India’s only dedicated fisheries university is hiring — and unusually, it is hiring at both ends of the career ladder at once. The Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS), Kochi, has five live openings right now: a Director of Research, three Deans of its fisheries faculties, and a Technical Assistant as Intern under its Village Adoption plan project. The senior posts close on 13 and 20 November 2026, but the intern post closes first — 5 November 2026 at 4:30 pm — so if that one is yours, this week is the week to act.
Read this carefully before you apply, because KUFOS’s jobs pages also carry older listings whose walk-in dates have already passed. Three such calls — a JRF/Technical Assistant walk-in on 9 October, a Deputy Registrar walk-in on 13 October, and an ANRF-funded JRF walk-in on 3 October — are expired and are not covered as live openings below. Everything in this post is a post that is still open on 27 October 2026, checked against the university’s own notifications as summarised on 27 October 2026. Always re-verify the live notification on kufos.ac.in before you post your application, because a university can amend a date.
The Five Live Posts at a Glance
| Post | Vacancies | Advertisement No. | Last date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Director of Research | 1 | GA5/10647/2026 | 13 November 2026, 5:00 pm |
| Dean, Faculty of Fisheries Science (FFS) | 1 | GA5/10943/2026 | 20 November 2026 |
| Dean, Faculty of Fisheries Engineering (FFE) | 1 | GA5/10945/2026 | 20 November 2026 |
| Dean, Faculty of Fisheries Management (FFM) | 1 | GA5/10947/2026 | 20 November 2026, 5:00 pm |
| Technical Assistant as Intern (Village Adoption plan project) | 1 | GA5/7301/2026 | 5 November 2026, 4:30 pm |
All five posts are based at KUFOS, Panangad, Kochi, Kerala, and all applications go to the same address: The Registrar, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, Panangad P.O., Madavana, Kochi — 682 506. Superscribe the envelope with the advertisement number and the post applied for.
1. Director of Research — The University’s Research Chief
This is the biggest single post in the round. The Director of Research leads KUFOS’s research enterprise — planning, organising and executing fisheries- and ocean-related research, and reporting on projects funded by national and international agencies. It is a five-year appointment, or until superannuation, whichever comes earlier.
| Detail | Director of Research |
|---|---|
| Notification date | 14 October 2026 |
| Last date | 13 November 2026, 5:00 pm |
| Age | Above 45 years; superannuation at 60 years or on completion of the 5-year tenure, whichever is earlier |
| Pay | Not less than the Professor pay scale under UGC norms (no separate rupee figure is stated in the notification summary) |
| Tenure | 5 years or until superannuation, whichever is earlier |
| Application fee | ₹3,000 (₹750 for SC/ST candidates) |
Who can apply
- Degree: M.F.Sc. in any discipline, or a master’s degree in Fisheries, Ocean Science, Environmental Sciences, Marine Sciences, or an allied or related subject from a recognised university — with a minimum OGPA of 3.00/4.00 in the trimester system, 7.5/10.00 in the semester system, or 55% marks in the traditional system, or equivalent.
- Experience: At least 15 years of teaching experience in a university or college, and/or research experience at a university, national-level institution or industry — including experience guiding doctoral research candidates and the minimum API score stipulated under UGC or ICAR regulations.
- Senior rank: At least 15 years of teaching, research and extension experience at university, state or national institutions, including at least 5 years as Professor, Principal Scientist or equivalent in the UGC scale, plus productive published research work and at least 5 years of research administration and management experience.
- Desirable: Graduate- or postgraduate-level teaching experience or research ties with national or international organisations, and a record of leadership and scientific reputation in research, teaching or extension education.
How to apply: Download the prescribed form from kufos.ac.in and submit two sets of the completed form with biodata, self-attested supporting documents and proof of fee remittance, to reach the Registrar by 5:00 pm on 13 November 2026. If you work in a university, government college or a state or central government institution, apply through the proper channel and attach a No Objection Certificate.
2. Three Deans — One for Each Faculty
KUFOS has re-notified all three of its faculty Deanships together, each with one vacancy and the same closing date of 20 November 2026. A Dean at KUFOS serves for five years from assuming office or until reaching 60 years of age, whichever is earlier. The three faculties are:
- Faculty of Fisheries Science (FFS) — Advt. GA5/10943/2026, applications to reach the Registrar by 20 November 2026.
- Faculty of Fisheries Engineering (FFE) — Advt. GA5/10945/2026, prescribed application to be sent by 20 November 2026.
