Brief profile of the staff

Prof. H.K. P. DEVADOSS

Joined Madras Christian College, as a pre-university student in June 1972, continued B.Sc (1973-76), M.Sc (1976-78), latter in 1988 completed M.Phil. Joined the faculty in August 1981 after working in Government Higher Secondary School (1979-81).Currently teaching anatomy, Embryology, Palynology  and Gymnosperms for B.Sc and M.Sc students, Also teach scripture (Bible) for undergraduate students. Area of research interest Palynology, so far guided 11 M.Phil students. Published two research papers, first to initiate aeropalynological work for Chennai; it was published in 5^th International Aerobiological Proceedings in 1994.Principle investigator for a minor U.G.C.  Project on Pollen atlas of Madras (1996-1998), Life member of Indian Palynological Society and Indian Aerobiological Society. In college, was a member of anti-ragging, disciplinary and audiovisual committee, currently member of academic council and Board member for M.Sc for the University of Madras.

Dr. M. BALUSWAMI

Joined the Department of Botany, Madras Christian College (Autonomous) as a faculty member in February 1988. Graduated in 1980 from Arignar Anna Government Arts College, Namakkal, affiliated to Madras University; Appointed as a Junior Research Fellow in a DST sponsored project on ‘Algal Flora of India' under the supervision of Prof. T.V. Desikachary and worked on marine algae of Indian coasts including Andaman and Nicobar Islands from 1981 to 1986; Specialized in marine algae in general and systematics of the members of the Phaeophyceae in particular; Obtained Ph.D. from Madras University in 1987; Teaching  Algology at U.G. and P.G. level,  since February, 1988;  Published 17 papers in reputed journals and 3 in proceedings of National Seminars covering the systematics of both freshwater and marine algae; Described several new species of algae and reported the occurrence of several freshwater and marine algae in  India for the first time; Served as  organizing secretary of a National Seminar on ‘Plant Diversity in India: Current Status and Conservation ‘conducted in January, 2005 by the Department of Botany, Madras Christian College; Worked as founder treasurer of Krishnamurthy Institute of Algology from 1991 to 1993 and continue to serve as an active associate of the Institute  since 1991; Guided 10 M. Phil. and 2 Ph.D. candidates; Resource person in the field of algal diversity and delivered lectures in Universities and seminars organized by the Seaweed Research and Utilization Association of India.  Has been Honorary Treasurer of Limnological Society of India and a member of Governing Council of Krishnamurthy Institute of Algology; Developed a database on Algal Flora of Tamil Nadu for the ENVIS node of Department of Environment, Government of Tamil Nadu hosted on the Web; Currently interested in the documentation of freshwater algae of Tamil Nadu and utilization of both fresh water and marine algae.

Dr. D. NARASIMHAN

Joined the Madras Christian College as a student at the Department of Botany in the year 1976 and completed graduation in the year 1980 followed by post graduation in Botany in 1982; Specialized in Plant Taxonomy while doing M. Phil. course in the department and received the degree from the Madras University in 1984. Subsequently explored the Flora of Chengalpattu District and obtained Ph. D from University of Madras in 1991; Specialized in Taxonomy, Ethnobotany and Medicinal plants; Joined the Madras Christian College as a faculty member in 1996 and since then teaching Systematic Botany, Ethnobotany, Biodiversity and Traditional Medicine for U.G. and P.G. students; Published 25 papers in refereed journals; Contributed articles in Books and Co- Edited a Symposium Volume Titled "Plant Diversity, Human Welfare and Conservation"; Carried out five projects as Principal-Investigator and Co-Investigator funded by various agencies such as Foundation for Revitalization of  Local Health Traditions (FRLHT), Ministry of Environment and Forests and Shastri-Indo Canadian Institute;  Currently working on a project on  ‘Mapping and Population studies of selected Endemic Trees of Southern Western Ghats' funded by University Grants Commission; Has been studying the Flora of Tropical Dry Evergreen Forests and Southern Western Ghats as well as Medicinal Plant Markets of Tamil Nadu and Ethnobotany of Eastern Ghats of Tamil Nadu for the past 20 years; Guided seven M. Phil and three Ph. D. candidates. One of the thesis has been adjudged as the best Thesis in Botany submitted to the University of Madras in 2006 and was awarded Dr. R. Kalyanasundaram Memorial Prize; Developed a database on angiosperms of Tamil Nadu for the Department of Environment, Government of Tamil Nadu hosted on the Web; Resource person in the fields of Taxonomy, Medicinal Plants, Ethnobotany and Environment and delivered lectures in Universities, Colleges and for Voluntary Organizations; A member of committee appointed by Honorable High Court to look into cutting of trees for construction of grade separators and widening roads; A member of advisory panel for the Adayar Poonga Trust formed by the Government of Tamil Nadu for restoration of Adyar Creek; A member of advisory committee for the ENVIS node on Conservation of Ecological Heritage and Sacred Sites; Honorary Secretary for Centre for Plants, People and Ecosystems, Chennai, a non profit organization; Actively involved in interacting with Environmental Organizations and Organizations Working with Communities.

