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
Google Scholar ID:
https://scholar.google.co.in/citations?user=dHvNZWQAAAAJ&hl=en

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
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/sanjeevkumarshangary
ORCID No. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3279-535X
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&tzom=-330&user=86Au9fwAAAAJ

Research Gate Link :

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sanjeev-Shangary

3 Dr. Summon Koul Drug Discovery, Medicinal Chemistry, Natural Product Chemistry, Organic Chemistry Summon.koul@mitwpu.edu.in

Scopus ID: 7005910710
https://www.linkedin.com/in/summon-koul-910843102/
ORCID No.: 0000-0002-2875-7289

Research Gate Link : 

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Summon-Koul-2

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
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sudhirkumarshinde/
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9460-0936

Research Gate Link :

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sudhirkumar-Shinde

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