The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Govt. of India, in its pursuit of the ambitious Deep Ocean Mission (DOM), is launching MoES-DOM-Post Doctoral Fellowship scheme under the Deep Ocean Mission - Vertical-VI (DOM-V6), The Advanced Marine Station for Ocean Biology (AMSOB). This initiative aims to enhance research efforts in Ocean Biology, aligning with the overarching objectives of DOM-V6 - AMSOB. A total of 50 fellowships will be available across all the verticals of DOM — 25 in the year 2025–26 and 25 in 2026–27 — through its implementing/collaborating institutions, as well as other national institutes working in the field of Ocean Biology.
- Foster cutting-edge research in Ocean Biology.
- Identify and nurture talented researchers and building human capacity.
- Support advanced interdisciplinary research in Ocean Biology.
- Strengthen MoES-AMSOBs leadership in Ocean exploration and technology.
- Development of Technologies for Deep Sea Mining, Underwater Vehicles and Underwater Robotics (V1)
- Smart and Composite Materials Smart Manufacturing
- Underwater Robotic Grippers
- Biomimetic and Human-Inspired Underwater Robots
- Structural Design, Fatigue
- Subsea Hydraulics
- Underwater Communication Devices
- Compact Power Module
- Development of Technologies for Marine Biodiversity Assessment
- AI/ML Technologies for Underwater Image Processing (AUV, ROV, etc.)
- Deep Sea Mining (collection efficiency, nodule mapping, mineability assessment, machine control and navigation)
- Environmental Impact Assessment (seabed machine design, UW noise, light, imaging, and plume disturbance and propagation)
- Development of Ocean Climate Change Advisory Services (V2)
- Deep Ocean Observations and Biogeochemical Processes
- Climate Change and Marine Biodiversity
- Ocean Carbon Dynamics and Climate Change
- Ocean Warming and Climate Extremes
- Technological innovations for exploration and conservation of deep-sea biodiversity (V3)
- Bioprospecting of marine microbial enzymes : Development of processes for using microbial enzymes as industrial intermediates; Technology for transformation of marine microbial enzyme intermediates.
- Screening of Deep- Sea Metagenomic libraries : Construction of large-scale deep-sea metagenome clone libraries; Development of process to screen large-scale metagenome libraries; Downstream processing of biomolecules screened from metagenome libraries.
- High- throughput screening of microbial metabolites : Development of microbial metabolite library; Screening of microbial metabolites against potential targets.
- Development of high pressure retainable sediment sampler : Development of high-pressure sampling system to collect deep-sea sediments at in-situ conditions; Validation and testing of the sampling system.
- Development of automated characterization and species identification system : Biodiversity of various taxa and their assemblage patterns of deep seamount ecosystems based on digital inventory; Automated characterization of underwater video and identification of biological organisms using AI/ML.
- Development of cell line from deep sea organisms : Development of long-term storage and preservation methods.
- Sustainable Ocean Governance : Marine Spatial Planning, Ocean Accounting, Marine Biofouling
- Deep Ocean Survey and Exploration (V4)
- Mapping and Exploration of the Indian Ocean Mid-Oceanic Ridges
- Hydrothermal Activities and Marine Biodiversity
- Study of physical-chemical-biological-geological processes of hydrothermal systems to understand genesis, circulation, mineralization process, development of model, environmental aspects etc.
- Energy and Freshwater from the Ocean (V5)
- Heat transfer and CFD studies for Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) and Thermal Desalination Processes.
- Studies on ocean renewable energies, salinity gradient energy generation, and green hydrogen generation.
- Turbo machineries performance studies using numerical and experimental for different ocean energy sources.
- Studies on behaviour of cold-water pipes, VIV & wake interference of pipe bundles for deep sea application
- Studies on hydrodynamic characteristics of different wave energy converters
- Wave structure interaction studies on offshore plant structures
- Advanced Marine Station for Ocean Biology (V6)
- Cell and Developmental Biology of Marine Organisms
- Physiological, Neurological, and Behavioural Biology of Marine Organisms
- Biochemistry of Marine Organisms and Marine Microbiology
- Computational and Systems Biology of Marine Organisms
- Marine Biotechnology
- Marine Biodiversity, Taxonomy, and Ecology
- Climate Change Impacts and Evolutionary Ecology of Marine Organisms
- Database, AI/ML technologies for Ocean Biology
- Bioprospecting of Marine Resources
- Marine Policy/Ocean Regulations/International conventions
- Science, Technology and Engineering for Ocean Biology.
