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Category: Scientist

Dr. Vishnu M

About me Dr. Vishnu M is a Scientist B at the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE), Government of Kerala. He is a Chemical engineer specializing in advanced water treatment technologies and environmental remediation. His research focuses on adsorption science, photocatalysis, algal bioremediation, biofuels and the development of innovative materials for hydrogen generation and removal of emerging contaminants from water. He obtained his PhD from the National Institute of Technology Karnataka and has contributed to the field through patents, international research publications, and book chapters in environmental technologies. His work aims to advance sustainable and scientifically robust solutions for pollution control, water security, and environmental sustainability. Schemes & programmes (including external funded Programmes): Academic Qualifications: PhD Subject: Environmental Engineering (Chemical Engineering) Title : Removal of heavy metals from aqueous solutions using melanin coated polymer matrix Year: 2019 Institution: National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal  Post-graduation Subject: M.Tech Chemical Engineering (Industrial Pollution Control) Year: 2015 University: National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal. Graduation Subject: B.Tech Biotechnology and Biochemical Engineering Year: 2012 University: University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram Professional Experience/ Academic Positions: Assistant Professor Organization: Department of Chemical Engineering, Amal Jyothi College of Engineering, Kanjirappally Duration: 2020-2026 Research Fellow Organization: National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal Duration: 2015-2017   Broad area Water and Wastewater Treatment Adsorption and Advanced Materials for Pollution Control Photocatalysis and Solar-Driven Environmental Remediation Nanomaterials for Hydrogen Production and Clean Energy Algal Biotechnology for Biofuels and Environmental Applications Details of ongoing and completed project Adsorptive removal of trivalent and pentavalent arsenic from aqueous solution using ilmenite-rich sand – Funded by APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University, Kerala Biodegradable chitosan-based film for food packaging – Funded by APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University, Kerala Microbial oil production from wastewater – Funded by APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University, Kerala Environmental pollutant degradation using advanced nanomaterials – Supported under the Young Innovators Program, Government of Kerala   Patents Method, System and Apparatus for Arsenic Removal from Water Using Functionalized Melanin. (Patent No. 368465) Removal of Heavy Metals from Contaminated Water by Adsorption Using Melanin Bound Activated Carbon. (Patent No. 351670) A Method of Preparing Adsorbents for the Removal of Arsenic. (Patent Application No.: 202441095239) Best cited Publications Manirethan, V., Raval, K., Rajan, R., Thaira, H., Balakrishnan, R.M., 2018. Kinetic and thermodynamicstudies on the adsorption of heavy metals from aqueous solution by melanin nanopigment obtained from marine source: Pseudomonas stutzeri. J. Environ. Manage. 214, 315–324. Manirethan, V., Raval, K., Rajan, R., Thaira, H., Balakrishnan, R.M., 2018. Data on the removal of heavy metals from aqueous solution by adsorption using melanin nanopigment obtained from marine source: Pseudomonas stutzeri. Data Br. 20, 178–189. Manirethan, V., Balakrishnan, R.M., 2020. Batch and continuous studies on the removal of heavy metals using biosynthesised melanin impregnated activated carbon. Environ. Technol. Innov. 20, 101085. Manirethan, V., Gupta, N., Balakrishnan, R.M., Raval, K., 2020. Batch and continuous studies on the removal of heavy metals from aqueous solution using biosynthesised melanin-coated PVDF membranes. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 27, 24723–24737. Manirethan, V., Raval, K., Balakrishnan, R.M., 2020. Adsorptive removal of trivalent and pentavalent arsenic from aqueous solutions using iron and copper impregnated melanin extracted from the marine bacterium Pseudomonas stutzeri. Environ. Pollut. 257, 113576. URL of Google scholar/researchgate etc: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=AveGUT4AAAAJ&hl=en Top Performing Faculty Award, Amal Jyothi College of Engineering, Kerala (2022) Invited Participant, Festival of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (FINE) at Rashtrapati Bhavan organized by the National Innovation Foundation (2018) Second Best Poster Award, International Conference on Recent Trends in Molecular Medicine, supported by the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (2011) Qualified Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering     Dr. Vishnu M KSCSTE, Sasthra Bhavan, Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram. Kerala-695004 Email ID: vishnukscste@gmail.com Phone (Office/Mob):+ 91-471-2548  

