ZSI Kolkata Zoonotic Disease Surveillance Project Openings

April 24, 2025

ZOOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA (ZSI) 
Prani Vigyan Bhawan, 
M-Block, New Alipore, 
Kolkata-700053 

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Contractual Recruitment for 05 Research Positions The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) invites applications from Indian nationals for the recruitment of 05 research personnel on a purely temporary and contractual basis, initially for one year and extendable up to three years or longer based on the performance and or project duration. The positions are co-terminus with the respective projects, and details are given in Annexure 

1. Projects: 

• Project : Protecting Himalayan Health: Landscape-Based Disease Surveillance in Wildlife and Exploring Zoonotic Hotspots through One Health Approach (Henceforth, ZSI-Integrated disease surveillance project) 

Last Date for receiving application (Soft copy as well as hard copy): 05th May 2025, 6:00 PM IST. No application will be entertained received after the mentioned date/time.

Application Procedure: Candidates must submit a hard copy of the duly filled application in the prescribed format (Annexure 2) along with self-attested copies of: 

• Educational qualifications and mark sheets 
• Proof of date of birth 
• Relevant experience certificates 
• No Objection Certificate (if employed) 
• Certified/ attested documents supporting any claim for relaxation or exemption, other than the prescribed qualifications (if applicable) Send applications via Speed/Registered Post to: The Director, Zoological Survey of India, M-Block, New Alipore, Kolkata – 700053, West Bengal Email (by 05th May 2025): zsiresearchproject@gmail.com

Envelope must be clearly marked with: “Application for the post of RA/SRF/JRF/FA [ZSI-Integrated disease surveillance project] with kind attention to Dr. Mukesh Thakur, Sci D and PI of the project.” Note: Candidates applying for multiple position has to mention this under the Annexure 2 Place of Work: Selected candidates will be required to travel extensively across Tawang & West Kameng (Arunachal Pradesh), Darjeeling (North Bengal) or in ZSI Headquarters in Kolkata and or any other locations as per project needs. Field assignments may involve extended durations. 

BELIEF ABOUT THE PROJECTS: Project: Protecting Himalayan Health: Landscape-Based Disease Surveillance in Wildlife and Exploring Zoonotic Hotspots through One Health Approach Rationale Zoonotic diseases originating from wildlife pose a growing global threat, particularly with the increasing emergence of infectious diseases. Despite the high biodiversity of the central and eastern Himalayas, limited data exists on the diversity and distribution of zoonotic pathogens circulating in local wildlife populations. This project addresses this critical knowledge gap through an innovative, non-invasive approach to disease surveillance.

By analyzing blood-fed ectoparasites (e.g., ticks, mites, fleas, mosquitoes, leeches etc. ) collected from wildlife, the project aims to detect bloodborne pathogens and assess their zoonotic potential using metagenomic analysis. This method bypasses the need for direct wildlife sampling, which is often challenging—especially for endangered species—and provides a scalable and efficient model for surveillance. Anchored in the One Health framework, the project integrates wildlife health with public and environmental health concerns, recognizing their interconnectedness. It also seeks to develop rapid diagnostic PCR assays for key zoonotic diseases prevalent in the region, enabling timely detection and response. This research will contribute to global disease preparedness by advancing surveillance capabilities, informing policy, and promoting cross-sectoral collaboration. This project requires partnerships from experts in pathogen genomics, wildlife ecology, epidemiology, and diagnostic assay development to strengthen the scientific and practical impact of this initiative.

Objectives: 
Objective1: Utilize hematophagous ectoparasites to diagnose bloodborne pathogens in free ranging wildlife in Central and Eastern Himalayas; 
Objective 2: Assess the zoonotic potential of identified bloodborne pathogens by sampling both local communities and surrounding livestock, and analyze the disease hotspot in Central and Eastern Himalayas 
Objective 3: Develop RT-PCR-based diagnostic assays for rapid disease surveillance, specifically targeting major zoonotic pathogens and producing trained professionals for monitoring wildlife health in Central and Eastern Himalayas through capacity building partnership development. Project Implementing sites: Tawang & West Kameng (Arunachal Pradesh), Darjeeling (North Bengal). 

Project: (ZSI Integrated disease surveillance project) 

Research Associate-I (RA-I) 1 

58,000/- plus HRA as admissible 

PhD in Zoology/ Wildlife Sciences/ Biotechnology/ Microbiology/ Parasitology/ Veterinary Science/ Bioinformatics/ Public Health or Equivalent degree in Life Sciences from a recognized University. Or Candidates who have submitted PhD thesis as above are also eligible to apply and will be considered for Senior Project Fellow until the Ph.D. is awarded. 

• Experience in zoonotic disease surveillance or infectious disease diagnostics involving wildlife, livestock, or human samples 
• Proficiency in molecular techniques, including DNA/RNA extraction, PCR, RT-PCR, and sequencing 
• Working experience with nextgeneration sequencing (NGS) and or Oxford nanopore technology (ONT) - workflows and library preparation 
• Working experience of bioinformatics tools and pipelines for metagenomic analysis, pathogen detection, and genomic data interpretation 
• Experience in handling large biological datasets and using software such as QIIME, MEGA, Geneious, R, or Python-based bioinformatics tools 
• Three relevant research publications in peer-reviewed SCI journals.

