CSIR NIO Project Associate I Marine Biology Mumbai 2026

CSIR NIO Project Associate-I Recruitment 2026: Overview

CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography (CSIR-NIO), a laboratory of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research under the Ministry of Science and Technology, is hiring a Project Associate-I at its Regional Centre in Mumbai. The post supports an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study under the Polymetallic Nodules (PMN) programme, which looks at how mining mineral-rich nodules from the deep ocean floor could affect marine life.

This is a short project engagement for a fresh or early-career marine biologist. The biggest thing to know is that the work happens at sea — you will join deep-sea research cruises, collect biological samples on board and then analyse them back in the lab.

Service Conditions and Caveats

• Tenure: The position is to be filled for a period of three months. It is a project engagement, not a regular CSIR post.
• Deep-sea cruises: Taking part in deep-sea cruises is part of the job, so you should be ready to spend stretches of time on a research vessel.
• Biology focus: A Marine Science or Oceanography M.Sc. qualifies only when it carries a specialisation in Biology; M.Sc. Marine Biology and Aquatic Biology qualify directly.
• Work after the cruise: Once samples are back on shore, you will handle their analysis and data processing and help write the project reports, so the job mixes sea time with steady lab and desk work.
• Place of posting: You will be attached to the NIO Regional Centre, Mumbai, not the Goa headquarters.
• Vacancy reference: This listing is vacancy GAP2128/3328-26. NIO has run other Project Associate-I vacancies under the same PMN project code, so check the full reference to be sure you are looking at the right one.

• Join deep-sea research cruises under the PMN programme
• Collect biological samples at sea
• Analyse and process biological samples in the laboratory
• Process the data produced from sample analysis
• Prepare reports for the EIA project