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 Central University of Kerala
11 September 2025

Dr. Rishiram Ramanan

Sustainable Resources Laboratory (Sure Labs)


Brief Profile

Dr Rishiram Ramanan has worked at the intersection of R&D, Industry and Policy in the Environmental Science & Technology Sector for ~20 years. After a brief stint in 2004-05 at the Energy and Wetland Research Group, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, he pursued his PhD on biological CO2 sequestration at National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), Nagpur, India. Subsequently, he worked on Clean Development Mechanism Projects for Indian Industry Clients at Emergent Ventures India, Gurugram that were later approved by United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). He joined Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), a leading industry chamber in India in 2009, and worked on projects and policies, often apprising Government of India about industry views in the Environment, Climate Change and Renewable Energy sectors. A major project at FICCI funded by US Environment Protection Agency was the Global Methane Initiative (Formerly Methane to Markets) which involved working with MoEFCC, MNRE and MoUD, Government of India on waste management initiatives across India. Dr Ramanan was a post-doctoral fellow at Korea Research Institute of Bioscience & Biotechnology (KRIBB) from 2011-2016 researching on phycology. Currently, at Central University of Kerala since 2016, his Group’s research interest is on wetlands, phycology, and environmental technologies. His group also works on critical analysis of climate change and environmental policies of India. He was concurrently a Brainpool Invited Scholar at KRIBB after accepting an invitation from National Research Foundation (NRF), Ministry of Science & IT, Government of Republic of Korea (2021-24). He is a member of the Editorial Board of PLoS One & Frontiers in Microbiology, and reviewer for several SCI journals. He is among the top 2% researchers globally for the year 2022 based on Stanford University’s research on c-score, and citation metrics, and published by Elsevier on October 4, 2023.

31

Publications

4

Projects

5

Students

8

Courses Taught


...
Dr. Rishiram Ramanan
Assistant Professor
Department of Environmental Science
  +91-467-2309210
  [email protected]
  Personal Website
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Academic Identity
 Google Scholar ID
 ORCID
 Scopus ID
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 Research

Sustainable Resources Laboratory

Sure Labs research interests broadly focus on phycology with specific interests in algae diversity in wetlands & wetland conservation, stress biology and secondary/lipid/carbon metabolism in algae, algal-bacterial interactions, and environmental technologies. My group also works on critical analysis of climate change and environmental policies of India. Currently, under algal biology and algal biorefinery, we, at sustainable resources laboratory, manipulate algal physiology and growth, and net-zero carbon products such as biopolymers, biomaterials and high-value products such as nutraceuticals and cosmetics are being produced. We also explore wastewater based algal cultivation and bioremediation of wastewaters. Meanwhile, the role of emerging pollutants on phytoplankton health, and thereby ecosystem productivity is also being analyzed. Overall, algae as a sustainable resource, phytoplankton diversity and conservation, and positive environmental and climate change action and policies are the core research interest of Sure Labs.

For latest information, please visit our laboratory website.

https://sites.google.com/cukerala.ac.in/surelabs/home 

 

 Recent and Major Publications

  1. C. Amaneesh, Shankari Anna Balan, P. S. Silpa, Ji Won Kim, Kozhumal Greeshma, A. Aswathi Mohan, Aiswarya Robert Antony, Hans-Peter Grossart, Hee-Sik Kim, Rishiram Ramanan,"Gross Negligence: Impacts of Microplastics and Plastic Leachates on Phytoplankton Community and Ecosystem Dynamics",Environmental Science & Technology,57, 1, 5–24

  2. Rishiram Ramanan, Amit Bafana, Saravanadevi Sivanesan, Kannan Krishnamurthi,"Tapan Chakrabarti (1949–2022)",Current Science,124, 1, 125-126

  3. Kozhumal Greeshma, Hee-Sik Kim, Rishiram Ramanan,"The emerging potential of natural and synthetic algae-based microbiomes for heavy metal removal and recovery from wastewaters",Environmental Research,Volume 215, Part 1, December 2022, 114238

  4. A. Aswathi Mohan., Antony, A. R., Greeshma, K., Yun, J.H., Ramanan, R., Kim, H.S.,"Algal biopolymers as sustainable resources for a net-zero carbon bioeconomy",Bioresource Technology,2021, 344, 126397

  5. Tran, Q.-G., Cho, K., Kim, U., Yun, J.-H., Cho, D.-H., Heo, J., Park, S.-B., Kim, J.W., Lee, Y.J., Ramanan, R., Kim, H.-S.,"Enhancement of β-carotene production by regulating the autophagy-carotenoid biosynthesis seesaw in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii",Bioresource Technology,2019, 292, 121937.

