Good day, Chandukishore T. I'm Arjun. I've had a look through your background and your professional record. I'm interested in hearing more about your work and how you see yourself fitting in here with our faculty. Ready to start?

Should I even introduce a?

Could I give an introduction?

Yes, please provide an introduction, focusing on your professional journey in academia.

OK. Thank you for an opportunity. Initially I started my like PSD at NIT Warangal like that is my specialized metabolic engineering and.

And the bypasses mutating basically. But I have a food technology background because of my M tech I pursued from SRM Institute of Science and Technology, especially under the degree food science and nutrition like basically food nutrition by technology. And before like starting to my PhD journey, I have already have a teaching experience working as a professor at opposite of engineering technology and students have background of both microbial.

Microbial technology which is one of the requisite for this present job and also the food technology with SRM Institute. So I applied at this position and I hope with my thinking experience, I can perform better under with understanding unions in the PC grant research activities. And I have also guided various matters of the textbooks for two to three batches and I also worked under the guided.

Few Mtech students and also my junior PhD students while my PhD journey.

So alright, I think this will be a make enough to introduce myself.

Thank you for sharing that, Professor.

Professor, let us begin by assessing your expertise related to this role. Could you elaborate on your research work in metabolic engineering of *Yarrowia lipolytica* for valorized food waste conversion into D-lactic acid, as mentioned in your Ph.D. thesis? Specifically, I’d like to understand the methodology and its broader implications in food science technology.

Yeah, I would explain that actually my basic work compliance book two to three like domains. Basically one starting domain is about financial categories, second is about valorization, third is about engineering and Organism for an developer expression and 3rd is like optimizing using bioprocess principles. Initially we have a like 2 parts. Basically I want to divide my. PhD working 2 parts. First part is.

Valerie is in the footage to win the fungal self at the second part is like indulgence and the optimization.

Like created a solid-state permutation conditions to uh, generate the glucomyllase enzyme in the crude enzyme format. Later these crude enzymes used as a like like for used as an enzyme for substrate enzyme substrate reaction for the larger amount of food based. So basically we have idolized the mixed food waste using the uh enzyme, which is again cultured using the food waste itself through solid-state fermentation. Once the food waste hydrolysate is being produced, it was optimized.

In first part, we have isolated and fungal Organism named Aspergillus status which is known for its production of glucomyllase enzyme and we have optimized with a few random like strategies to enhance the enzymatic activity with these enzyme. We have inoculated this particular particular scalar food waste which is collected in natural instead of technology warangal food like food capital and then. We have.

AN and GA techniques finally, the food waste address was collected and stored for treating or to metabolically to give as a carbon source for the air availability. Coming back to aerovial ability, it is an east basically grass the regionals regarded as safe later this engine this particular The idea of selecting this Organism for the like engineering is since it is having like various.

It can accommodate the various substrate metabolically active activity and also it can sustain in high salt and environment which is important part as when you select metabolic the Indian contest of food waste and also it can sustain like low pH conditions which is important for the lactic acid production. The main idea of my particular overall PhD work is to produce a delectric acid which is an important isomer of lactic acid. So we have taken LDH. From pneumonia and again the point to be noted why pneumonia because of this enzyme is again unique compared to Lactobacillus, other organisms and also E coli because of its conditions to grow in microaerobic conditions which is important and also more aerobic conditions which is important for air availability because aerobatica is again an obligate aero. So we have engineered an LDH enzyme which is codon optimized and.

Like substrate?

In LOVLA Politica using cap promoter. Later the Organism was produced in the.

Enormous amount of byproduct that is acidic acid which was adding up to the acidic conditions. So we encounter encountered with again some other engine engineering strategy by overexpressing the style cohesion. This too which was taken from the saccharomyces to 8 CC. So after this engineering we have optimized an Organism for the production of electric acid 2. With all the optimization strategies we were about to achieve oh .94g per gram of the lactic acid with the.

As the carbon source and when we studied with the food based hydrology, there was an inhibition which was cold. So we wanted to like explore further. So we we tried different protein sources. When we tried with the fish protein hydrolysate as one of the important replacements for each extract, the Organism was able to respond and able to produce the similar amount or almost nearest amount of the. The electric acid when we have used yeast extract, which is an economically.

Not economical source. So once further optimization strategies for the protein source and for the carbon source and also all the like media conditions, the Organism was able to produce .94g of gram with both carbon source and nitrogen source having.

The velarized source, basically it is not a commercial source. So with the well raised like waste we are able to produce .94g per gram of the electric acid using engineered air availability.

With the tool chains, that is one with LDH codon of TH LDHE and other with HDH 2 which is taken from is 280CC. This is about my brief about my PhD work.

Thank you for providing such a detailed breakdown of your Ph.D. work. It’s clear that your research integrated multiple domains of metabolic engineering and bioprocess optimization. I appreciate the depth of your explanation. From a broader perspective, could you also share how this research contributes to advancements in sustainable food technology or waste valorization in practical contexts?

