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Dr. Krishnan Srinivasaraghavan

Adjunct Professor, School for Sustainable Futures (ASF), Amritapuri

Qualification: Ph. D. in Environmental Biotechnology, M.A, M.Sc
krishnans@am.amrita.edu
Research Interest: Sustainable Development, Multilateral Affairs, Regional Cooperation, United Nations, Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), International Governance Architecture, Policy Advocacy

Bio

Dr. Krishnan Srinivasaraghavan is currently serving as an Adjunct Professor of Sustainable Development in Amrita School for Sustainable Futures (ASF), Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, India. He is a senior international civil servant and a seasoned international development professional with over two decades’ experience and expertise in multilateral affairs, regional cooperation, science, technology and innovation (STI) and establishing cross-border partnerships. During 2019-2023, Dr. Krishnan held the position of Head of Exploration, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) India wherein he led UNDP’s efforts to test, pilot and scale groundbreaking new and emerging technological innovations for accelerating progress in achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs). For over 13 years, he was the Coordinator for Technology Transfer Programme for the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and played a lead role in establishing and operationalizing several UN regional initiatives in the areas of renewable energy, climate resilient agriculture, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) development as well as 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies in the Asia Pacific region.

Prior to joining United Nations, he served as Assistant General Manager in a public sector organization under the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India and contributed significantly to technology transfer negotiations of Government of India in biopharmaceutical sector. Dr. Krishnan also served as a Science Specialist with the Australian Government and he was one of the founding members of “Australia-India Strategic Research Fund”, an Australian dollar 40 million joint initiative by Australia and India to promote research collaboration between the two countries. Dr. Krishnan also worked for the internationally renowned The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) as a scientist in environmental biotechnology during which he also held the position of Visiting Researcher at the Waseda University, Tokyo during 2004-2005.

Dr. Krishnan has several academic and professional achievements to his credit including Member, Third Court (Senior Executive Board) of the Central University of Tamil Nadu; Member, Expert Committee, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, Member, Subgroup on Innovation and Technology Transfer, NITI Aayog. He secured University First Rank and was a recipient of Gold Medal in Masters in Microbiology from Bharathidasan University. He was also recipient of DAAD Fellowship from Germany, Overseas Scholar Award from Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund (JNMF), Postgraduate Scholarship from The Fletcher School, USA.

He holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Biotechnology from TERI School of Advanced Studies, New Delhi, India, a Master of Arts degree in International Relations from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, USA and a Master of Science in Microbiology from Bharathidasan University, India. He also has a keen interest in learning new languages and obtained Certifications in Sanskrit and Japanese languages.

Publications

Journal Article

Year : 2006

Comparative analysis of phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of two desulfurizing bacterial strains, Mycobacterium phlei SM120-1 and Mycobacterium phlei GTIS10

Cite this Research Publication : K. Srinivasaraghavan, P.M. Sarma, B. Lal,”Comparative analysis of phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of two desulfurizing bacterial strains, Mycobacterium phlei SM120-1 and Mycobacterium phlei GTIS10”, Letters in Applied Microbiology 2006.

Year : 2004

Assessment of intra-species diversity among strains of Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from sites contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons

Cite this Research Publication : Sarma PM, Bhattacharya D, Krishnan S, Lal B, “Assessment of intra-species diversity among strains of Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from sites contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons”, Canadian Journal of Microbiology,2004.

Year : 2004

Degradation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons by a Newly Discovered Enteric Bacterium, Leclercia adecarboxylata

Cite this Research Publication : Priyangshu Manab Sarma, Dhruva Bhattacharya, S. Krishnan, Banwari Lal, Degradation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons by a Newly Discovered Enteric Bacterium, Leclercia adecarboxylata, Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 2004.

Year : 2003

Evaluation of Genetic Diversity among Pseudomonas citronellolis Strains Isolated from Oily Sludge-Contaminated Sites

Cite this Research Publication : Dhruva Bhattacharya, Priyangshu M Sarma, S Krishnan, Sanjeet Mishra, Banwari Lal, “Evaluation of genetic diversity among Pseudomonas citronellolis strains isolated from oily sludge-contaminated sites”, Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 2003.

Education
  • Ph.D. (Environmental Biotechnology), TERI School of Advanced Studies, New Delhi & Waseda University, Tokyo.
  • MA. (International Relations), The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA
  • MSc. (Microbiology) – Gold Medallist, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, India
  • Certificate in Functional Sanskrit (CFS), National Sanskrit University, Tirupati, India
Professional Affiliations
  • Member, Third Court (Senior Executive Board), Central University of Tamil Nadu (2023-Present).
  • Member, Expert Committee, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India (August 2021– Present)
  • Member, Subgroup on Innovation and Technology Transfer, NITI Aayog, Government of India (2020 – 2021)
  • Member, Compliance Review Panel (CRP), UNDP India (2020-2022)
  • Member, Editorial Advisory Board for Asia- Pacific Tech Monitor, United Nations APCTT-ESCAP (2007-2019)
  • Member, Australia-India Joint Governmental Committees on Biotechnology and Science and Technology (2006)
  • Assistant Public Information Officer (APIO) for Bharat Immunological and Biologicals Corporation (BIBCOL), Department of Biotechnology, Government of India (2005)
  • Visiting Researcher, School of Science and Engineering, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan (2004-05)
Awards & Distinctions
  • Award of Distinction in Functional Sanskrit, National Sanskrit University, Tirupati, India
  • Recipient of Human Life Advancement Foundation (HLAF) Award from His Excellency Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, Former Prime Minister of Malaysia (2014)
  • The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy Graduate Scholarship, Tufts University, MA, USA (2010)
  • DAAD-Short Term Research Fellowships for Germany, 2004
  • Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund (JNMF) Overseas Doctoral Fellowship (Japan), 2004
  • UNESCO-American Society for Microbiology Travel Award, 2003
  • Award of Gold Medal and University First Rank, Bharathidasan University, Trichy, India, 1999
Peer reviewed Publication
  • UNDP Flagship Publication: Blockchain for Agri-Food Traceability, UNDP Global Centre for Technology, Innovation and Sustainable Development, Singapore
  • How Innovative Business Models Can Ensure Access to Quality and Affordable Healthcare, JournoMED
  • Devising Inclusive Business Models is vital to foster Sustainable Agriculture and Livelihoods in India, Economic Times (ET) Edge Insights
  • Bridging the Gap: Is Blockchain the big next thing in Indian agriculture?
  • Navigating the New Abnormal in the Asia Pacific- from Signals, Scans, to the Spaces in Between
  • Building a Fortress of Blockchain to Protect Farmers and Livelihoods
  • Cross-border Technology Transfer for Promoting Climate-Resilient Economic Development , United Nations ESCAP
  • Krishnan Srinivasaraghavan, “The Need for Business Models in Renewable Energy Sector”, Asia-Pacific Tech Monitor, United Nations ESCAP, April-June 2012
  • Krishnan Srinivasaraghavan, United Nations ESCAP’s Flagship Publication on Trade and Investment, Asia-Pacific Trade and Investment Report 2009: Trade-led Recovery
  • Krishnan Srinivasaraghavan, Economic and Social Survey for Asia and the Pacific 2010, United Nations
  • UNESCAP Regional Study on Policy Mechanisms to Foster the Development, Transfer, and Adaptation of Publicly-Funded and Globally Relevant Environmentally Sound Technologies (ESTs) – India National Report
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