 Dr. G. A. I. EBENEZER

Joined the Madras Christian College and the Department of Botany as a student to receive collegiate education in the year 1980 and duly completed B.Sc. and M.Sc. Degrees during 1985. Subsequently completed M.Phil. Degree in Plant Growth and Development, "Developmental and physiological studies on the spikelet of rice (Oryza sativa  L. cv. IR-50)"; Joined as a faculty member in 1990. Worked for Ph.D. degree on "Histochemical and developmental studies on germinating rice grains" and successfully completed and received the doctoral degree in the year 1999 from the University of Madras. Area of specialization is Plant Tissue Culture and Biotechnology. He has been teaching Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Plant Tissue Culture as well as Biotechnology for both Graduate and Post-Graduate students. Presented a paper at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) on invitation in the year 2000. Guided 38 M. Sc. and as many as 13 M. Phil. Research Projects. Published 9 research papers in reputed journals and presented 26 research papers in various National and International conferences and Symposia. Received grants from Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology (TNSCS&T) to guide student projects at PG level and UGC grants to conduct a Certificate Course on "Medicinal Plant Tissue Culture".  Maintaining the best Tissue Culture Laboratory in the Department of Botany; Gained expertise in Microscopy, Histochemistry, Photography and Instrumentation; Has been appointed Curator of the college since June 2007; Served as the Staff Advisor to the College Union Society; Presently guiding 3 Ph.D. and 3 M.Phil. research scholars; Currently interested in Medicinal Plants Cell Culture and Isolation of Active Principle for mass production. Served as a member of various administrative committees in the college.

Dr. E. JOYCE SUDANDARA PRIYA

Graduated from Women's Christian College, Chennai in 1990 and subsequently completed M. Sc. degree in Botany from the Madras Christian College (Autonomous) the year 1992; joined for M. Phil. research in Molecular Biology and Genetics in the same Department in 1993; Worked on the cytotoxic effect of chemical pesticides on onion root meristems and mice foetus in comparison to the effect of neem pesticide for the doctoral degree in the field of Cytogenetics at the Department of Botany, Pachaiyappa's College and obtained Ph. D. degree from the University of Madras in 2000;  Served as a lecturer in  the Women's Christian College, Chennai for two years (1999 - 2001); joined Madras Christian College (Autonomous) during August 2002 and, since then teaching Cell Biology, Molecular Biology and Genetics for the under graduate and post graduate students. Published and presented papers in journals and international seminars respectively; Guided M. Phil and post graduate students for projects.

Dr. S. RAVI SHANKAR

S. Ravi Shankar, a complete product of Madras Christian College (Autonomous) took his B. Sc. and M. Sc. Degrees from the Department of Botany, MCC during 1992-1997. Immediately after his completion of P.G. Degree, he joined for his Ph.D. under the supervision of Dr. P. Dayanandan on ‘Histochemical Studies on Developing Caryopsis and Germinating Seed of Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench'; his research work was highly commended and was awarded a Ph.D. Degree in Botany by the University of Madras in the year 2003. He joined the Department as a teaching faculty in 2003.  Since then he has been teaching  Plant Physiology & Biochemistry, Bioinformatics and Computer Training for Graduate students. He teaches Plant Physiology & Biochemistry and Pteridophytes for Post-Graduate students. Area of specialization is Plant Histochemistry and his areas of research interests are Cereal Histochemistry, Pharmacognosy, Developmental Botany and Mircoscopy. He has presented papers in seminars and actively participated in workshops and conferences. He regularly guides student projects at M. Sc. level. His general areas of interest are Photography, Gardening and Field Expeditions.

Mrs. JEYA RATHI JABEZ

Graduated in 1998 from Kamaraj College, Tuticorin, affiliated to  the Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli and subsequently completed M. Sc. degree  in 2000 at the Ayya Nadar Janaki Ammal College, Sivakasi, affiliated to the  Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai; Obtained M. Phil. degree in Environmental Science in the year 2002 from Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai; during this year cleared UGC (NET); Area of specialization is  Bioremediation and Environmental Biotechnology; served as a lecturer in V. V. V. College for Women, Virudhunagar for an year and joined the  Madras Christian College (Autonomous) in the year 2003;  Has been teaching Environmental Studies, Industrial Microbiology, for past 5 years for the  B. Sc. major  and Ancillary Botany for the B. Sc. vi students; Teaching and guiding M. Sc. students in research projects in Environmental Science; published and presented paper "On the Growth and Biochemical characteristics of Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Medikus" at the National Conference on "Recent Trends in Biotechnology" (NCRTB), University of Kerala and  has received the "Young Scientist Award" for the paper presentation. 

P. SELVA SINGH RICHARD

Selva Singh Richard joined the Department of Botany, Madras Christian College (Autonomous) and completed his B. Sc. and M. Sc. degrees in Botany from this Department during 1998 to 2003. He joined for M. Phil. research in Palynology and duly submitted a thesis on ‘Histochemical Studies of Major Food Reserves in Pollen-A Preliminary Report' and obtained M. Phil. Degree in 2005; Joined as a faculty member in the Department in the year 2004 and has been teaching Allied Botany - I, Horticulture and Seed Technology, Plant-animal interaction for Graduate students and Research methodology, Instrumentation and Use of Computers for M. Sc. Students. Area of specialization is Palynology with special reference to Pollen Biotechnology; Guided M. Sc. student research projects, since 2006; Attended a workshop   organized at the French Institute, Pondicherry in 2007 and presented a paper. Currently interested in Pollen Systematics with special reference to Pollen Biochemistry.