Curriculum Vitae

09447631101

Prof. I. S. Bright Singh

Personal Profile

Date of Birth: 14-12-1954

Sex: Male

Nationality: Indian

AddressesOfficial:Professor, School of Environmental Studies, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kalamasserry, Kochi – 682 022, Kerala, India. Tel: +91-484-2577311

Coordinator,

National Centre for Aquatic Animal Health,

Cochin University of Science and Technology, Lake Side Campus, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi – 682 016, Kerala, India.

Tel & Fax: +91-484–2381120 Email:

;

Residential: House No. 29/452 A, Nellimootil House,

Bhagat Singh Road, Vyttila, Kochi, Kerala, India.

Tel. 0484 - 2303632

Education

1986: Ph.D. from School of Marine Sciences, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi. Title of the thesis - ‘Studies on the bacteria associated with Penaeus indicus in a culture system’

1979: Masters in Marine Biology from Centre for Advanced Studies in Marine Biology, AnnamalaiUniversity, Porto Novo, Tamil Nadu.

Professional Experience

20/06/2007 to 19/06/2010 : Dean, Faculty of Environmental Studies.

01/06/2006 to 30/05/2009 : Director, School of Environmental Studies

Cochin University of Science and Technology.

10/11/2004 onwards : Professor, School of Environmental Studies Cochin University of Science and Technology.

18/1/2000 onwards : Coordinator, National Centre for Aquatic Animal

Health

10/11/1996 to 10/11/2004 : Reader, School of Environmental Studies

Cochin University of Science and Technology.

01/08/1991 to 09/11/1996 : Senior Lecturer, School of Environmental Studies, Cochin University of Science and

Technology.

09/11/1989 to 31/07/1991 : Asst. Professor, College of Fisheries

Kerala Agricultural University.

08/11/1983 to 09/11/1989 :Jr. Asst. Professor, College of Fisheries

Kerala Agricultural University.

Teaching & Academic Activities

Papers in the following subjects are offered for the students of M.Sc. Environmental Technology of School of Environmental Studies.

  • Environmental Microbiology
  • Applied Environmental Microbiology
  • Environmental Biotechnology
  • Bioremediation

The Microbiology course offered as part of the curriculum in the Post graduate course in Environmental Studies could be restructured in consultation with Technical University, Delft, The Netherlands to offer specialization in Environmental Biotechnology.

Papers in the following subjects are offered for the students of M.Tech. Marine Biotechnology, Sponsored by DBT, at National Centre for Aquatic Animal Health.

  • High Health Broodstock Development
  • Marine Microbiology
  • Biotechnological Interventions in Aquatic Animal Health Management.

Awards/Prizes/Certificates

  • Fellow, National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, ICAR, New Delhi
  • Recipient of UGC – BSR One time grant of Rs. 7,00,000.0
  • Regional Expert of NACA in Shrimp Diseases
  • Visiting Professor in Microbiology for the period 2001 to 2008 at University of Northumbria, New Castle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
  • UGC Visiting Associateship for the year 1993 to 1995 to work on development of new fish cell lines using the expertise available with the Department of Microbiology, Sree Chithra Thirunal Institute of Medical Science and Technology, Trivandrum.
  • Young Scientist Award in Fisheries for the year 1989 by State Committee on Science, Technology and Environment for the paper entitled "Bacteriology of the eggs and larvae of Penaeus indicus in hatchery” presented at the first Kerala Science Congress. The award comprised a citation, a cash award of Rs.5,000 and a research grant of Rs.20,000/- for a period of two years to continue the study in the same line.
  • Good Service Entry by Kerala Agricultural University for successfully conducting a training programme in the Hygienic Handling of Prawn/fishes for peeling shed workers
Ongoing Research Projects
Sl.No. / Title and period / Funding agency / Total cost
In Lakhs
1. / Selection and identification of immunocompetent early life stages of the giant fresh water prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii based on differential mRNA expression. Period 19-6-2013 to 18-6-2016 / Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. / 43.67akhs
2 / Detailed performance evaluation and accelerated commercialization of the nitrifying bioreactor technology in Indian market – Phase II. Period: 7-11-2012 to 7-11- 2017. / Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, Under SBIRI Scheme. / 15.0Lakhs
3 / Polyhydroxy butyrate from marine microorganisms for biomedical and aquaculture applications. Period: 1-4-2012 to 31-3-2017. / Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology, Ministry of Earth Science, Government of India / 87.0Lakhs
4 / Immortalization of lymphoid cell culture from Penaeus monodon by transduction with oncogenes, ectopic expression of telomerase reverse transcriptase using shrimp specific expression vectors and hybridization with established cell lines. Period:14-9-2012 to 13-9- 2015 / Department of Biotechnology, Government of India. / 46. 07 Lakhs
5 / Development and optimization of vaccine to protect shrimp from white spot syndrome virus Period: 24 -8-2009 to 31-3-2014 / Department of Biotechnology / 57.03Lakhs
6 / Metagenomic approach to cloning and expression of endo and exo glucanase and β- 1,4 glucosidase from soil water system.
28-9-2010 to 27-9-2014 / Department of Biotechnology / 40.02Lakhs
Total / 288.79 lakhs

