Dr.Arumugam.S, Ph.D.,
Experience
Academic – 10 years as PRINCIPAL in PG offering Arts and Science Colleges
24 years as HOD of Microbiology
Administrative – Syndicate Member in Periyar University, Salem. ( 2014 to Oct 2017)
– Deputy Warden in College Hostel for 12 years.
Education
- PhD – Microbiology. Periyar University, India, 2014
- MPhil -Biotechnology. Bharathidasan University, India, 2004
- MSc – Microbiology. Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, India, 1996
- BSc – Zoology. Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, India, 1994
Professional Experience
- PRINCIPAL at Krishna Arts & Science College-krishnagiri- 01( Mar- 2019-Till Date)
PRINCIPAL at VivekanandhaArts and Science College(w) Sankagiri
March 2018 to Feb 2019
PRINCIPAL at Sengunthar Arts and Science College, Tiruchengode, India (March 2011 to October 2017)
Responsibilities
- Overall administration of the Institution having students’ strength of 2000 with 20 undergraduate and 10 postgraduate programmes along with 4 M.Phil. and one Ph.D. research programs.
- Recruitment of faculty members and procurement of all needed things for the institution. Effective implementation of teaching – learning of curriculum through 23 Heads of the department and 95 teaching faculty members.
- Establishment of Laboratories suitable for teaching and research. Facilitating industry – institution interaction for career advancement and campus placements.
- Setting vision and mission of the institution and guiding to achieve it.
Head of the Department of Microbiology (June 1998 to February2011)
Sengunthar Arts and Science College Tiruchengode, India.
Taught Microbiology, Molecular Biology and Basic Biotechnology to BS, MS and MPhil Microbiology students and scholars. Conducted Microbiology labs, supervised research projects, and evaluated students’ work.
Lecturer in Microbiology (August 1996 to May 1998)
Sengunthar Arts and Science College, Tiruchengode, India.
Taught Microbiology, Molecular Biology and Basic Biotechnology to BS, MS and MPhil Microbiology students and scholars. Conducted Microbiology labs, supervised research projects, and evaluated students’ work.
Member Board of Examiners in Microbiology (1998 – Present)
MS Board (Microbiology), Periyar University, Salem, India, 2001 – present
BS Board (Microbiology), BharathiarUnivesity, Coimbatore, India, 2001- present
BS Board (Microbiology), Dr MGR University, Chennai, India, 2001 -2003
BS Board (Microbiology), Madurai Kamarajar University, Madurai, India, 1998 – 2001
BS Board (Microbiology), Periyar University, India, 1998 – 2001
BS Board (Microbiology), University of Madras, India, 1996 – 1998
Chairman Board of Studies in Microbiology
BS Board (Microbiology), Periyar University, Salem, India, 2008 – 2011
Member in various academic forums
Senate Council, Periyar University, Salem India, 2011 – present
Expert Committee to grant affiliation for New courses, Periyar University, 2007 – present
Standing Committee on Academic Affairs, Periyar University, Salem, India, 2008 – 2011
MS Board of Studies (Microbiology), Periyar University, Salem, India, 2008 – 2011
M Phil Board of Studies (Microbiology), Periyar University, Salem, India, 2008 -2011
Symposium/ Meeting Chair/Co-ordinator
Coordinator, In service Training for Secondary Grade Science Teachers, sponsored by Tamilnadu State Council for Science and Technology, Chennai. Dec 20, 2014.
Convener, National Seminar on Vistas in Plant and Microbial Biotechnology, sponsored by Tamilnadu State Council for Science and Technology, Chennai. Feb 19, 2010.
Co-Coordinator, All India Summer Research Training Program sponsored by Tamilnadu State Council for Science and Technology, Chennai. May 16 – 30, 2008.
Co-Coordinator, Creation of Scientific Awareness for Unemployed Youth, Farmers and Women Self Help Group sponsored by Tamilnadu State Council for Science and Technology, Chennai. Mar 8,21 &22, 2008.
Asst. Coordinator, In service Training for Secondary Grade Science Teachers sponsored by Tamilnadu State Council for Science and Technology, Chennai. Oct 24-27, 2007.
Co-Coordinator, All India Summer Research Training Program sponsored by sponsored by Tamilnadu State Council for Science and Technology, Chennai. May 16 – 30, 2006.
Co-Coordinator, All India Summer Research Training Program sponsored by Tamilnadu State Council for Science and Technology, Chennai. May 16 – 30, 2006.
Co-Coordinator, 2005 – Young Student Scientist Program sponsored by Tamilnadu State Council for Science and Technology, Chennai. May 1-31, 2005.
