Dr. G. SUGUMAR, the Vice-Chancellor of Tamil Nadu Dr. J. Jayalalithaa Fisheries University has a University service of 33 years possessing a rich teaching, research, extension and administrative experience. A Professor of Fisheries Microbiology, served as Dean of Fisheries College and Research Institute, Thoothukudi from 2013 to 2018. He has a Ph.D. in Fishery Microbiology from UAS, Bangalore in 1994. He was a recipient of Japanese Government Scholarship and has carried out Postdoctoral research at the Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences of the Hiroshima University, Japan from 1996 to 1998 and also won FAO fellowship under AHRDP for undergoing a specialized training on Molecular Diagnostics at the Texas A&M University, USA during August – October, 2000.

As Principal Investigator, he has completed research projects on, “Antimicrobial activity of Chitoson and its use in fish preservation”. He has also served as Principal Investigator in a network project with DRWA (ICAR). He had established the Vocational training Centre on Fish Processing Technology at the Fisheries College and Research Institute in 2012 under NADP funds. In 2015, as project supervisor, he headed the team that developed “Environmental guidelines for Cage culture of fish in reservoirs of Tamil Nadu”. He supervised projects funded by TN Fimsul, NAFCC and Industry sponsored schemes. He has been conferred with “Best Teacher Award” by the Professional Fisheries Graduates Forum, Mumbai in 2003, 2008 and 2011. He has published 51 research articles in journals, 20 research articles in the proceedings and presented 10 research papers in international conferences / seminars / symposia, besides having authored 8 books and 5 teaching manuals.

He was appointed as Joint Special Officer (JSO) by the Govt. of Tamil Nadu for establishment of Tamil Nadu Fisheries University in February 2012. He was part of the ministerial delegation to Malaysia, China and South Korea in 2012. As Dean of Fisheries College and Research Institute, Thoothukudi, introduced programmes and measures for infrastructure development and academic reformation besides programmes on soft skills for students. The institute has won, “Best College Award 2014” and he had won “Excellence for the Best Scientist Award – 2014” instituted by Malarum Velanmai, Coimbatore. He was conferred with “Fellow of Agricultural Scientific Tamil Society (SciTSA)”, New Delhi in 2015. He was conferred with a Recognition award for his significant contributions to Fish Processing Technology and Applied Fisheries Microbiology by the SABS, Bangalore and a Citation award at the International Conference on Environmental Sustainability for Food Security in September, 2016. Also got the Best Research publication Award in Fishery Technology Journal (2018).

He had served in academic bodies of the TANUVAS, TNFU and MS Universities and also a member of the special committee constituted by the go to look into the Aquarium trade; currently a member of the Scientific Panel for fish and fishery products of the FSSAI. He is a life member of the SoFT (I), AMI and was a member of Japanese Society of Fisheries Science, Korean Society of Fisheries and Aquatic Science and WAS – Asia Pacific Chapter.