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Dr. Ajeeshkumar K K

About me Dr. Ajeeshkumar KK has specialization in biochemistry and molecular biology research. His current research focuses on the extraction and isolation of bioactive compounds from natural products or sources using advanced extraction techniques, the development of nutraceutical and functional food products, and the assessment of their bioactivities using in vivo and in vitro models. He has also worked on toxicological evaluation of compounds using in vivo models, cancer proteomics, metabolomics and lipidomics using animal models, nutritional profiling, residue monitoring using HPLC, GC, LC-MS/MS etc. He has also worked in Agri-Business Incubation Centre for support entrepreneurship and technology transfer. He is a member of The Indian Society of Agricultural Engineers (ISAE). He has over 30 international and national publications to his credit. Schemes & programmes (including external funded Programmes): Academic Qualifications: PhD Subject: Biochemistry Year: 2018 Institution: Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (ICAR-CIFT) University: Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT)  Post-graduation Subject: Biochemistry Year: 2012 University: Bharathiar University Graduation Subject: Biotechnology Year: 2010 University: Mahatma Gandhi University Professional Experience/ Academic Positions: Assistant Professor Organization: KAU Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Food Technology (KCAEFT), Kerala Agricultural University, Tavanur Duration: 18.06.2024 to 26.02.2026 Post-Doctoral Fellow Organization: Indian Council of Medical Research- National Institute of Child Health and Development Research (ICMR-NICHDR), New Delhi Duration: 25-10-2021 to 24-10-2023 Senior Research Fellow Organization: Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences-National Ayurveda Research Institute for Panchakarma (CCRAS-NARIP), Thrissur Duration: 07-12-2020 to 24-10-2021 Senior Research Fellow & Research Associate Organization: Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Kochi Duration: 16-04-2013 to 29-02-2020 Assistant Organization: Kerala Agricultural University (KAU), Thrissur Duration: 01-05-2012 to 31-03-2013 Broad area Bioactive compounds extraction and isolation In vitro and in vivo efficacy model studies In vivo toxicology model studies Nutritional biochemistry Residue monitoring Analytical Instrumentation Nutraceuticals and functional foods Basic Proteomics, metabolomics and lipidomics studies Agri-Business Incubation (ABI) and technology transfer Details of ongoing and completed project ICMR-Post Doctoral Fellow, ICMR-National Institute of Pathology October, 2021 to October 2023 (Completed) on project title “Temporal variation of proteoglycans expression in experimentally induced breast cancer model using proteomics approach: A possible therapeutic target for breast cancer Treatment” Best cited Publications Ajeeshkumar, K. K., Aneesh, P. A., Raju, N., Suseela, M., Ravishankar, C. N., & Benjakul, S. (2021). Advancements in liposome technology: Preparation techniques and applications in food, functional foods, and bioactive delivery: A review. Comprehensive reviews in food science and food safety, 20(2), 1280-1306. Ajeeshkumar, K. K., Haridas, P. C., Ravichandran, R., Chatterjee, N. S., Roshni, S. S., Aneesh, P. A., … & Verma, S. (2025). Identification of lipid biomarkers at different stages of breast cancer by Rapid Evaporative Ionization Mass Spectrometry (REIMS) using syngeneic balb/c mice breast cancer model. Biochimie. Ajeeshkumar, K. K., Vishnu, K. V., Bineesh, K. K., Mathew, S., Sankar, T. V., & Asha, K. K. (2021). Macromineral and heavy metal profiles of selected deep-sea fish from the Kochi coast of the Arabian Sea, India. Marine pollution bulletin, 167, 112275. Aneesh, P. A., Ajeeshkumar, K. K., Lekshmi, R. K., Anandan, R., Ravishankar, C. N., & Mathew, S. (2022). Bioactivities of astaxanthin from natural sources, augmenting its biomedical potential: A review. Trends in Food Science & Technology, 125, 81-90. Vishnu, K. V., Chatterjee, N. S., Ajeeshkumar, K. K., Lekshmi, R. G. K., Tejpal, C. S., Mathew, S., & Ravishankar, C. N. (2017). Microencapsulation of sardine oil: Application of vanillic acid grafted chitosan as a bio-functional wall material. Carbohydrate Polymers, 174, 540-548. Nazar, N., Kumaran, A. K., Athira, A. S., Sivadas, M., Panda, S. K., Banerjee, K., & Chatterjee, N. S. (2024). Untargeted metabolomics reveals potential health risks associated with chronic exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of 2-Phenylphenol. Science of The Total Environment, 912, 169172. URL of Googlescholar/researchgate etc: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=z14leiMAAAAJ&hl=en ICMR-Centenary Post-doctoral fellowship at Indian Council of Medical Research, 2021 Best paper presentation award at Maricon, Cochin University of Science and Technology, 2024 Best paper presentation award at AABS (Association of Advancement of Biodiversity Science), 2015 Best poster award at ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, 2015 Best poster presentation award at Mar Athanasius college, Ernakulam 2013 Membership in Professional Bodies The Indian Society of Agricultural Engineers (ISAE)- (LM-14084)       Dr. Ajeeshkumar K K, Junior Scientist Sasthra Bhavan, Pattom P O, Thiruvananthapuram – 695004 Email ID: ajeesh.kscste@gmal.com Phone (Office/Mob):+ 91-471-2548  

