Sekar Raju PhD, SFHEA, FRSB

Senior Associate Professor and Associate Dean of Learning and Teaching

Dr. Sekar Raju graduated from the University of Madras (India) and carried out further research at the University Duisburg-Essen (Germany), Max-Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology (Germany), Florida International University (USA) and The University of Sheffield (UK) in various environmental microbiology and microbial ecology research projects.

His current research focuses on the microbial source tracking (MST) of fecal pollution in watersheds, detection of antibiotic resistant bacteria and resistance genes (ARGs) in aquatic environments, the impact of urbanization on microbial diversity-ecosystem function, microbiome associated with microplastics, plastics degradation potential of microbes and microbial biofilms in natural and engineered systems. He has authored over 60 publications and many of his research articles have appeared in leading microbiology and environmental science journals and are well cited.

He is an honorary recognised PhD Supervisor at the University of Liverpool (UK) and thus far, he has supervised/co-supervised seven PhD students to successful completion.

He is a Senior Editorial Board Member of BMC Microbiology (SpringerNature) and is serving as a reviewer for many journals. He has also co-edited three books.

He is a Fellow of Royal Society of Biology (FRSB), and Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA).


  • Senior Fellow of Higher Education Academy (SFHEA) - 2019
  • Fellow of Higher Education Academy (FHEA) - 2015
  • Certificate in Professional Studies in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, University of Liverpool, UK - 2015
  • PhD, University of Madras, India - 2000


  • Associate Dean of Learning and Teaching (Natural Sciences), XJTLU - Since 05/2022
  • Senior Associate Professor, Biological Sciences, XJTLU - Since 09/2021
  • Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, XJTLU - 10/2010 - 08/2021
  • Deputy Head, Department of Biological Sciences, XJTLU - 12/2018 - 11/2020
  • Programme Director, BSc Biological Sciences, XJTLU - 04/2016 - 2020/08
  • Acting Head, Department of Biological Sciences, XJTLU - 02/2018 - 06/2018
  • Marie Curie Senior Research Fellow, The University of Sheffield, UK - 08/2008 - 07/2010
  • Postdoctoral Research Associate / Adjunct Faculty, Florida International University, USA - 12/2004-07/2008
  • Research Scientist, Max-Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Germany - 01/2002 – 11/2004
  • DAAD Fellow, Aquatic Microbiology (Biofilm Centre), University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany - 10/2000 – 12/2001


  • Microbial source tracking techniques to identify fecal pollution in watersheds
  • Antibiotic resistant bacteria and resistance genes in aquatic environments
  • Microbiome associated with microplastics and plastics degradation potential of microbes
  • Impact of urbanization on microbial diversity and ecosystem function
  • Molecular detection of waterborne pathogens in relation to public health
  • Microbial biofilms in natural and engineered systems


