Ph.D. in Consciousness Studies
Programme Overview
MIT-WPU offers a unique, one-of-its-kind Ph.D. in Consciousness Studies programme at its School of Consciousness Studies. The programme is a perfect blend of detailed curriculum offered either via online platform or classroom and extensive research work in the laboratories. The goal at School of Consciousness (SoC) is to translate the knowledge in the frontiers of Vedic Science/Chemical Science/Life sciences/Physics/Clinical Science/Applied Sciences/Earth and Climate Sciences/Data Science/Psychology into the well being of the society and open up the avenues for understanding the unmet understanding of consciousness. Candidates holding a Masters degree with experience in any field of Science mentioned above can register for the programme.
Diverse Areas of Research
- Yoga interventions in different areas of disease like cancer, metabolic disorders, spinal issues etc.
- Psychological interventions in anxiety, depression and other disorders
- Drama Therapy and mental health
- Innovations and Consciousness in Cancer patients
- Artificial intelligence in consciousness
Highly Equipped Research Laboratories
| Name Of Equipment | Company Name | Equipment Location |
|---|---|---|
| Biosafety Cabinet | LABTOP | DR-P-113-D |
| Milli-Q Water | Merck | DR-P-210-A |
| Co2 INCUBATOR | NUAIRE | DR-P-113-D |
| Freezer | Celfrost | DR-P-111 |
| Hot Air Oven | Spire Automation and Innovation | DR-P-113-B |
| Centrifuge Eppendorf 5430R | Eppendorf | DR-P-113 |
| Centrifuge Eppendorf 5804R | Eppendorf | DR-P-113-C |
| Cryocube F440n ULT Freezer | Eppendorf | DR-P-112 |
| Microscope | Nikon | DR-P-113-D |
| Magnetic Stirrer With Heating | IKA | DR-P-211 |
| Overhaed Stirrer | Heidolph | DR-P-210 |
| Pipette | IKA | DR-P-210 |
| Hot Air Oven | Spire Automation and Innovation | DR-P-210 |
| Ice Flaker | Spire Automation and Innovation | DR-P-210 |
| Weighing Balance | Satorious | DR-P-210-A |
| Weighing Balance | Satorious | DR-P-211 |
| Rotavapour R-300 | BUCHI Labortechnik AG | DR-P-211 |
| Carbon Di-oxide Cylinder | DR-P-113-D | |
| Nitrogen Cylinder | DR-P-211 | |
| Dessicator | DR-P-210 | |
| Single stage Water Distillation | GLASSCO | DR-P-113 |
| Vaccum Pump | DR-P-210 | |
| pH meter | DR-P-211 | |
| Bosh GHG 180 Plastic Heat Gun | DR-P-211 | |
| Ultrasonic Cleaner | LABMAN | DR-P-210 |
| Ultraviolet Inspection Cabinet | Raut | DR-P-210 |
| Real Time PCR System | AriaMx | DR-P-112 |
| Spinwin MC-00 Micro Centrifuge | DR-P-111 | |
| Spinwin MC-00 Micro Centrifuge | DR-P-113 | |
| RockyMax 2 tier | DR-P-111 | |
| Vortex Shaker | DR-P-111 | |
| Rotospin- Test tube Rotator | DR-P-111 | |
| Magnetic Stirrer With Heating plate | DR-P-111 | |
| Electrophoresis Power Supply Unit | DR-P-113 | |
| Vertical Autoclave | DR-P-113-B | |
| RockyVac Vaccum Pump | DR-P-111 | |
| MSCHOICE TRIO corresponding gel tray 15*7 | DR-P-113 | |
| MSMID10 corresponding gel tray 10*7 | DR-P-113 | |
| liquid Nitrogen container | DR-P-113-D | |
| Laboratory Oven | DR-P-210 | |
| Vaccum Oven | Spire Automation and Innovation | DR-P-210 |
| Laboratory Refrigerator | DR-P-211 | |
| ND-ONEC-W Nanodrop One C spectrophotometer | DR-P-112 | |
| Linear shaker top shaking plate | DR-P-210 | |
| Refrigerator Heating Liquid circular cap. | Spire Automation and Innovation | DR-P-210 |
| Synergy H1 multimode Reader | DR-P-210-A | |
| Flame retardant Blanket | DR-P-210 | |
| Wall mounted Shower | DR-P-210 | |
| unstirred Water bath | MEDICA-EQUITRON | DR-P-113-C |
| Rotary Vane Vacuum Pump | DR-P-211 | |
| Heating Block | DR-P-210 | |
| Heating Base 250 ML, 500ML. | DR-P-210 | |
| LG microwave | DR-P-113 | |
| Laboratory Refrigerator | DR-P-113 | |
| Retortstand Base with rod Bossheads Clamps | DR-P-211 | |
| SHANTI MK Digital Heating Mantle | DR-P-211 | |
| PowerPac Basic Power supply (Bio-RAD) | DR-P-113 | |
| SHANTI MK Digital Heating Mantle | DR-P-211 | |
| Retortstand Base with rod Bossheads Clamps | DR-P-211 | |
| Micro Centrifuge TARSON | DR-P-210 | |
| Vortex Shaker Tarson SPINIX | DR-P-210 | |
| Soxhlet Extractor with dimroth condenser | DR-P-210 | |
| Nikon Inverted Microscope | Nikon | DR-P110A |
| ChemiDoc XRS+ with Image software | Biorad | DR-P109 |
| Thermal cycler | Biorad | DR-P109 |
| Celfrost -20°C freezer | Celfrost | DR-P108 |