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PDF Applicant:
- Doctorate (Ph.D) in Science & Engineering discipline from a recognized University/Institute.
- Age not exceeding 35 years at the time of application and age will be calculated as per date of last date of the application.
- Age relaxation for candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC/Physically Challenged & Women candidates will be as per the Government of India norms .
-
PDF Mentor:
- Hold a regular position in a recognized Academic or Research institution.
- Doctorate (Ph.D) in Science & Engineering discipline from a recognized University/Institute.
- No more than 2 PDFs under mentorship simultaneously under this scheme.
-
PDF Hosting Institute:
- Recognized Academic or Research institution.
- Ensure essential administrative and infrastructural support.
- Desirable: Applicant & Mentor with Marine Related Research Experience
General Conditions:
- PDF application should be forwarded through academic/research organization.
- Applicant's Ph.D. supervisor or co-supervisor cannot be the mentor for PDF.
- Applicant's Ph.D. awarding institutions cannot host the PDF.
- Applicant can avail MoES-DOM-PDF only once.
- Applicant can submit PDF proposal only once per calendar year.
The PDF is a temporary position for a maximum of 2 years:
- PDF scheme does not allocate funds for supporting research personnel.
- PDF is responsible for independently pursuing research objectives.
- PDFs are not eligible for any other fellowship during the tenure.
- PDFs should submit UC, SoE and Progress report through proper channel for release of second year grant.
- PDFs are not eligible for any other fellowship during the tenure.
- What will happen if they resign or got a permanent post? In case the PDFs are unable to continue the fellowship (selected for a permanent position/other) may need to obtain required permissions from Host Institute and MoES to surrender the fellowship along with
- Justification for discontinuing the fellowship
- Latest Utilization Certificate (UC),
- Statement of Expenditure (SoE),
- Progress Report.
| Item | Amount in Rs. | |
|---|---|---|
| PDF Fellowship | 80,000 + HRA* (Per Month) | |
| Research Grant | 2,50,000/Year | |
| Overhead Charges | 1,00,000/Year ** | |
| Travel (National) | 30,000/Year | |
| Travel (International) | 1,00,000/in 2 years | |
*HRA will be calculated as per Central Govt rules regarding city entitlements.
**Overhead Charges Applicable for only non-MoES Institutions .
| Vacancy Details | ||
| DOM Verticals | Vacancy | Institute |
|---|---|---|
| V1 | 5 | NIOT |
| V2 | 2+1 | INCOIS/External* |
| V3 | 2+2+1 | NIOT/CMLRE/BARC |
| V4 | 2+1 | NCPOR/External* |
| V5 | 2+1 | NIOT/External* |
| V6 | 3+3 | NIOT/External* |
| Total vacancy | 25 | |
*Including collaborative project Institutions of DOM. Place of posting based on Institute location. Applicant can submit only one proposal.
Financial support provided for international travel related to collaborative work, training, or conferences, up to Rs. 1,00,000 during the fellowship period. Duration spent abroad should not exceed eight weeks; approval needed for longer stays. International travel will be provided on case to case basis with the approval of MoES. The travel cost includes economy international travel by air/ship.
PDFs eligible for leave as per host institution's regulations. Attendance at scientific workshops considered as official duty. Approval required for continuous absence exceeding four weeks, except for project-related fieldwork.
MoES reserves the right to terminate if deemed necessary. Fellow must notify mentor and host institute of termination. Host institute refrains from incurring further expenses after termination.
The completed applications / proposals can be submitted online once the call is open.
- The HRA is calculated at 30%of the PDF Fellowship (highest HRA).
- The budget is based on the assumption of 25 PDFs per year, with a uniform distribution of costs.
- Actual costs may vary, and the budget may be subject to adjustments based on specific guidelines and regulations.
- Administrative and project management costs are included in the overhead.