  • Please note that in all publications, my name appeared as Raju Sekar (or R. Sekar). Researcher ID: http://www.researcherid.com/rid/B-1952-2010; ORCID ID: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1182-9004.
  • 60. T. S. Lioe, Z. Xie, J. Wu, W. Li, L. Sun, Q. Feng, R. Sekar, B. Tefsen, D. Ruiz-Carrillo (2023). The Mycobacterium tuberculosis prolyl dipeptidyl peptidase cleaves the N-terminal peptide of the immunoprotein CXCL-10. Biological Chemistry (Published on 12 January 2023) DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2022-0265
  • 59. P. A. Fernanda, S. Liu, T. Yuan, B. Ramalingam, J. Lu and R. Sekar (2022). Diversity and abundance of antibiotic resistance genes and their relationship with nutrients and land use of the inflow rivers of Taihu Lake. Frontiers in Microbiology 13:1009297. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1009297.
  • 58. H. Zhang, X. Liu, T. Huang, B. Ma, W. Sun, K. Zhao, R. Sekar, Y. Xing (2022). Stagnation trigger changes to tap water quality in winter season: Novel insights into bacterial community activity and composition. Science of the Total Environment 844: 157240. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157240.
  • 57. H. Xiang, Y. Zhang, David Atkinson and R. Sekar (2022). Anthropogenic carrion subsidy and herbicide glyphosate depressed leaf-litter breakdown: Effects on environmental health in streams. Frontiers in Environmental Science 10: 806340. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2022.806340.
  • 56. Z. Yuan, W. Gustave, S. T. Ata-Ul-Karim, J. Bridge, R. Sekar, F. Liu and Z. Chen (2022). Distinct and dynamic distributions of multiple elements and their species in the rice rhizosphere. Plant and Soil 471: 47–60. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-021-05100-x
  • 55. Q. Lin, Y. Zhang, R. Marrs, R. Sekar, N. Wu and X. Luo (2022). The effect of habitat restoration on macroinvertebrate communities in Shaoxi rivers, China. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 29: 677–689. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-15559-x.
  • 54. A. Rajasekar, C. K. S. Moy , S. Wilkinson, R. Sekar (2021). Microbially induced calcite precipitation performance of multiple landfill indigenous bacteria compared to a commercially available bacteria in porous media. PLoS ONE 16(7): e0254676. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal. pone.0254676
  • 53. R. Sekar, X. Jin, S. Liu, J. Lu, J. Shen, Y. Zhou, Z. Gong, X. Feng, S. Guo and W. Li (2021). Fecal contamination and high nutrient levels pollute the watersheds of Wujiang, China. Water 13, 457. https://doi.org/10.3390/w13040457
  • 52. H. Zhang, L. Xu, T. Huang, M. Yan, K. Liu, Y. Miao, H. He, S. Li and R. Sekar (2021). Combined effects of seasonality and stagnation on tap water quality: changes in chemical parameters, metabolic activity and co-existence in bacterial community. Journal of Hazardous Materials. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124018
  • 51. Z. Yuan, W. Gustave, R. Sekar, J. Bridge, J. Wang, W. Feng, B. Guo, Z. Chen (2021). Simultaneous measurement of aqueous redox-sensitive elements and their species across the soil-water interface. Journal of Environmental Sciences. doi: 10.1016/j.jes.2020.09.017
  • 50. Z. Yuan, W. Gustave, J. Boyle, R. Sekar, J. Bridge, Y. Ren, X. Tang, B. Guo, Z. Chen (2020). Arsenic behavior across soil-water interfaces in paddy soils: coupling, decoupling and speciation. Chemosphere. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.128713
  • 49. T. Yuan, A.J. McCarthy, Y. Zhang and R. Sekar (2020). Impact of temperature, nutrients and heavy metals on bacterial diversity and ecosystem functioning studied by freshwater microcosms and high throughput DNA sequencing. Current Microbiology 77(11), 3512-3525.
  • 48. H. Zhang, Y. Wang, T. Huang, K. Liu, X. Huang, B. Ma, N. Li, R. Sekar (2020). Mixed-culture aerobic anoxygenic photosynthetic bacterial consortia reduce nitrate: Core species dynamics, co-interactions and assessment in raw water of reservoirs. Bioresource Technology 315: 123817.
  • 47. T. Yuan, H. Zhang, Q. Feng, X. Wu, Y. Zhang, A. J. McCarthy and R. Sekar (2020). Changes in fungal community structure in freshwater canals across a gradient of urbanization. Water 12(7): 1917.
  • 46. Q. Lin, Y. Zhang, R. Marrs, R. Sekar, X. Luo and N. Wu (2020). Evaluating ecosystem functioning following river restoration: the role of hydromorphology, bacteria, and macroinvertebrates. Science of the Total Environment, 140583.
  • 45. H. Zhang, R. Sekar and P. M. Visser (2020). Editorial: Microbial Ecology in Reservoirs and Lakes. Frontiers in Microbiology 11:1348. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.01348
  • 44. S. Chen, M.Yan, T.Huang, H. Zhang, K, Liu, X. Huang, N. Li, Y. Miao and R. Sekar (2020). Disentangling the drivers of Microcystis decomposition: Metabolic profile and co-occurrence of bacterial community. Science of the Total Environment 739: 140062.
  • 43. H. Xiang, Y. Zhang, David Atkinson and R. Sekar (2020). Effects of anthropogenic subsidy and glyphosate on macroinvertebrates in streams. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 1-14.
  • 42. K. K. Vadde, Q. Feng, J.Wang, A. J. McCarthy and R. Sekar (2019). Next-generation sequencing reveals fecal contamination and potentially pathogenic bacteria in a major inflow river of Taihu Lake. Environmental Pollution 254: 113108.
  • 41. T. Yuan, K. K. Vadde, J. D. Tonkin, J. Wang, J. Lu, Z. Zhang, Y. Zhang, A. J. McCarthy and R. Sekar. (2019) Urbanization Impacts the Physicochemical Characteristics and Abundance of Fecal Markers and Bacterial Pathogens in Surface Water. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 16(10): 1739.
  • 40. K. K. Vadde, A. J. McCarthy, R. Rong and R. Sekar (2019). Quantification of microbial source tracking and pathogenic bacterial markers in water and sediments of Tiaoxi River (Taihu watershed). Frontiers in Microbiology DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.00699.
  • 39. H. Xiang, Y. Zhang, D. Atkinson and R. Sekar (2019). Combined effects of water temperature, grazing snails and terrestrial herbivore on leaf decomposition in urban streams. PeerJ, DOI 10.7717/peerj.7580.
  • 38. Q. Lin, R. Sekar, R. Marrs and Y. Zhang (2019). Effect of river ecological restoration on biofilm microbial community composition. Water 11(6), 1244.
  • 37. Z. Yuan, W. Gustave, J. Bridge, Y. Liang, R. Sekar, J. Boyle, C. Jin, T. Pu, Y. Ren, and Z. Chen (2019) Tracing the dynamic changes of element profiles by novel soil porewater samplers with ultralow disturbance to soil-water interface. Environmental Science and Technology 53(9):5124-5132.
  • 36. W. Gustave, Z. Yuan, R. Sekar, Y. Ren, JY Liu, J. Zhang and Z. Chen. (2019) Soil organic matter amount determines the behavior of iron and arsenic in paddy soil with microbial fuel cells. Chemosphere 237, 124459.
  • 35. W. Gustave, Z. Yuan, Y. Ren, R. Sekar, J. Zhang and Z. Chen. (2019) Arsenic alleviation in rice by using paddy soil microbial fuel cells. Plant and Soil 1-17.
  • 34. W. Gustave, Z. Yuan, R. Sekar, Y. Ren, H. Chang, J. Liu and Z. Chen. (2019) The change in biotic and abiotic soil components influenced by paddy soil microbial fuel cells loaded with various resistances. Journal of Soils and Sediments 19 (1):106–115
  • 33. W. Gustave, Z.Yuan, R. Sekar, V. Toppin, J.Liu, Y. Ren, J. Zhang and Z. Chen (2019). Relic DNA does not obscure the microbial community of paddy soil microbial fuel cells. Research in Microbiology. 170 (2): 97-104.