| Spinwin MC-00 Micro Centrifuge 1000 | ||
| RockyMax 2 tier | Tarson | DR-P108 |
| Vortex Shaker-3 | DR-P108 | |
| Magnetic Stirrer With Heating plate | REMI | DR-P108 |
| Weighing Balance Sartorious | Sartorius | DR-P108 |
| pH meter | Contech | DR-P108 |
| Cryocube F440n ULT Freezer | Eppendorf | DR-P109 |
| AriaMx Real Time PCR System | Agilent Technologies | DR-P109 |
| Centrifuge Eppendorf 5804R | Eppendorf | DR-P110C |
| Centrifuge Eppendorf 5430R | Eppendorf | DR-P110 |
| Single stage Water Distillation | GLASSCO | DR-P110 |
| Spinwin MC-00 Micro Centrifuge 1010 | ||
| Electrophoresis Power Supply Unit | Tarson | DR-P108 |
| LG microwave | LG | DR-P110B |
| Laboratory Refrigerator | Labtech | DR-P110 |
| PowerPac Basic Power supply (Bio-RAD) | Biorad | DR-P108 |
| Hot Air Oven | Spire Automation & Innovation | DR-P110B |
| Vertical Autoclave | Bio Technics India | DR-P110B |
| Unstirred Water bath | Medica-Equitron | DR-P110C |
| Data acquisition system Biopac + Laptop | Biopac | DR-P108 |
| Microplate spectrophotometer | Agilent Technologies | DR-P110 |
| Stabilizer for -20 | Hitech | DR-P108 |
| Cryocube | Volt mark | DR-P109 |
Duration & Fees
Duration
Minimum 3 Years
Ph.D. admissions are currently closed for the Spring Semester. The application window for AY 2026-27 (Autumn Semester) will open in mid-February 2026. You may leave your enquiry, and we will get in touch with you as soon as the application form is live.
I. Eligibility Criterion for admission to the Ph.D. Programme
The following candidates are eligible to seek admission to the Ph.D. programme
Candidates who have completed:
i) A 1-year/2-semester master’s degree programme after a 4-year/8-semester bachelor’s degree programme or a 2-year/4-semester master’s degree programme after a 3-year bachelor’s degree programme or qualifications declared equivalent to the master’s degree by the corresponding statutory regulatory body, with at least 55% marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade in a point scale wherever grading system is followed or equivalent qualification from a foreign educational institutions accredited by an assessment and accreditation agency which is approved, recognised or authorised by an authority, established or incorporated under a law in its home country or any other statutory authority in that country to assess, accredit or assure quality and standards of the educational institutions.
A relaxation of 5% marks or its equivalent grade may be allowed for those belonging to SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer)/differently-abled, Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and other categories of candidates as per the decision of the commission from time to time.
Provided that a candidate seeking admission after a 4-year/8-semester bachelor’s degree programme should have a minimum of 75% marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade on a point scale wherever the grading system is followed. A relaxation of 5% marks or its equivalent grade may be allowed for those belonging to SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer)/Differently-abled, Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and other categories of candidates as per the decision of commission from time to time.
ii) Candidates who have completed the M. Phil programme with at least 55% marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade in a point scale. A relaxation of 5% marks or its equivalent grade may be allowed for those belonging to SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer)/Differently abled, Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and other categories of candidates as per the decision of commission from time to time.
Reservation is applicable only to Maharashtra domicile candidates provided they submit the necessary documents for reservation before interview. Outside Maharashtra candidates will be considered in open category.
II. Selection Process for the admission to the Ph.D. program
1. Candidates satisfying eligibility criteria shall be called to appear for the Ph.D. entrance test conducted by MITWPU. The exemption will be given from Ph.D. entrance tests for those students who qualify UGC-NET /UGC-CSIR NET /GATE (valid score)/CEED/GPAT (valid score)and similar national tests.
