The ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT), headquartered in Willingdon Island, Kochi, Kerala, along with its regional research centers in Visakhapatnam, Mumbai, and Veraval, invites applications and walk-in interviews for Young Professional-I (YP-I), Young Professional-II (YP-II), and Contractual Research Fellow positions in 2026. As the sole national institute in India dedicated to research in both fish harvest and post-harvest technology under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), ICAR-CIFT spearheads innovation in responsible fishing systems, seafood value addition, marine nutraceuticals, and aquatic food safety.
Program Overview: Fisheries Harvest & Post-Harvest Research Fellowships
Modernizing marine and inland fish harvesting while minimizing ecological bycatch and post-harvest losses is central to India’s Blue Economy and the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). Selected fellows and Young Professionals at ICAR-CIFT work in NABL-accredited analytical laboratories, National Reference Laboratories for fish safety, and engineering divisions to advance sustainable fishing vessel design, biodegradable fishing gear, bioactive peptide extraction, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance in seafood.
| Key Parameter | Recruitment Specifications |
|---|---|
| Host Institution | ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT), Kochi, Kerala (and Mumbai, Visakhapatnam & Veraval Centres) |
| Positions Available | Young Professional-I (YP-I), Young Professional-II (YP-II), Junior/Senior Research Fellows (JRF/SRF) |
| Core Scientific Divisions | Fishing Technology, Fish Processing, Biochemistry & Nutrition, Microbiology, Fermentation & Biotechnology, Quality Assurance & Management |
| 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 norms) |
| Age Limit | 21 to 45 years for YP positions (relaxation applicable for SC/ST/OBC/PwD/Women candidates as per Government of India rules) |
| Selection Mode | Direct Walk-in-Interview / Screening of applications at ICAR-CIFT Headquarters or Regional Centres |
Key Research & Technological Focus Areas
- Responsible Fishing Gear & Green Vessel Engineering: Design of low-drag trawl systems, Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs), Bycatch Reduction Devices (BRDs), square-mesh codends, and fuel-efficient solar/hybrid fishing boats.
- Seafood Processing & Value Addition: Development of ready-to-eat (RTE) extruded fish products, thermal processing, sous-vide packaging, modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), and cold-chain optimization.
- Marine Bioactive Molecules & Circular Bioeconomy: Extraction of marine collagen, gelatin, chitosan, glucosamine, squalene, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (EPA/DHA), and calcium hydroxyapatite from fish processing discards.
- Seafood Quality Assurance & Chemical Contaminant Analysis: High-resolution LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS screening for veterinary drug residues, heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), histamine, and marine biotoxins.
- Aquatic Food Microbiology & Biosensors: Rapid detection of seafood-borne pathogens (Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes), bacteriophage biocontrol, and AMR profiling.
Eligibility Criteria
Young Professional-I (YP-I)
- Essential Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in Fisheries Science (B.F.Sc.), Food Technology, Biotechnology, Microbiology, Chemistry, or Mechanical/Marine Engineering from a recognized university.
- Desirable Skills: Laboratory experience in proximate composition analysis, microbiological plating, fish product development, or CAD drafting for fishing gear/vessels.
Young Professional-II (YP-II) & Research Fellows (JRF/SRF)
- Essential Qualification: Master’s degree in Fisheries Science (M.F.Sc. in Fish Processing Technology, Fishing Technology & Engineering, Aquatic Environment, or Fish Biochemistry), or M.Sc. / M.Tech. in Food Science & Technology, Analytical/Applied Chemistry, Biochemistry, Microbiology, or Biotechnology.
- Desirable Skills: Hands-on proficiency in analytical instrumentation (HPLC, GC-MS, AAS, FTIR), molecular biology tools, statistical software, and scientific report writing.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should regularly consult the official ICAR-CIFT website for project-specific walk-in interview dates at Kochi and regional centers. Candidates attending walk-in interviews must bring the filled-in application form, original certificates, self-attested copies of academic transcripts, experience certificates, and recent passport-sized photographs.
Official Website & Job Portal: ICAR-CIFT Official Website (cift.res.in)
Vacancies & Walk-in Notifications: Check the “Vacancies / Job Opportunities” tab on the official CIFT home page for active PDF notifications and downloadable application forms.