- Note: HRA will be provided as per Government of India norms and may vary depending on the location of the Mentor Institution.
For successful online submission of the application the following points may be noted:
- Applicant needs to register in AMSOB portal, www.amsob.in click here to register
- Under Form Submission, choose Scheme: Post Doctoral Fellowship (PDF), and fill the form which includes details like Qualification Details, Employment Details, Professional Recognition/Fellowship, PhD details, Publication Details, Patent Details, Upload Documents and Other Information etc.
- Some of the details of your proposal like Project Title (max 500 characters), Project summary (max 3000 characters), Keywords (max 6), Objectives of project (max 1500 characters), Expected output and outcome of the proposal (max 1500 characters) have to be entered at the time of proposal submission.
- Other relevant information of the proposal has to be uploaded in single PDF file not more than 10 MB as other technical document (OTD). Download Template
- Please ensure that your proposed Mentor is registered into the system by following the same procedure as Applicant. After logging in, the Mentor is required to fill all the mandatory fields in the Profile Detail section under User Profile. which includes Bio-data, Photo, Institute Address etc.
- Review all the details you have entered in the form. Double-check for accuracy and completeness and save a copy of your completed form and uploaded documents for your records.
- Bio-data
- Age Proof Certificate
- Educational Qualification Certificate(s)
- Category Certificate (in case of Age Relaxation)
- Undertaking Certificate by the applicant Download Template
- Endorsement Certificate from the Mentor & Host Institute Download Template
- Short CV of Mentor Download Template
To get the details of mentors from MoES Institutes along with area of research and contact details mentor from MoES institutions please visit their respective websites:
- NIOT, Chennai
- INCOIS, Hyderabad
- NCCR, Chennai
- IITM, Pune
- CMLRE, Kochi
- NCPOR, Goa
- BARC (Water Chemistry Division), Kalpakkam.
- AMSOB, NIOT Chennai
- ACOSTI, NIOT Sri Vijaya Puram (Formerly Port Blair, Andaman)
To get the details of mentors from MoES Institutes along with area of research and contact details mentor from MoES institutions please visit their respective websites:
- IIT, Guwahati
- IIT, Tirupati
- IIT, Ropar
- IIT, Bombay
- IIT, Mandi
- IIT, Goa
- IIT, Tirupati
- IIT, Delhi
- IIT, Bhubaneswar
- IIT, Kharaghpur
- IIT, Kanpur
- IIT, Madras
- CSIR-NCL, Pune
- CSIR- IIM, Jammu
- CSIR-NIO, Goa
- CSIR-CGCRI
- CSIR-IMMT, Bhubaneswar
- CSIR – CCMB, Hyderabad
- CSIR-NIO, Kochi
- CSIR-IICT, Hyderabad
- ICAR-NBFGR, Kochi
- ICAR-NBFGR, Uttar Pradesh
- ICAR-CMFRI Kochi
- NIT, Goa
- NIT, Calicut
- IIIT Sri City, Andhra Pradesh
- DBT-ILS Bhubaneswar
- DBT-IBSD, Imphal
- ICT, Mumbai
- DIAT, Pune
- TIFR, Bangalore
- IISC, Bangalore
- BITS Pilani, Goa
- ZSI, Kolkata
- ZSI, Chennai
- NIAS, Bangalore
- SSN College of Engineering, Chennai
- Bharathidasan University, Trichy
- Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi
- Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, Kochi
- Vellore Institute of Technology, Chennai
- SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai
- Sai University
- SIMATS Chennai
- Amritha University, Kerala
- Sathyabama University, Chennai
- AMET University, Chennai
- Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Chennai
- Karunya University, Coimbatore
- ALAGAPPA UNIVERSITY, Karaikudi
- ANNAMALAI UNIVERSITY, Chidambaram
| Institute | Website Link |
|---|---|
| NIOT | Visit NIOT |
| INCOIS | Visit INCOIS |
| NCCR | Visit NCCR |
| IITM | Visit IITM |
| CMLRE | Visit CMLRE |
| NCPOR | Visit NCPOR |
| BARC | Visit BARC |
| AMSOB | Visit AMSOB |
| ACOSTI | Visit ACOSTI |