Dr. T. B. Sridharan

Prof. T. B. Sridharan graduated in 1991 from the University of Madras and earned his master’s in Zoology (Entomology) from Annamalai University in 1994. He joined as a JRF (Medical Entomologist) in the Defence Research and Development Establishment (DRDE) in Gwalior and has completed his PhD (1998) in neurobiology of sensory organs in insects (Dr Shri Prakash’s Lab). His doctoral thesis involves collaborative research work of DRDE Gwalior with Prof. R. Naresh Singh, Molecular Biology (Head) Unit, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) Navy Mumbai. Where he specialized in transmission electron microscopy and ultra microtome techniques. His research led him to report, for the first time, a rare type of sensilla with the dual function of olfaction and mechanoreception and named it as olfactive and mechanoreceptive (OM) sensilla in ticks, which is published in the International Journal of Insect Morphology and Embryology, USA.

Subsequently, in 1999-2002, he joined as a postdoctoral fellow under the Rockefeller Foundation for Rice Biotechnology. in an industry, Dr George Thomas’s Lab, Centre for Biotechnology, SPIC Science Foundation, Chennai, His contributions include gene cloning techniques, crop improvement by gene transfer, plant genetic transformation, transgenic plant raising (rice, cauliflower, cabbage, and tobacco), maintenance and evaluation for its efficiency, F1 selection of transformats, overexpression of recombinant protein, and its purification. Besides these, he is also qualified for the state-level educational test for the Lectureship Test in Zoology for all Indian universities forever in 2002.

In 2002, he joined VIT Vellore as a lecturer in the Department of Biotechnology; in 2003, he underwent a postdoctoral fellowship at Université de Technologie De Compiegne, Cedex, France. (Prof. M. A. Vijayalakshmi’s Lab) and in VIT he holds various positions, including Division Leader, Biotechnology Division; Program Manager for B. Tech in Biotechnology; UG Coordinator in the School of Biotechnology, Chemical and Biomedical Engineering (SBTChE) (for programs such as B. Tech in Biotechnology, Bioinformatics, Chemical Engineering, and Biomedical Engineering). He is also the professor in charge of scanning electron microscopy (DST FIST facility) and analysed 15,000 samples in 5 years, generating revenues with SEM consultancy works, university attestation officer, and controller of examinations.

He is a recognized fellow of various prominent scientific societies, including Fellow, Royal Society of Biology (FRSB); Fellow, Royal Entomological Society (FRES); Fellow, Linnean Society of London (FLS); Fellow, Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC); Fellow, Society of Environment and Development, New Delhi. FICEZS; Fellow of International Congress of Entomology and Zoology Studies, (FICEZS) New Delhi; Fellow of Society of Entomology and Zoology Research (FIAZR). And Fellow Society of Environment and Development (FSED).New Delhi, this is awarded in Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, Assam, India. He is also a member of the government-nominated CPCEA for the institutional animal ethics committee.

His research guidance includes 13 PhDs, 2 industrial postdoctoral fellows (IIRRH Bangaluru), a mentor for a national postdoctoral fellow, 2 MS (by research), and each year several M. Tech., M. Sc., and B. Tech. project students. His research areas include medical and veterinary entomology, neuroanatomy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, plant molecular biology, plant transformation, plant tissue culture, evaluation of transgenic plants, induction and overexpression of recombinant proteins, and human male infertility.

He has in his credit, 1 patent (+1 filed), 78 research journal publications, 1 book, 5 government-funded projects, and 2 industrially funded projects, currently with 3 projects as co-PI, and currently 6 PhD scholars are registered. Prof T B Sridharan has overall, 30 years of research (including 2.8 years of industrial research experience) and 22 years of teaching experience.