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Dr. Sumayya Asharaf

About me I am a Junior Scientist at the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) with research expertise in marine biotechnology, microbial natural products, and bioactive compound discovery from marine and freshwater organisms. My work focuses on the isolation and characterization of bioactive metabolites and exopolysaccharides from seaweed- and microalgae-associated bacteria, with potential applications in pharmaceuticals, cosmeceuticals, and nutraceuticals. My research integrates microbial biotechnology, natural product chemistry, and molecular biology to identify novel compounds with antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, wound-healing, and UV-protective properties. I have extensive experience in microbial isolation, genome mining for biosynthetic gene clusters, chromatographic and spectroscopic characterization, and bioactivity evaluation using in vitro and in vivo models. Schemes & programmes (including external funded Programmes): Academic Qualifications: PhD Subject: Marine Sciences Title:Development of Polyketide Class of Compounds from Seaweed-associated Firmicutes and their Pharmacological Potential Year: 2023 Institution: Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute University: Cochin University of Science and Technology  Post-graduation Subject: Marine Microbiology and Marine Drugs Year: 2017 University: Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) Graduation Subject: Microbiology Year: 2015 University: Amrita School of Biotechnology, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham Professional Experience/ Academic Positions: Junior Scientist Organization: Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) Duration: 27-02-2026 to till date Research Associate Organization: Centre of Excellence in Nutraceuticals (CoEN), An Institute Under KSCSTE, Bio 360 Life Science Park, Thonnakkal, Thiruvananthapuram Duration: 08-01-2025 to 26-02-2026 Research Associate (RUSA Project) Organization: School of Environmental Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala Duration: 01-08-2023 to 07-01-2025 Broad area Marine Biotechnology Environmental Biotechnology Natural Products Microbiology Cosmeceuticals Genome Mining Microbiomics Bioprospecting Bioproducts Details of ongoing and completed project   Best cited Publications Sumayya Asharaf, Kajal Chakraborty, Silpa Kunnappilly Paulose, Shubhajit Dhara, Rekha Devi Chakraborty, Chesvin Varghese, A sulfated exopolysaccharide from Bacillus altitudinis MTCC13046 accelerates cutaneous wound healing via dermal fibroblast migration: Insights into an in vivo wound re-epithelialization, International Journal of Biological Macromolecules,2025,141001,ISSN0141-8130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.141001 Sumayya Asharaf, Kajal Chakraborty, Chesvin Varghese, Rekha Devi Chakraborty, Silpa Kunnappilly Paulose, Shubhajit Dhara, A sulfated fucopyranosyl-glucosamino-glucopyranose from marine heterotrophic Bacillus tequilensis regulates inflammatory cytokines in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated human monocyte THP-1 cells. Int J Biol Macromol. 2025 Jun;314:144053. https://doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.144053. Epub 2025 May 8. PMID: 40345301. Sumayya Asharaf, Kajal Chakraborty, Silpa Kunnappilly Paulose, Shubhajit Dhara, Rekha Devi Chakraborty, Chesvin Varghese. Photoprotective sulfated mannogalactan from heterotrophic Bacillus velezensis blocks UV-A mediated matrix metalloproteinase expression and nuclear DNA damage in human dermal fibroblast. Journal of photochemistry and photobiology.B,Biology, 2024,260, 113022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2024.113022 Sumayya Asharaf, Kajal Chakraborty, Seaweed-associated heterotrophic Bacillus altitudinis MTCC13046: A promising marine bacterium for use against human hepatocellular adenocarcinoma” Arch Microbiol.2023; 205(1):10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-022-03346-2 Sumayya Asharaf, Kajal Chakraborty, Pharmacological potential of seaweed-associated heterotrophic Firmicutes. Lett Appl Microbiol. 2022. 75(4):1042-1054. https://doi.org/10.1111/lam.13780 URL of Googlescholar/researchgate etc: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=23KOMDkAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao Postgraduation University Rank Holder and Gold medallist at Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies in 2017 DST-INSPIRE FELLOWSHIP Awardee (IF170768) Department of Science and Technology For pursuing PhD. Membership in Professional Bodies Microbiology Society of India       Dr. Sumayya Asharaf, Junior Scientist Sasthra Bhavan, Pattom P O, Thiruvananthapuram – 695004 Email ID: sumayya.kscste@gmail.com Phone (Office/Mob):+ 91-471-2548250  

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Dr.Deepthi B

About me I am a Junior Scientist at the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) with research expertise in climate change impacts on water resources, rainfall prediction, hydrological extremes, and downscaling of climate models. My work combines chaos theory, complex networks, machine learning, and physics informed approaches to improve climate and hydrological predictions. I have published in leading international journals, presented at AGU, EGU and AOGS, and received recognitions including the Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship and the AGU B DEI Travel Grant. I am committed to advancing research that supports climate resilience and sustainable water management. Name of Schemes &programmes (including external funded Programmes): Kerala Young Scientist Award and Ecology and Environment Scheme   Academic Qualifications: PhD Subject: Water Resources Engineering Title:Assessment of Climate Change Impact on Rainfall: A New Framework based on Chaos Theory and Complex Networks Year: 2025 Institution: Indian Institute of Technology Bombay  Post-graduation Subject: Water Resources Engineering Year: 2020 University: Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology Nagpur Graduation Subject: Civil Engineering Year: 2018 University: Kerala University Professional Experience/ Academic Positions: Designation: Junior Scientist Organization: Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment Duration: 20-11-2024 to till date   Water Resources Engineering Climate change impact on water resources General Circulation Models Complex Networks Chaos Theory     Deepthi, B., Sivakumar, B., 2022a. General circulation models for rainfall simulations: Performance assessment using complex networks. Atmospheric Research, 278, 06333.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2022.106333 Deepthi, B., Sivakumar, B., 2022b.Towards assessing the importance of individual stations in hydrometric networks: application of complex networks. Stochastic Environmental Research and Risk Assessment. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00477-022-02340-w Deepthi, B., Sivakumar, B., 2023.Shortest path length for evaluating general circulation models for rainfall simulation. Clim Dyn. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-023-06713-x Deepthi, B., Sivakumar, B., 2024. Spatial downscaling of rainfall from general circulation models: A chaos theory-based framework. Atmospheric Research, 308, 107531. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2024.107531 Sunil, A., Deepthi, B., Rashid, M. et al., 2025. Assessing machine learning and Physics-Informed models for Multi-Lead time sea surface temperature prediction in the Arabian sea. Stoch Environ Res Risk Assess. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00477-025-03049-2 URL of Googlescholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Mjt8G5MAAAAJ&hl=en       AGU-B DEI Travel Grant worth $1000 for attending the American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting 2023 in San Francisco, California, USA Prime Minister Research Fellowship (PMRF), Ministry of Human Resource and Development, Government of India, since 2021 Academic excellence prize and institute gold medal for securing highest CGPA in MTech Achieved a GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) score of 453 for Civil Engineering in 2018   Membership in Professional Bodies Asia Oceania Geosciences Society American Geophysical Union European Geosciences Union       Smt. Jasmi Wilfred Project fellow Shri.Sivaprasad S Project Assistant   Dr. Deepthi B Junior Scientist,2nd Floor, SasthraBhavan, Pattom P O., Thiruvananthapuram – 695004 Email ID : deepthibhadran2@gmail.com Phone (Office/Mob) : 7025096464    

