From transforming environmental challenges into practical solutions to collaborating with universities across Asia, Dr Ashokkumar’s work demonstrates how applied scientific innovation can drive real-world impact
Published Oct 24, 2025 | 9:32 AM ⚊ Updated Oct 24, 2025 | 9:32 AM
Dr Ashokkumar Veeramuthu.
Synopsis: Dr Ashokkumar Veeramuthu has been named among the World’s Top Scientists by Stanford University and Elsevier Publishers. The 2025 recognition spotlights his pioneering work in microalgae-based biofuels, plastic-to-resource conversion, and innovative waste management systems.
For the third year in a row, Dr Ashokkumar Veeramuthu of Nilgiris district in Tamil Nadu, has been named among the World’s Top Scientists by Stanford University in the US and Elsevier Publishers, cementing his reputation as a global leader in sustainable science.
The 2025 recognition spotlights his pioneering work in microalgae-based biofuels, plastic-to-resource conversion, and innovative waste management systems — research that bridges science and society.
From transforming environmental challenges into practical solutions to collaborating with universities across Asia, Dr Ashokkumar’s work demonstrates how applied scientific innovation can drive real-world impact, reinforcing India’s presence in the global research community.
Dr Ashokkumar Veeramuthu, who began his education at a government school, developed a strong interest in science at a young age, which eventually led him to make a mark on the global stage.
His journey, from a student in local schools to an internationally recognised researcher, reflects how focus, perseverance, and purpose-driven inquiry can overcome geographic and resource limitations.
He received his PhD in Biotechnology from the University of Madras in 2013, during which he was awarded an Indo-Australian fellowship and worked as a visiting scientist at Adelaide University, Australia. He also holds an MPhil. and MSc in Plant Biotechnology from Indian universities.
Over the years, he has expanded his expertise to biofuels, biorefineries, microalgal wastewater treatment, carbon dioxide sequestration, and biomass conversion technologies, blending fundamental science with real-world environmental solutions.
Dr Ashokkumar has published more than 130 research papers in leading international journals and collaborated with at least 18 universities worldwide, fostering global exchange in sustainability and environmental research.
He has held positions as a visiting professor at Chulalongkorn University, Thailand, and the National University of Singapore, and conducted postdoctoral research at University Technology Malaysia and National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan.
His industrial experience, including work at Reliance Industries, further enriches his ability to translate research into practical technologies, from bio-jet fuels to value-added bioproducts.
Currently, he serves as Professor and Head of the Centre for Waste Management and Renewable Energy at Saveetha University (SIMATS), Chennai, while also mentoring and collaborating internationally.
His leadership in academia and research networks has strengthened India’s presence in global scientific circles, and his ongoing projects in waste-to-resource technologies, renewable energy, and sustainable biorefineries continue to offer tangible solutions to some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.
Dr Ashokkumar Veeramuthu’s global recognition stems from his pioneering work on harnessing microalgae for wastewater treatment and carbon capture, a line of research that bridges biotechnology, environmental engineering, and sustainability.
By leveraging the natural metabolic capabilities of microalgae, his team has developed systems that simultaneously clean wastewater and reduce CO₂ in the atmosphere, turning two pressing environmental challenges into a single, integrated solution.
At the core of this research is the use of microalgae to absorb nutrients, toxins, and heavy metals from industrial and municipal wastewater. The algae not only purify the water but also grow rapidly, producing biomass that can be converted into biofuels or other value-added products, creating a circular, sustainable system. This dual functionality of pollutant removal and biomass generation distinguishes his work from conventional wastewater treatment methods.
In parallel, his research addresses CO₂ sequestration by capturing carbon from industrial emissions and integrating it into the microalgal growth process. This approach reduces greenhouse gas emissions while producing biomass rich in energy and bioproduct potential.
Through careful optimisation of growth conditions, reactor design, and nutrient cycles, Dr Ashokkumar has demonstrated systems that are both scalable and environmentally effective, making them suitable for deployment in industrial and municipal settings.
The significance of this work lies not only in its scientific innovation but also in its practical implications. By combining environmental remediation with renewable energy production, Dr Ashokkumar’s research provides a tangible blueprint for sustainable waste and carbon management, which is exactly the body of work that earned him repeated global recognition.
His contributions offer a model for integrating research and application, showing how science can generate measurable environmental and societal benefits.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