2. Ph.D. entrance test shall be qualifying with qualifying marks as 50% provided that relaxation from 50% to 45% shall be allowed for the candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC (Non creamy layer)/Differently abled category, Economically Weaker section (EWS) and other category of candidates. The syllabus of the entrance test shall consist of 50% of research methodology and 50% shall be subject specific.
3. The interview/viva-voce will be conducted by the university for test qualifying candidates. For selection of candidates a weightage of 70% to the entrance test and 30% to the performance in the interview/Viva-voce shall be given. For GATE/NET/JRF /SET/GPAT/CEED qualified students, the selection will be based on Interview/Viva Voce
4. The recommended candidates will be intimated through email about their selection and the candidates will be offered Ph.D. provisional admission.
5. The eligibility of a candidate is provisional as per information provided by the candidate in his/her application form and is subject to verification of minimum eligibility conditions for admission to the programme, educational documents and reservation documents (if any).
6. University keep rights to cancel admission of the Ph.D. scholars in the case of misconduct by the scholar, unsatisfactory progress/absent for consecutive two progress seminars, failure in any examination related to Ph.D., fabrication found in educational and reservation documents, candidate is found ineligible, involved in plagiarism in paper publications and thesis.
7. Provisional eligibility to appear in the selection process is no guarantee for admission to the programme.
8. Candidates who will join Ph.D. programme full time, they will be provided with the stipend as per MITWPU norms.
9. Ph.D. admission will be confirmed after successful completion of the coursework with 55% or more as per UGC norms. Ph.D. programme should be minimum of three years including coursework and maximum of six years from the date of admission to the Ph.D. programme.
10. A maximum of an additional two years (2) years can be given through the process of re-registration provided, however, that the total period for completion of a Ph.D. programme should not exceed eight (8) years from the date of admission in the Ph.D. programme.
11. Provided further that, female Ph.D. scholars and persons with Disabilities (having more than 40% disability) may be allowed an additional relaxation of two years (2) ; however, the total period for completion of a Ph.D. programme in such cases should not exceed ten (10) years from the date of admission of the programme.
12. Female candidates may be provided Maternity Leave/Child Care Leave for up to 240 days in the entire duration of Ph.D. programme.
Undergraduate and Postgraduate Degree Specializations for admission
Bachelor’s degree in sciences/pharmacy/engineering/Agricultural Sciences/Arts/Liberal arts/Medical sciences/Vedic Sciences/Business Administration (BBA) from UGC/PCI affiliated institutions
Master’s degree in chemical sciences/Life Sciences/Chemical Engineering/Pharmacy/Biotechnology/Vedic Sciences/Liberal Arts/Agricultural Sciences/Medical Sciences/Business Administration (MBA)/ME/MTech
Research Scholar
| Sr. No. | Name of PhD Scholar | Name of Supervisor | Date of Registration | Research Area |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Mohan Uttarwar | Prof Jayant Khandare | 24-11-2021 | Artificial intelligence in consciousness |
|
2 |
Dr Nirmal Vivek Raut | Prof Jayant Khandare | 24-11-2021 | Role of Consciousness in cancer |
|
3 |
Ashish Suresh Patil | Prof Summon Koul | 24-11-2021 | Mind-shift-mentoring in anxiety and depression |
| 4 | Bhagwat Jadhav | Prof Jayant Khandare | 17-07-2024 | Innovations and Consciousness in Cancer patients |
| 5 | Anuradha Pandit | Prof Summon Koul | 04-03-2025 | Yoga for spinal issues |
| 6 | Anjali Chaudhry | Prof Summon Koul | 04-03-2025 | Drama Therapy and mental health |
| 7 | Dr Rakesh Ramesh | Prof Sanjeev Kumar | 12-03-2025 | Consciousness in breast cancer |
| 8 | Dr Sunita Chaudhari | Prof Sanjeev Kumar | 26-03-2025 | Integrative yoga for breast cancer patients |
| 9 | Anuj V Mundi | Prof Summon Koul | 14-02-2026 | Yoga in life style diseases |
| 10 | Prachi Erankar | Dr. Sudhirkumar Shinde | PhD course work in progress |
Research Scholars Publications