  6. Tran, Q.-G., Yoon, H. R., Cho, K., Lee, S.-J., Crespo, J. L., Ramanan, R., Kim, H.-S.,"Dynamic Interactions between Autophagosomes and Lipid Droplets in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii",Cells,2019, 8, 992

  7. Ramanan, R., Tran, Q.-G., Cho, D.-H., Jung, J.-E., Kim, B.-H., Shin, S.-Y., Choi, S.-H., Liu, K.-H., Kim, D.-S., Lee, S.-J., Crespo, J.L., Lee, H.-G., Oh, H.-M., Kim, H.-S.,"The Ancient Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase Signaling System is a Master Regulator of Energy and Carbon Metabolism in Algae",Plant Physiology,2018, pp. 01780.02017

  8. Kim, B.-H., Choi, J.-E., Cho, K., Kang, Z., Ramanan, R., Moon, D.-G., & Kim, H.-S.,"Influences of water depth on microalgal production, biomass harvest, and energy consumption in high rate algal pond using municipal wastewater",Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology,2018, 28(4), 630-637

  9. Kakarla, R., Choi, J.-W., Yun, J.-H., Kim, B.-H., Heo, J., Lee, S., Cho, D.-H., Ramanan, R., Kim, H.-S.,"Application of high-salinity stress for enhancing the lipid productivity of Chlorella sorokiniana HS1 in a two-phase process",Journal of Microbiology,2018, 56(1), 56–64.

  10. Cho, D.-H., Choi, J.-W., Kang, Z., Kim, B.-H., Oh, H.-M., Kim, H.-S*., & Ramanan, R*.,"Microalgal diversity fosters stable biomass productivity in open ponds treating wastewater",Scientific Reports,2017, 7, 1979

  11. Ramanan, R., Kim, B.-H., Cho, D.-H., Oh, H.-M., & Kim, H.-S.,"Algae–bacteria interactions: Evolution, ecology and emerging applications.",Biotechnology Advances,2016, 34(1), 14–29

  12. Cho, D.-H., Ramanan, R., Heo, J., Shin, D.-S., Oh, H.-M., & Kim, H.-S.,"Influence of limiting factors on biomass and lipid productivity of axenic Chlorella vulgaris in photobioreactor under chemostat cultivation",Bioresource Technology,2016, 211, 367-373

  13. Kim, B.-H., # Ramanan, R., # Kang, Z., Cho, D.-H., Oh, H.-M., & Kim, H.-S.,"Chlorella sorokiniana HS1, novel freshwater green algal strain, hyper-accumulates lipid droplets in seawater salinity",Biomass & Bioenergy,2016, 85, 300–305

  14. Heo, J., Cho, D.-H., Ramanan, R., Oh, H.-M., & Kim, H.-S.,"PhotoBiobox: A tablet sized, low-cost, high throughput photobioreactor for microalgal screening and culture optimization for growth, lipid content and CO2 sequestration.",Biochemical Engineering Journal,2015, 103, 193–197

  15. Ramanan, R., Kang, Z., Kim, B.-H., Cho, D.-H., Jin, L., Oh, H.-M., & Kim, H.-S.,"Phycosphere bacterial diversity in green algae reveals an apparent similarity across habitats.",Algal Research,2015, 8, 140–144

  16. Kang, Z., Kim, B.-H., Ramanan, R., Choi, J.-E., Yang, J.-W., Oh, H.-M., & Kim, H.-S.,"A cost analysis of microalgal biomass and biodiesel production in open raceways treating municipal wastewater and under optimum light wavelength.",Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology,2015, 25(1), 109–118