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Dr. Siju C.R

About me Dr. Siju C.R. holds a Ph.D. in Polymer Technology from BITS-Pilani, in collaboration with Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore. He served as an accomplished polymer specialist over the 10 years in Polymer Functional Engineering.  He has served as a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Laboratory of self-assembled Biomaterials, inStem, Bangalore, and Department of Material Science and Metallurgical Engineering, IIT Hyderabad, working on translational research in germicidal molecular research, polymer biomaterials, cellulose Nanocomposites, and sustainable applied biomaterials. His current research interests span conjugated polymers, polymeric nanomaterials, cellulose composites, functional polymers, and sustainable biomaterial technologies. Name of Schemes &programmesassociating at KSCSTE: Science Research Scheme (SRS) State Higher Research Centres of Excellence in Science & Technology Applications (SHRESTA) Scheme for Promotion of Inter Institutional Research Collaboration (SPIIRC) Establishment of “Kerala Science Parks” Killi River Rejuvenation Project (External Funding)   Academic Qualifications: PhD: Subjects: Polymer Technology Title: Preparation and Characterization of Conjugated Polymers Thin Films for the Fabrication of Electrochromic rear-view mirror Year: 2016 Institution/University : BITS-Pilani, Pilani Campus, Rajasthan. Post- graduation: M.Tech Subject-Polymer Technology Year- 2008 University-Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) Post- graduation:  MSc Subject: Polymer Chemistry Year: 2005 University of Calicut Graduation: BSc Chemistry, 2002, University of Calicut Professional Experience/ Academic Positions: Postdoctoral Fellow in Cellulose and Composites Group, Dept. of Material Science and Metallurgical Engineering, IIT Hyderabad, Kandi, Telangana (2019-2022) Assistant professor (Contract) in CIPET: Institute of Petrochemical Technology (IPT), Kerala, India (2017-2018) Postdoctoral Fellow in Laboratory of Self-assembled Biomaterials, Institute for Stem cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (inStem), Bangalore, India (2016-2017).   Functionalization of monomers and polymers Antibacterial Medical Textiles Cellulose Composite for wastewater treatment Polymer Spectral Engineering Conducting polymers for optoelectronics applications Anti-corrosive coating     Best cited Publications: ShivakalyaniAdepu, C.R. Siju, Samuel Kaki, SharanyaBagannagari, MudrikaKhandelwal, Vikram Kishore Bharti , Review on need for designing sustainable and biodegradable face masks: Opportunities for nanofibrous cellulosic filters  , International Journal of Biological Macromolecules,: 283, 137627, 2024. Illa, M.P, Peddapapannagari, K., R. Siju, Khandelwal.M.,C. S.Sharma In situ tunability of bacteria derived hierarchical nanocellulose: current status and opportunities,         Cellulose, 28, 10077–10097, 2021. R. Siju, Anju PV, MudrikaKhandelwal. Hierarchical Amphiphilic Cellulose/Recycled polystyrene Membranes for High Efficiency Oil-Water Separation, J. Appl. Polym. Sci.;e50123,2020, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/app.50123. R Siju, N.C. Shivaprakash and S. Sindhu, Synthesis of solution-processable poly(3,4 propylenedioxythiophene) nanobelts using reverse mircoemulsion method for electrochromicdevice applications, R Siju, N.C. Shivaprakash and S. Sindhu, Gray to transmissiveelectrochromic switching basedon electropolymerized PEDOT-ionic liquid functionalized graphene films, Journal of Solid StateElectrochemistry, 1393–1402, 19, 2015. Radhakrishnan, C.R. Siju, D. Mahanta, S. Patil, and G. Madras, Conducting polyaniline-nano-TiO2 composites for smart corrosion resistant coatings protection, ElectrochimicaActa, 1249–1254, 54, 2009.  Google scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?authuser=1&user=6lRiujEAAAAJ ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Siju-Cr-2 ORCID ID: 0000-0003-2364-3028     2ndRank Holder in M.Tech Polymer Technology, CUSAT   Membership in Professional Bodies Life member of Society for Polymer Science (SPS), India Kerala Academy of Sciences       Mrs. Anuja Mohan  Project Fellow, SRS Mrs. Preetha T Project Assistant   Dr. Siju C.R, Scientist Room # 206, Second Floor SasthraBhavan, Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram-04 Email ID: siju.kscste@kerala.gov.in/ sijucrkscste@gmail.com Phone: 0471-2548263 (Off), +91-9742783872 (Mob)    

