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,  microbiome associated with microplastics, plastics degradation potential of microbes and microbial biofilms in natural and engineered systems. He has authored over 75 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 10  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),  a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA) and a member of Microbiology Society, UK.

• 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
• Molecular detection of waterborne pathogens in relation to public health
• Microbial biofilms in natural and engineered systems

• Associate Dean for Learning and Teaching, School of Science, XJTLU - Since 05/2022
• Independent Chair for PGR Viva Examinations at XJTLU - Since 02/2026
• Senior Associate Professor, Department of Biosciences and Bioinformatics, 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

• 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)

• Springer Nature Editorial Contributions Award 2025, BMC Microbiology (2025)
• Research Supervision Award, School of Science, XJTLU (2024)
• XJTLU Honoured Contributors Award (2020, 2022).
• University Recognized Teacher/University Recognised Supervisor (Honorary), University of Liverpool, UK (2010 to Present)
• Honorary Adjunct Associate Professor, Taylor's University, Malaysia (January 2024 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).