  17. Cho, D.-H., # Ramanan, R., # Heo, J., Kang, Z., Kim, B.-H., Ahn, C.-Y., Oh, H.-M., Kim, H.-S.,"Organic carbon, influent microbial diversity and temperature strongly influence algal diversity and biomass in raceway ponds treating raw municipal wastewater.",Bioresource Technology,2015, 191, 481–487

  18. Cho, D.-H., Ramanan, R., Heo, J., Lee, J., Kim, B.-H., Oh, H.-M., & Kim, H.-S.,"Enhancing microalgal biomass productivity by engineering a microalgal–bacterial community.",Bioresource Technology,2015, 175, 578–585

  19. Cho, D.-H., Baek, K.-H., Ramanan, R., Ahn, C.-Y., Ahn, K.-H., Yoon, B.-D., Oh, H.-M., Kim, H.-S.,"Hydrocarbon pollution does not influence bacterial diversity as much as geographic location: a Korean case study.",International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology,2015, 12(6), 1889–1898

  20. Kim, B.-H., Kang, Z., Ramanan, R., Choi, J.-E., Cho, D.-H., Oh, H.-M., & Kim, H.-S.,"Nutrient removal and biofuel production in high rate algal pond using real municipal wastewater.",Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology,2014, 24(8), 1123–1132

  21. Kim, B.-H., Ramanan, R., Cho, D.-H., Oh, H.-M., & Kim, H.-S.,"Role of Rhizobium, a plant growth promoting bacterium, in enhancing algal biomass through mutualistic interaction.",Biomass and Bioenergy,2014, 69, 95–105

  22. Cho, D. H., Ramanan, R., Kim, B. H., Lee, J., Kim, S., Yoo, C., Choi, G.G., Oh, H.M., Kim, H. S.,"Novel approach for the development of axenic microalgal cultures from environmental samples.",Journal of Phycology,2013, 49(4), 802–810

  23. Lee, J., Cho, D.-H., Ramanan, R., Kim, B.-H., Oh, H.-M., & Kim, H.-S.,"Microalgae-associated bacteria play a key role in the flocculation of Chlorella vulgaris.",Bioresource Technology,2013, 131, 195–201

  24. Ramanan, R., Kim, B.-H., Cho, D.-H., Ko, S.-R., Oh, H.-M., & Kim, H.-S.,"Lipid droplet synthesis is limited by acetate availability in starchless mutant of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.",FEBS Letters,2013, 587(4), 370–377

  25. Ramanan, R., Kannan, K., Sivanesan, S. D., & Chakrabarti, T.,"Prevalence and phylogenetic relationship of two β-carbonic anhydrases in affiliates of Enterobacteriaceae.",Annals of microbiology,63(4), 1275–1282

  26. Ramanan, R., Vinayagamoorthy, N., Sivanesan, S. D., Kannan, K., & Chakrabarti, T.,"Influence of CO2 concentration on carbon concentrating mechanisms in cyanobacteria and green algae: a proteomic approach.",Algae,2012, 27(4), 295–301

  27. Kim, B.-H., Ramanan, R., Cho, D.-H., Choi, G.-G., La, H.-J., Ahn, C.-Y., Oh, H.-M., Kim, H.-S.,"Simple, rapid and cost-effective method for high quality nucleic acids extraction from different strains of Botryococcus braunii.",PLOS One,2012, 7(5), e37770

  28. Fulke, A. B., Mudliar, S., Yadav, R., Shekh, A., Srinivasan, N., Ramanan, R., Krishnamurthi, K., Devi, S.S., Chakrabarti, T.,"Bio-mitigation of CO2, calcite formation and simultaneous biodiesel precursors production using Chlorella sp.",Bioresource Technology,2010, 101(21), 8473–8476

  29. Ramanan, R., Kannan, K., Deshkar, A., Yadav, R., Chakrabarti, T.,"Enhanced algal CO2 sequestration through calcite deposition by Chlorella sp. and Spirulina platensis in a mini-raceway pond.",Bioresource Technology,2010, 101(8), 2616–2622