Basically my raw material and the substrate itself is a food waste. So we have went through various stages of exploring how food composition and the different types of food sources. Apart from my PhD work, we have explored even the bakery based and also different types of like waste which was prepared in the lab and its composition and how it will react with enzymatic treatment with an enzyme that is purified enzyme and non purified enzyme and what?

Conditions to be monitored through the optimization. So we went to different phases to understand the food waste. So understanding the food waste composition and and its activity through different methods can help me through the it's sustainability also which is 11 part which we have explored in my PhD work. But there are a number of different ways where we can explore food waste as a different.

Uh, Various, uh, like, uh, warming compose fertilizers, wire fertilizers and also enzymes, basically enzymes. SO11 part is sustainable part and valorizing, uh, other than food waste also there are various agriculture residues, which is a part of food waste. Can we take it as a food waste? Because, uh, some, some sometimes the food taken from the agriculture field comes under the post harvest classes can also be taken as a one of the lignocellulosic biomass and. Can be valorized even we have explored few opportunities, few things even in this regard also with the few publications. So I think there are numerous stages and parts for well raising and few of them we are exploding my PhD work and few of them other than my PhD work also we have tried. So that could be. If if in future also I have two plans to explore the various like strategies are also options to.

Strategies for even production of ethanol or production of valued products production of.

To valerize the biomass which is a important like carbon source present over the the highest abundant carbon source with that.

Thank you, Professor. It is evident that your research not only delves into valorizing food waste for D-lactic acid production but also broadly identifies and addresses multiple avenues for sustainable utilization of biomass. Your emphasis on both enzymatic treatments and optimizing conditions for varying substrates highlights the depth of your understanding in food waste conversion. Let me now shift focus slightly. Could you discuss your experience in instructing theory and laboratory courses, particularly related to food science and technology? Have you implemented any specific teaching methods or strategies to help students grasp complex scientific principles effectively?

Uh, to be specific in this regard, uh, like, as I already, uh, like mentioned my previous experience with the teaching, uh, that was at Bapu digital technology where I explored for biotechnology part because I was working as a student professor in biotechnology department in teaching genetic engineering, microbiology and also biomolecules part as a major subjects with this I have already, I was also lab in charge.

Microbiology. So I have explored various strategies that is one of important strategies like students might not understand sometimes when we teach about microorganisms or bacteria or even sometimes even yeast, what are they and how they exactly look and what are the morphologies to characteristics and how the morphological characteristics or the fermentation things will affect the actual part in the industry. But as a part of my laboratory work, I have designed. Certain. Uh, things in the laboratory way, I have introduced students to the actual organisms which have been isolated in the lab and their subcultured and how they look in different situations when they kept in different temperature conditions, different salt conditions and how they react after when they give in the different substrate conditions. And I have showed in a life part and I have incorporated this laboratory part to the teaching experience with the, uh, pictures and also live or like, uh, microbial plates conditions being.

It introduced the student that helped students to like, teach the like, like understand the, uh, subject more, better way compared to, uh, in just a theoretical point of view. And the second part, as I reach as a subject teacher of bio entrepreneurship, I have to, I have undertook this subject for two years. So I have dealt with more of a recent life studies. What are the important aspects of the global scenarios, how they affect the entrepreneurials, uh, uh.

And ideas and investments, how they impact the different parts of agricultural aspects and how they impact different ideas. And what are the like other government related aspects or policies or the the different types of like like startup ideas, how they impact and also with respect to the current day scenarios rather than the textbook or theoretical aspect. So I have various strategies for.

This subject is coming point of coming to food science technology point of view with respect to my Mtech project which was basically on edible coating. So with that interest and with that information if if a chance given, I have ideal incorporate various strategies depending on the subject and the situations and the availability of the resources.

Thank you for elaborating on your teaching experience, Professor. It's commendable that you've integrated hands-on laboratory work, live demonstrations, and real-world applications to enhance student understanding of complex topics. Your approach to connecting theory with practical elements, and even including contemporary industry trends like bio-entrepreneurship, clearly reflects your dedication to fostering a deep and applied knowledge base among your students. Now, could you share more about your experience evaluating student performance through examinations or other assessment tools? How do you ensure that your assessment methods are fair and align with the learning objectives?

Like, uh, as, uh, as I already, uh, mentioned, uh, several times with respect to my previous teaching experience, uh, I have, uh, I will follow the, all the standard examination patterns. What will be the institute or university will be following with respect to that. Also, I'll be addressing the students attentiveness in the classrooms, in the labs and also their interest towards the subject, towards the projects and. Their, uh, like voluntary involvement in the projects lab.

Governments and like increasing the interested students and also like motivating the students who are not at who are who are less interested towards the subject with respect to my teaching strategies and also the important achievements in the particular field so that students will have interest towards the subject. Later I will assess them based upon their voluntary involvement in the class and also in the laboratory and also their attendance towards the responding towards.

Teaching classes and also the diameter classes with respect to two examinations.

Are, uh, like sudden examinations or it could be sudden test or it could be uh, like related to, but with respect to even the the framework set up with in the institute or university. Also, I will be able to add upon a few questions or the question paper pattern which will make the students to think and act based upon that I can.