Single Institution Research Projects (Completed)

  1. Optimization of the bioremediation technology developed for shrimp culture under closed system mode.(October 2008 to October2011), Ministry of Earth Science, Rs. 23.832 lakha.
  1. Development of anti-WSSV drugs from mangrove plants endemic to Indian coastal zone (October 2006 –September 2009), Department of Biotechnology (DBT), New Delhi, Rs. 37.45 Lakhs
  1. Expression of virulence of Vibrio harveyi in Organic Recirculation Prawn Seed Production System (ORPSPS) and its management (July 2007-June 2010), UGC, Rs. 9.276 Lakhs
  1. Design modification and commercialization of nitrifying bioreactor technology for the establishment of organic recirculation prawn seed production system (Phase- I) (September 2007-August 2010) Department of Biotechnology (DBT), New Delhi, Rs. 10.37 lakhs
  1. Identification and removal of blocks on in vitro transformation and establishment of cell lines from Penaeus monodon’ (October 2007- September 2010). Department of Biotechnology (DBT), New Delhi, Rs. 31.76 lakhs
  1. Development and amplification of CMG family recombinant hormones, their antagonists and RNAi technique for induced maturation and spawning of Penaeus monodon 28-3-2005 to 31-12-2008, Department of Biotechnology,Rs. 38.69 lakhs
  1. Programme support in marine biotechnology. Sponsored by Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India. Period: April 2005- September 2008, Rs.139 lakhs.
  1. Nitrifying bioreactors integrated into prawn hatchery systems: Biofilm structure, population dynamics, and kinetic modeling. Sponsored byDepartment of Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of India.Period: August 2006- March 2009, Fund: Rs. 13.9 lakhs.
  1. Diseases of ornamental fishes: aetiology, disease management and development of biosecurity packages for exotic species. Sponsored by The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), Ministry of Commerce, Government of India. Month of completion: May 2007, Rs8.59625 lakhs.
  1. Development of an appropriate technology for bioremediation in shrimp grow out systems for disease management, productivity and aquaculture environment protection. Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi.. 2003 October – 2006 October, Rs. 15,87,616.0
  1. Development of a comprehensive microbial technology for the protection of the larvae of Macrobrachium rosenbergii from vibriosis in hatchery. Sponsored by Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of India.. Period: November 2001 to Nevember 2004, Rs. 15,06,651.00
  1. Development of Microbial Technology for exclusion of vibriosfrom prawn larval rearing systems. Sponsored by Department of Ocean Development, Govt. of India.. Period: November 2001 to March 2005, Rs. 16,81,463.00
  1. Development of cell culture systems from penaeid prawns for the isolation of White Spot Virus. Sponsored by Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India. Period: November 1999 to March 2003, Rs. 19,94,000.00.
  1. Demonstration and validation of the nitrifying bioreactors developed for penaeid and non penaeid closed hatchery systems. Sponsored by Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India. Period: July 2001 to March 2003, Rs. 3,93,400.00
  1. Systemic Ectodermal Mesodermal Baculovirus Disease in Penaeids – Epizootiology, Immunodiagnostics and vaccine. Sponsored by Indian Council of Agricultural Research.. Period: April 1998 to April 2002, Rs. 11,75,576.00
  1. Screening of commercially available aquaculture medicine for the management of luminescent vibrios in penaeid hatchery systems. Sponsored by Marine Products Export Development Authority of India. Period: June 2001 to Nov 2001, Rs. 2,21,951.00
17.Development of Disease Diagnosis and Management Strategies in Finfish and Shellfish Culture Systems. Sponsored by Department of Fisheries, Govt. of Kerala. Period: August 1998 to July 2001, Rs.10,00,000.00.
  1. Development of primary cell cultures and cell lines from fresh water fishes to isolate viruses associated with EUS. Sponsored by State Committee on Science, Technology & Environment, Govt. of Kerala,Period: January 1993 to January 1998, Rs. 2,17,150.00
  1. Development of bioreactors for nitrifying water in closed system prawn hatcheries. Sponsored by Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India. Period: April 1995 to April 1998, Rs. 19,31,944.00.
  1. Coir Retting - Process upgradation and pollution abatement through Environmental Biotechnology. Sponsored by Coir Board.. Period: August 1993 to April 1998, Value: Rs.5,99,200.00
  1. Vibrionaceae associated with the larvae of Macrobrachium rosenbergii in hatchery - Systematics and pathogenicity. Sponsored by International Foundation for Science, Sweden.. Period: February 1990 to February 1995, US $ 9,600.00
  1. Vibrionaceae associated with the larvae of Penaeus indicus: Systematics and Pathogenicity. – Sponsored by State Committee on Science, Technology & Environment. Govt. of Kerala. (Part of the Young Scientist award). Period: August 1990 to July 1992, Rs. 20,000.00
  1. Microorganisms associated with the eggs and larvae of Macrobrachium rosenbergii. Sponsored by Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India, under the Young Scientist programme. Period: January 1987 to July 1989, Rs. 98,000.00
Collaborative Research Projects (Completed)
  1. Development and application of CMG family recombinant hormones, their antagonists and RNAi technique for induced maturation and spawning of Penaeusmonodon. In collaboration with Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, Chennai and Department of Zoology, Calicut University, Calicut. Sponsored by Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India. Period: October 2005- September 2008, Rs. 66.03 lakhs
  1. Development of appropriate bioremediation technology for zero-exchange creek-fed shrimp culture system. In collaboration with M/s Pancham Aquaculture Limited, Mumbai. Sponsored by Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India under the Institute-Industry Collaboration Programme.Period: September 2004 – September 2007, Rs. 19,38,000.00
  1. Detection, isolation and identification of anti-white spot syndrome virus molecules from selected species of marine biota and development of an anti-WSSV formulation. In collaboration with National Centre for Cell Science, Pune. Department of Biotechnology, New Delhi. 2003 September – 2005 September, Value: Rs. 11,65,000.00.
  1. Development and evaluation of small-scale solar treatment systems for contaminated drinking water. In collaboration with University of Northumbria at Newcastle, U.K. Sponsored by The Wellcome Trust, UK.. Period: November 2001 to June 2005, Value: UK Pounds 53,380.00
  1. Digitized inventory of marine bioresources with special reference to bacteria associated with marine plants and animals. Multi-Institutional Consortium consisting of National Institute of Oceanography, Goa, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, Annamalai University, Porto Novo and Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi. Sponsored by Department of Biotechnology and Department of Ocean Development, Govt. of India. Period: November 2001 to March 2003, Rs. 10,87,000.00

