Dr.Swaminathan Raguraman, Ph.D., FRES Principal

Email: raguraman99@gmail.com

Phone: +91 94430 79214

Raguraman is an Agricultural Entomologist who has specialized in ecotoxicology of botanical insecticides in agricultural, horticultural and forest ecosystems. He runs projects on biological testing of new plant origin insecticides and guides students at postgraduate and doctoral levels. He teaches basic and applied entomology to undergraduate students of agriculture and Insect Ecology, Insect Physiology, Immature Insects, Biochemistry of Insects, and Insect Nutrition and Metabolism to postgraduate and doctoral scholars of Agricultural Entomology. He is a prestigious member of Entomological Society of America - ESA . He received his Fellow certification from Royal Entomological Society - FRES tag for his contributions in the field of insect science particularly on the use of natural pesticides and its safety concerns to parasitoids and predators in agricultural and horticultural ecosystems. He wrote books on Basic and applied Entomology for Undergraduate Insect Science students and Biorational Insect Pest Management for advanced readers. He served as Editor-in-Chief of the Madras Agricultural Journal, a century old official journal of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University for four years and acted as Vice-President of Madras Agricultural Students Union for two years. Also, he has served as Farm Manager, Deputy Director of Research, Canteen Officer, Academic Coordinator and Research Coordinator at TNAU Campuses. He visited several countries for scientific gatherings. He served as founder Dean on deputation from TNAU to SRS Institute of Agriculture & Technology, Vedasandur for three years. He acted as Member of Deans' Committee, Board of Studies and Academic Council of TNAU & Member of Board of Studies, Annamalai University. Currently, he is Professor-in- charge of the University Press and looks after the publications of TNAU and main architect of Modern Printing Press at TNAU-main campus.

Date of Birth: February 18, 1963
Years of Service: 35+

Education

Ph. D. Entomology, 1994, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi
M. Sc (Ag) Agricultural Entomology, 1988, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore
B. Sc (Ag) Agriculture, 1985, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore

Awards/Fellowships/Recognitions

Certificate of Appreciation for Agri-Portal Contents, 2021, TNAU, Coimbatore
Certificate of Excellence, 2016, TNAU, Coimbatore
Competitive Travel Grant, 2011, CICS, Chennai
Competitive Travel Grant, 2009, TNAU and Govt. of India, New Delhi
Shiksha Rattan Puraskar (Award), 2009, New Delhi
Travel Fellowship/Grant, 1999 and 2007, INSA, New Delhi and UNIDO, China
Young Scientist Award, 1996, TNSCST, Chennai
Senior Research Fellowship, 1991, IARI, New Delhi
Junior Research Fellowship, 1986, ICAR, New Delhi

Technical Positions held

Professor (Publications), TNAU, Coimbatore, 2018 - till date
Dean, SRS Institute of Agriculture & Technology, Vedasandur (On Deputation) 2015-2018
Professor in Agricultural Entomology, TNAU, Coimbatore, 2005-2015
Associate Professor in Agricultural Entomology, TNAU, Coimbatore, 2002-2005
Assistant Professor in Agricultural Entomology, TNAU, Coimbatore, 1988-2002

Administrative Positions held

Professor (Publications) TNAU Press, 2018-2022
Dean, 2015-2018
Deputy Director of Research, 2007-2009
University Canteen Officer, 2007-2009
Editor-in-Chief (Madras Agricultural Journal) 2009-2012
Post-graduate Coordinator, 2002-2005
College Academic Coordinator/Associate Professor (Education) 2002-2005
Farm Manager, 1994-1997

Areas of teaching/research interests

Anatomy, Physiology and embryology of insects
Insect environment and ecological engineering
Development of hazard free plant origin insecticides
Impact of botanical pesticides on entomophages
Eco-toxicology of pesticides in aquatic and agricultural ecosystems

Courses taught Undergraduate

Fundamentals of Entomology & Economic Entomology
Pests of Field & Horticultural Crops and Their Management
Pests and Diseases in Bioproduction System
Commercial Beekeeping

Postgraduate (MSc and PhD)

Anatomy and Physiology of Insects
Insect Nutrition & Metabolism
Immature Stages of Insects
Research Methodology

