Projects per year
Personal profile
Personal profile
Dr. Sekar Raju graduated from the University of Madras (India) and carried out further research at the University Duisburg-Essen (Germany), Max-Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology (Germany), Florida International University (USA) and The University of Sheffield (UK) in various environmental microbiology and microbial ecology research projects. His current research focuses on the microbial source tracking (MST) of fecal pollution in watersheds, detection of antibiotic resistant bacteria and resistance genes (ARGs) in aquatic environments, the impact of urbanization on microbial diversity-ecosystem function, microbiome associated with microplastics, plastics degradation potential of microbes and microbial biofilms in natural and engineered systems. He has authored over 60 publications and many of his research articles have appeared in leading microbiology and environmental science journals and are well cited. He is an honorary recognised PhD Supervisor at the University of Liverpool (UK) and thus far, he has supervised/co-supervised eight PhD students to successful completion. He is a Senior Editorial Board Member of BMC Microbiology (SpringerNature) and is serving as a reviewer for many journals. He has also co-edited three books. He is a Fellow of Royal Society of Biology (FRSB), and Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA).
Research interests
- Microbial source tracking techniques to identify fecal pollution in watersheds
- Antibiotic resistant bacteria and resistance genes in aquatic environments
- Microbiome associated with microplastics and plastics degradation potential of microbes
- Impact of urbanization on microbial diversity and ecosystem function
- Molecular detection of waterborne pathogens in relation to public health
- Microbial biofilms in natural and engineered systems
Experience
- Associate Dean for Learning and Teaching, School of Science, XJTLU - Since 05/2022
- Senior Associate Professor, Biological Sciences, XJTLU - Since 09/2021
- Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, XJTLU - 10/2010 - 08/2021
- Deputy Head, Department of Biological Sciences, XJTLU - 12/2018 - 11/2020
- Programme Director, BSc Biological Sciences, XJTLU - 04/2016 - 2020/08
- Acting Head, Department of Biological Sciences, XJTLU - 02/2018 - 06/2018
- Marie Curie Senior Research Fellow, The University of Sheffield, UK - 08/2008 - 07/2010
- Postdoctoral Research Associate / Adjunct Faculty, Florida International University, USA - 12/2004-07/2008
- Research Scientist, Max-Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Germany - 01/2002 – 11/2004
- DAAD Fellow, Aquatic Microbiology (Biofilm Centre), University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany - 10/2000 – 12/2001
Teaching
- BIO101 - Biodiversity of animals, plants and microbes (2010-11 to Present; Module Leader)
- BIO210 - Microbial Biotechnology (2010-11 to Present; Module Leader)
- BIO106 - The Biology of Microbes (2010-11 to 2017-18; Module Leader)
- BIO303 - Final Year Project, BSc Biological Sciences (2011 to Present, Supervisor)
- BIO402 - Research Project, MRes Molecular Bioscience (2018 to Present, Supervisor)
- BIO111- Key skills for Life Scientists (2011-12 and 2012-13; Shared module)
- BIO20712- Bioinformatics (2010-11; Shared Module)
- CIV6720- Modeling Water Distribution Systems, University of Sheffield, UK (2008-09 and 2009-10; Guest Lecture)
- CIV6711-Environmental Microbiology, University of Sheffield, UK (2008-09; Guest Lecture)
- MCB3020 - General Microbiology, Florida International University, USA (Fall 2007; Spring and Summer, 2008; Course Leader)
Awards and honours
- XJTLU Honoured Contributors Award (2020, 2022).
- University Recognized Teacher/University Recognised Supervisor (Honorary), University of Liverpool, UK (2010 to Present)
- Visiting Professor (Honorary), College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, China (2012 to 2014).
- Visiting Researcher (Honorary), Chemical and Biological Engineering, The University of Sheffield, UK (2010 to 2013).
- Appointment as a Marie Curie Senior Research Fellow, University of Sheffield, UK (2008 to 2010).
- Award of Max-Planck Postdoctoral fellowship for Postdoctoral Research, Max-Planck Society, Germany (2002 to 2004).
- Award of German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Fellowship, Germany (2000 to 2002).
- Award of Foreign Travel Grant, Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India (1999).
- Award of Foreign Travel Grant, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Government of India (1999).
- Award of Junior and Senior Research Fellowships, BRNS-DAE University of Madras, India (1994 to 1999).
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
Senior Fellow of Higher Education Academy (SFHEA) - 2019
Fellow of Higher Education Academy (FHEA) - 2015
Certificate in Professional Studies in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, University of Liverpool, UK - 2015
PhD, University of Madras, India - 2000
Person Types
- Staff
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Student performance and perceptions in the Global Classroom Initiative
Fendos, J., Raju, S., Shen, Y., Kam, A. & Yap, W. H.
