Dr. M. Suguna Devakumari

Dr. M. Suguna Devakumari is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, School of Agriculture, at Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, Coimbatore. She holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, completed in 2005, an M.Sc. in Environmental Sciences from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, completed in 2002, and a B.Sc. in Agriculture from Agriculture College and Research Institute, Killikulam, completed in 2000. She also holds an M.Sc. in Biotechnology from Kuvempu University. Her areas of educational specialization include Environmental Chemistry, Bioremediation, Environmental Biology, Crop Production, Crop Protection, Plant Biology, Biochemistry, and Microbiology.

Her expertise includes teaching Environmental Sciences, Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Soil and Water Conservation, Renewable Energy, and Microbiology at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. She has served as Division Head of Soil Science since 2022 and has contributed to curriculum development, Board of Studies activities, NAAC and ICAR accreditation, IQAC, and campus green and environmental audits. Her research interests and experience encompass environmental chemistry, bioremediation, soil and groundwater quality, industrial effluent management, solid-waste utilization, biofertilizers, and environmental assessment using data analysis, GIS, and remote sensing.

Dr. Suguna Devakumari has published research on drought assessment using LANDSAT data, groundwater nitrate and nitrite assessment, flood susceptibility, soil nutrient status using GIS and remote sensing, paper mill effluent-affected soils, plant nutrient management, land-use and climate patterns, sugarcane productivity, antibiotic residue removal using biochar, soil and groundwater quality, biofertilizers, fungal enzymes, industrial effluent utilization, and biogas production. She has also contributed book chapters on climate change and microbiota, industrial effluent pollution, biomass-derived carbon materials, waste-derived carbon nanostructures, and food-waste-to-energy technologies. Her research experience includes projects on treated effluent and sludge utilization, industrial wastewater treatment, fungal degradation processes, antibiotic residue removal using biochar, and forest-cover assessment.

She has received UGC-NET and ASRB-NET qualifications and has been awarded the Senior Research Fellowship sponsored by TNAU–Sheshasayee Paper Board Endowment Scheme and the Junior Research Fellowship sponsored by South India Viscose Ltd. Her recognitions include the Nature Science Foundation Best Research Paper Award, Best Oral Presentation Award, Young Researcher Award, Young Scientist Award, Foxclues India Prime Top 100 Professors Researchers and Teachers Award, Dr. Vasantharaj David Environmental Scientist Award, World Environment Education Award, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Best Teacher Award, Professional Excellence Award, Research Excellence Award, and the NPTEL STAR Award for Motivated Learners. She is a life member of the National Academy for Biological Sciences and a member of several scientific bodies. She has also been involved in pre-incubation activities for a portable nitrate analyser and a chitosan-based household potable water filtration unit.