1. Nirmal Vivek Raut, Atul Bharde, Aland Gourishankar, Sreeja Jayant, Meghana Garbhe, Sayali Gosavi, Apoorva Janorkar, Alain D’Souza, Aravindan Vasudevan, Jayant Khandare. Circulating tumor cells as a biomarker for monitoring: Disease progression, treatment response, and minimal residual disease. ASCO Abstract in Journal of Clinical Oncology; 2022; 40
2. Nirmal Vivek Raut, Mandar Bhonde, Chirantan Bose, Rakesh Chopra, Trupti Kad, Sangeeta Prajapati, Kanchan Hariramani, Fauzul Mobeen, Madhura asavalinge gowda, Sumit Haldar, Vatsal Mehra, Manoj Kumar Kumaran, Vikas Balasaheb Leelava Jadhav, Sujit Krishnarao Joshi, Mithun Shah, Pankaj Manubhai Shah, Aravindan Vasudevan, Jayant Khandare, Gowhar Shafi. Identification of novel actionable SNVs via targeted comprehensive genome profiling in patients with gallbladder and cholangiocarcinoma cancer. ASCO Abstract in Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2023, 41
3. Jayant Khandare, Nirmal Vivek Raut, Gourishankar Aland, Meghana Garbhe, Sayali Gosavi, Apoorva Janorkar, Ganesh Khutale, Mrunmayi Patil, Amrut Ashturkar, Vikas Balasaheb Leelavati Jadhav, Alain D’Souza, Varun Tulpule, Hrishita Kothavade, Priya Tiwari, Aravindan Vasudevan, Sreeja Jayant, Atul BhardeEffect of circulating tumor cells distribution in treatment naive and treated patients with advance stage breast cancer on disease burden. ASCO Abstract in Journal of Clinical Oncology; 2023; 41
4. Atul Bharde, Mandar Bhonde, Chirantan Bose, Nirmal Vivek Raut, Hrishita Kothavade, Alain D’Souza, Trupti Kad, Bhagwat Jadhav, Sangeeta Prajapati, Vikas Balasaheb Leelavati Jadhav, Sujit Krishnarao Joshi, Kanchan Hariramani, Mohan Uttarwar, Jayant Khandare, Gowhar Shafi. Comprehensive ctDNA analysis to identify genome-instability and actionable mutation landscape in gynecologic cancers.; ASCO Abstract in Journal of Clinical Oncology; 2023; 41
5. Atul Bharde, Vichitra Behel, Mandar Bhonde, Chirantan Bose, Nirmal Vivek Raut, Alain D’Souza, Bhagwat Jadhav, Sangeeta Prajapati, Trupti Kad, Mrunal Ratnaparkhi, Sujit Krishnarao Joshi, Vikas Balasaheb Leelavati Jadhav, Kanchan Hariramani, Fauzul Mobeen, Aravindan Vasudevan, Mohan Uttarwar, Jayant Khandare, Kumar Prabhash, Gowhar ShafiComprehensive plasma genotyping reveals mutational signatures that confer resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) in patients with advanced lung cancer.; ASCO Abstract in Journal of Clinical Oncology; 2023; 41
6. Nirmal Raut, Atul Bharde, Sreeja Jayant, Gaurishankar Aland, Aravindan Vasudevan, Jayant Khandare. Circulating Tumor Cells as Biomarkers for Relapse Detection in Rectal Cancer with Liver Metastasis: Insights from a Case Report. Clin Oncol Case Rep, 2024, 7:6. Doi: 10.4173/cocr.7(6).358
7. Ashish Patil, Summon Koul. Role of Biosynthesis and Catabolism of Neurotransmitters in Drug Discovery for Anxiety and Depression. Current Pharmaceutical Design, 2024, 30 (33), 2587-2596; Doi: 10.2174/0113816128309913240704095334
8. Uttarwar M, Khandare J, Shivamurthy PM, Satpute A, Panwar M, Kothavade H, Ramesh A, Iyer S, Shafi G. A Clinically Translatable Multimodal Deep Learning Model for HRD Detection from Histopathology Images. Diagnostics, 2026, 16, 356. https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics16020356
Research Supervisor
| Sr. No. | Name of the Research Supervisor | Research areas of the Supervisor | Email address of the Supervisor | Scopus ID, Researchers ID, Personal website link, and Vidwan profile link of the Supervisor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Dr. Jayant Khandare | Material Science, Oncology, Anticancer Therapeutics, Nanotechnology | Jayant.khandare@mitwpu.edu.in |
Scopus ID: 12767558800 Research Gate Link : https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jayant-Khandare |
| 2 | Dr. Sanjeev Kumar | Cancer Biology, Drug mechanism of action, Drug Discovery, Cell Biology, Molecular biology, Drug repositioning/rescue/repurposing, Bioinformatics | Sanjeev.kumar@mitwpu.edu.in |
Scopus ID: 6602734673 Research Gate Link : |
| 3 | Dr. Summon Koul | Drug Discovery, Medicinal Chemistry, Natural Product Chemistry, Organic Chemistry | Summon.koul@mitwpu.edu.in |
Scopus ID: 7005910710 Research Gate Link : |
| 4 | Dr. Sudhir Kumar Shinde | Molecular imprinting, Supramolecular chemistry, Biomaterials, Polymer chemistry, Smart polymers for biomedical applications and bioprocesses, Functional and intelligent nanomaterials. | Sudhirkumar.shinde@mitwpu.edu.in |
Scopus ID: 15519724200 Research Gate Link : |
