreysia corrugata).
- Advanced Culture Systems & Biofloc/RAS: Optimization of microbial floc dynamics, C:N ratio manipulation, probiotic consortiums, and automated sensor-based water circulation in recirculating aquaculture systems.
- Aquatic Animal Health Surveillance & Nanovaccines: Development of diagnostic kits, recombinant subunit vaccines, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) monitoring, and natural immunostimulants for aquaculture biosecurity.
Eligibility Criteria
Young Professional-I (YP-I)
- Essential Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in Fisheries Science (B.F.Sc.) or B.Sc. in Aquaculture, Zoology, Life Sciences, Biotechnology, or Environmental Science from a recognized university.
- Desirable Experience: Practical experience in fish farm management, water quality analysis, fish feeding trials, or basic microbiological techniques.
Young Professional-II (YP-II) & JRF/SRF
- Essential Qualification: Master’s degree in Fisheries Science (M.F.Sc. in Aquaculture, Fish Genetics & Breeding, Fish Nutrition & Feed Technology, Aquatic Animal Health, or Aquatic Environment) or M.Sc. in Zoology (Fisheries specialization), Biotechnology, Microbiology, or Biochemistry.
- Desirable Experience: Hands-on proficiency in molecular biology techniques (PCR, qPCR, DNA sequencing), statistical software (R/SPSS/Python), and published research in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
How to Apply
Interested and eligible candidates should regularly monitor the official ICAR-CIFA recruitment section. Candidates attending walk-in interviews must present the completed application proforma along with original academic mark sheets, degree certificates, experience documents, and self-attested photocopies.
Official Website & Recruitment Portal: ICAR-CIFA Official Portal (cifa.nic.in)
Job Opportunities Section: Check the “Job Opportunities” tab on the official CIFA homepage for project-specific notification PDFs and interview schedules.