Department of Microbiology

1 Assistant Professor/Research Faculty (2025.06.09-Present)

• Department of Microbiology/NCOE-MHRD, Thiagarajar College, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. 

2 Post-doctoral Researcher (2022.09.01 to 2025.02.28)

• College of Natural Resources and Life Science, Dong-A University, Busan, Republic of Korea.

3 Senior Researcher (2021.09.01 to 2022.08.31)

• Department of Biological Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon-si, Republic of Korea.

4 Principal Investigator (2016.01.01 to 2017.12.31)

• Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund, New Delhi, India.

5 Senior Research Fellow * (2013.10.01 to 31.12.2015)

• DST-Funded Project, Department of Biotechnology, Bharathidasan University, India.

6 Research Staff * (2013.01.01 to 2015.12.31)

• Kalash Seeds-Funded Project, Department of Biotechnology, Bharathidasan University, India.

7 Deputy Biochemist (06.2010.06.01 to 2012.03.31)

• Department of Immunology, Hi-tech Diagnostic Centre, India

Note: * denotes sustained two projects simultaneously

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS (INTERNATIONAL & NATIONAL)

• 2025-FDP on “Cutting-Edge Innovations in Wearable Technology Devices,” funded by the Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Centre (MMTTC) and hosted by the Indian Institute of Information Technology, Design, and Manufacturing (IIITDM) Kancheepuram.
• 2025-Global Korea Scholarship (Awarded Visiting Researcher- Not Availed) funded by National Institute for International Education, Ministry of Education, Republic of Korea.
• 2021-Dr. D. S. Kothari Fellowship (Awarded Higher Fellowship Categories- Not Availed) funded by University Grants Commission, New Delhi, India.
• 2019-ABSTC Student Scholarship Award for attending the “15th International Society for Biosafety Research (ISBR) Symposium- Tarragona, Spain, Europe.
• 2019-IPSC Travel Award for attending the “Indian Plant Science Congress”- organized by SRM University, India.
• 2018-Best Oral Award in “National Conference on Basic and Applied Biological Sciences”- organized by Bharathiar University, India.
• 2017-Best Paper Award in “International Conference on Advances in Biotechnology and Biotherapeutics”- organized by Sathyabama University, India.
• 2017-Best Paper Award in TEQIP II Sponsored “International Conference on Advances in Biological, Chemical and Physical Sciences” - organized by Anna University, India.
• 2016-Best Poster Award in 9th “NABS National Conference on New Biological Challenges for Sustainable Development”-organized by Madurai Kamaraj University, India.
• 2016-Best Researcher Award in “National Conference on SMART SUMMIT”- organized by the PEARL Foundation for Educational Excellence Award for Higher Education in India.
• 2010-Best Proficiency Award in M.Sc. Biotechnology and PGDBI in Bioinformatics.
• 2008-University sixteenth rank holder in B.Sc. Biotechnology.
• International Journal Reviewer-Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture (Impact Factor: 5.2)
• International Journal Reviewer-Peer J Publications (Impact Factor: 2.7)
• International Journal Reviewer-BMC Plant Biology (Impact Factor: 4.8)
• International Journal Special issue Guest Editor-MDPI Plants (Impact Factor: 4.1)

LIST OF PUBLICATONS

1. Han SJ, Chae J, Kim HJ, Kim JH, Chung YS, Karthik S*, Heo JB (2025) CRISPR-Mediated Genome Editing in Peanuts: Unlocking Trait Improvement for a Sustainable Future. Plants. DOI:10.3390/plants142133022025 (Impact Factor: 4.1, *Corresponding author)

2. Kim CY, Karthik S, Kim H (2025) Soybean Molecular Breeding Through Genome Editing Tools: Recent Advances and Future Perspectives. Agronomy DOI:10.3390/agronomy150819832025 (Impact Factor: 3.4)

