Division of Students' Affairs

Dr. Pathma J

Associate Dean, Students' Affairs

studentswelfare@dsuniversity.ac.in

Dr. Pathma J is an Associate Professor in School of Agricultural Sciences, Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan University, Trichy, Tamil Nadu, India. She earned her Ph.D. from Pondicherry Central University in Department of Biotechnology, specializing in "Molecular and functional diversity of vermicompost microbiota". Her post graduate research was in Department of Entomology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University on "Sugar beet pests and their management". With an undergraduate degree in Agriculture she gained a solid foundation in various branches of agricultural sciences, paving the way for her interdisciplinary research endeavours. As a student, her interests spanned the captivating realms of insects, microbes, English literature, poetry, music, dance, and painting.

With over a decade of teaching and research experience post-Ph.D., Dr. Pathma J has contributed significantly to academia. She has instructed 12 diverse courses in entomology, microbiology, and biotechnology at the undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral levels. Her role as a member in Curriculum development/Board of studies for UG, PG, and PhD programs, expert panellist in Ph.D. interviews and faculty recruitment for Agricultural Sciences and Life sciences reflects her commitment to shaping academic standards.

As an accomplished researcher, her interests focus on climate-resilient agriculture, eco-friendly sustainable crop protection employing beneficial microbes, and plant immunity. Dr. Pathma J has guided 5 M.Sc. (Ag.) students and is currently mentoring 5 Ph.D. scholars. Her scholarly contributions include eight Scopus-indexed publications in journals of international repute, 12 book chapters with Springer and Elsevier, and two publications in nationally renowned journals, all as the first/corresponding author.

Recognized for her academic and research excellence, Dr. Pathma J has received various fellowships, including the TNAU merit scholarship, junior research fellowship, and senior research fellowship in DBT-funded major research projects. Notably, in 2021, she secured External Research Funding CSMNRF-2021 for a Ph.D. scholar under her supervision. In 2022, she obtained external funding for research from the industry as a Co-PI. Her dedication to research is further underscored by the award of Rs. 1 lakh partial grant-in aid for hosting a national seminar by DST-SERB in September 2023.

Dr. Pathma J's leadership skills are evident in her role as Dean in-charge at the School of Agricultural Sciences, Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan University, where she served for a five-month period (July 2022-Nov 2022). Since the inception of her journey as an Assistant professor in 2013, she has been actively involved with students fostering their growth in both academic pursuits and extracurricular activities. Her roles encompassed serving as a class coordinator, examination coordinator, and Career Development Coordinator, where she played a pivotal role in guiding students to achieve excellence in their academic endeavors. Additionally, during her initial tenure as assistant professor, she assumed the role of founder coordinator for both the Science Club and English Literary Club, igniting research interests among undergraduate students and orchestrating events to enhance their proficiency in the English language fostering the holistic development of students and equipping them for successful careers. She has been an academic counsellor, member of disciplinary committee and Women's Harassment Redressal Committee during the early stages of her career.

Since July 2022, she holds the position of Associate Dean, Students' Affairs, at DSU, where she continues to make a positive impact on student life. She also serves as the Vice-Chairperson of the Anti-Ragging Committee of DSU and holds the position of Chairperson for the Students Grievance Redressal Committee of the School of Agricultural Sciences. In these capacities, she demonstrates a steadfast commitment to ensuring a safe and conducive learning environment for all students under her purview.