Venkatesan Arul | Food Biotechnology | Food Packaging Technology Award

Prof. Dr. Venkatesan Arul | Food Biotechnology | Food Packaging Technology Award

Professor at Pondicherry University, India

Dr. V. Arul is a distinguished academic and researcher in the field of Biotechnology with over four decades of experience. His research spans marine biotechnology, aquaculture, probiotics, and microbial biocontrol. Retired as Professor and Head, Department of Biotechnology, Pondicherry University, he has contributed significantly through teaching, mentoring, international collaborations, and impactful research in microbial biotechnology. His work includes authoring book chapters, producing scientific documentaries, and publishing in reputed journals.

Publications Profile

Scopus

Orcid

Google Scholar

πŸŽ“ Education Details

  • Ph.D. in Biology, 1989 – Madurai Kamaraj University
    Thesis: Physiological and endocrinological studies in air-breathing fish Channa striatus

  • M.Sc. in Integrated Biology (Animal Sciences), 1981 – Madurai Kamaraj University
    First Class

  • B.Sc. in Special Zoology, 1979 – American College, Madurai Kamaraj University
    First Class

πŸ‘©β€πŸ”¬ Professional Experience

  • Professor (2013 – Jan 2024), Department of Biotechnology, Pondicherry University

  • Associate Professor (2010 – 2013), Pondicherry University

  • Reader (2007 – 2010), Pondicherry University

  • Senior Lecturer (1997 – 2007), Pondicherry University

  • Lecturer (1992 – 1997), Pondicherry University

🌱 Research Interests

  • Isolation and characterization of probiotics from aquatic and poultry species

  • Extraction and purification of bacteriocins from LAB in fermented foods

  • Study of bioactive compounds from marine organisms

  • Polysaccharide extraction from mangrove leaves

  • Characterization of biosurfactants for oil spill degradation

  • Bioremediation using microbes for dye removal in textile effluents

πŸ† Awards and Honors

  1. Visiting Professor, VBL Fellow, Nagoya University, Japan (2005)

  2. Visiting Scientist, INSA-JSPS (1997)

  3. CSIR Research Associateship, New Delhi (1990)

  4. ABBOS Fellowship, Belgium (1990)

  5. NAAC Assessor, since 2024

πŸ” Conclusion

Dr. V. Arul’s career is marked by academic excellence, research innovation, and international engagement. Through his work on microbial biotechnology and probiotics, he has made vital contributions to aquaculture, food preservation, and environmental remediation. His legacy continues through his published research, documentary films, and the many students and researchers he mentored over the years.

Publications πŸ“š

πŸ“„ Article
Title: Preparation and physicochemical characterization of different biocomposite films blended with bacterial exopolysaccharide EPS MC-5 and bacteriocin for food packaging applications
Authors: Y.M. Tilwani, Younus Mohd; B.A. Wani, Bilal Ahmad; M. Jom, Magna; S. Karthik, Sundaram; V. Arul, Venkatesan
Journal: International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
Year: 2025
πŸ”— Status: Open Access | πŸ”’ Citations: 0


πŸ“„ Article
Title: Lactobacillus fermentum SNR1: Probiotic efficiency and characterization of the antimicrobial peptide against dental caries and foodborne pathogens
Authors: A. Repally, Ayyanna; P. Esakkiraj, Palanichamy; N. Jha, Natwar; V. Arul, Venkatesan; A. Dasari, Ankaiah
Journal: Microbe (Netherlands)
Year: 2024
πŸ”— Status: Full Text Menu Disabled | πŸ”’ Citations: 0


πŸ“„ Article
Title: Effect of cryopreservation on motility, DNA integrity and gene expression in grey mullet, Mugil cephalus sperm
Authors: R. Balamurugan, Ramachandran; S. Karthik, Sundaram; V. Arul, Venkatesan
Journal: Cryobiology
Year: 2024
πŸ”— Status: Full Text Menu Disabled | πŸ”’ Citations: 3


πŸ“„ Article
Title: Optimization and Physicochemical Characterization of Polysaccharide Purified from Sonneratia caseolaris Mangrove Leaves: a Potential Antioxidant and Antibiofilm Agent
Authors: N. Jha, Natwar; S. Madasamy, Sivagnanavelmurugan; P. Prasad, Prema; Y.M. Tilwani, Younus Mohd; V. Arul, Venkatesan
Journal: Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology
Year: 2023
πŸ”— Status: Full Text Menu Disabled | πŸ”’ Citations: 2


πŸ“„ Article
Title: Effect of dietary supplementation of vitamin C-loaded chitosan nanoparticles on growth, immune-physiological parameters, and resistance of white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei to Vibrio harveyi challenge
Authors: A. Asaikkutti, Annamalai; K. Vimala, Karuppaiya; N. Jha, Natwar; P.S. Bhavan, Periyakali Saravana; V. Arul, Venkatesan
Journal: Animal Feed Science and Technology
Year: 2023
πŸ”— Status: Full Text Menu Disabled | πŸ”’ Citations: 10


πŸ“˜ Review Article
Title: Nano-based techniques: A revolutionary approach to prevent COVID-19 and enhancing human awareness
Authors: A. Asaikkutti, Annamalai; K. Vimala, Karuppaiya; D.S. Ezhumalai, Dhineshkumar S.; K. Balakrishnan, Kaviarasu; V. Arul, Venkatesan
Journal: [No Source Info Available]
Year: β€”
πŸ”— Status: Open Access | πŸ”’ Citations: 3