17/04/24 → 31/12/26
Project: Collaborative Research Project
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Assessing the Biodegradation of Plastics using Microorganisms and Microbial Enzymes
1/07/23 → 30/06/26
Project: Internal Research Project
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Suzhou Municipal Key Lab for Metabolic Syndrome Drug Research
Meng, J., Meng, W., Jiang, X., Wei, Z., Li, T., Liu, X., Su, J., Yue, C., Douroudis, K., Kappes, F., Park, J., Wang, M., Rong, R., Raju, S., Huang, X., Kadowaki, T., OConnor, D., Lu, Z., Feng, Q., Yi, Y., Chen, Y., Jiang, B., Yuan, X., Cui, J., Meng, S., Smith, G., Loh, B. & 李荪
1/01/22 → 31/12/23
Project: Governmental Research Project
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Cause of water pollution in Wujiang District
Raju, S., Li, W., Lu, J., Liu, S., Gong, Z., Feng, X. & Guo, S.
15/07/20 → 15/11/20
Project: Internal Research Project
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Evaluation of novel microbial source tracking markers for identification of fecal contamination in inflow Rivers of Taihu Lake
Raju, S., Feng, Q., Sun, L., John, A., Adriaenssens, E., 吕婧, 袁天马, 李文龙 & 刘爽
1/01/19 → 30/09/22
Project: Internal Research Project
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Algicidal activity synchronized with nitrogen removal by actinomycetes: Algicidal mechanism, stress response of algal cells, denitrification performance, and indigenous bacterial community co-occurrence
Ma, B., Li, A., Chen, S., Guo, H., Li, N., Pan, S., Chen, K., Liu, H., Kosolapov, D. B., Liu, X., Zhi, W., Chen, Z., Mo, Y., Sekar, R., Huang, T. & Zhang, H., 15 May 2024, In: Journal of Hazardous Materials. 470, 134117.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2 Citations (Scopus) -
Industrial and agricultural land uses affected the water quality and shaped the bacterial communities in the inflow rivers of Taihu Lake
Liu, S., Lu, J., Adriaenssens, E. M., Wang, J., McCarthy, A. J. & Sekar, R., 29 Jan 2024, In: Frontiers in Environmental Science. 12, 1340875.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access2 Citations (Scopus) -
Mixotrophic aerobic denitrification facilitated by denitrifying bacterial-fungal communities assisted with iron in micro-polluted water: Performance, metabolic activity, functional genes abundance, and community co-occurrence
Ma, B., Chu, M., Zhang, H., Chen, K., Li, F., Liu, X., Kosolapov, D. B., Zhi, W., Chen, Z., Yang, J., Deng, Y., Sekar, R., Liu, T., Liu, X. & Huang, T., 5 Sept 2024, In: Journal of Hazardous Materials. 476, 135057.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Applications of bacterial quorum sensing in algal biotechnology
Zhao, X., Ramalingam, B. & Sekar, R., 1 Jan 2023, Algae Materials: Applications Benefitting Health. Elsevier, p. 167-188 22 p.Research output: Chapter in Book or Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
2 Citations (Scopus) -
Nanotechnology Approaches to Treating Antimicrobial Resistant Infections Caused by Biofilms: Research Needs for Translation from In Vitro to In Vivo Applications
Murthy, P. S., Das, A., Ramalingam, B., Sekar, R. & Dobretsov, S., 1 Jan 2023, Biofilm Associated Antimicrobial Resistance and Its Recovery. CRC Press, p. 116-158 43 p.Research output: Chapter in Book or Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
1 Citation (Scopus)
Activities
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Workshop on Moderation Process and Assessment Preparation Moderation - S1 AY2024-25
Sekar Raju (Speaker) & Qiuchen Dong (Speaker)
26 Sept 2024Activity: Talk or presentation › Presentation at conference/workshop/seminar
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External Examiner for PhD Thesis
Sekar Raju (External PhD examiner)
Sept 2024Activity: Supervision › External examiner for PhD thesis
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Frontiers in Environmental Science (Journal)
Sekar Raju (Reviewer)
8 Aug 2024Activity: Peer-review and editorial work of publications › Editorial work
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Frontiers in Microbiology (Journal)
Sekar Raju (Editor)
5 Jul 2024Activity: Peer-review and editorial work of publications › Editorial work
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PhD - Sancy Mary Joyson
Sekar Raju (Supervisor), David Chiu (Co-supervisor) & Tobias Zech (Co-supervisor)
Jul 2024Activity: Supervision › PhD Supervision