[Bonemechanic]

Hey fellow BHPians,

My daughter is currently in her +2 Science stream and has a strong interest in pursuing a career in Marine Biology. Her current plan is to do a B.Tech in Biotechnology followed by a Masters and PhD in Marine Biology.

While we've been doing our own research, I was hoping to tap into the vast knowledge and experience of the BHPian community! Here's where I'd really appreciate your insights:

Universities/Institutes: Are there any specific universities or institutes in India (or abroad) that are particularly renowned for Marine Biology programs?
Course Structure: Any recommendations on the best

B.Tech specialization within Biotechnology that would complement her future goals in Marine Biology?


Scope of Marine Biology: What's the current job landscape for Marine Biologists in India and abroad? Are there any specific areas within Marine Biology that are showing good growth potential?
Any additional advice or personal experiences you have related to Marine Biology as a career path would be immensely valuable.

Thanks in advance for your help!

P.S. If there are any BHPians who are Marine Biologists themselves, I'd be especially grateful for the opportunity to connect directly.

[Aditya]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing!

[SmartCat]

My Aunt is MSc in Marine Biology and also faculty/director of NITTE, Mangalore. NITTE offers MSc Marine Biology Degree
https://nucser.nitte.edu.in/master-o...technology.php

From what I understand, career prospects are in:

- Academics (including R&D)
- Aquaculture (growing fish, shrimp etc in controlled man-made ecosystem for local consumption and exports)
- Marine feed companies
- Marine medicine companies

[the_skyliner]

Originally Posted by Bonemechanic

P.S. If there are any BHPians who are Marine Biologists themselves, I'd be especially grateful for the opportunity to connect directly.

My soon to be SIL is a marine biologist and is working with her institute on multiple research projects.

PM me your contact details and I will connect you with her.

[d.w.w.]

Since your location shows KL, Cochin University(CUSAT) offers M.Sc and Phd in Marine Biology. I think the prerequisite is a B.Sc. in Botany or Zoology. I shared hostel with people who were into marine biology and most of them are either abroad or into research in institutes like NIOT.

[Shreyans_Jain]

I don’t think BTech Biotech will be of any help for marine biology. BSc should be more relevant. That being said, my understanding is that marine biology is a very specialised field with limited scope, at least in India as of now. It is high highly research oriented. And the child is young, it is very much possible that interests will change with time and exposure. Pls consider how wise it is to commit to a decade long and niche career path at this stage.

[NomadSK]

Well I don’t know much about either of the educational courses. But our company has a department as Oceangraphy and they have recruited micro-biologists, I can just tell you what you can expect regarding the work-life in the real world,

1) It’s a niche job, most of the employees are PhD holders.

2) Most of them at senior level spend a lot of time in laboratories with some computer modeling systems. They are happy souls. Doing R&D all the time but this can get monotonous. Not sure though.

3) There are ones (mostly juniors) on research vessel or offshore platforms, gathering data. They keep on cribbing about their jobs, since it’s kinda field job and in hazardous conditions, unpredictable weather and physically demanding. They get huge over time with allowance for remote working locations. Which approx adds to 3/4 times their normal monthly salary. So see at young level people are ready to take it and that’s the only motivation they have unless one is actually having this work as a passion.

4) They mostly deal with geological and biological stuff on sea beds and most of them have to be certified divers. During their initial careers diving is in their scope of work.

5) Overseas Travelling, going on research cruises (that is exotic), conferences meetings outside of company scope is a common phenomenon.

6) Some at senior levels are also a visiting faculty in various engineering colleges/Universities across the world.

7) I haven’t seen a girl working in that department. So I’m not sure whether that’s a cultural thing here or the course is not in vogue for women.

Finally, All I can say, during initial working days the work can be quite challenging during field visits and spending time on seas in hazardous conditions. Unless one gets into some government organisation, where contractors do the work !!

Just got a text from the recently recruited guy (he’s a marine scientist) who has done the courses from iMarEST and “Society for underwater technology” Aberdeen.

iMarEST

Just my 2 cents, I don’t know if this helps.