  • 32. K. K. Vadde, J. J. Wang, L. Cao, T. Yuan, A. J. McCarthy and R. Sekar. (2018). Assessment of water quality and identification of pollution risk locations in Tiaoxi river (Taihu watershed, China). Water 10(2), 183.
  • 31. A. Rajasekar, R. Sekar, E.M. Roldan, J. Bridge, C.K.S. Moy and S. Wilkinson. (2018) Analysis of bacterial communities in a landfill and an urban site in China by next-generation sequencing. Canadian Journal of Microbiology 64: 537-549.
  • 30. W. Gustave, Z. Yuan, R. Sekar, H. Chang, M. Wells, Y. Ren and Z. Chen. (2018). Arsenic mitigation in paddy soils by using microbial fuel cells. Environmental Pollution 238: 647- 655.
  • 29. H. Zhang, J. Feng, S. Chen, B. Li, R. Sekar, Z. Zhao, J. Jia, and P. Kang. (2018). Disentangling the drivers of diversity and distribution of fungal community composition in wastewater treatment plants across spatial scales. Frontiers in Microbiology (DOI 10.33389/fmicb.2018.01291).
  • 28. A. Rajasekar, S. Wilkinson, R. Sekar, J. Bridge, E.M. Roldan and C. K Moy. (2018) Biomineralisation performance of bacteria isolated from a landfill in China. Canadian Journal of Microbiology: DOI:10.1139/cjm-2018-0254.
  • 27. H.S. Jensen, R. Sekar, W.J. Shepherd, A.M. Osborn, S. Tait and C.A. Biggs. (2016). Spatial and temporal variability of bacterial communities with a combined sewer system. MicrobiologyOpen 5(4):616-25.
  • 26. H.H. Zhang, T.L. Huang, S.N. Chen, X. Yang, K. Lv and R. Sekar (2015). Abundance and diversity of bacteria in oxygen minimum drinking water reservoir sediments studied by quantitative PCR and pyrosequencing. Microbial Ecology 69(3): 618-629.
  • 25. I. Douterelo, J.B. Boxall, P. Deines, R. Sekar, K.E. Fish and C.A. Biggs (2014). Methodological approaches for studying the microbial ecology of drinking water distribution systems. Water Research, 65: 134-156.
  • 24. B. Ramalingam, R. Sekar, J.B. Boxall and C.A. Biggs (2013). Aggregation and biofilm formation of bacteria isolated from domestic drinking water. Water Science and Technology: Water Supply 13(4): 1016-1023.
  • 23. R. Sekar, P. Deines, J. Machell, A.M.Osborn, C.A.Biggs and J.B.Boxall (2012). Bacterial water quality and network hydraulic characteristics: a field study of a simplified, looped water distribution system using culture independent molecular methods. Journal of Applied Microbiology 112(6):1220-34.
  • 22. Y. V. Nancharaiah, K. Renu, N. Sharma, R. Sekar and V. P. Venugopalan (2012). Rapid establishment of p-nitrophenol biodegradation in acetate-fed aerobic granular sludge. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology 166:1225–1235.
  • 21. J. Dou, F. Fan, A. Ding, L. Cheng, R. Sekar, H. Wang and S. Li. (2012). A screen-printed, amperometric biosensor for the determination of organophosphorus pesticides in water samples. Journal of Environmental Sciences 24(5):956–962.
  • 20. P. Deines, R. Sekar, J.B.Boxall, A.M.Osborn, and C.A.Biggs (2010). A new coupon design for simultaneous in situ analysis of biofilm formation and community structure in a model drinking water distribution system. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 87: 749-756
  • 19. P. Deines, R. Sekar, H.S.Jensen, S.Tait, J.B.Boxall, A.M.Osborn and C.A. Biggs (2010). MUWS (Microbiology in Urban Water Systems) – An interdisciplinary approach to study microbial communities in urban water systems. Drinking Water Engineering Science Discussions 3: 43-64
  • 18. L. L. Richardson, A.W. Miller, E. Broderick, L. Kaczmarsky, M. Gantar, D. Stanić and R.Sekar (2009). Sulfide, microcystin, and the etiology of black band diseases. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 87: 79-90.
  • 17. M. Gantar, R. Sekar and L.L. Richardson (2009). Cyanotoxins from black band disease of corals and from other coral reef environments. Microbial Ecology 58:856-864.
  • 16. R. Sekar, L.T. Kaczmarsky and L.L. Richardson (2009). Effect of freezing on PCR amplification of 16S rRNA genes from microbes associated with black band disease of corals. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 75 (8): 2581-2584
  • 15. R. Sekar, L.T. Kaczmarsky and L.L. Richardson (2008). Microbial community composition of black band disease on the coral host Siderastrea siderea from three regions of the wider Caribbean. Marine Ecological Prog Series 362: 85-98
  • 14. J. Myers, R. Sekar and L.L. Richardson (2007). Molecular detection and ecological significance of the cyanobacteria Geitlerinema and Leptolyngbya in black band disease of corals. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 73 (16): 5173-5182.
  • 13. L.L. Richardson, R. Sekar, J. L. Myers, M. Gantar, J.D. Voss, L.T. Kaczmarsky, E.R. Remily, G.L. Boyer and P.V. Zimba (2007). The presence of the cyanobacterial toxin microcystin in black band disease of corals. FEMS Microbiology Letters 272:182-187.
  • 12. R. Sekar, D.K. Mills, E.R. Remily, J.D. Voss and L.L. Richardson (2006). Microbial communities in the surface mucopolysaccharide layer and the black band microbial mat of black band diseased Siderastrea siderea. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 72 (9): 5963-5973.
  • 11. F. Warnecke, R. Sommaruga, R. Sekar, J.S.Hofer and J. Pernthaler (2005). Abundances, identity, and growth state of Actinobacteria in mountain lakes of different UV transparency. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 71(9): 5551-5559.
  • 10. R. Sekar, B.M. Fuchs, R. Amann and J. Pernthaler (2004). Flow sorting of marine bacterioplankton after fluorescence in situ hybridization. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 70(10): 6210-6219.
  • 09. R. Sekar, V.P.Venugopalan, K.Nandakumar, K.V.K.Nair and V.N.R.Rao (2004). Early stages of biofilm succession in a lentic freshwater environment. Hydrobiologia 512: 97-108.
  • 08. R. Sekar, V.P.Venugopalan, K.K.Satpathy, K.V.K.Nair and V.N.R.Rao (2004). Laboratory studies on adhesion of microalgae on hard surfaces. Hydrobiologia 512: 109-116.
  • 07. R. Sekar, A. Pernthaler, J. Pernthaler, F. Warnecke, T. Posch and R. Amann (2003). An improved protocol for quantification of freshwater Actinobacteria by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 69(5): 2928-2935.
  • 06. R. Sekar, T.Griebe and H.-C.Flemming (2002). Influence of image acquisition parameters on quantitative measurements of biofilms using Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy. Biofouling 18 (1): 47-56.
  • 05. R. Sekar, K.V.K.Nair, V.N.R.Rao and V.P.Venugopalan (2002). Nutrient dynamics and successional changes in a lentic freshwater biofilm. Freshwater Biology 47 (10):1893.
  • 04. R. Sekar, V.P. Venugopalan, K.K. Satpathy, K.V.K.Nair and V.N.R.Rao (1998). Cooling tower wood deterioration by fungi in the service water system of a test reactor. Transactions of the Indian Institute of Metals, 51(5): 337-340.
  • 03. V.P.Venugopalan, K.Nandakumar, R.Rajamohan, R. Sekar and K.V.K.Nair (1998). Natural eutrophication and fish kill in a shallow freshwater lake. Current Science 74(10): 915-917.
  • 02. R. Sekar, K. Nandakumar, V.P.Venugopalan, K.V.K.Nair and V.N.R.Rao (1998). Spatial variation in microalgal colonization on hard surfaces in a lentic freshwater environment. Biofouling 13(3): 177-195.
  • 01. R. Sekar, N. Thangaraju and R. Rengasamy (1995). Effect of seaweed liquid fertilizer from Ulva lactuca on Vigna ungiculata L. (Walp). Phykos 34: 49-53.