- Faculty of Fisheries Management (FFM) — Advt. GA5/10947/2026, applications to reach the Registrar by 5:00 pm on 20 November 2026.
The fullest verified detail is for the Dean, Faculty of Fisheries Management, and it shows the bar these Deanships set:
| Detail | Dean, Faculty of Fisheries Management |
|---|---|
| Qualification | Postgraduate degree in any branch of Business Management, Fisheries Management, Statistics, Law, Commerce, Economics or Extension, plus a PhD in a concerned subject |
| Experience | 20 years of teaching or research service, including 5 years at the rank of Professor |
| Publications | At least 10 publications in high-impact journals |
| Desirable | Work experience in national or international organisations or industry |
| Term | 5 years from assuming office or until age 60, whichever is earlier |
| Application fee | ₹3,000 (₹750 for SC/ST candidates) |
One important concession for repeat applicants: candidates who already applied for a Dean post under notification GA5/9404/2022(i), dated 11 January 2023, need not submit a fresh application — they may submit an updated CV and additional documents instead. For the Dean (FFS) and Dean (FFE) posts, the listings confirm PhD-level posts closing 20 November 2026; read those two notifications in full on kufos.ac.in for their exact discipline and experience requirements rather than assuming the FFM criteria apply word for word.
3. Technical Assistant as Intern — The Entry-Level Opening
This is the post with the nearest deadline, and the only one in this round open to candidates without a postgraduate degree. It sits under KUFOS’s Village Adoption plan project — extension work that takes aquaculture knowledge out to villages — so field experience counts for more than paper qualifications here.
| Detail | Technical Assistant as Intern |
|---|---|
| Qualification | VHSE (Fisheries) with 2 years of experience in aquaculture extension activities |
| Age | Below 40 years as on the date of the notification (relaxation for SC/ST and other reserved categories) |
| Remuneration | ₹16,000 consolidated (the notification summary does not state the pay period — confirm it in the notification before applying) |
| Appointment | Contract, initially for 1 year, subject to reservation rules |
| Application fee | ₹200 (₹50 for SC/ST candidates) |
| Last date | 5 November 2026, 4:30 pm |
How to apply: Download the prescribed form from kufos.ac.in and submit it with biodata, self-attested supporting documents and mark lists, and proof of fee payment, to reach the Registrar by 4:30 pm on 5 November 2026. Because this is the earliest deadline in the round, post it early — a postal delay past 4:30 pm on 5 November is a rejection, not a grace period.
How to Apply: Step by Step (All Five Posts)
- Pick the right advertisement number. There are five separate notifications — GA5/10647/2026 (Director of Research), GA5/10943/2026 (Dean FFS), GA5/10945/2026 (Dean FFE), GA5/10947/2026 (Dean FFM) and GA5/7301/2026 (Technical Assistant as Intern). Quote the right one on the envelope and the form.
- Download the prescribed form from kufos.ac.in. Do not use a generic application format — KUFOS asks for its own prescribed form for these posts.
- Prepare two sets where required. The Director of Research and Dean (FFM) notifications ask for two sets of the form, biodata, self-attested documents and fee proof. For the other posts, follow the set requirement in their own notification.
- Pay the fee online to the Finance Officer, KUFOS — ₹3,000 / ₹750 for the Director of Research and Dean (FFM) posts, ₹200 / ₹50 for the intern post — and keep the proof. The exact account details are in each notification; this post deliberately does not republish bank account numbers.
- Attach a No Objection Certificate if you are already employed in a university, government college or government institution, and route the application through the proper channel where the notification requires it.
- Post to the Registrar, KUFOS, Panangad P.O., Madavana, Kochi — 682 506, superscribing the envelope with the advertisement number and post — and post early enough to beat the 5:00 pm (senior posts) or 4:30 pm (intern post) cut-off on the closing date.
