MATHIMARAN NATARAJAN Associate Professor

Profile Picture

  • Department of Ecology & Environmental Sciences
  • School of Life Sciences
  • mathimaran.natarajan@gmail.com

Academic Activity

Academic Activity Picture1

Academic Activity Picture2

Educational Qualification (UG,PG & Higher Order)

S.No Degree Subject/Title of thesis University/Board Year of Passing
1 PhD Natural Sciences ETH, Zürich, Switzerland 2006
2 MSc Agricultural Microbiology UAS, GKVK, Bangalore, India 2002
3 BSc Agriculture TNAU, Trichy Campus, India 1999

Area of Specializaion

Ecophysiology, Agroecology, Agroforestry, Rhizosphere Ecology, Coastal and Marine Ecology, Environmental Microbiology, Molecular Ecology, Plant & Soil Microbiome, Animal-Microbe Interactions, Natural Resource Management, Sustainable Development, Climate Change

Awards / Prizes Conferred

S.No Name / Title of the Award Type Name of the Agency conferred the Award Year of the Award Amount for Cash Award
1 Post-Doctoral Fellowship INTERNATIONAL University of Basel, Switzerland 2006 Ca. CHF 5000/month

Teaching Experience

S.No Designation Department/Centre Institution
1 Postdoctoral Research Fellow Department of Environmental Sciences University of Basel, Switzerland
2 Research Associate Department of Environmental Sciences University of Basel, Switzerland
3 Associate Professor Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Pondicherry University, India

Research Experience

S.No Designation Department/Centre Institution Area of Research
1 Postdoctoral Research Fellow Department of Environmental Sciences University of Basel, Switzerland Agroecology, Ecophysiology, Genomics, Molecular Markers
2 Research Associate (Senior Scientist) Department of Environmental Sciences University of Basel, Switzerland Agroecology, Ecophysiology, Microbiome, Meta-analysis
3 Associate Professor Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Pondicherry University, Indiaherry Sustainable Land Use, Ecophysiology, Natural Resource Management, Climate Change

Industry Experience

S.No Designation Company/Corporate Nature of Work

Contribution towards Innovation

S.No Name of the Work/Contribution Specialization Remarks

Patent Details

S.No Title Status Patent Number Year of Award Type Commercialized Status

Papers Published in UGC Approved Journals

S.No Title Name of the Authors as per the order in Paper Journal Name Volume, Issue & Page Nos. Year Impact Factor

Papers Published in Non UGC Approved Peer Reviewed Journals

S.No Title Name of the Authors as per the order in Paper Journal Name Volume, Issue & Page Nos. Year Impact Factor
1 Rate of hyphal spread of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi from pigeon pea to finger millet and their contribution to plant growth and nutrient uptake in e Schutz, L., K. Saharan, P. Mader, T. Boller and N. Mathimaran Applied Soil Ecology 169, 2022, 104156 2022 5.5
2 Spatial arrangement and biofertilizers enhance the performance of legume – millet intercropping system in rainfed areas of southern India Singh D, Mathimaran N, Sekar J, Prabavathy VR, Perisamy P, Raju K, Rengalakshmi R, King IO, Thimmegowda MN, Manjunatha BN, Bhavitha NC, Savitha MS, Bagyaraj DJ, Maeder P, Boller T, Kahmen A. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems 5:711284. doi: 10.3389/fsufs.2021.711284 2021 5
3 Deciphering the Role of Trehalose in Tripartite Symbiosis Among Rhizobia, Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi, and Legumes for Enhancing Abiotic Stress To Sharma MP, Grover M, Chourasiya D, Bharti A, Agnihotri R, Maheshwari HS, Pareek A, Buyer JS, Sharma SK, Schütz L, Mathimaran N, Singla-Pareek SL, Grossman JM and Bagyaraj DJ Frontiers in Microbiology 11:509919. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.509919 2020 6
4 Intercropping Transplanted Pigeon Pea With Finger Millet: Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria Boost Yield While Redu Mathimaran N, Jegan S, Thimmegowda MN, Prabavathy VR, Yuvaraj P, Kathiravan R, Sivakumar MN, Manjunatha BN, Bhavitha NC, Sathish A, Shashidhar GC, