Hello.

Please start by introducing your professional journey in academia

Yeah, this is. To. So I have so. My native is from Tukuli, Tamal Nadu. So I have done my schoolings and. Uh, my basic schooling's until my higher secondary. From uh. I say behind secondary school, which is located in Tukuli. So then. For my undergraduation, I have moved to INR. College in Sivagashi I have done my. Undergraduation in biotechnology, that is BSE biotechnology.

Yeah, this is. To. So I have so. My native is from Tukuli, Tamal Nadu. So I have done my schoolings and. Uh, my basic schooling's until my higher secondary. From uh. I say behind secondary school, which is located in Tukuli. So then. For my undergraduation, I have moved to INR. College in Sivagashi I have done my. Undergraduation in biotechnology, that is BSE biotechnology. After that, I have attended attended an entrance exam in Wardha University. Uh, for uh. My industrial biotechnology in post graduation. So which I got selected and I have attended. My. PG in Industrial biotechnology. In Vardar University. Then after completing my PG in 2011. I have a. Applied for MCEL program. Just a short research. And so I have uploaded this from the same university in the same department so. Alright, from 2011 to 2000. 2012 end and 2000.

Yeah, this is. To. So I have so. My native is from Tukuli, Tamal Nadu. So I have done my schoolings and. Uh, my basic schooling's until my higher secondary. From uh. I say behind secondary school, which is located in Tukuli. So then. For my undergraduation, I have moved to INR. College in Sivagashi I have done my. Undergraduation in biotechnology, that is BSE biotechnology. After that, I have attended attended an entrance exam in Wardha University. Uh, for uh. My industrial biotechnology in post graduation. So which I got selected and I have attended. My. PG in Industrial biotechnology. In Vardar University. Then after completing my PG in 2011. I have a. Applied for MCEL program. Just a short research. And so I have uploaded this from the same university in the same department so. Alright, from 2011 to 2000. 2012 end and 2000. It was the vivo was carried out in 2013. Uh, so where I have completed my? Amphil. So then from 2013 to 2017 I have completed my PhD. In the Department of Microwave Biotechnology and other. Opt after one. So after completing my PhD in two. I have to move to. Uh, China for my. Upper the search.

Yeah, this is. To. So I have so. My native is from Tukuli, Tamal Nadu. So I have done my schoolings and. Uh, my basic schooling's until my higher secondary. From uh. I say behind secondary school, which is located in Tukuli. So then. For my undergraduation, I have moved to INR. College in Sivagashi I have done my. Undergraduation in biotechnology, that is BSE biotechnology. After that, I have attended attended an entrance exam in Wardha University. Uh, for uh. My industrial biotechnology in post graduation. So which I got selected and I have attended. My. PG in Industrial biotechnology. In Vardar University. Then after completing my PG in 2011. I have a. Applied for MCEL program. Just a short research. And so I have uploaded this from the same university in the same department so. Alright, from 2011 to 2000. 2012 end and 2000. It was the vivo was carried out in 2013. Uh, so where I have completed my? Amphil. So then from 2013 to 2017 I have completed my PhD. In the Department of Microwave Biotechnology and other. Opt after one. So after completing my PhD in two.

Yeah, this is. To. So I have so. My native is from Tukuli, Tamal Nadu. So I have done my schoolings and. Uh, my basic schooling's until my higher secondary. From uh. I say behind secondary school, which is located in Tukuli. So then. For my undergraduation, I have moved to INR. College in Sivagashi I have done my. Undergraduation in biotechnology, that is BSE biotechnology. After that, I have attended attended an entrance exam in Wardha University. Uh, for uh. My industrial biotechnology in post graduation. So which I got selected and I have attended. My. PG in Industrial biotechnology. In Vardar University. Then after completing my PG in 2011. I have a. Applied for MCEL program. Just a short research. And so I have uploaded this from the same university in the same department so. Alright, from 2011 to 2000. 2012 end and 2000. It was the vivo was carried out in 2013. Uh, so where I have completed my? Amphil. So then from 2013 to 2017 I have completed my PhD. In the Department of Microwave Biotechnology and other. Opt after one. So after completing my PhD in two. I have to move to. Uh, China for my. Upper the search. 2018. It is from the university. The department where I have. School of Energy and Power Engineering. So basically my core area of research is. Based viewers. Travel based applications. You know, so my postdoc also deals with. The biofuels and bio. So under. Postdoctoral mentor Professor Wang Shuang. Who's one of the pioneer in thermoph? So let's demo engineering. Uh, sure. From. 18 to 2020 I have completed my postdoc in China. So during 2020 I came back as a winter vacation and that time COVID happens. So I couldn't get back. So after but that was the. Time where I have completed my post doc.

Yeah, this is. To. So I have so. My native is from Tukuli, Tamal Nadu. So I have done my schoolings and. Uh, my basic schooling's until my higher secondary. From uh. I say behind secondary school, which is located in Tukuli. So then. For my undergraduation, I have moved to INR. College in Sivagashi I have done my. Undergraduation in biotechnology, that is BSE biotechnology. After that, I have attended attended an entrance exam in Wardha University. Uh, for uh. My industrial biotechnology in post graduation. So which I got selected and I have attended. My. PG in Industrial biotechnology. In Vardar University. Then after completing my PG in 2011. I have a. Applied for MCEL program. Just a short research. And so I have uploaded this from the same university in the same department so. Alright, from 2011 to 2000. 2012 end and 2000. It was the vivo was carried out in 2013. Uh, so where I have completed my? Amphil. So then from 2013 to 2017 I have completed my PhD. In the Department of Microwave Biotechnology and other. Opt after one. So after completing my PhD in two. I have to move to. Uh, China for my. Upper the search. 2018. It is from the university. The department where I have. School of Energy and Power Engineering. So basically my core area of research is. Based viewers. Travel based applications. You know, so my postdoc also deals with. The biofuels and bio. So under. Postdoctoral mentor Professor Wang Shuang. Who's one of the pioneer in thermoph? So let's demo engineering. Uh, sure. From. 18 to 2020 I have completed my postdoc in China. So during 2020 I came back as a winter vacation and that time COVID happens. So I couldn't get back.

So you did your schooling in Tukuli and then your undergrad in biotechnology at INR College in Sivagashi — go on.

Yeah, this is. To. So I have so. My native is from Tukuli, Tamal Nadu. So I have done my schoolings and. Uh, my basic schooling's until my higher secondary. From uh. I say behind secondary school, which is located in Tukuli. So then. For my undergraduation, I have moved to INR. College in Sivagashi I have done my. Undergraduation in biotechnology, that is BSE biotechnology. After that, I have attended attended an entrance exam in Wardha University. Uh, for uh. My industrial biotechnology in post graduation. So which I got selected and I have attended. My. PG in Industrial biotechnology. In Vardar University. Then after completing my PG in 2011. I have a. Applied for MCEL program. Just a short research. And so I have uploaded this from the same university in the same department so. Alright, from 2011 to 2000. 2012 end and 2000. It was the vivo was carried out in 2013. Uh, so where I have completed my? Amphil. So then from 2013 to 2017 I have completed my PhD. In the Department of Microwave Biotechnology and other. Opt after one. So after completing my PhD in two. I have to move to. Uh, China for my. Upper the search. 2018. It is from the university. The department where I have. School of Energy and Power Engineering. So basically my core area of research is. Based viewers. Travel based applications. You know, so my postdoc also deals with. The biofuels and bio. So under. Postdoctoral mentor Professor Wang Shuang. Who's one of the pioneer in thermoph? So let's demo engineering. Uh, sure. From. 18 to 2020 I have completed my postdoc in China. So during 2020 I came back as a winter vacation and that time COVID happens. So I couldn't get back. So after but that was the. Time where I have completed my post doc. So I have again applied as uh. Applied for an associate professor in the same university and they got selected. But due to COVID restrictions and these immigration policies, I couldn't. So I was applying for other places, including. Umm, uh, every abroad, every countries. Uh, so I was searching for the job. So I then I joined as. Um project. For a senior research research engineer project in from Qatar University. So so I have worked very brief for about 9 months in that project because the project was. When I joined, the project was already. One year so I have just went there and established here. Large scale photovolactors. Of the cultivation, the project was mainly. For enhancing the. Essential fatty acids. Algae and supplying it as a poultry feed for enhancing the. Essential party as it's in the eggs. So that was my. What? Qatar University? So after completing that. I have again applied to Johnson University for the portion of. Associate professor and I got. Selected in that. And from 2022? 20 from I got selected in 2022 and after all these visa processing I have joined on 2. 93 So from 2023 to 2. 25 I have I have been backed as associate professor there. And now currently I'm applying for. Institutions like. And looking for. Of my. Further.

Yeah, this is. To. So I have so. My native is from Tukuli, Tamal Nadu. So I have done my schoolings and. Uh, my basic schooling's until my higher secondary. From uh. I say behind secondary school, which is located in Tukuli. So then. For my undergraduation, I have moved to INR. College in Sivagashi I have done my. Undergraduation in biotechnology, that is BSE biotechnology. After that, I have attended attended an entrance exam in Wardha University. Uh, for uh. My industrial biotechnology in post graduation. So which I got selected and I have attended. My. PG in Industrial biotechnology. In Vardar University. Then after completing my PG in 2011. I have a. Applied for MCEL program. Just a short research. And so I have uploaded this from the same university in the same department so. Alright, from 2011 to 2000. 2012 end and 2000. It was the vivo was carried out in 2013. Uh, so where I have completed my? Amphil. So then from 2013 to 2017 I have completed my PhD. In the Department of Microwave Biotechnology and other. Opt after one. So after completing my PhD in two. I have to move to. Uh, China for my. Upper the search. 2018. It is from the university. The department where I have. School of Energy and Power Engineering. So basically my core area of research is. Based viewers. Travel based applications. You know, so my postdoc also deals with. The biofuels and bio. So under. Postdoctoral mentor Professor Wang Shuang. Who's one of the pioneer in thermoph? So let's demo engineering. Uh, sure. From. 18 to 2020 I have completed my postdoc in China. So during 2020 I came back as a winter vacation and that time COVID happens. So I couldn't get back. So after but that was the. Time where I have completed my post doc. So I have again applied as uh. Applied for an associate professor in the same university and they got selected. But due to COVID restrictions and these immigration policies, I couldn't. So I was applying for other places, including. Umm, uh, every abroad, every countries. Uh, so I was searching for the job. So I then I joined as. Um project. For a senior research research engineer project in from Qatar University. So so I have worked very brief for about 9 months in that project because the project was. When I joined, the project was already. One year so I have just went there and established here. Large scale photovolactors. Of the cultivation, the project was mainly. For enhancing the. Essential fatty acids. Algae and supplying it as a poultry feed for enhancing the. Essential party as it's in the eggs. So that was my. What? Qatar University? So after completing that. I have again applied to Johnson University for the portion of. Associate professor and I got. Selected in that. And from 2022? 20 from I got selected in 2022 and after all these visa processing I have joined on 2. 93 So from 2023 to 2. 25 I have I have been backed as associate professor there. And now currently I'm applying for. Institutions like. And looking for. Of my. Further. But essentially means this.

Right, so after your BSc you did your postgrad in industrial biotechnology at Wardha University and then started an MCEL research program there. You were saying — what happened after 2012?

So you wrapped up your MPhil around 2013 and then completed your PhD in the Department of Microbial Biotechnology by 2017. After your doctorate, what steps did you take in your academic or research career?

Alright, after finishing your PhD, you moved to China for postdoctoral research. What area did you focus on during your postdoc, and how did that experience shape your academic interests?

Professor, can you describe a foundational concept in biotechnology that you find especially rewarding to teach, and how you typically introduce it to students in the classroom or lab?

Okay, so you wrapped up your postdoc in China around 2020, focusing on biofuels and working with Professor Wang Shuang in thermo-chemical engineering. Thinking about when you teach, can you share a specific approach or technique you use in the lab to help students grasp complex processes in biofuel production?

Alright, so you’ve got experience setting up large-scale photobioreactors and working on essential fatty acids in algae at Qatar University, and you’ve held associate professor positions as well. When you’re teaching a core concept in biotechnology—say, gene expression or metabolic pathways—how do you make sure students really grasp the underlying mechanisms, not just memorize facts?

Professor, I noticed your paper on using p-coumaric acid for extraordinary lipid production in Tetradesmus obliquus as a sustainable approach to biodiesel—published in Renewable Energy. How has that particular line of research shaped the way you explain sustainable biofuel production to your students?

Thank you for the question. So actually. In microalgae. So the major issue with microalgae based biofilm production. Is like it has. Either higher lipid content with lower growth rate or it has either higher growth rate. With the lower lipid content. So we. Have selected tetradosmos oblique QS. So which is showing higher growth rate? The lipid current was about 12.5 percentage.

Thank you for the question. So actually. In microalgae. So the major issue with microalgae based biofilm production. Is like it has. Either higher lipid content with lower growth rate or it has either higher growth rate. With the lower lipid content. So we. Have selected tetradosmos oblique QS. So which is showing higher growth rate? The lipid current was about 12.5 percentage. So we have. Used many illicit as. So among that. One illicit ad is paracomeric acid, which had showed a. A tremendous effect in enhancing the lipid content. Without suppressing the code. So when I when, when we have done that research at that time. Most of the liquid induction strategy, which means enhancing this lipid content. Basically was. Affecting the growth rate. The lipid content was enhanced at the expense.

Thank you for the question. So actually. In microalgae. So the major issue with microalgae based biofilm production. Is like it has. Either higher lipid content with lower growth rate or it has either higher growth rate. With the lower lipid content. So we. Have selected tetradosmos oblique QS. So which is showing higher growth rate? The lipid current was about 12.5 percentage. So we have. Used many illicit as. So among that. One illicit ad is paracomeric acid, which had showed a. A tremendous effect in enhancing the lipid content. Without suppressing the code.

Thank you for the question. So actually. In microalgae. So the major issue with microalgae based biofilm production. Is like it has. Either higher lipid content with lower growth rate or it has either higher growth rate. With the lower lipid content. So we. Have selected tetradosmos oblique QS. So which is showing higher growth rate? The lipid current was about 12.5 percentage. So we have. Used many illicit as. So among that. One illicit ad is paracomeric acid, which had showed a. A tremendous effect in enhancing the lipid content. Without suppressing the code. So when I when, when we have done that research at that time. Most of the liquid induction strategy, which means enhancing this lipid content. Basically was. Affecting the growth rate. The lipid content was enhanced at the expense. So we were, uh. When we use this. Harmonic acid as a lescotar. It promoted the lipid content without sacrificing the growth. So for sustainable. Solution for attaining sustainability. Umm, we are we. We cannot rely on fossil fuels. As you all aware, fossil fuels or. Depleting and maybe in next 30 to 40 years we will be completely drained. Positive results. So we have to rely on these new energies. As you all aware that why electric vehicles are getting. Bombed now it is. Because of. This non renewability. As well as uh. This non renewability as well as. Relying on single fuel for long time. So for which we need to find the sustainable solution. And one sustainable effect. Solution is biofuel production. Long biofuel protection. When we have plans. We we have plans for as a good source. By field production. But plants occupy the land space. Especially a country in India where we rely more on agriculture. We can't expend more of. The arable land for Whitefield production because it leads to a. Process of food versus fuel competition. So it is not a sustainable, of course, of course by theoretically. Sustainable solution, but we. Devote that much land for vital production. That is why we have to ship for microbes. Soma robes bacteria, algae, and fungi.

Thank you for the question. So actually. In microalgae. So the major issue with microalgae based biofilm production. Is like it has. Either higher lipid content with lower growth rate or it has either higher growth rate. With the lower lipid content. So we. Have selected tetradosmos oblique QS. So which is showing higher growth rate? The lipid current was about 12.5 percentage. So we have. Used many illicit as. So among that. One illicit ad is paracomeric acid, which had showed a. A tremendous effect in enhancing the lipid content. Without suppressing the code. So when I when, when we have done that research at that time. Most of the liquid induction strategy, which means enhancing this lipid content. Basically was. Affecting the growth rate. The lipid content was enhanced at the expense. So we were, uh. When we use this. Harmonic acid as a lescotar. It promoted the lipid content without sacrificing the growth. So for sustainable. Solution for attaining sustainability. Umm, we are we. We cannot rely on fossil fuels. As you all aware, fossil fuels or. Depleting and maybe in next 30 to 40 years we will be completely drained. Positive results. So we have to rely on these new energies. As you all aware that why electric vehicles are getting.

Thank you for the question. So actually. In microalgae. So the major issue with microalgae based biofilm production. Is like it has. Either higher lipid content with lower growth rate or it has either higher growth rate. With the lower lipid content. So we. Have selected tetradosmos oblique QS. So which is showing higher growth rate? The lipid current was about 12.5 percentage. So we have. Used many illicit as. So among that. One illicit ad is paracomeric acid, which had showed a. A tremendous effect in enhancing the lipid content. Without suppressing the code. So when I when, when we have done that research at that time. Most of the liquid induction strategy, which means enhancing this lipid content. Basically was. Affecting the growth rate. The lipid content was enhanced at the expense. So we were, uh. When we use this. Harmonic acid as a lescotar. It promoted the lipid content without sacrificing the growth. So for sustainable. Solution for attaining sustainability. Umm, we are we. We cannot rely on fossil fuels. As you all aware, fossil fuels or. Depleting and maybe in next 30 to 40 years we will be completely drained. Positive results. So we have to rely on these new energies. As you all aware that why electric vehicles are getting. Bombed now it is. Because of. This non renewability. As well as uh. This non renewability as well as. Relying on single fuel for long time. So for which we need to find the sustainable solution. And one sustainable effect. Solution is biofuel production. Long biofuel protection. When we have plans. We we have plans for as a good source. By field production.

Right, let’s shift gears. Given your experience with biofuel research, where do you see the most promising, fundable directions in this field over the next few years? Are there specific grants or funding bodies you’d target to support this work at an institution like VIT?

Thank you for the question. So actually. In microalgae. So the major issue with microalgae based biofilm production. Is like it has. Either higher lipid content with lower growth rate or it has either higher growth rate. With the lower lipid content. So we. Have selected tetradosmos oblique QS. So which is showing higher growth rate? The lipid current was about 12.5 percentage. So we have. Used many illicit as. So among that. One illicit ad is paracomeric acid, which had showed a. A tremendous effect in enhancing the lipid content. Without suppressing the code. So when I when, when we have done that research at that time. Most of the liquid induction strategy, which means enhancing this lipid content. Basically was. Affecting the growth rate. The lipid content was enhanced at the expense. So we were, uh. When we use this. Harmonic acid as a lescotar. It promoted the lipid content without sacrificing the growth. So for sustainable. Solution for attaining sustainability. Umm, we are we. We cannot rely on fossil fuels. As you all aware, fossil fuels or. Depleting and maybe in next 30 to 40 years we will be completely drained. Positive results. So we have to rely on these new energies. As you all aware that why electric vehicles are getting. Bombed now it is. Because of. This non renewability. As well as uh. This non renewability as well as. Relying on single fuel for long time. So for which we need to find the sustainable solution. And one sustainable effect. Solution is biofuel production. Long biofuel protection. When we have plans. We we have plans for as a good source. By field production. But plants occupy the land space. Especially a country in India where we rely more on agriculture. We can't expend more of. The arable land for Whitefield production because it leads to a. Process of food versus fuel competition. So it is not a sustainable, of course, of course by theoretically. Sustainable solution, but we. Devote that much land for vital production. That is why we have to ship for microbes. Soma robes bacteria, algae, and fungi. Maggi is peculiar because. Of its photos and the signature. So Michael can prepare its. Photosynthesis. So we need not to supply any. Carbon sources external carbon sources, whereas it. In bacteria and fungi it is not the case. That's fine. Microalgae is more. Preferable and another. Microglia is having. Higher growth rate as compared to plants. It has a very good faster photosynthetic grade. It also has aerial higher lipid productivity. So lipid. Are majorly concentrated. For fuel production, even though carbohydrates can be converted to ethanol. This biodiesel. By oil. These are mainly dependent. Dependent on the lipid capital. Speaks. So these are the way I can say that. The paper of. Paracomatic acid in enhancing the lipid content of microalgae. Could help in attaining sustainable solution for. This few. Fuel. What to say fuel? Non renewable. Fuel so it can be an greater alternative for this non renewable.

Alright, so you found that p-coumaric acid boosted lipid production in Tetradesmus obliquus without hurting its growth rate, which tackles that classic trade-off in microalgae research. If you were guiding a group of PhD students to build on this work, how would you help them design interdisciplinary projects that connect biofuel production with other fields, like food science or genetic counseling, in line with VIT’s curriculum focus?

So you found p-coumaric acid could enhance lipid content without hurting growth, which is a big deal for biofuel yield. But moving from bench to real-world impact, how would you prioritize your research agenda at a place like VIT to both stay rigorous and boost the university’s global research profile—especially given how fast fields like bioinformatics and cancer bioinformatics are moving?

So you’re highlighting how p-coumaric acid let you boost lipid content in microalgae without sacrificing growth, and you’re tying that to the broader energy transition away from fossil fuels. Given your expertise in industrial biotechnology, if you were to design a new course or module at VIT that connects your research to industry trends and accreditation standards, what would that curriculum look like?

You mentioned working with large-scale photobioreactors and industrial biotechnology—if you were teaching a class of 200 students on this topic and couldn't use slides, how would you keep everyone actively engaged and make sure they really understand the science, not just memorize it?

Okay, so you’re pointing out the food-versus-fuel land use dilemma and justifying the shift to microbes like algae for biofuel. When you’re teaching this to students, how do you get them to wrestle with this real-world trade-off themselves—so they’re not just hearing your answer, but actually engaging with the messy decisions scientists have to make?

Alright, so you’re making the case for microalgae as a sustainable alternative, given the land use and food-versus-fuel challenges with traditional crops—especially in agricultural economies like India. Stepping outside of research for a moment, accreditation cycles can be pretty demanding at universities like VIT. If you joined our department and saw that outcome assessment data was inconsistent across courses, how would you go about addressing that?

So these. So, umm. In case of as you said, in case of. Uh, assess. So whether it is way? Based on research, are you talking about Oregon? Or about any other assessment?

Right, I’m talking about academic outcome assessment—like when you’re required to report student learning outcomes or demonstrate course effectiveness for accreditation bodies. If you saw that data for these assessments was inconsistent across courses, what would your first step be to address that?

Yeah, I'll, I'll think I will look over what are all the main pitfalls or drawbacks in. Either in teaching. Or either any difficulties in learning? So I will. Initially try to address that. To address this. Assessment inconsistent. So I'll try to basically initially address that. Is there any issues with conveying? The informations or. Is there any? Issues with uh. Teaching as well as is there any issues with understanding? The concepts and all. So basically I will. Look over in that way Yeah. So. So it may probably take uh. One month, one to two months maybe? Uh, to address those things. And like. Asking the students about how it is. For them or what is the difficulty? And, uh, so. Testing them or? Interviewing them direct. So by that I think it will take. One month. To come up to a solution. That where the actual root problem is the. So we can. I trust that. From that point of view.

Yeah, I'll, I'll think I will look over what are all the main pitfalls or drawbacks in. Either in teaching. Or either any difficulties in learning? So I will. Initially try to address that. To address this. Assessment inconsistent.

So you’d start by looking for root causes—like teaching challenges or learning difficulties—that might be driving those inconsistencies. Can you give me a concrete example of a time when you actually identified and addressed this kind of academic assessment issue, either in your own teaching or at the department level?

Alright, let's shift to something that comes up more often than we'd like in academia. Imagine a colleague approaches you to co-author a research paper, but as you review their data, you notice some inconsistencies that make you question its integrity. How would you handle that situation?

Yeah, so. So if someone approach. Me and I believe and when I'm looking over the data and it is not consistent and it. Definitely I will ask the colleague either to redo the experiments or I will identify I will help them. Definitely, of course I will help. Them uh to identify what all are the problems if the experiments are not properly conducted. So I will try to troubleshoot. The experiments errors and I will try to. Ask them to redo the experiments. Audit if the problem is. Data representation. So I will suggest some better representation.

Yeah, so. So if someone approach. Me and I believe and when I'm looking over the data and it is not consistent and it. Definitely I will ask the colleague either to redo the experiments or I will identify I will help them. Definitely, of course I will help. Them uh to identify what all are the problems if the experiments are not properly conducted. So I will try to troubleshoot. The experiments errors and I will try to. Ask them to redo the experiments. Audit if the problem is. Data representation. So I will suggest some better representation. So by that definitely I will not. I will not. Co-author in the present form. I will ask them to redo. And I will I will help them. In thorough revision process. Then I. I will. I will. Support has a co-author.

If your colleague insisted the data was fine and pushed to submit, even with your concerns, that's a tough spot. In that case, would you escalate the issue to a department head or ethics committee, or would you step away from the collaboration?

Okay, so you’d insist on redoing the experiments and help troubleshoot, rather than just accepting questionable data. Let’s talk about connecting students to industry — do you have existing collaborations or contacts in sectors like bioinformatics or food technology that could translate into internship or placement opportunities for VIT students?

Yeah, but yeah, definitely not. Directly to bioinformatics, but I can say that output technology. Uh, so I. Had a work umm. Even in my. During my. Senior resident during my. Postdoctoral tenure. I worked in application as a food like poultry feed. So I I we have the project is about tail. 12K for enhancing the DHA in ex J. And that chicken eggs is served as of course human consuming the chicken eggs just to ensure. Or enhance the DHA in humans. Or to provide eggs with. As higher essential pachy acids. So like that it is. Of course the food technology was related. Going to bioinformatics. Umm. So uh. We worked in, I worked in Jiangsu University so that they works also in. The simulations related to. Chemicals as well as. I didn't find the. Thermo, Thermal physics or identifying the. Faith under fate of a compounds as well as the chemicals. Under uh. Uh, under preachers for bio oil production. So in that way. The DfT, density of functional theory and all these. Where they are working? So I can definitely help them with the contact what I am having with Junction University. I I can help them to. Either go for an internship. Or I can guide them. To go for higher studies like PhD or something that even in the group where I work. I can suggest them. Them and. And also apart from that. I can also help them in contacting how to contact. Or how to approach for a PST as well As for a research abroad? And what are the benefits of doing PST and abroad? As well as uh uh. Waterlogged the universities that are in ranking and how to approach and how to. Approach a mentor. For guiding them. So all these things I think. Can I can guide them? I can guide the VIP?

Alright, you mentioned guiding students toward research opportunities abroad and connecting them with groups you’ve worked with. Let’s talk about your teaching—can you walk me through how you structure both theory and lab courses to keep students engaged and ensure they actually understand the material?

Yeah, exactly. See for example I have taken a paper in downstream. Which includes centrifugation, the principle of centrifugation, all these, filtration, all these. Techniques. So when I'm taking theory. And so I will try to uh. Take the basic principles, the basic fundamentals about the theory. And about the techniques. And there are. Equipment which are also in theory, which are also available in the laboratory. So initially I. I will make them to understand uh. The how how it works, uh, that is. The main principle. So you. Initially I will try to teach them. And the basic principle in theory. And after that? I will take them to laboratory. And show how it works. So on C. Of course we can understand the mechanics or we can understand that how it works, or we can understand. The protocol of two protocol to how to work in that? But whereas the theory is the only thing. Where we can tell about the principles? Uh, how it works? And what is the basic principle of this in? Or this practical? And what is? Typically rational behind that so that we can explain through theory and later we can. Show and prove it in the laboratory. So this is how I will train. As theory 1st and then laboratory second. Heat may change, depends on uh. Depends on the subject what we are taking. But I. I have given this downstream.

Yeah, exactly. See for example I have taken a paper in downstream. Which includes centrifugation, the principle of centrifugation, all these, filtration, all these. Techniques. So when I'm taking theory. And so I will try to uh. Take the basic principles, the basic fundamentals about the theory. And about the techniques. And there are. Equipment which are also in theory, which are also available in the laboratory. So initially I. I will make them to understand uh. The how how it works, uh, that is. The main principle. So you. Initially I will try to teach them. And the basic principle in theory. And after that? I will take them to laboratory. And show how it works. So on C. Of course we can understand the mechanics or we can understand that how it works, or we can understand. The protocol of two protocol to how to work in that?

Yeah, exactly. See for example I have taken a paper in downstream.

Yeah, exactly. See for example I have taken a paper in downstream. Which includes centrifugation, the principle of centrifugation, all these, filtration, all these. Techniques.

You started to say you’ve taught a paper in downstream—can you finish that thought and tell me how you structure a class session, especially when you have both theory and a hands-on lab component to cover?

So you mentioned teaching the principles behind centrifugation and filtration in your downstream processing course. Can you walk me through how you’d design a single class session, making sure students get both the theory and a hands-on lab experience that really sticks?

Okay, so you use hands-on demonstrations in the lab to reinforce the principles from theory sessions. Thinking about student evaluation—when grading lab reports or practical exams, how do you ensure that your assessment is fair and consistent across a large class?

You described teaching downstream processing by starting with theory, then using lab sessions to reinforce the principles with hands-on demonstrations. When you’re guiding student research projects—especially at the undergraduate or master’s level—how do you help them narrow down a broad topic into something feasible and rigorous?

Yeah. Uh, so, uh. App goes as you mentioned. I understand that whatever the topic we are learning either in theory or practical, it is 200. So, but whereas in case of uh. A concrete MSC Project. Or any research project it should not be under. My broader levels.

Yeah. Uh, so, uh. App goes as you mentioned. I understand that whatever the topic we are learning either in theory or practical, it is 200. So, but whereas in case of uh. A concrete MSC Project. Or any research project it should not be under. My broader levels. I I saw, uh, mainly. Uh, the research, uh, what? I suggest name or I try to narrow the topic. Will be based on. The contemporary trends. For example. If I'm walking on microalgae. Uh, so, uh. There are plenty of research projects we can do, whether it has been done. Very pretty earlier. Or whether it is uh. Have done a decade back. Or whether it is. Uh, doing at present. But as a researcher. We should be more relatable. To the present. So then only we are able to publish a paper. So my main focus will be like that, like. Uh, I I will suggest them. Which is at the. I will guide them, I will teach them in that way. For example, in Jenks University I was guiding on. Student, uh, so. That, uh. To her I I have designed a research. Topic for. Have done the research and basic experimental plan and everything I have. Taught her how to. Deal with quality. So that paper was that that research project was about. Cultivating microalgae in kitchen wastewater. Whereas micro gain wastewater is not that much new topic. However. Growing in a specific. Soup wastewater is not reported before. So various in countries like China, Japan and all these Asian countries. There are plenty of noodle soup wastewater. Which was just thrown out, or which was just discarded through drainage, or sometimes it was used for some animal feeds. So we. Pick this noodles too. And try to. Quality and that way enhancing its biofuel potential like. Enhancing the growth as well as enhancing the lipid content. And it was. Are done well and it was received in one of the. Q1, John. John Lock cleaner production.

Yeah. Uh, so, uh. App goes as you mentioned. I understand that whatever the topic we are learning either in theory or practical, it is 200. So, but whereas in case of uh. A concrete MSC Project. Or any research project it should not be under. My broader levels. I I saw, uh, mainly. Uh, the research, uh, what? I suggest name or I try to narrow the topic. Will be based on. The contemporary trends. For example. If I'm walking on microalgae. Uh, so, uh. There are plenty of research projects we can do, whether it has been done. Very pretty earlier. Or whether it is uh. Have done a decade back. Or whether it is. Uh, doing at present. But as a researcher. We should be more relatable. To the present. So then only we are able to publish a paper. So my main focus will be like that, like. Uh, I I will suggest them. Which is at the. I will guide them, I will teach them in that way. For example, in Jenks University I was guiding on. Student, uh, so. That, uh. To her I I have designed a research. Topic for. Have done the research and basic experimental plan and everything I have. Taught her how to. Deal with quality. So that paper was that that research project was about. Cultivating microalgae in kitchen wastewater. Whereas micro gain wastewater is not that much new topic. However. Growing in a specific. Soup wastewater is not reported before. So various in countries like China, Japan and all these Asian countries. There are plenty of noodle soup wastewater. Which was just thrown out, or which was just discarded through drainage, or sometimes it was used for some animal feeds.

Yeah. Uh, so, uh. App goes as you mentioned. I understand that whatever the topic we are learning either in theory or practical, it is 200. So, but whereas in case of uh. A concrete MSC Project. Or any research project it should not be under. My broader levels. I I saw, uh, mainly. Uh, the research, uh, what? I suggest name or I try to narrow the topic.

Yeah. Uh, so, uh. App goes as you mentioned. I understand that whatever the topic we are learning either in theory or practical, it is 200. So, but whereas in case of uh. A concrete MSC Project. Or any research project it should not be under. My broader levels. I I saw, uh, mainly. Uh, the research, uh, what? I suggest name or I try to narrow the topic. Will be based on. The contemporary trends. For example. If I'm walking on microalgae. Uh, so, uh. There are plenty of research projects we can do, whether it has been done. Very pretty earlier. Or whether it is uh. Have done a decade back. Or whether it is. Uh, doing at present. But as a researcher. We should be more relatable. To the present. So then only we are able to publish a paper. So my main focus will be like that, like. Uh, I I will suggest them. Which is at the. I will guide them, I will teach them in that way. For example, in Jenks University I was guiding on. Student, uh, so. That, uh. To her I I have designed a research. Topic for. Have done the research and basic experimental plan and everything I have. Taught her how to. Deal with quality. So that paper was that that research project was about. Cultivating microalgae in kitchen wastewater.

Yeah. Uh, so, uh. App goes as you mentioned. I understand that whatever the topic we are learning either in theory or practical, it is 200. So, but whereas in case of uh. A concrete MSC Project. Or any research project it should not be under. My broader levels. I I saw, uh, mainly. Uh, the research, uh, what? I suggest name or I try to narrow the topic. Will be based on. The contemporary trends. For example. If I'm walking on microalgae. Uh, so, uh. There are plenty of research projects we can do, whether it has been done. Very pretty earlier. Or whether it is uh. Have done a decade back. Or whether it is. Uh, doing at present.

Yeah. Uh, so, uh. App goes as you mentioned. I understand that whatever the topic we are learning either in theory or practical, it is 200. So, but whereas in case of uh. A concrete MSC Project. Or any research project it should not be under. My broader levels. I I saw, uh, mainly. Uh, the research, uh, what? I suggest name or I try to narrow the topic. Will be based on. The contemporary trends. For example. If I'm walking on microalgae. Uh, so, uh. There are plenty of research projects we can do, whether it has been done. Very pretty earlier. Or whether it is uh. Have done a decade back. Or whether it is. Uh, doing at present. But as a researcher. We should be more relatable. To the present. So then only we are able to publish a paper. So my main focus will be like that, like. Uh, I I will suggest them. Which is at the. I will guide them, I will teach them in that way. For example, in Jenks University I was guiding on. Student, uh, so. That, uh. To her I I have designed a research. Topic for. Have done the research and basic experimental plan and everything I have. Taught her how to. Deal with quality. So that paper was that that research project was about. Cultivating microalgae in kitchen wastewater. Whereas micro gain wastewater is not that much new topic. However. Growing in a specific. Soup wastewater is not reported before. So various in countries like China, Japan and all these Asian countries. There are plenty of noodle soup wastewater. Which was just thrown out, or which was just discarded through drainage, or sometimes it was used for some animal feeds. So we. Pick this noodles too. And try to. Quality and that way enhancing its biofuel potential like. Enhancing the growth as well as enhancing the lipid content. And it was. Are done well and it was received in one of the. Q1, John. John Lock cleaner production. So I try to narrow down. The broader topics into more rigorous and feasible. By staying more relevant. To the contact. Trends of.

So you’re careful to keep research projects focused and not too broad. When it comes to evaluating students—like grading exams or practicals—how do you make sure your assessment is both fair and clearly communicated to the students?

Okay, so you're careful to keep research projects focused and not too broad. When it comes to evaluating students—like grading exams or practicals—how do you make sure your assessment is both fair and clear to everyone?

Okay, so you try to keep research projects tightly focused and aligned with current trends, especially in areas like microalgae. When it comes to evaluating students—like grading exams or practicals—how do you make sure your assessment is both fair and clearly communicated to students?

So, you keep student projects focused by tying them to current research trends, like microalgae cultivation in kitchen wastewater. Switching gears, when it comes to presenting complex topics—how do you make sure your lectures are structured and clear, especially for students who might not have a strong background in the subject?

So you focused that student’s project on microalgae in noodle soup wastewater since it was both timely and not widely published yet. Shifting gears, strong communication is crucial—can you give me an example of how you’ve explained a complex bioprocessing concept to a class in a way that really clicked for them?

So the way you narrowed that project down to something both current and manageable, like microalgae in noodle soup wastewater, shows a clear focus on rigor and relevance. When it comes to evaluating students—say, grading exams or practicals—how do you make sure your assessment is both fair and clearly communicated to the class?

So I couldn't get. Get any questions? Umm, hello. If you're not able to, any questions?

Alright, sounds like you couldn’t hear the last question. Let me repeat it for you: When it comes to evaluating students—like grading exams or practicals—how do you make sure your assessment is both fair and clear?

Umm, of course. Umm. So, umm. I will evaluate. In a very ethical way. In a very proper way. Without any uh. Without any judgments or without any personal favorite.

Umm, of course. Umm. So, umm. I will evaluate. In a very ethical way. In a very proper way. Without any uh. Without any judgments or without any personal favorite. So definitely I will evaluate our assess. In a highly ethical way.

Right, so you’re emphasizing impartiality and ethics in grading. But can you give me a concrete example where you had to handle a tricky evaluation—maybe a borderline case or a student contesting their grade? What exactly did you do?

Right, so you put a lot of emphasis on staying ethical and avoiding bias when assessing students. But just being ethical isn't always enough—can you give me a specific example where you had to make a tough call during grading, like a borderline case or when a student challenged your evaluation?

You mean a tough call in? Making them. Uh, like, MMM. In borderline, which means I understand that. Like umm. Uh, getting them the basic? Marks for promotions and all. So such kind of. Leniency. Of course I will. Do it, doesn't I? I mentioned ethical in a way that. I would not be. I would not show any kind of. Favoritism like even within the students. Maybe someone we see very bright in. Classes very bright in practicals. So it doesn't mean that I will approach there as. In the scene with. Assessment is signed for everyone. So in that way, I won't be I mentioned as I won't be judgmental.

Okay, so you’re saying you wouldn’t show favoritism, even if a student is strong in class. What about when you’ve got a student who’s really struggling with communication or organizing their thoughts in presentations—how do you help them improve?

Yeah, so. Communication, of course, it is very essential, but communication itself? I believe uh. So I will try to train them in the way. And I will try to identify what is the issues. One might have a stage here. So if they are having stage where I will ask them to do. The self practices. I will ask them to practice every day. So if someone is having really a language issue. So I will try to improve. I will suggest them to improve the communications and I will. I will tell them that it should not. Like like it should not affect their academics like in the way that. Not able to communicate doesn't mean that your inferior at your knowledge. Communication is a form that where you can share. So the fluency. Comes by practice. I will tell them that. I will. Tell as well as St. as well as train. Them in a way. That it it is. It is an essential tool. Communication is an essential tool, but it is not an ultimate. Tool or the testimony? So I will try to make them to understand this concept. And try to. Come over. Try to come up from their communication. So I will try to help them in that way So as mentioned before, I as I gave a. Example for the.

Yeah, so. Communication, of course, it is very essential, but communication itself? I believe uh. So I will try to train them in the way. And I will try to identify what is the issues. One might have a stage here. So if they are having stage where I will ask them to do. The self practices. I will ask them to practice every day. So if someone is having really a language issue. So I will try to improve. I will suggest them to improve the communications and I will. I will tell them that it should not. Like like it should not affect their academics like in the way that. Not able to communicate doesn't mean that your inferior at your knowledge. Communication is a form that where you can share. So the fluency. Comes by practice. I will tell them that. I will. Tell as well as St. as well as train. Them in a way. That it it is. It is an essential tool. Communication is an essential tool, but it is not an ultimate. Tool or the testimony?

So your approach is to separate communication skills from subject knowledge, and encourage students to practice and not let language barriers affect their confidence. Now, for research publications—can you walk me through one of your recent papers, especially the process you followed from hypothesis to publication?

So as mentioned before, I as I gave a. Example for the. The student so, which is also one of the which one of the recent paper like published in 2025, late 2025. So it was basically. And cultivating microalgae in soup. So even. The noodle soup is not that much. So that is one of the. One of the main novel things. So why I'm saying like just growing any microalgae anywhere is not normal?

So as mentioned before, I as I gave a. Example for the. The student so, which is also one of the which one of the recent paper like published in 2025, late 2025. So it was basically. And cultivating microalgae in soup. So even. The noodle soup is not that much. So that is one of the. One of the main novel things. So why I'm saying like just growing any microalgae anywhere is not normal? But how I see it is. Microalgae or the application of microalgae is basically because is basically. A hindered or basically. Not coming to the. Market merge is because of its. Cost of the growth. So finding a cheaper or cost effective medium is very essential. And the other way. On the other hand, microalgae is very sensitive. So it it won't grow in every waste. So we have to find an ideal waste. And also that waste should be generated. Enormously.

So you're emphasizing the novelty of using noodle soup as a substrate for microalgae cultivation, since that's not commonly reported. What was the biggest technical hurdle you faced in that research, and how did you overcome it?

So as mentioned before, I as I gave a. Example for the. The student so, which is also one of the which one of the recent paper like published in 2025, late 2025. So it was basically. And cultivating microalgae in soup. So even. The noodle soup is not that much. So that is one of the. One of the main novel things. So why I'm saying like just growing any microalgae anywhere is not normal? But how I see it is. Microalgae or the application of microalgae is basically because is basically. A hindered or basically. Not coming to the. Market merge is because of its. Cost of the growth. So finding a cheaper or cost effective medium is very essential. And the other way. On the other hand, microalgae is very sensitive. So it it won't grow in every waste. So we have to find an ideal waste. And also that waste should be generated. Enormously. So in that case. Food wasters for very very. Peculiar because of course. Humans consume food. Definitely there will be a good wasters. So in that way. In that way this microalgae. Microalgae if we are able to optimize. These microalgae in growing these food waste is definitely it is. Highly successful. So in that sense, I have chosen this noodle soup waste. So and we try to cultivate in and we got succeeded. And the growth was? Higher as compared to the control. And probably said media just. When you are utilizing Google. As a medium as well as new. Notice of minimal. Microlog is able to. Growth by 1, so. In that way I say that my. That is one of the normal contribution to the field. So in other words, we can say that. We have suggested one of the cheap as well as. Micrological Media. By suggesting this noodle soup. Based calibration of. So that is what? One of the only ones. And say in recent times. If you're speaking, I couldn't. Receive any questions?

So you focused on finding a cost-effective growth medium, and specifically noodle soup waste, which is both abundant and not previously used for microalgae. What did you do to validate that your results were robust—like, did you run multiple trials or use statistical tests to confirm the significance?

You’ve described your commitment to fairness and ethics, but I need to hear about a specific instance—can you walk me through a time when you handled exam duties, like setting a question paper, invigilating, or moderating grades, and what concrete steps you took to ensure the process stayed unbiased and transparent?

Thank you for your questions and thank you for your kind. Questions. Thanks a lot. I'm looking forward for. Further interview processes.

Thank you for your questions and thank you for your kind. Questions. Thanks a lot. I'm looking forward for. Further interview processes. And I believe that I. See so. I just want to ask a question like uh. How? Assistant professor for research.

You emphasized the novelty of using food waste for microalgae, and I appreciate you walking through the reasoning behind that work. Dr., before we finish up, is there anything you'd like to ask about the Assistant Professor (Research) role or the team?