Co-Coordinator, All India Summer Research Training Program sponsored by Tamilnadu State Council for Science and Technology, Chennai. May 16 – 30, 2005.
Co-Coordinator, Young Student Scientist Program sponsored by Tamilnadu State Council for Science and Technology, Chennai. May 1-31, 2004.
Co-Coordinator, All India Summer Research Training Program sponsored by Sengunthar Education Trust. May 16 – 30, 2004.
Co-Coordinator, All India Summer Research Training Program sponsored by Sengunthar Education Trust. May 16 – 30, 2003.
Co-Coordinator, Golden Jubilee Year of DNA discovery sponsored by Tamilnadu State Council for Science and Technology, Chennai and, DBT, New Delhi . Dec 19-20, 2003.
Co-Coordinator, Young Student Scientist Program sponsored by Tamilnadu State Council for Science and Technology, Chennai. May 1 – 31, 2003.
Co-Coordinator, National Level Scientist Meet sponsored by Tamilnadu State Council for Science and Technology, Chennai. Oct 13, 2001.
Asst. coordinator, National Seminar on Microbes in Peace and War sponsored by Sengunthar Education Trust. Feb 21-22, 2000.
Research experience
Graduate Research (Ph.D. – Part-time) (October 2005 to January 2014)
Periyar University, Salem, India
Thesis: Production and characterization of a novel Antimicrobial peptide ‘Curvacin A’ produced by Lactobacillus curvatus
Supervisor: Dr.A.Mohankumar, Department of Zoology, Chikkanna Government Arts College, Tirupur 638 602, India.
Principal Investigator for a funded research project (2008-2010)
Project title: Bioactive compound from marine organism (sponges) against prolonged wound infection in fishermen community.
Sponsor: Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology, Chennai, India
Funding amount: INR 180000.00 Period: April 2008 – March 2010
Supervising Research Projects (1998 to present)
Periyar university (Accredited by NAAC), India.
Supervising Research Projects to MS Microbiology students.
Studies on antimicrobial agents and novel antimicrobial peptides isolated from microbial sources.
Graduate Research (M.Phil.) (2003 to 2004)
Department of Pharmacology, Vinayaka Missions Pharmacy College, Salem, India.
Dissertation: Citric acid production by Aspergillusniger – An UV mutation study for strain improvement.
Described a New bacterial species
Described a new bacterial species in the genus Bacillus, isolated from the sewage sample collected at Madurai, India.
Species Name: Bacillus indospiriformins
Deposited at Microbial Type Culture Collection Centre (MTCC), in the campus of Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigargh, India
Accession Number: MTCC 3404
Research support
Science and Technology Project Award (Role: PI)
Funding agency: Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology, Chennai, India
Project title: Bioactive compound from marine organism (sponges) against prolonged wound infection in fishermen community.
Funding amount: INR 180000.00 Period: April 2008 –March 2010.
Related training
Faculty development program on Academic Research organized by Internal Quality Assessment cell, Vysya College, Salem, Jan 25, 2010.
- Orientation Program for College Teachers on Environment Education, Periyar University, Salem, Mar 16, 2005.
- Workshop on Pedagogical skill for college Teachers, Sri Saradha college, Salem, Feb 23 &24, 2005.
- Short Term Training course on Electrophoresis Techniques, Yercaud Biotech Institute, Sep 2 – 7, 2005.
- State level crash course on Applied Biology an update, KSR college of Arts and Science , Tiruchengode, Oct 10 & 11, 1998.
- Workshop on Tribal Medicine, ManonmaniamSundaranar University, Tirunelveli, Mar 25, 1995.
International Recognition
Award: Cultural Ambassador from India to Wisconsin, USA.
Sponsor: The Rotary Foundation, Rotary International.
Theme: Vocational, professional and cultural exchange between two countries.
Duration: April and May 2009.
Uniqueness: Home stay with host families at Wisconsin.
Awards
Best PRINCIPAL award in 2019 Honoured by Thatchaseelam Trust, Tamilnadu.
BestTeacherAward – One among five in Tamil Nadu,awarded by RedingtonFoundation, Chennai,,( 2017),for Extraordinary Contribution for Educational Development s
Eminent Educationist Award presented by National and international Compendium, New Delhi, for spectacular performance, outstanding achievements and remarkable role in the field of education. Jan 27, 2012.
Bharat Vidya Shiromani Award by National Solidarity Council, New Delhi. National Education Leadership Award by Economic Growth Society of India, New Delhi for outstanding achievements and remarkable role in Education. Jan 28, 2012.
Rajiv Gandhi Education Excellence Award by Indian Solidarity Council, New Delhi. Dr.Radhakrishnan Gold Medal Award by Global Economic Progress and Research Association, New Delhi for educational achievements, Apr 25, 2012.