  • P.S. Murthy, R. Sekar, V. Thiyagarajan (Editors). Biofilms in Environmental Biotechnology. ISBN: 9781842657355. Alpha Science International Limited, Oxford, UK. (2019)
  • P.S. Murthy, R. Sekar, V. Thiyagarajan (Editors). Biofilm Control in Biomedical and Industrial Environments. ISBN: 9781783323937. Alpha Science International Limited, Oxford, UK. (2019)
  • H. Zhang, R. Sekar, P. M. Visser, P. M. (Editors), Microbial Ecology in Reservoirs and Lakes. Lausanne: Frontiers Media SA. (2020) doi: 10.3389/978-2-88963-943-4


  • X. Zhao, B. Ramalingam, R. Sekar. Applications of bacterial quorum sensing in algal biotechnology. In: Algae materials: Applications benefiting health (Editors: Arunkumar et al). Elsevier Publishers. (In press)
  • R. Sekar, B. Ramalingam, Y. Deng, Q. Feng and W.W. Li (2019). Removal of pharmaceuticals from wastewater by membrane and biofilm reactors. In: Microbial Biofilms in Bioremediation and Wastewater Treatment (Editors: YV Nancharaiah and VP Venugopalan). CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, Boca Raton, US.
  • Z. Chen, W. Gustave, Z.F. Yuan, R. Sekar, H.C. Chang, P. Salaun, J.Y. Zhang (2019). Simultaneous electricity production and arsenic mitigation in paddy soils by using microbial fuel cells. In: Environmental Arsenic in a Changing World (Editors: Y. Zhu, H. Guo, P. Bhattacharya, A. Ahmad, J. Bundschuh and R. Naidu), CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, London, UK.
  • R. Sekar, J. Liu, K. Royal, and C. A. Biggs (2012). Detection of microorganisms in drinking water samples during the treatment process. Proceedings of Environmental Pollution and Public Health (EPPH2012), Shanghai, China, 17-20, May 2012.
  • P. Deines, R. Sekar, H.S.Jensen, S.Tait, J.B.Boxall, A.M.Osborn and C.A. Biggs (2009). MUWS (Microbiology in Urban Water Systems) – An interdisciplinary approach to study microbial communities in urban water systems. In: Integrating Water Systems (Editors: Joby Boxall and Cedo Maksimovic), CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, London, UK.
  • V.P. Venugopalan, Rajesh Kumar, R. Sekar, R. Rajamohan and K.V. K. Nair. (2005). Natural eutrophication in a shallow freshwater lake: impact and possible restoration strategy. In: Tropical eutrophic lakes: their restoration and management, Vikram Reddy (Ed.), Science Publishers, Inc., Plymouth, UK.
  • M. Leitz, R. Sekar, T. Griebe, S.Krautwald and H. Franke (2002). Characterization of biofilm components using a fiber optic spectrometer. Proc. SPIE: Optical Fibers and Sensors for Medical Applications II (Ed. Israel Gannot). Vol. 4616: 21-29.
  • Eutrophication Nature’s way (1998). Science, 281 (14th August): 909. News item (Random samples) based on our work reported in Current Science 74(10):915-917 (1998).