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Dr. Jaya Jacob

About me Currently serving as Scientist at KSCSTE, focused on coordinating and managing significant Science & Technology promotional activities. Academic Background: Holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK). Core Expertise and Publications: Research is concentrated in the fields of Nano-biotechnology, Biosensors, and the development of Green Corrosion Inhibitors for mild steel surfaces. ORCID ID 0000-0003-1051-2344 Google Scholar Page : https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=PuJUvfgAAAAJ&hl=en Current Responsibilities: Coordinates and implements major KSCSTE schemes, including the Emeritus Scientists Scheme, Post-Doctoral Fellowship programs, and the Sastraposhini science augmentation scheme. Also assists the Kerala Biotechnology Commission and the DBT-Skill VigyanProgramme. Key Recognitions and Awards: Recipient of the Young Scientist Grant from the Department of Science & Technology (DST). Recipient of the Women Scientist Grant from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) (2017). Recognized as a “Women Scientist Achieving Great Heights” by the DBT in 2019. Awarded the European Molecular Biology Organization’s (Germany) Fellowship (2019). Name of Schemes &programmes (including external funded Programmes): KSCSTE Post Doctoral Fellowship Programme KSCSTE Back to Lab Post Doctoral Fellowship Programme Prathibha Scholarship for UG/PG Students & SPEED Programme High School Science Infrastructure Development Programme- Sasthraposhini   Academic Qualifications: PhD: Chemical Engineering, 2016 from National Institute of Technology, Karnataka Post- graduation: Biotechnology, 2012, Karunya University Graduation: Biotechnology, 2010, Anna University Professional Experience/ Academic Positions: DBT- BioCARE Scientist at The Department of Biotechnology, SBCE Pattoor from 2018-2021 Associate Professor in The Department of Biotechnology, SBCE Pattoor from 2021-2022 Visiting Post-doctoral researcher at The Department of Natural Sciences- PL Group at National University of Ireland, Galway- 2019 Assistant Lecturer in The Department of Chemical Engineering, NITK Surathkal in 2018   Broad area in bullet points: Nano-biotechnology, Biosynthesis of Quantum Dots, Biosensor Development, Green Corrosion inhibitors for Mild Steel Surfaces Details of ongoing and completed project (if any): DBT BioCARE Project on Biosensors for heavy metal detection- 50 Lakhs- 2018-2021- Completed       Best cited Publications: Biological approaches to tackle heavy metal pollution: a survey of literature Synthesis and characterization of silver nanoparticles using Gelidiumamansii and its antimicrobial property against various pathogenic bacteria New insights on the green synthesis of metallic nanoparticles using plant and waste biomaterials: current knowledge, their agricultural and environmental applications Microalgae: A prospective low cost green alternative for nanoparticle synthesis Microbial synthesis of chalcogenide semiconductor nanoparticles: a review URL of Googlescholar/researchgateetc: Google Scholar Page : https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=PuJUvfgAAAAJ&hl=en     Young Scientist Grant from Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India. Women Scientist Grant from Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India – 2017 Recognized as “Women Scientist Achieving Great Heights” by DBT at the BioCARe Conclave organized on International Women’s day, 2019 at the National Institute of Plant Genome Research, (NIPGR), New Delhi. European Molecular Biology Organization`s (Germany) Fellowship in 2019. Recipient of APJAKTU-CERD Research Seed Money in 2020. Visiting Post-doctoral researcher at The Department of Natural Sciences- PL Group at National University of Ireland, Galway.   Membership in Professional Bodies Life Member of the Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers- IIChE Life Member of the Biotechnology Research Society of India- BRSI Member of the Asian Federation of Biotechnology- AFOB   Ms. Anjali Rajan Project Fellow Ms. Shyni S Project Assistant Dr. Jaya Jacob Room No. 407, 4th Floor, SasthraBhavan, Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram. Kerala 695004 Email ID: jaya.kscste@kerala.gov.in Phone (Office/Mob):0471. 2548402    

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Dr. Neethu B

About me Dr. Neethu B holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering and is experienced in energy and environmental remediation, including waste-to-energy conversion. At KSCSTE, she leads major initiatives fostering academic–industry partnerships, nurturing young innovators, and advancing inclusive programmes for visually impaired students. Her expertise spans wastewater treatment, microbial fuel cell technology, and large-scale environmental monitoring. She has coordinated national projects, guided interdisciplinary research teams, and contributed extensively to peer-reviewed journals and international conferences. Dr. Neethu has also served on steering committees, programme advisory boards, and editorial panels, actively mentoring students and professionals while promoting sustainable technologies and cross-sector collaborations. Name of Schemes & Programmes (including external funded Programmes): Partnering Academic Industry Research (PAIR) A P J abdulKalam Youth Challenge programme (APJYCP) Crafting Young Scientists of Tomorrow (CRYSTAL) State Centre Resource Initiative for Partnering Technology (SCRIPT) National Technology Day National Science Day National Mathematics Day Academic Qualifications: PhD: (Subject/Broad Area, Title, year, Institution/University) Subject (Broad area): Environmental Engineering (Bioelectrochemical systems), Title: Development of low cost Microbial carbon capture cell for simultaneous electricity generation, wastewater treatment and algal production. Year: 2020 Institution: Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur Post- graduation: (Subject, year, University) Subject: Environmental Engineering Year: 2015 Institute: Visveswaraya National Institute of Technology Nagpur (VNIT) Graduation: (Subject, year, University) Subject: Civil Engineering Year: 2012 Institute: NSS College of Engineering Professional Experience/ Academic Positions: Adhoc Faculty, NIT Calicut   Water and Wastewater treatment Bio electrochemistry Bioenergy production Microalgal carbon capture   Neethu, B., Bhowmick, G. D., &Ghangrekar, M. M. (2019). A novel proton exchange membrane developed from clay and activated carbon derived from coconut shell for application in microbial fuel cell. Biochemical Engineering Journal, 148, 170-177. Neethu, B., Bhowmick, G. D., &Ghangrekar, M. M. (2018). Enhancement of bioelectricity generation and algal productivity in microbial carbon-capture cell using low cost coconut shell as membrane separator. Biochemical Engineering Journal, 133, 205-213. Neethu, B., Bhowmick, G. D., &Ghangrekar, M. M. (2020). Improving performance of microbial fuel cell by enhanced bacterial-anode interaction using sludge immobilized beads with activated carbon. Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 143, 285-292. Neethu, B., Tholia, V., &Ghangrekar, M. M. (2020). Optimizing performance of a microbial carbon-capture cell using Box-Behnken design. Process Biochemistry, 95, 99-107. Neethu, B., Bhowmick, G. D., Fathima, A., &Ghangrekar, M. M. (2020). Anodic inoculum pre-treatment by extracts of Azadirachtaindica leaves and Allium sativum peels for improved bioelectricity recovery from microbial fuel cell. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 45(43), 23391-23400. Neethu, B., &Ghangrekar, M. M. (2017). Electricity generation through a photo sediment microbial fuel cell using algae at the cathode. Water Science and Technology, 76(12), 3269-3277. Neethu, B., Ihjas, K., Chakraborty, I., &Ghangrekar, M. M. (2024). Nickel adsorbed algae biochar based oxygen reduction reaction catalyst. Bioelectrochemistry, 159, 108747. URL of Googlescholar/researchgateetc: Dr. Neethu B – Google Scholar   Best Paper Award at 36th Kerala Science Congress held at Government College Kasaragod, Kerala.     Integrated Civil Engineers Council Material Research Society     Smt. Amina S Project Fellow Smt. Remya Mohan R Project Assistant   Dr. Neethu B Scientist, 2nd Floor, Sasthra Bhavan, Pattom P O., Thiruvananthapuram – 695004 Email ID: Neethu.kscste@kerala.gov.in; neethukscste@gmail.com Phone (Office/Mob): offc: 0471-2548316  

