Prof. Dr. K. Muthuchelian is a Renowned Plant Scientist with more than 30 years of teaching, research and administrative experience at different hierarchical levels, including Professor, Head & Chairperson, Controller of Examinations, Registrar, and Vice-Chancellor. He obtained his Doctorate Degree from the Department of Plant Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, India. Subsequently, he had Post-Doctoral research from the University of Ancona, Italy. He has been conferred with the prestigious "Doctor of Science (D.Sc.)” in recognition of his research accomplishments in Biomass Resource Management and Technology. He has been conferred with Seven Fellow Awards by prominent foreign and Indian scientific societies, including Fellow of International Energy Foundation (FIEF), Canada, Fellow of the Indian Applied Association of Microbiologists (FIAAM), Fellow of the Society of Biological Sciences and Rural Development (FSBSRD), Fellow of the National Environmental Studies Academy (FNESA), Fellow of Palaeobotanical Society of India (FPBS), Fellow of National Academy of Biological Sciences (FNABS) and Fellow of Zoological Society of India (FZSI). He guided 82 students for research, 4 scholars for post doctoral research and 44 candidates have been awarded Ph.D. under his supervision.
In his three decades of research experience, he has successfully completed more than 31 research projects funded by IUCN - Switzerland, ICTP - Italy, University of Reading - UK, EPA - USA, BSA - UK, Euro Science - France, Third World Network (Biosafety) - Malaysia, World Water Council - France, Global Mountain Biodiversity Assessment - Switzerland, Provincea Di Marchae, Ancona, Italy; Institito Di Agrario, San Michele, Trento, Italy and Nitrogen Fixing Tree Association, Hawaii, USA, DBT, MAB Programme and National Biodiversity Authority – MoEF & CC, India.
Prof.K. Muthuchelian introduced 16 technology Transfer / Products to stimulate and facilitate the participation in industry which have been widely adopted by state and central governments. Prof. Muthuchelian has published 25 Patents (20 in India and 5 in Canada) for introducing many modern and innovative products/designs relevant to Biotechnology and Bioenergy Technologies.
He has published more than 175 Research Works in reputed SCI Journals with 3575 citation, h-index of 29 and i-10 index of 69. In addition, he has authored 35 books, 42 book chapters and written more than 1000 popular scientific and three books were graciously released by Hon’ble Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, Former President of India. Besides, he has shown his involvement as Steering Committee Member for the 12th State Planning Commission (2012-2017), Government of Tamil Nadu and Expert Member for Puducherry State Higher Education Council (2014-2019), Government of Pudhucherry. He served as Chairman of NAAC Peer Team visits in many institutions across India and active member for different panels and committees in UGC, DST, MNRES and MoEF & CC.
Dr Muthuchelian received 47 prestigious International and National Awards including Lifetime Achievement Award in Environmental Science, Life time Achievement Award in Food and Nutritional Sciences, Life time Achievement Award in Microbiology, twice the Merit of Excellence Award, Eminent Scientist Award of 76th Indian Science Congress Endowment in Natural Sciences and Prof. S. Kannaiyan Memorial Award 2017, Tamil Nadu Best Scientist in Environmental Sciences (1999) by TNSCST,
During his tenure at Periyar University as the Vice-Chancellor,he created the corpus funds of Rs. 80 crores, established 5 new departments, 6 research centres, 4 constituent colleges and 3 Government colleges, including Centre for New and Renewable Energy Studies (CNRES) and Centre for Nanoscience & Technology (declared opened by Hon’ble Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Former President of India). Prof. Muthuchelian is fore front in various higher learning institutions in the country having a long term vision for transforming the academic and administrative systems with mission mode approach.