Extension Activities

  1. Disease diagnosis and management aquaculture systems.
  1. Quality Control and Research & Development Programmes of Municipal Solid Waste Management undertaken by Corporation of Trivandrum, Kerala, through M/s Enviro-Tech Pvt. Ltd., Trivandrum.
  1. Regularly offer special lectures on Fish Disease Diagnosis and Management and Environment Management in various forums.

Participation in various Expert Committees constituted by Govt. of Kerala/ University

  1. DBT nominee – Institute Biosafety Committee (IBSC), Indian Institute of Spices Research, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Govt. of India
  2. Member – Task Force in Aquaculture and Marine Biotechnology, Department of Biotechnology, Government of India
  3. Member – Task Force for Fish and Shellfish Health Management constituted by Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Government of India
  4. Aquaculture Expert Committee constituted to suggest creative recommendations for the scientific improvement of Poyya Prawn Farm and Training Center, Thrissur, Kerala. Status-Member
  5. Governing body of State Fisheries Resource Management Society, Government of Kerala. Status-Member.
  6. High Power Committee constituted by Government of Kerala, to strengthen disease management and preventive measures to protect shrimp culture from viral diseases. Status-Member.
  7. High level committee on Aquaculture Drug Regulations constituted by CFDDM, CUSAT and Aquaculture Authority, Government of India. Status-Convener.
  8. Member expert group to suggest both short-term and long-term measures for creating an appropriate and effective legal and institutional framework for management and control of aquatic animal diseases- Govt. of India , Ministry of Agriculture.
  9. Member research advisory committee of Marine BioResource Centre (MBRC), Govt. of Gujarat.
  10. Member –Fisheries –Aquaculture Policy- Committee for framing draft Aquaculture policy of Government of Kerala.
  11. Member – Fish Health Management- Disease monitoring, Control and surveillance (MCS) Committee constituted by Department of Fisheries, Government of Kerala.