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Er. Arjun Prasad

About me Arjun Prasad works at the intersection of science education, technology, and public policy. His primary research interest lies in implementation science, with a focus on understanding the methods and strategies employed by implementers and policymakers. His work aims to bridge the policy–practice gap by identifying systemic barriers and facilitating effective implementation of education policies through participatory and evidence-informed approaches. He is also interested in identifying research gaps in the education sector where targeted policy interventions are needed. Name of Schemes & programmes (including external funded Programmes):   Academic Qualifications: PhD: (Subject/Broad Area, Title, year, Institution/University) On-going Education policy implementation (Subject/Broad area) Indian Institute of Technology Bombay Post-graduation: (Subject, year, University) 2012 Molecular Biotechnology (Subject/Broad area) University of Bonn, Germany Graduation: (Subject, year, University) 2008 Biotechnology & Biochemical Engineering (Subject/Broad area) University of Kerala Professional Experience/ Academic Positions: Designation Organization Duration Senior Scientist Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment 22 October 2024  Scientist Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment 22 October 2019 – 22 October 2024 Junior Scientist Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment 22 October 2014 – 22 October 2019 Scientific officer Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment 11 July 2013 – 22 October 2014     Broad area Evidence-based education policy making & implementation Science education research Details of ongoing and completed project (if any) Involved in the co-ordination and scientific management of the following science and technology promotion programmes: Schemes/programme name Details Period of responsibility Sastraposhini in schools The scheme is envisioned to enhance science education in high schools of Kerala by setting up modern laboratories in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology to provide students with hands-on learning experiences. 2014 – 2020 Scheme for Promoting Young Talents in Science (SPYTiS) The scheme aims to nurture young talents in schools and colleges to carry out innovative science projects. 2014 – 2022 Student project The objective of the scheme is to provide financial assistance to students enrolled in professional courses (Graduate and Post Graduate) and Science Post Graduate Courses in colleges and universities to carry out science and technology projects. In addition to the financial support from Govt. of Kerala, the Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India sanctioned an amount of Rs.1.85 croresto support the scheme. 2014 – 2020 National Science Day  celebrations The objectives involve organizing programmes at schools and colleges to popularize the importance of science. The scheme was supported by the Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India. 2014-2022 SastraSameeksha Aimed to spark an early interest in science among high school students, motivating them to pursue scientific learning and careers through interactive workshops and experimental sessions, the programmes are conducted in association with different S&T institutions in Kerala. 2014 – 2020 Crafting Young Scientists of Tomorrow (CRYSTAL) program The program is designed as a mentoring programme for school students to identify their areas of interest at an early age and nurture them through customized training programs. 2017 – 2022 Science Education Centre The scheme is envisioned to improve the quality of science education in Kerala by encouraging research in science education, capacity building of teachers & students through development of new pedagogical and learning approaches.  2017- 2022 Science Writing Fellowship/ Science Media Support The fellowship encourages science writing in Malayalam and aims to bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and society by translating complex topics into accessible, engaging content for the public. 2014 – 2020 Partnering Academic Industrial Research (PAIR) scheme The scheme is aimed to strengthen industry-academia linkage and encourage translational research through joint research programmes. 2017-2022 Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Youth Challenge Programmme This is aimed to encourage the youth to develop ideas and solutions to address challenging problems of Kerala. 2021-2022 International Year of Crystallography (IYCr) 2014  celebrations   A series of programmes were organized for students, teachers and general public to promote awareness of crystallography and its applications.   2014 Celebration of International Year of Light- and Light-based Technologies 2015 The core objective of IYL 2015 was to promote awareness among the students, teachers and general public of the importance of light science and its applications in addressing global challenges.   2015 National Mathematics Day celebrations The programmes are organized in association with different educational institutions to commemorate the contributions of mathematical genius SrinivasaRamanujan and inspire a positive attitude toward learning mathematics among students. The scheme was supported by the Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India. 2018 – 2022         Best cited Publications Akanksha K, Prasad A, Sukumaran RK, Nampoothiri M, Pandey A, Rao SS, Parameswaran B. Dilute acid pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis of sorghum biomass for sugar recovery–a statistical approach. Indian J Exp Biol. 2014 Nov;52(11):1082-9. PMID: 25434103 Käß, F., Prasad, A., Tillack, J., Moch, M., Giese, H., Büchs, J., Wiechert, W., &Oldiges, M. (2014). Rapid assessment of oxygen transfer impact for Corynebacteriumglutamicum. Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering, 37, 2567-2577. DOI: 10.1007/s00449-014-1234-1 Mashood, K.K., Khosla, K., Prasad, A., V, S., Ch, M.A., Jose, C., &Chandrasekharan, S. (2022). Participatory approach to introduce computational modeling at the undergraduate level, extending existing curricula and practices: Augmenting derivations. Physical Review Physics Education Research. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.18.020136 URL of Googlescholar/researchgateetc https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=BIcHk-AAAAAJ&hl=en https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Arjun-Prasad-8?ev=hdr_xprf https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2884-585X https://sites.google.com/view/arjunprasad/   Awarded Prof. Ramkumar scholarship to attend the Educational Data Mining conference held at Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru from July 11-14, 2023 Advanced to the Phase II of 2023-24 Tools Competition in the Accelerating & Assessing Learning Track   Membership in Professional Bodies Member, EdTech Society Member, IUCN Commission on Education and Communication Member, International Association of Engineers (IAENG) Member, The Biotech Research Society(BRSI) Life Member, Kerala Academy of Sciences           Er. Arjun Prasad Senior Scientist Tel: +91-471-2548 218 Email: arjun.kscste@kerala.gov.in  