Shiksha Rathan Purashkar Award by India International Frienship Society, New Delhi. Best Educationist Award and a Certificate of Education Excellence by International Institute of Education and Management, New Delhi for meritorious service in the field of higher education, Jul 16, 2011.
National Education Leadership Award presented by Economic Growth Society of India, New Delhi for Individual achievement in the field of Education, Jun 24, 2012.
Dr. Radhakrishnan Gold Medal Award presented by Global Economic progress and Research Association, Thiruvannamalai, Tamilnadu, India, Sep 12, 2012.
Ph.D., Thesis
Production and characterization of a novel antimicrobial peptide ‘Curvacin A’
Produced by Lactobacillus curvatus
Antimicrobial peptides of microbial origin against pathogenic bacteria were taken as a key of our research. Fermented and non-fermented milk samples were taken as source of Isolation of Lactobacilli. Using MRS agar plates and based on the methodology prescribed in Bergey’s manual of systematic bacteriology, the cultures were identified as Lactobacillus sp. After mass cultivation, the supernatant of culture broth was partially purified to extract bacteriocin, particularly curvacin A from Lactobacillus curvatus. Various physic-chemical parameters were modified to find out the optimum growth parameters for propagation of strain and production of curvacin A. Supplementation of tween 80 and lactose was found to increase the production of curvacin A.Various commercially available antibiotics were tested against curvacin A and found no interference with its action. Purified curvacin A was tested against various pathogenic type strains of bacteria using agar well diffusion technique and broth dilution technique. Most of the enteropathogens were inhibited by curvacin A. Action of curvacin A on human RBC was detected using haemolysis method. The protein nature of bacteriocin was confirmed through the incubation of curvacin with various concentrations of proteolytic enzymes. The molecular biological studies were also performed to authentically identify the isolate of Lactobacillus curvatus through 16 S rRNA sequence and plasmid sequence to confirm the gene loci of curvacin A production. The sequence and mass of the peptide were identified by LCMS IT TOF. The antimicrobial peptide curvacin A has 59 amino acid and possess 6.2 KD mass. In future this peptide can be used as an alternative for chemical antibiotics to treat the enteropathogens originated from various food sources. They can also be used as a potent probiotics and food additives to increase the shelf life of packed food.
Publication
Arumugam, S., and Mohankumar, A. (2012). Assay of novel antimicrobial peptide Curvacin A produced by Lactobacillus curvatus isolated from fermented food products and its molecular characterization. Int. Jr. Appl. Bioresearch. 6: 24-29.
Arumugam, S., and Mohankumar. A. (2012). Impact of culture conditions on the production of curvacin A by Lactobacillus curvatus LC05. Int. Jr. Pharma and Biosciences. 3(3): (B) 427 – 432.
Arumugam, S., Vidhyapallavi,R., Kuberan, T., Jebamalar, P.W. (2011). Screening of thermophilic Bacillus cereus strains and optimization of growth conditions for mass production of alkaline protease enzyme. Research Jr. Pharma. Bio. Chem. Sci. 2(2): 848-854.
Technical expertise
Microbiology: Basic and applied aspects of food, industrial, medical, agriculture and diagnostic microbiological techniques.
- Immunology: ELISA, Immunodiffusion (radial, ODD, rocket), anti-antibody raising
- Molecular biology: Purification of Proteins, genomics, enzyme assays, PCR, cell culture techniques (animal and plant cell culture), cloning studies.
- Genetic studies: mutation studies (spontaneous and induced), phage assay, viral cultivation through embryonated egg culture, Ames test.
- Biophysics: Chromatography (TLC, affinity and gel filtration chromatography), Electrophoresis (Agarose, PAGE and SDS PAGE, and 2D electrophoresis)
- Spectroscopic techniques (UV visible spectroscopy, spectroflurimetry and HPLC)
- Chemistry: Extraction of bioactive compound from plant and microbial sources (to some extent)
- Animal handling: Well experienced in handling of laboratory animals like rabbit, albino rats and Guinea Pigs. Experienced on Rabbit Ligated illeal loop studies to check the in vivo pathogenic effect of some entero pathogenic bacteria. Experienced on anti-antibody raising in laboratory animals.
- Computer skills: windows 7/ Microsoft office package.
- Typewriting: Qualified in Typewriting ( English) Junior Grade
Experience in Academic Quality Bench Mark
Accreditation and Assessment Process (NAAC)
- UGC 12B and 2F Approval Process
- ISO 9001-2008 Process
- UGC institution Autonomous Work
- NIRF and ARIIA Process