Fees at a Glance
| Post | Fee (other candidates) | Fee (SC/ST) |
|---|---|---|
| Director of Research | ₹3,000 | ₹750 |
| Dean, Faculty of Fisheries Management | ₹3,000 | ₹750 |
| Technical Assistant as Intern | ₹200 | ₹50 |
| Dean (FFS) / Dean (FFE) | As stated in their own notifications on kufos.ac.in — not assumed here | |
Timeline: What to Do and When
| When | Action |
|---|---|
| 27–31 October 2026 | Intern applicants: download the form, assemble VHSE certificate, experience proof and mark lists, pay ₹200/₹50, and post to Kochi |
| 5 November 2026, 4:30 pm | Technical Assistant as Intern applications close |
| By 13 November 2026, 5:00 pm | Director of Research applications (two sets + NOC if employed) reach the Registrar |
| By 20 November 2026 | All three Dean applications reach the Registrar (FFM by 5:00 pm) |
Why This Round Matters for Fisheries Careers
Most fisheries recruitment covered on this site is for project posts — Young Professionals, JRFs and research fellows on one- to three-year contracts, like the CIFE Finance & Accounts Young Professional posts closing 4 November or the three CMFRI Young Professional posts closing 2 November. KUFOS’s round is different: it is institutional leadership. A Director of Research and three Deans shape a university’s research agenda, its faculties and its extension work for five years at a time. For a senior fisheries scientist, these are among the very few posts in India where the job itself is to run fisheries science, not just to do a project inside it.
At the other end, the intern post matters for a different reason. VHSE (Fisheries) holders rarely see university posts written for them — most university recruitment starts at graduation. A Village Adoption project post that explicitly asks for VHSE (Fisheries) plus two years of aquaculture extension experience is a genuine entry rung into a fisheries university, and the one-year contract is a foothold for extension work across Kerala’s aquaculture villages. If you are comparing routes, also look at the KUFOS fellowships for fisheries PhDs covered earlier on this site, and the 20 Haryana Fisheries clerk deputation posts closing 21 November — a reminder that state fisheries departments and fisheries universities recruit on very different tracks, and the right track depends on where you are in your career.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply for more than one KUFOS post? The notifications are separate, with separate advertisement numbers and fees. If you genuinely meet the eligibility for two posts, apply separately for each with its own form, fee and envelope superscription — do not combine them into one application.
Is the Director of Research post a regular faculty post? No — it is a five-year appointment or until superannuation at 60, whichever is earlier, at not less than the Professor pay scale under UGC norms. It is a leadership appointment, not a permanent faculty line.
I applied for a KUFOS Dean post in 2023. Must I apply again? For the Dean (FFM) re-notification, no — candidates who applied under notification GA5/9404/2022(i) dated 11 January 2023 need not submit a new application and may submit an updated CV and additional documents. Check whether the same concession appears in the FFS and FFE re-notifications before relying on it for those posts.
What if my application reaches Kochi after the cut-off time? The notifications state a time as well as a date — 5:00 pm for the senior posts, 4:30 pm for the intern post. Treat the time as final and post several days early.
Where is the official notification? On the KUFOS website, kufos.ac.in, under its employment notifications. The advertisement numbers in this post — GA5/10647/2026, GA5/10943/2026, GA5/10945/2026, GA5/10947/2026 and GA5/7301/2026 — are the exact references to search for.
Sources
- Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) employment notifications, via 9curry summaries of the official notices on kufos.ac.in, verified 27 October 2026: Director of Research (Advt. GA5/10647/2026, notification 14 October 2026, closes 13 November 2026 at 5:00 pm); Dean, Faculty of Fisheries Management (Advt. GA5/10947/2026, closes 20 November 2026 at 5:00 pm); Dean, Faculty of Fisheries Science (Advt. GA5/10943/2026, closes 20 November 2026); Dean, Faculty of Fisheries Engineering (Advt. GA5/10945/2026, closes 20 November 2026); Technical Assistant as Intern, Village Adoption plan project (Advt. GA5/7301/2026, closes 5 November 2026 at 4:30 pm).
- Expired KUFOS listings deliberately excluded: JRF/Technical Assistant walk-in 9 October 2026, Deputy Registrar walk-in 13 October 2026, ANRF-funded JRF walk-in 3 October 2026 (all shown on the same KUFOS jobs page, all past their dates on 27 October 2026).
- Rejected lead, for the record: a CIFRI Young Professional-I (F&A) listing was investigated on 27 October 2026 and dropped, because its full detail page is the August 2026 call that closed 19 August 2026 — it must not be presented as open.
Note: The images in this post are illustrations created for Fisheries India, not photographs of KUFOS or its staff. All dates, advertisement numbers, qualifications, fees and deadlines above were checked against the KUFOS notifications on 27 October 2026. Bank account details for fee remittance are intentionally not republished here — take them from the notification itself. Always confirm the live notification on kufos.ac.in before applying.