3. Chae J*, Seong Ju H*, Karthik S*, Hye Jeong K*, Jee Hye K, Hee Rang Y, Young-Soo C, Sibum S, Jae Bok H (2024) LIKE HETEROCHROMATIN PROTEIN 1 (LHP1) partially inhibits the transcriptional activation of FT by MYB73 and regulates flowering in Arabidopsis. The Plant Journal DOI:10.1111/tpj.16980 (Impact factor:6.2, *Equal contribution)

4. Karthik S, Chae J, Han SJ, Kim JH, Kim HJ, Chung YS, Kim HU, Heo JB (2024) Improving the Traits of Perilla frutescens (L.) Britt Using Gene Editing Technology. Plants DOI:10.3390/plants13111466 (Impact Factor: 4.0)

5. Karthik S, Chae J, Han SJ, Kim JH, Kim HJ, Chung YS, Kim HU, Heo JB (2024) The function of Like Heterochromatin Protein 1 (LHP1) as an epigenetic regulator of plant development. Journal of Plant Biology DOI:10.1007/s12374-024-09435-7 (Impactfactor:2.2)

6. Hee Rang Y, Chong C, Jee Hye K, Hae Eun K, Karthik S, Hye Jeong K, Young-Soo C, Hee Soon B, Sibum S, Hyun Uk K, Jae Bok H (2023) Genome-edited HEADING DATE 3a knockout enhances leaf production in Perilla frutescens. Frontiers in Plant Science DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1133518 (Impact factor: 4.1)

7. Sathish S, Vasudevan V, Karthik S, Pavan G, Siva R, Manickavasagam M (2023) Precursor feeding enhances L-Dopa production in hairy root culture of Hybanthus enneaspermus (L.) F. Muell. Biologia DOI: 10.1007/s11756-022-01308-z (Impact factor: 1.4)

8. Karthik S, Sathish S, Sahayarayan JJ, Manickavasagam M (2022) Meta-topolin enhances regeneration and Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation in radish (Raphanus sativus L.). In vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology DOI: 10.1007/s11627-022-10311-7 (Impact factor: 2.2)

9. Sathish S, Vasudevan V, Karthik S, Ajithan C, Siva R, Parthasarathy SP, Manickavasagam M (2022) Impact of silver nanoparticles on the micropropagation of Hybanthus enneaspermus and assessment of genetic fidelity using RAPD and SCoT markers. Plant Cell, Tissue Organ Culture DOI: 10.1007/s11240-022-02350-0 (Impact factor: 2.3)

10. Karthik S, Pavan G, Prasanth A, Sathish S, Appunu C, Manickavasagam M (2021) Improved in planta genetic transformation efficiency in bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.). In vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology DOI: 10.1007/s11627-021-10160-w (Impact factor: 2.2)

11. Karthik S, Pavan G, Manickavasagam M (2020) Nitric oxide donor regulates Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation efficiency in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill]. Plant Cell, Tissue Organ Culture DOI: 10.1007/s11240-020-01808-3 (Impact factor: 2.3)

12. Sathish S, Vasudevan V, Karthik S, Elayaraja D, Pavan G, C Ajithan, Manickavasagam M (2020) Elicitors induced L-Dopa accumulation in adventitious root cultures of Hybanthus enneaspermus (L.) F.Muell. Vegetos DOI: 10.1007/s42535-020-00108-7

13. Karthik S, Tuteja N, Ganapathi A, Manickavasagam M (2019) Pea p68, a DEAD-box helicase, enhances salt tolerance in marker-free transgenic plants of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill]. 3 Biotech DOI: 10.1007/s13205-018-1553-z (Impact factor: 2.6)

14. Karthik S, Pavan G, Veda K, Sathish S, Manickavasagam M (2019) Sodium nitroprusside enhances regeneration and alleviates salinity stress in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology DOI: 10.1016/j.bcab.2019.101173 (Impact factor: 3.4)