  30. 27. Ramanan, R., Kannan, K., Sivanesan, S. D., Mudliar, S., Kaur, S., Tripathi, A. K., Chakrabarti, T.,"Bio-sequestration of carbon dioxide using carbonic anhydrase enzyme purified from Citrobacter freundii.",World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology,25(6), 981–987

  31. Ramanan, R., Kannan, K., Vinayagamoorthy, N., Ramkumar, K. M., Sivanesan, S. D., & Chakrabarti, T.,"Purification and characterization of a novel plant-type carbonic anhydrase from Bacillus subtilis.",Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering,2009, 14(1), 32–37


 Group Members

 Research Projects Undertaken

ALGAL POLYMERS, PLASTICIZERS & BIOCOMPOSITES FOR PRODUCTION OF BIODEGRADABLE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT & BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS

 NATIONAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION, MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND ICT, REPUBLIC OF KOREA

BRAINPOOL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMME

HYDROBIOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS AND AWARENESS CAMPAIGN ON IMPORTANCE AND SERVICES OF KASARGOD WETLANDS AMONG SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

 State Wetland Authority of Kerala (SWAK), Government of Kerala

WETLAND CONSERVATION

ALUV-X- DEVELOPING ALGAE-BASED SUNSCREEN FORMULATIONS FOR WIDE-RANGING UV PROTECTION

 DST-SERB, Government of India

EARLY CAREER AWARD

ALGISIN – BIOPLASTICS SYNTHESIS FROM ALGAE BASED POLYMERS AND PLASTIZERS

 University Grants Commission, Government of India

BSR START-UP PROJECT

 Books / Chapters

  • Chapter(s) - Co-Author, (2021). MicroalgaL Biotechnology: Recent Advances, Market Potential, and Sustainability., Royal Society of Chemistry, 978-1-83916-003-5

    •  Miscellaneous

     Membership/Fellowship of other institutions/professionals societies : 
    Brainpool Fellowship, National Research Foundation, Republic of Korea
Life Member, The Biotech Research Society, India 
Korean Society of Environmental Biology
Korean Society of Phycology 
Korean Society of Microbiology & Biotechnology
     Student related co-curricular, extension and field based activities and counseling.
     Contribution to corporate sector-management of the department and institution through participation in academic and administration,committees and responsibilities. 
    o	Assistant Registrar, Legal & Recruitment Cell, CUK (Additional Charge) (till 31/08/2021)
o	Joint Director, Placement Cell, CUK (till 31/08/2021)
o	Institution In-Charge, Innovation & Entrepreneurship Development Cell, CUK
o	Executive Committee Member, Centre for Policy Research & Governance, CUK
o	Executive Committee Member, Centre for Sustainability, Corporate Relations & Social Responsibility, CUK
o	Executive Committee Member, APJ Abdul Kalam Centre for Extension Activities, CUK
o	Member, Campus Development Committee, CUK 
o	Member, Hazards & Waste Management Cell, CUK
o	Member, Institutional Biosafety Committee, Department of Biotechnology, Government of India
o	Member, Board of Studies, Department of Environmental Science, CUK (till 30/09/2021)
     Other activities/Responsibilities :
     Any other relevant information, if not given above :

     Contact

    Full Name
    		 Dr. Rishiram Ramanan
    Address
    		 #314 & 315A, SUSTAINABLE RESOURCES LABORATORY, DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, CENTRAL UNIVERSITY OF KERALA, KASARAGOD, KERALA, INDIA - 671316
    Telphone Number
    (With STD Code)
    		 +91-467-2309210
    PinCode
    		 671316

     Teaching & Research Guidance

    • AQUATIC ECOLOGY:Post Graduate
    • AQUATIC ECOLOGY:Research Guidance
    • CLIMATE CHANGE & CURRENT ISSUES:Post Graduate
    • RESEARCH METHODOLOGY & STATISTICS:Post Graduate
    • ENVIRONMENTAL LAW:Post Graduate
    • ALGAE:Research Guidance
    • RESEARCH METHODOLOGY & STATISTICS:Research Guidance
    • RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS & ETHICS:Research Guidance