Symposia/ Conferences/ Workshops Conducted

  1. April 22-24, 2004 Indo-Singapore Joint Workshop on Aquaculture and Marine Biotechnology. Sponsored by Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India.
  2. September 22-25, 2003 Workshop on “Environmental Microbiology & Microbial Ecology”, in collaboration with Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands.
  3. January 18-20, 2002 National Workshop on Aquaculture Drugs
  4. January 18-20, 2001 National Workshop on Aquaculture Medicine
  5. October 9-14, 2000 National Workshop on Anaerobic Wastewater Treatment. Sponsored by MHO-EME Programme, The Netherlands
  6. December, 11-13, 1995 National Symposium on Frontiers in Applied Environmental Microbiology
  7. January, 4-28, 1995 Refresher course on Microbiology of Water and Wastewater sponsored by University Grants Commission, Govt. of India

Establishment of New Centres

A new Centre named Centre for Fish Disease Diagnosis and Management was conceptualized and established in this University and officiates as Coordinator. (For more details visit the site On 18th January, 2006 the Centre was re designated as National Centre for Aquatic Animal Health.Considering the achievements Department of Biotechnology, Government of India sanctioned an M.Tech. programme in Marine Biotechnology. In support of the programme University Grants Commission sanctioned two Faculty positions at the level of Assistant Professors. In addition to it the 11th plan commission sanctioned a position of Associate Professor and Assistant Professor to cater to the requirement of the M.Tech. programme. A brief profile of the Centre is attached.

Doctoral Works Supervised

Name of candidates and Register numbers / Title of the Ph. D. thesis / Year of award of degree
  1. Rose Mary Jose
(Reg. No. 3234) / Efficacy of marine bacterial probiotics on shrimp post larvae for enhanced growth, survival and protection from Vibrio harvaeyi” / Submitted
  1. Sunitha Poulose
(Reg. No. 32.33) / Marine yeast Candida MCCF 101 as feed supplement in aquaculture: nutritional quality, optimization of large scale production and evaluation of its protective effect on koi carp from Aeromonas infection / Submitted
  1. Vrinda, S
(Reg. 3113) / Development of CHH family recombinant hormones and RNAi for induced maturation of Penaeus monodon / Submitted
  1. Suneesh, K.S.
(Reg. No. 2652) / A marine actinomycete Nocardiopsis MCCB 110 as source of novel drugs to manage vibriosis / 12-12-2013
  1. Ranjit, K.
(Reg. No. 2600) / Solar photo – oxidative disinfection for generating potable water from Natural sources / 21-12-2013
  1. Haseeb M
(Reg. No.3232) / Development of zero water exchange shrimp culture systems integrated with bioremediation of detritus and ammonia –nitrogen / 15-11-2013
  1. Surekha mol, I.S
((Reg. No.3072) / Vibrio harveyi phages: Isolation, characterization and evaluation of their potential as phage therapeutics on Vibrio harveyi in shrimp hatcheries / 17-8-2013
  1. Jayesh P
(Reg. No.3469) / Development of lymphoid cell culture system from Penaeus monodon and molecular approaches for its transformation / 9-5-2013
  1. Priyaja P
(Reg. no. 2877) / Pyocyanin (5-Methyl – 1- hydroxyphenazine) produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa as antagonist to Vibrios in aquaculture: Over expression, downstream process and toxicity / 28-12-2012
  1. Divya Jose
(Reg. No.3065) / Proteases from an environmental isolate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa MCCB 123 and their applications / 3rd July 2012
  1. B. Sreelakshmi
(Reg. no. 3071) / Molecular approaches for characterization of pathogenicity of vibrios with special reference to Vibrio harveyi from Penaeus monodon larval production system / 26th April, 2013
  1. Gigi Paulose
(Reg. no.2655) / Immune response of Penaeus monodon to the inactivated white spot syndrome virus preparation / 7th February 2012
  1. Seena Jose
(Reg. no: 2651) / Cell culture system from Penaeus monodon: Development and application / 28th September 2010
  1. Sudheer N.S
(Reg. no. 2762) / Mangrove plants Ceriops tagal as a potential source of anti White Spot Syndrome Virus preparation for Penaeus monodon / 30th December, 2010
  1. Sreedharan. K
(Reg. no. 2502) / Aeromonas associated with freshwater ornamental fish culture systems: Characterization, pathogenicity and management. / 20th January 2010
  1. Rejish Kumar V.J (Reg. no. 2480)
/ Nitrifying bioreactors integrated in to shrimp and prawn hatchery systems: Molecular characterization of the nitrifying bacterial consortia, reactor kinetics, modeling and validation / 22nd March 2009
  1. Manju, N.J
(Reg. no. 2432) / Development of nitrifying and photosynthetic sulphur bacteria based bioaugmentation systems for the bioremediation of ammonia and hydrogen sulphide in shrimp culture / 21st August 2008
  1. Somnath Pai
(Reg. no. 2362) / Biocontrol of Vibrioharveyi in Penaeusmonodon larval rearing systems employing probiotics and vibriophages. / 15th October 2007
  1. R. Preetha
(Reg. no.2360) / Bioprocess technology for antagonistic Pseudomonas MCCB 102 and 103, Micrococcus MCCB 104, and evaluation of Synechocystis MCCB 114, 115 as probiotics for the management of Vibrio in shrimp culture systems / 28th July 2007
  1. A. Anas
(Reg. no.2361) / Extraction of glucan from Acremonium diospyri and its application in Macrobrachium rosenbergii larval rearing system along with bacterins as microspheres / 26th August 2006
  1. N. S. Jayaprakash
/ Development of microbial technology for exclusion of vibrios from prawn larval rearing systems. / 27th May 2006
  1. M. Manjusha
(Reg. no. 1953) / White spot disease in penaeids: Development of immunodiagnostics and vaccine. / 15th June 2004
  1. G. Sunil Kumar
/ Development of cell culture systems from selected species of fish and prawns. / 8th June 2001
  1. Cini Achuthan
(Reg. no. 1583) / Development of bioreactors for nitrifying water in closed system hatcheries of penaeid and non-penaeid prawns. / 18th Nov. 2000
  1. P. I. Narayanan
/ Development of microbial treatment of ret liquor generated in a coir retting bioreactor. / 1999
  1. T.R. Sathyakeerthy
/ Polyphenolic compounds liberated during coir retting in a bioreactor: Separation, characterization and possible applications. / 15th September 1999
  1. Sarita G. Bhat
(Reg. no.1431) / Systematics and pathogenicity of Vibrionaceae associated with the larvae of Macrobrachium rosenbergii in hatchery / 24th October 1998
  1. Kavitha Ramachandran
/ Development of bioreactors for nitrifying sewage / 19th September 1998