  • Sekar Raju, 2020. Principal Investigator, Project A (Cause of water pollution in Wujiang District) of Water Science Project. Wujiang District Water Bureau and XJTLU Urban and Environmental Studies University Research Center, 218,000 RMB.
  • Sekar Raju, 2019. Principal Investigator, Key Programme Special Fund (KSF), Suzhou Industrial Park Technology and Information Bureau / Suzhou Finance Bureau / XJTLU (in collaboration with University of Liverpool, Quadram Institute, UK and Futurepolis LLC, China), 200,000 RMB.
  • Sekar Raju, 2019. Principal Investigator, Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF), XJTLU, 7200 RMB.
  • Sekar Raju, 2018. Co-Investigator, Research Enhancement Fund (in collaboration with Civil Engineering, XJTLU), 44,000 RMB.
  • Sekar Raju, 2018. Principal Investigator, Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF), XJTLU, 8600 RMB.
  • Sekar Raju, 2017. Principal Investigator, Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF), XJTLU, 8000 RMB.
  • Sekar Raju, 2016. Co-Investigator, Research Development Fund (in collaboration with Environmental Science, XJTLU), 100,000 RMB.
  • Sekar Raju, 2014. Principal investigator, Jiangsu Natural Science and Technology Programme (in collaboration with Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences), 150,000 RMB.
  • Sekar Raju, 2014. Principal Investigator, Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF), XJTLU, 9250 RMB.
  • Sekar Raju, 2013. Co-Investigator, Research Development Fund (Multidisciplinary Research Project in collaboration with Civil Engineering and Environmental Science, XJTLU), 100,000 RMB.
  • Sekar Raju, 2013. Principal Investigator, Jiangsu Natural Science and Technology Programme (in collaboration with Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences), 32,000 RMB.
  • Sekar Raju, 2013. Principal Investigator, Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF), XJTLU, 6000 RMB
  • Sekar Raju, 2011. Principal Investigator, Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF), XJTLU, 10,000 RMB.
  • Sekar Raju, 2011. Principal Investigator, XJTLU Research Development Fund, 100,000 RMB.