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Dr. Sherin B.M

About me I am involved in the coordination and management of technology development initiatives of KSCSTE, spearheading the implementation of flagship schemes such as the Engineering and Technology Programme (ETP), the Technology Development and Adaptation Programme (TDAP) and the Rural Technology Programme (RTP) that aim to bridge innovation with societal needs. My responsibilities encompass fostering partnerships and networking with academic institutions, research organizations, and industries to promote collaborative development of technologies for the benefit of Kerala State as well as the society at large I am also actively involved in conceptualizing and establishing business incubation and innovation centres across the R&D centres of KSCSTE, with the objective of fostering a vibrant ecosystem for technology-based entrepreneurship. I co-ordinate the Technology Festival (TECHFEST), which is an annual event that provides a knowledge and experience sharing platform for engineering students through project contests and industry supported tech-fun events. I am also actively engaged in developing and strengthening Science & Technology Intervention, Incubation and Research for Raising StartUPs in Kerala (STIRRUP-Kerala), an innovative initiative designed to provide comprehensive technical support and mentorship to start-ups. This programme aims to bridge critical technology gaps, ensure the reliability and scalability of innovations, and thereby minimize start-up failures arising from inadequate or faulty technology.     Name of Schemes & programmes (including external funded Programmes): Engineering and Technology Programme (ETP) Technology Development and Adaptation Programme (TDAP) Rural Technology Programme (RTP) Science & Technology Intervention, Incubation and Research for Raising StartUPs in Kerala (STIRRUP-Kerala) Technology Festival (TECHFEST)   Academic Qualifications: PhD: (Subject/Broad Area, Title, year, Institution/University) Subject: Underwater Technology Title: Underwater Target Classifier with ImprovedSuccess Rate using Meta-optimal Support Vector machines Year: January 2019 Institution/ University: Faculty of Technology, Cochin University of Science &Technology Post- graduation: (Subject, year, University) Subject: VLSI & Embedded Systems Year: 2009 University: CochinUniversity of Science & Technology. Graduation: (Subject, year, University) Subject: Electronics and Communication Engineering, Year: 2007 University: University of Kerala. Professional Experience/ Academic Positions:     Designing underwater systems using machine learning and artificial intelligence Underwater acoustic pattern recognition and classification Ongoing/Completed Projects       Best cited Publications B. M. Sherin and M. H. Supriya, “SOS based selection and parameter optimization forunderwater target classification,” in OCEANS 2016 MTS/IEEE Monterey, 2016, pp. 1–4. B. M. Sherin and M. H. Supriya, “WOA based Selection and Parameter optimization ofSVM Kernel Function for Underwater Target Classification,” Int. J. Adv. Res. Comput. Sci.,vol. 8, no. 3, pp. 223–226, 2017. B. M. Sherin and M. H. Supriya, “Parameter Selection and Optimization of an SVMbased underwater target classifier using Stochastic Fractal Search,” in 2017 InternationalSymposium on Ocean Electronics (SYMPOL), 2017, pp. 40–48. B. M. Sherin and Supriya M. H., “Selection and parameter optimization of SVM kernelfunction for underwater target classification,” in 2015 IEEE Underwater Technology (UT),2015, pp. 1–5.     Nil   Membership in Professional Bodies Member, Kerala Academy of Sciences     Smt. Akhila S Project Fellow Smt. Harisree U Project Assistant   Dr. Sherin B. M. Sasthra Bhavan, Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram – 695 005 Email ID: sherin.kscste@gmail.com Phone (Office/Mob): 9633141501  