15. Sathish S, Vasudevan V, Karthik S, Pavan G, Manickavasagam M (2019) Enhanced L-Dopa production from elicited cell suspension culture of Hybanthus enneaspermus (L.) F. Muell. Plant Biotechnology Reports DOI: 10.1007/s11816-019-00555-y (Impact factor: 1.7)

16. Karthik S, Pavan G, Sathish S, Siva R, Kumar PS, Manickavasagam M (2018) Genotype-independent and enhanced In-planta Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated genetic transformation of peanut [Arachis hypogaea (L.)]. 3 Biotech DOI: 10.1007/s13205-018-1231- 1 (Impact Factor: 2.6)

17. Vasudevan V, Subramanyam K, Elayaraja D, Karthik S, Vasudevan A, Manickavasagam M (2017) Assessment of the efficacy of amino acids and polyamines on regeneration of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus Thunb) and analysis of genetic fidelity of regenerated plants by SCoT and RAPD markers. Plant Cell Tissue Organ Culture DOI: 10.1007/s11240-017- 1243-2 (Impact Factor: 2.3)

18. Arun M, Chinnathambi A, Subramanyam K, Karthik S, Sivanandhan G, Theboral J, Alharbi SA, Kim CK, Ganapthi A (2016) Involvement of exogenous polyamines enhances regeneration and Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation in half-seeds of soybean. 3 Biotech DOI: 10.1007/s13205-016-0448-0 (Impact Factor: 2.6)

19. Subramanyam K, Rajesh M, Jaganath B, Vasuki A, Theboral J, Ilayaraja D, Karthik S, Manickavasagam M, Ganapathi A (2013) Assessment of factors influencing the Agrobacterium-mediated In-Planta seed transformation of brinjal (Solanum melongena (L.). Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology DOI: 10.1007/s12010-013-0359z (Impact Factor: 3.1)

20. Jaganath B, Subramanyam K, Mayavan S, Karthik S, Elayaraja D, Udayakumar R, Manickavasagam M, Ganapathi A (2013) An efficient In-planta transformation of Jatropha curcas (L.) and multiplication of transformed plants through in vivo grafting. Protoplasma DOI: 10.1007/s00709-013-0558-z (Impact Factor: 2.5)

CONFERENCES/SEMINARS/WORKSHOPS PRESENTED AND PARTICIPATED

1. Participated in the International Conference on “Microbes: Friends or Foes?” Organized by the Department of Microbial Technology, School of Biological Sciences, Madurai Kamaraj University, India, on 31 October 2025.

2. Participated in KSBS-Plant Breeding Strategy for Seed Industry growth Organized by the Korean Society of Breeding Science, South Korea, on 28 June 2023. 

3. Participated and presented a paper entitled “Development of salinity tolerance and insect resistant soybean cultivar via genetic transformation” at the International Conference, Organized by the Institute of Life Science, Kangwon National University, South Korea, on 3 December 2021.

4. Participated in the National Conference on Recent Trends in Biotechnology Organized by the Department of Biotechnology, Bharathidasan University, India, on 20 February 2020. 

5. Participated in the National Seminar on Science and Society-Challenges in Biotechnology Organized by the Department of Botany, Bharathidasan University, India, on 27 February 2019. 

6. Participated and presented a poster entitled “Development of transgenic soybean for insect resistance” at the Indian Plant Science Congress Organized by the SRM Institute of Science and Technology, India, on 23 January 2019. 

7. Participated in the 15th International Society for Biosafety Research (ISBR) Symposium-Tarragona, Spain, on 20 June 2019. 

8. Participated and presented a paper entitled “Pea p68 a DEAD-box helicase enhances salt tolerance in marker-free transgenic plant of Soybean” in the scientific deliberations of the National Conference on Basic and Applied Biological Sciences organized by the Department of Botany and Biochemistry, Bharathiar University, India, on 10 October 2018. 