Ongoing Doctoral Programmes

  1. Solar photo-oxidative disinfection for generating low cost potable water from natural water sources - RanjitKanjur..
  2. Development and validation of bacterial consortia for bioremediation of detritus in aquaculture systems – V. Deepesh.
  3. Unraveling the ‘Probiotic effect’ in shrimp larval rearing systems and its augmentation for enhanced larval survival and productivity – Rose Mary Jose.
  4. Development of photosynthetic sulphur bacteria based bioremediation technology for aquaculture systems for H2S removal - Ammu Thomas.
  5. Molecular characterization and cell signaling of nitrifying bacterial consortia in nitrifying bioreactor – Preena P.G
  6. Mode of action and functional genomics of Bacillus MCCB 101: A detritus degrader in aquaculture system - Riya George
  7. Cyano bacterial probiotics MCCB114 and 115: Their identification, heterotrophic bacterial association and ecological significance – Deepa G.D.
  8. Vector borne viruses endemic to the state of Kerala, India– Prem Gopinath
  9. Improvisation of phytase production through optimizing fermentation conditions and strain improvement – Sareen Saraha Johne
  10. Saccharification ofdelignified coir pith and ethanol fermentation – P. Asha
  11. Delignification of coir pith for enzymatic saccharification –S. Rojith
  12. Polyhydroxybutyrate from marine microorganisms and their biomedical applications – Deepa, S. Nair

Adhoc Reviewer

  1. Letters in applied microbiology (Blackwell)
  2. Aquaculture Research (Blackwell)
  3. Aquaculture International (Springer)
  4. Aquaculture (Elsevier)
  5. Indian Journal of Marine Sciences (CSIR)
  6. Indian Journal of Virology (Springer)
  7. Indian Journal of Experimental Biology (CSIR)
  8. Current Science (Indian Academy of Science)
  9. Indian Journal of Fisheries (ICAR)
  10. Microbial Ecology
  11. Biotechnology Progress
  12. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology
  13. Fish and Shell Fish Immunology
  14. Environmental Technology
  15. Journal of Basic Microbiology (Wiley - VCH
  16. Aquaculture Engineering
  17. Cytotechnology(Springer)

Patents

  1. Coir Retting Bioreactor – Patent Application No. 130/MA/2002 dated 18/02/2002
  2. Bioreactors for nitrifying water in closed system hatcheries of penaeid and non-penaeid prawns - Patent Application No. : 828/DEL/2000 dated 13.9.2000

3.Depuration System - Patent file No. 75/MAS/95 by D. D. Nambudiri, I. S. Bright Singh, Sajan George, and P. M. Sherief, 1995.