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Dr.Sarika A. R

About me Dr. Sarika A R is a microbiologist and science administrator with over a decade of experience shaping Kerala’s science, technology, and innovation ecosystem. She holds a Ph.D. in Microbiology and is the Scientist-in-Charge of the Kerala Biotechnology Commission (KBC), the state’s nodal agency for biotechnology promotion. She served as Project Coordinator for establishing the Institute of Advanced Virology (IAV), Kerala’s first dedicated virus research institute. At KBC, she leads biotechnology policy initiatives, research–industry collaborations, capacity-building programmes, and activities such as the Bioentrepreneurship Certification Programme. She is also the Nodal Officer for the DBT-funded Skill VigyanProgramme in Kerala. Dr. Sarika has authored several research publications in microbiology and applied biotechnology. Name of Schemes &programmes (including external funded Programmes): Biotechnology Development Programmes under Kerala Biotechnology Commission Biotechnology Research Support a. Young Investigator’s Programme in Biotechnology (YIPB) b. Kerala Biotechnology Re-entry Fellowship (K-BiREF)   Industrial Collaboration & Entrepreneurship Development a. Industry-linked Biotechnology Research Scheme (IBRS) b. Biotechnology Young Entrepreneur (BYE) Award Support for Rural Innovationsa. Biotechnology Innovations for Rural Development (BIRD) Capacity Building in Biotechnology a. Biotechnology Post-Doctoral Fellowship (BPDF) b. Biotechnology Training and Workshop (BTW) c. Biotechnology Education Programme   Academic Qualifications:   Ph.D. in Microbiology – Marine Biology Studies on Bacteriocin-Producing Lactic Acid Bacteria, Optimization of Culture Conditions and Efficacy of Biopreservation 2012, ICAR-CMFRI /ManonmaniamSundaranar University Post- graduation: M.Sc. Microbiology, 2003, ManonmaniamSundaranar University Graduation: B.Sc. Microbiology, 2001, Periyar University Professional Experience/ Academic Positions: Principal Scientist (Scientist E2), Kerala Biotechnology Commission, 2023 – Present Senior Scientist (E1), Kerala Biotechnology Commission, 2019 – 2023 Scientist C, Kerala State Council for Science, Technology & Environment, 2016 – 2019 Scientist B, Kerala State Council for Science, Technology & Environment, 2013 – 2016 Lecturer in Biotechnology, University of Kerala, 2012-13 Lecturer in Microbiology, Govt. College for Women, Thiruvananthapuram, 2006-07 Research Associate, Kerala Agricultural University, 2005   Broad Areas of Work Research: Microbiome & Marine Biotechnology – Studies on microbial diversity, fish gut microbiome, and discovery of bioactive compounds for applications in aquaculture and health. Programme Leadership: Biotechnology Translation & Capacity Building – Designing and implementing programmes to promote research–industry collaboration, entrepreneurship, and skill development in biotechnology. Institutional Development: Establishment & Strengthening of Science Infrastructure – Coordinating major initiatives such as the Institute of Advanced Virology (IAV) and Centres of Excellence in emerging areas. Details of Ongoing and Completed project: DBT Skill Vigyan State Partnership Programme in Biotechnology and Life Sciences (Funded by DBT – ongoing)     Sarika, A. R., Lipton, A. P., &Aishwarya, M. S. (2019). Biopreservative Efficacy of Bacteriocin GP1 of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GP1 on Stored Fish Fillets. Frontiers in Nutrition, 6:29.  https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2019.00029 Rajendran, P., Ramkumar, B., Sarika, A. R., Lipton, A. P., &Anbarasu, M. (2022). Abundance and diversity of sponge-associated bacteria in selected sponge species. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India. 64(2): 74-79 Rachanamol, R. S., Lipton, A. P., Thankamani, V., Sarika, A. R., &Selvin, J. (2014). Protease production by Bacillus subtilis VCDA isolated from tropical marine sponge Callyspongiadiffusa.Helgoland Marine Research, 68: 263–269. Aishwarya, M. S., Lipton, A. P., &Sarika, A. R. (2018). Consortia of Specific Bacteria in Sinimol, S., Sarika, A. R., &Jayakumaran Nair, A. (2016). Diversity and Antagonistic Potential of Marine Microbes Collected from South-West Coast of India.  3 Biotech, 6:7. Sarika, A. R., A. P. Lipton, M. S. Aishwarya and R. S. Dhivya. 2012. Isolation of a Bacteriocin-Producing Lactococcuslactis and Application of Its Bacteriocin to manage Spoilage Bacteria in High-Value Marine Fish Under Different Storage Temperatures. Appl. Biochem. Biotechnol.167(5): 1280-1289. Googlescholar: https://scholar.google.co.in/citations?hl=en&user=tsbmtXcAAAAJ Researchgate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sarika-A-R ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5864-8251 Loop:  https://loop.frontiersin.org/people/564037/   Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Doctoral Fellowship for pursuing Ph.D. (2009) Best poster award in Life Sciences, XVIII Kerala Science Congress held during 29-31 January, at CESS, Thiruvananthapuram (2006)       Membership in Professional Bodies General Secretary, Kerala Academy of Sciences Life Member, National Academy of Biological Sciences         Beena D Technical Officer, KBC Dr. Krupa Ann Mathew Consultant, DBT Skill Vigyan Kerala profile Drishya P. S Project Fellow, KBC Athira C. Nair Project Assistant     Dr. Sarika A. R. SasthraBhavan, Pattom P O., Thiruvananthapuram – 695004 Email ID: sarikaar.kscste@kerala.gov.in Phone (Office/Mob):   0471-2548254    / 9446589320    

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