9. Participated and presented a paper entitled "Sodium nitroprusside enhances the Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation in soybean" at the international conference on Emerging Synergies in Agriculture, Food Processing Engineering and Biotechnology organized by the School of Agriculture and Biosciences, Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, India, on 21 February 2018. 

10. Participated and presented a paper entitled "Production of eco-friendly soybean by transgenic approach" at the International Conference on Advances in Biotechnology and Biotherapeutics organized by Sathyabama University, India, on 8 March 2017. 

11. Participated and presented a paper entitled "Factors influencing the in-planta genetic transformation and efficiency of field bean varieties" in the TEQIP II Sponsored International Conference on Advances in Biological, Chemical and Physical Sciences jointly organized by the Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Physics, Bharathidasan Institute of Technology, Anna University, India on 13 March 2017. 

12. Participated in the National Conference on Smart Summit 2016, Organized by the PEARL-A Foundation for Education Excellence, India, on 10 December 2016.

13. Participated and presented a poster entitled "Sonication and Vacuum infiltration influencing the Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated in planta seed transformation of Bitter gourd (Memorelica charantia L.)" in the 7th Horticultural Society of India- Doubling Farmers Income through horticulture, IARI, India, on 15 November 2016. 

14. Participated and presented a poster entitled Assessment of factors influencing the Agrobacterium- mediated in planta genetic transformation of peanut in the 9th NABS National Conference on New Biological Researches: Opportunities and Challenges for Sustainable Development organized by the School of Energy, Environment and Natural Resources, Madurai Kamaraj University, India, on 11 August 2019. 

15. Participated and presented a poster entitled "Sodium nitroprusside enhances regeneration and alleviates salinity stress in soybean" at the International Conference on Biodiversity and Biotechnology conducted by the Department of Biotechnology, Bharathidasan University, India, on 25 February 2016. 

16. Participated and presented a poster entitled "Isolation and expression analysis of cbp gene from Clostridium acetobutylicum" at the International Conference on Frontiers in Biomedical Sciences organized by the PG and Research Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Holy Cross College, India, on 26 August 2009. 

17. Participated and presented a paper entitled "Characterization of cbp gene from Clostridium acetobutylicum" in the National Seminar on Recent Trends in Biotechnology, organized by the Post Graduate Department of Biotechnology, Bishop Heber College, India, on 

18. March 2009. 18. Participated in the National Seminar on Recent Trends in Bioscience organized by the School of Life Sciences, Thanthai Hans Rover College, India, on 13 March 2009.

19. Participated in National Level Symposium on Bioinformatics-Motif'07' conducted by the Department of Bioinformatics, Bharathiar University, India, on 28 September 2007. 

20. Participated in the educational seminar for Medical Laboratory Technologists conducted by Para Medical Lab Educational and Welfare Association, India, on 01 April 2007. 

21. Participated in National Seminar under the Auspices of Scientific Association of Interactive on Computational Genomics organized by the Department of Biotechnology, Srimad Andavan Arts and Science College, India, on 12 October 2006. 

22. Attended the full agenda of the DST & ACS Workshop held at Bharathidasan University, India, on 9 December 2019. 

23. Completed training course on Physiology and Molecular Approaches to Improve Drought Adaptation of Crops organized by the Department of Crop Physiology, University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, India, from 24 February to 10 March 2014. 

24. Attended a three-day workshop on Modern Analytical Techniques held at National College, India, from 18-20 February 2013.

RESOURCE PERSON/OVERSEAS EXPOSURE/VISITS

• 2024-International Conference on Microbial Diversity, Conservation and Bioprospecting, Thanthai Hans Rover College, Perambalur, Tamil Nadu, India.
• 2023-Plant Breeding Strategy for Seed Industry Growth Organized by the Korean Society of Breeding Science, South Korea.
• 2021-International Conference, Organized by the Institute of Life Science, Kangwon National University, South Korea.
• 2015-International Society for Biosafety Research (ISBR) Symposium- Tarragona, Spain, Europe.