Research students guidance

Diversity of whiteflies complex in coconut and efficacy of binary mixtures of plant derived pesticides (S. Saneera, 2023) – Current
Development of Nano-formulations of seaweed extracts for the management of Lepidopteran pests (Dharani Priya, 2022)
Diversity of coccinellids in vegetables crops in Coimbatore District (K. Sruthi 2021)
Host plant resistance to stem borer, Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) in Maize (Louai Abdalla, 2014)
Studies on little bee (Apis florea Fabricius) population of Tamil Nadu (P. Elayaraja, 2011)
Synergy of NeemSweet formulation against Diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus) and tobacco caterpillar, Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) (S. Raja, 2009)
Biorational insecticides for the management of rice leaffolder, Cnaphalocrocis mendinalis (Guenee) (Lepidoptera: Pyraustidae) (M. Punithavalli, 2005)
Biorational pesticides for the management of tomato fruit borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Noctuidae: Lepidoptera) (Hubner) (K. Sathish, 2003)
Joint action potentials of Azadirect on insect pests of cotton (P.K. Santhakumar, 2003)
Behavioral and physiological effects of neem extract on the tobacco cutworm, Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) and larval parasitoid, Bracon brevicornis (Wesmel) (M. Rajkumar, 2002)
Biodiversity of Arthropods in Irrigated Rice Ecosysytem (M. Kandibane, 2002)

Research Projects handled University funded

Taxonomic identification of rice leaf folders
Organic management of rice leafhoppers and planthoppers
Organic cultivation of red-chillies with special reference to pest management
Biointensive management of coconut rhinoceros beetle and red palm weevil
Parasitoids for papaya mealy bugs

Externally funded

Evaluation of spinosad & acetamiprid for the management of cotton pests
Organic Farming: An ecofriendly approach for the management of vegetables

Evaluation of Lanate against Maconellicoccus hirsustus

Bioefficacy of Tolfenpyrad against mango hoppers and cardamom thrips
Smart Farming in Malaysia: Consultation Project

Special Task

Project Coordinator: TNAU-InAgMa Project on Smart Farming in Malaysia, 2019-2022
TNAU Offset Printing Press: Renovation & Moderation, 2018-2022
Member: ICAR's 50Crore Project Purchase Committee, 2007-2009

Leadership/Membership/Fellowship

Chief Election Officer-MASU Election 2023
Fellow, Royal Entomological Society, London since Oct. 5, 2016
Member, Board of Studies (Agriculture), Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu, 2020-2021
Member, Dean's Committee, TNAU, Coimbatore, 2015-2018
Member, Board of Studies (Agriculture), TNAU, Coimbatore, 2015-2018
Member, Academic Council, TNAU, Coimbatore, 2015-2018
Vice President, Madras Agricultural Students Union, 2013-2015
Editor-in-Chief, Madras Agricultural Journal, 2009-2012
Fellow, Hind Agri-Horti Society, 2010-present
Deputy Director of Research, TNAU, 2008-2009
Member, University Purchase Committee for I-50 Scheme, Govt. of India, 2008-2009
Academic Coordinator, Agricultural College, Madurai, 2002-2005
Ward Counselor/Staff Coordinator, Agricultural College, Madurai, 2001-2003
Entomological Society of America, 2000-present
Farm Manager, Agricultural Research Station, 1994-1997
Life member, Society of Pesticide Sciences, New Delhi, India
Life Member, Society of Plant Protection Sciences, New Delhi, India
Life Member, Indian Society for Biocontrol Advancement, Bangalore, India
Life Member, Association for Advancement of Entomology, Trivandrum, India
Life Member, National Academy of Biological Sciences, Chennai, India
Life Member Madras Agricultural Students Union, TNAU, Coimbatore

Foreign Visits

Selangor, Malaysia: High Level Workshop on Smart Farming in Malaysia, Dec. 2-3, 2019
Sophia Antipolis, France: II Int. Conference on Entomophagous Insects, July 20-23, 2011
Minnesota, USA: I Int. Conference on Entomophagous Insects, July 18-21, 2009
Puyallup, Washington, USA: Short Term Research on Neem, Jan. 18 - Mar. 4, 2009
Kunming, China: International Neem Conference, Nov 11-15, 2006
Vancouver, Canada: World Neem Conference, May 18-21, 1999

Publication

Books  –  2 Book Chapters – 10

Research Papers (Peer received) International – 27 National – 63

Conference/Seminars International – 18 National – 27