  • Editorial Board Membership:
  • 2020/09 – Present: Senior Editorial Board Member, BMC Microbiology (BioMed Central, SpringerNature, UK).
  • 2018/04 – 2020/08: Associate Editor, BMC Microbiology (BioMed Central, SpringerNature, UK).
  • 2018/06 – 08/2020: Guest Associate Editor, Frontiers in Microbiology, Research Topic: Microbial Ecology in Reservoirs and Lakes.
  • Manuscript Reviewing for Journals:
  • Reviewed 55 manuscripts for 20 journals (Details on Publons: https://publons.com/author/1306936/sekar-raju#profile)
  • Departmental Assignments:
  • 2020/09 - Present: Global Engagement Officer and E-Learning Coordinator
  • 2018/12 - 11/2020: Deputy Head, Department of Biological Sciences, XJTLU.
  • 2016/04 - 2020/08: Programme Director, BSc Biological Sciences
  • 03/2013 – Present: Member, Departmental Learning and Teaching Committee (DLTC)
  • 2018/02 – 2018/06: Acting Head, Department of Biological Sciences
  • 2013/03 – 08/2016: Examination Officer, Department of Biological Sciences
  • 2010/10 – 2013/03: Learning and Teaching Officer
  • 2011/11 – 03/2013: Chair, Departmental Learning and Teaching Committee (DLTC)
  • 2013/07 – 2016/08: Member, Students Progress Committee
  • University Committees (XJTLU):
  • 09/2019 – Present: Member, Teaching Development Fund (TDF) Review Panel
  • 2017/09 – 2019/08: Assessment Quality Sub-Committee (AQSC)
  • 2017/09 – 2018/05: Assessment Process Sub-Committee (APSC)
  • 2018/02 – 2018/06: Member Academic Board and HoD’s Committee
  • 2016/09 – 2017/08: Assessment Sub-Committee (ASC)
  • 2017/09 – 2018/05: Member, Operational Culture, Operational Developmental Plan
  • 2013/09 – 2014/08: Member, Teaching Development Fund & Teaching Prizes Committee
  • 2012/09 – 2014/08: Member, Mitigating Circumstances Committee
  • 2012/09 – 2013/08: Member, Students Board of Discipline
  • 2011/09 – 2013/08: Member, Academic Board
  • 2010/10 – 2013/03: Member, University Learning and Teaching Committee (ULTC)


  • BIO101 - Biodiversity of animals, plants and microbes (2010-11 to Present; Module Leader)
  • BIO210 - Microbial Biotechnology (2010-11 to Present; Module Leader)
  • BIO106 - The Biology of Microbes (2010-11 to 2017-18; Module Leader)
  • BIO111- Key skills for Life Scientists (2011-12 and 2012-13; Shared module)
  • BIO20712- Bioinformatics (2010-11; Shared Module)
  • CIV6720- Modeling Water Distribution Systems, University of Sheffield, UK (2008-09 and 2009-10; Guest Lecture)
  • CIV6711-Environmental Microbiology, University of Sheffield, UK (2008-09; Guest Lecture)
  • MCB3020 - General Microbiology, Florida International University, USA (Fall 2007; Spring and Summer, 2008; Course Leader)


  • 2019 - Present, Fellow of Royal Society of Biology (FRSB)
  • 2019 – Present, Senior Fellow of Higher Education Academy (SFHEA)
  • 2015 – Present, Fellow of Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
  • 2006 – 2017, American Society of Microbiology (ASM)
  • 2015 – 2017, Member of Royal Society of Biology (MRSB)
  • 2012 – 2016, International Water Association (IWA)


  • 2020; 2022. XJTLU Honoured Contributors Award.
  • 102010 Present, University Recognized Teacher University Recognised Supervisor (Honorary), University of Liverpool, UK
  • 032012 022014Visiting Professor (Honorary), College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, China
  • 082010 042013, Visiting Researcher (Honorary), Chemical and Biological Engineering, The University of Sheffield, UK.
  • 2008-2010. Appointment as a Marie Curie Senior Research Fellow, University of Sheffield, UK.
  • 2002-2004. Award of Max-Planck Postdoctoral fellowship for Postdoctoral Research, Max-Planck Society, Germany.
  • 2000-2002. Award of German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Fellowship, Germany.
  • 1999. Award of Foreign Travel Grant, Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India.
  • 1999. Award of Foreign Travel Grant, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Government of India.
  • 1994-1999. Award of Junior and Senior Research Fellowships, BRNS-DAE University of Madras, India.
Sekar Raju