In the, uh, General Jared or the like, uh, understand the school instrumentality and uh, depending on that, I can value at the examination.

Appreciated, Professor. Your balanced approach—incorporating institutional standards while adding your evaluative methodologies to include attentiveness, voluntary involvement, and motivational interventions—demonstrates a conscientious and holistic approach to student assessments. Ensuring fairness and encouraging intellectual growth through tailored questioning are key traits of a thoughtful educator. Let’s move forward. Could you share your experience in mentoring or guiding student research projects within areas like food science, nutritional sciences, or microbial technology? Have you employed any specific strategies to help students navigate through challenges in research?

Yeah. Actually, uh, as I specified, I've been coming back to microbial technology as the field and also various, uh, uh, aspects of bioprocess, which I exploded in, uh, my, uh, two to three years of teaching experience. And even in my 4-5 years of field experience have dealt with various batches of students and various individual students, uh, to explore and to, uh, explore the different aspects of microbial technology in the aspects we have.

One production of acetic acid using the the millets and also one in the 1 project and then the other project we have explored the production of bias affecting and also the production of a burning wash a product biopsy product and also encapsulated which acts as like antibiotic or kind of which can restrict the bicycle bacterial growth in the plants when spray when it is.

As this floral spray and also this particular project was being funded and also this project was being identified through.

Channel through three to four students for their exemplary work and we have dealt with greenhouse gases. Greenhouse. To greenhouse In the greenhouse, they have explored different plants and studied what are the opportunities and what are the.

Changes happens with the floral spray that is warming wash which we have prepared. And this work was been also completed when I was an assistant professor. And after that we have explored point of view, produced various isolated various strains as a PhD work which are being explored by a few Mtech and BTEC students to produce xylitol and to produce karate rights and to produce.

Various value added products.

Like enough for the, enough for the.

Thank you, Professor. It's evident that your guidance is grounded in meaningful and applied research, spanning diverse projects such as bioactive compounds, bioprocess optimization, and microbial isolations. Your ability to integrate student efforts into funded research projects and real-world applications highlights your commitment to fostering academic growth and innovation among young researchers. Let us now discuss effective communication and teaching structure. Could you share specific methods or strategies that you employ to ensure clarity in delivering complex scientific concepts to a diverse student audience?

Sorry to interrupt, we're down to the last 5 minutes.

Can you please repeat your last question?

Of course. Could you share specific methods or strategies that you employ to ensure clarity in delivering complex scientific concepts to a diverse student audience?

What kind of audience?

I mean a classroom of students with varying levels of understanding or backgrounds in the subject. How do you ensure that all students, regardless of their prior knowledge, can grasp the complex scientific concepts you teach?

OK, Actually coming back to this particular point, generally biomolecules which is a basic subject which will deal with the biochemistry part of you. As my experience with this particular subject is that most of the students who come from like background of Pearl standard will have few students will struggle to understand the chemical like chemical structures and all. So I will deal with various aspects and go with the to the very.

Basic information to understand the simplest possible student. I my target would be the simplest possible student in the classroom rather than always with the the Topper or an intelligent student who can grab the subject very easily. Because if the student who is like a very is not so easy to understand the some scientific subjects as you mentioned they need to be understand, then the other students will be easily understand the subjects. So I have. Dealt with.

The different kind of stating strategies such as explaining the background of a structure or background of an, a topic. So background that you, even the basic students will understand. Uh, I can give example, for example, molecular biology point of view, some directly coming into the DNA and nuclear point of view or an RNA point of view. Some students might not understand, but rather than that.

Used to going back to the nuclear to nucleotides and water the nucleotides. What are the basic structure of nucleotides and why they are important and way they come from and with some interesting facts and all, many of the students can understand the even the basic point. Also later they can come come back to DNA and RNA when they will have a gain interest towards the actual subject.

Thank you, Professor. Your strategy of addressing foundational concepts first and targeting the needs of students who may struggle demonstrates a thoughtful and inclusive teaching approach. By gradually building up from basics and incorporating interesting context, you create an inviting environment for learning complex scientific principles, ensuring no student is left behind. Finally, before we wrap up, could you share how your research and teaching philosophies align with your understanding of the expectations and contributions expected from a Food Science and Technology Professor?

Coming back to the full science point of view, food science is though it's my Mtech background, but I've been devoted towards biprocessor metabolic engineering, but I can.

Put back to again to food sense technology with my Mtech background and I can teach the background with my experience. But my strong background though lies in metabolic engineering and bioprocess and also the microbial technology. But food science can I can I can cope up with food science technology, food science, food science.

Understood, Professor. You’ve highlighted a strong foundation in metabolic engineering, bioprocess optimization, and microbial technology, which can complement the domain of food science and technology effectively. Your ability to blend these domains into teaching and research will provide a robust advantage in interdisciplinary education and innovation. Thank you for your detailed responses and insights today. Is there anything else you'd like to add or discuss before we conclude?

Thank you.

You're welcome, Professor. It was a pleasure speaking with you and learning about your expertise. Best of luck in your future endeavors. Have a great day!