-Design and execute field sampling and lab protocols for hematophagous ectoparasites (ticks, mites, fleas, leeches, mosquitoes) and biological specimens from wildlife, livestock, and human interfaces 
- Conduct DNA extraction, PCR, RT PCR, and library preparation for NGS and/or Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT) platforms and Analyze genomic and metagenomic data using QIIME, Geneious, MEGA, and Python/R-based pipelines for pathogen detection and classification 
- Assist in the development and validation of molecular diagnostic assays for targeted zoonotic pathogens 
- Assist in prepare technical reports, research manuscripts, and data visualizations for dissemination in internal reviews and peer-reviewed publications 
- Coordinate with collaborators and contribute to capacity-building activities such as field training, stakeholder engagement, and technical workshops

Senior Research Fellow (SRF) 01 

42,000/- plus HRA as admissible 

Masters in Zoology/ Wildlife Sciences/ Biotechnology/ Microbiology/ Parasitology/ Veterinary Science/ Bioinformatics/ Public Health/ MD or Equivalent degree in Life Science from a recognized University with minimum 02 years of research experience and a SCI article in the relevant field 

• Working experience in zoonotic disease surveillance or infectious disease diagnostics involving wildlife, livestock, or human samples 
• Proficiency in molecular biology techniques, including DNA/RNA extraction, PCR, RT-PCR, and Sanger/NGS sequencing 
• Hands-on experience with NextGeneration Sequencing (NGS) and/or Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT), including workflow execution and library preparation 
• Familiarity with bioinformatics pipelines for metagenomic data processing, pathogen detection, and genomic interpretation 

- Assist in planning field-based sample collection of hematophagous ectoparasites and biological specimens from wildlife, livestock, and humanassociated environments - Perform DNA/RNA extraction, PCR, RT-PCR, and amplicon/whole genome sequencing of collected samples for pathogen screening 
- Conduct library preparation and support sequencing workflows using NGS (e.g., Illumina) and/or Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT) platforms 
- Process and analyze sequence data using bioinformatics tools and pipelines for metagenomic profiling, pathogen identification, and comparative genomic analysis 
- Contribute to the preparation of research reports, presentations, and scientific publications 
- Coordinate with field and lab teams, and assist in training programs and capacitybuilding workshops for students and stakeholders

Junior Research Fellow (JRF) 01 

37,000/- plus HRA as admissible for candidates qualified CSIR/UGC NET, GATE, or any other national level examination Or Candidates not falling into the above category will be paid Rs. 24,000/- plus HRA as admissible [Candidates who have qualified the CSIR/UGCNET JRF will be encouraged and supported to activate their fellowship through ZSI and will be provided necessary assistance to register for a Ph.D. program]

Master's degree in Zoology/ Wildlife Sciences/ Biotechnology/ Microbiology/Parasitology/ Veterinary Science/ Bioinformatics/ Public Health/ MD or Equivalent degree in Life Science from a recognized University with minimum of 60% aggregate marks, or Equivalent degree from a UGC recognized University 

• Working experience in molecular biology techniques, including DNA/RNA extraction, PCR, RTPCR, and Sanger/NGS sequencing 
• Hands-on experience with NextGeneration Sequencing (NGS) and/or Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT), including workflow execution and library preparation 
• Demonstrated fieldwork experience in the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR). 

- Conduct field sampling in the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR), and collection of biological specimens from wildlife, livestock, and human-associated environments 
- Perform molecular biology techniques such as DNA/RNA extraction, PCR, and RT-PCR 
- Prepare samples for and assist in Sanger sequencing, as well as Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) and/or Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT) platforms 
- Coordinate and document field-to-lab sample transfer, including proper metadata and storage protocols 
- Work independently and collaboratively in high-altitude, logistically challengin conditions as part of a multidisciplinary team 
- Contribute to data analysis, sample documentation, and preparation of technical notes, field reports, and scientific publications

Field Assistant [FA] 02 

20,000 (fixed) 

Bachelor degree in Life Science from a recognized University degree with minimum of 60% aggregate marks, or Equivalent degree from a UGC recognized University 

• Experience in working a molecular biology lab 
• Experience in trekking in Indian Himalayan Region 
• Experience in handling files, project accounts, stock registers, preparing purchase indent for laboratory and field items 
• Working experience in MS Office (excel, power point and word) 

- Assist in routine laboratory work, including cleaning, organizing, and preparing materials for molecular biology experiments 
- Participate in field surveys and sample collection across remote locations in the Indian Himalayan Region, involving trekking and field logistics 
- Manage project documentation, including maintaining stock registers, assisting with project accounts, and preparing purchase indents for laboratory and field supplies 
- Provide assistance in transport, storage, and packaging of biological samples from field to laboratory 
- Perform data entry and generate field/lab reports using MS Office tools such as Excel, Word, and PowerPoint

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