πŸ“„ Article
Title: Preparation and functional characterization of the bio-composite film based on chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol blended with bacterial exopolysaccharide EPS MC-5 having antioxidant activities
Authors: Y.M. Tilwani, Younus Mohd; A.K. Lakra, Avinash Kant; L. Domdi, Latha; V. Arul, Venkatesan
Journal: International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
Year: 2023
πŸ”— Status: Full Text Menu Disabled | πŸ”’ Citations: β€”


Nazila Biglari | biotechnology | Best Paper Award

Dr. Nazila Biglari | biotechnology | Best Paper Award

Researcher, University Sains Malaysia (USM), Malaysia

πŸ”¬ Dr. Nazila Biglari is a dynamic project manager and innovative scientist specializing in microbiology, biotechnology, and polymer research. With a strong background in microbial fermentation and biopolymer production, she has successfully led interdisciplinary research projects. She has extensive experience in developing commercial applications for bioplastics, probiotics, and pharmaceutical compounds. Dr. Biglari has worked as a research assistant at Yeditepe University and Tabriz University, contributing to pharmaceutical and medical biotechnology. As a project manager at Universiti Sains Malaysia, she supervised multiple biotechnological projects, focusing on microbial polymer engineering. Her expertise extends to quality control, environmental microbiology, and medical laboratory testing. Recognized for her contributions, she has received prestigious awards and has been published in high-impact journals. Her work integrates microbiology with material science, offering innovative solutions for sustainable applications.

Profile

Education

πŸŽ“ Ph.D. in Biotechnology – Universiti Sains Malaysia

  • Research on polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) production using genetically modified Cupriavidus necator.
  • Developed novel fermentation strategies for high-cell-density cultures.
  • Engineered biopolymers with enhanced molecular weight for commercial applications.

πŸŽ“ M.Sc. in Environmental Microbiology – Universiti Sains Malaysia

  • Investigated thermophilic Actinomycetes from extreme environments in Iran and Malaysia.
  • Studied microbial ecology, physiology, and phosphate solubilization for agricultural use.

πŸŽ“ B.Sc. in General Microbiology – Azad University, Iran

  • Gained hands-on experience in bacteriology, immunology, and chemical analysis.

Experience

πŸ§ͺ Research Assistant – Yeditepe University, Turkey (2023)

  • Worked on beta-lactam inhibitors for pharmaceutical applications.
  • Developed fermentation-based production methods for these inhibitors.

πŸ§ͺ Research Assistant – Tabriz University, Iran (2022)

  • Conducted studies on Coenzyme Q10 and probiotics production through microbial fermentation.

πŸ§ͺ Project Manager – Universiti Sains Malaysia (2016–2019)

  • Led multiple microbiology and biotechnology research projects.
  • Supervised students in polymer research and bioprocessing techniques.
  • Developed bioinformatics approaches for engineering novel copolymers.

πŸ§ͺ Quality Inspector – BornaMoin, Iran (2007–2008)

  • Conducted microbiological testing on food products.
  • Ensured compliance with regulatory standards in the Quality Control Department.

πŸ§ͺ Medical Laboratory Assistant – Afzalipour University Hospital, Iran (2005–2006)

  • Performed microbiological, serological, and hematological testing on patient samples.

Awards and Honors

πŸ… USM Fellowship – Universiti Sains Malaysia
πŸ… Best Ph.D. Thesis Nomination – Universiti Sains Malaysia
πŸ… Sanggar Sanjung Awards – Recognized for excellence in journal publications and innovative research (2021)

Research Focus

πŸ”¬ Biopolymers & Sustainable Materials – Development of biodegradable plastics, especially polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs).
🧫 Microbial Fermentation – Optimization of microbial systems for the production of high-value compounds like probiotics, CoQ10, and beta-lactam inhibitors.
πŸ›  Bioprocess Engineering – Upstream and downstream process development for biotechnology applications.
🦠 Environmental Microbiology – Exploration of extremophiles for industrial and agricultural applications.
πŸ§ͺ Pharmaceutical Biotechnology – Production of novel bioactive compounds through microbial engineering.

Publications

πŸ“„ Enhancement of bioplastic polyhydroxybutyrate P(3HB) production from glucose by newly engineered strain Cupriavidus necator NSDG-GG using response modeling
πŸ“„ Conjugated polymer-based composite scaffolds for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine
πŸ“„ A study on the effects of increment and decrement repeated fed-batch feeding of glucose on the production of poly (3-hydroxybutyrate) [P (3HB)] by a newly engineered Cupriavidus necator
πŸ“„ The ability of Streptomyces spp. isolated from Iranian soil to solubilize rock phosphate
πŸ“„ Application of Polysaccharide-Based Materials in Food Packaging
πŸ“„ Metal-organic frameworks integrated into carbohydrate polymers as promising platforms for tissue engineering
πŸ“„ Cellulose and Its Derivatives in Food Industry
πŸ“„ A short review on polysaccharide-based nanocomposite adsorbents for separation and biomedical applications
πŸ“„ Improving Bioplastic Production: Enhanced P (3HB-co-3HHx) Synthesis from Glucose by Using Mutant Cupriavidus necator