Amity University Mumbai offers opportunities for Astrobiology students in India

An applicant to Bachelors in Astrobiology needs to have a science background. In order to pursue a Master's degree in the stream, a BSc or BTech degree in Geology/Chemistry/Biology/Physics is a must.

Amity University has established India's first-ever Centre of Excellence in Astrobiology at Amity University Maharashtra. In collaboration with its national and international partners, the researchers at the Amity Centre are developing space experiments, conducting field studies in Mars-like regions of India, and enabling students from various science and engineering programs to take up Astrobiology as an exciting new career choice.

An applicant to Bachelors in Astrobiology needs to have a science background. In order to pursue Master's degree in the stream, a BSc or BTech degree in Geology/Chemistry/Biology/Physics is a must.

The career applications of Astrobiology can be applied across varied fields of Astronomy, Environment research, Geology, Post-secondary teaching, University-based research, Space sciences research, Biomedical research.

In India, there are several government research institutions where an astrobiology graduate can apply for full-time positions in State and Central Government Laboratories under Department of Biotechnology, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Space and Ministry of Earth Sciences. Overseas, various Astrobiology Centres and Programs absorb graduate and doctoral researchers in Astrobiology. (NASA Astrobiology Program, Australian Centre of Astrobiology, Centre for Astrobiology Studies, Madrid, Earth Life Science Institute (ELSI) Japan). The skill sets picked up by astrobiologists are laterally useful for several industries such as Biotechnology, Energy, Space, Defense and Nanotechnology

Astrobiology is a broad discipline that requires a complete understanding of an alien environment- inputs from geology, chemistry, physics, engineering, and biology. This emerging field requires bringing together cross-pollinating alliances between scientists across disciplines. To help conceptualize and design future missions, the Amity Centre is also helping the preparation of an astrobiology roadmap for the Space Science Program Office at ISRO.

Amity researchers, in collaboration with international partners have been testing Mars prototype instruments and studying the samples to help characterize the region for assessing Martian surface environment. This year, an exciting first-of-its-kind Earth and Space Exploration Program (ESEP) in Ladakh has been announced by Amity that will allow science and engineering students (class 11 and above) to work in teams on exciting education projects under the mentorship of Space scientists and research analysts. There are plans to establish a semi-permanent outpost that will allow these Mars' scientists to live, work and simulate Mars exploration operations in Ladakh, as part of the Mars Amity Research Station (MARS).

In line with this programme, Amity University Mumbai conducted India's first 'Introduction to Astrobiology' Online Course in partnership with Mars Society Australia, Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Open University UK during September to November 2020. Over 790 students from 53 countries participated in the course run over 8 weeks. Close to 300 students successfully graduated from the course as the first Astrobiology students of India. The course is open to students from all disciplines, from undergraduate and postgraduate courses. The details for the next edition of the course are to be announced later this year.

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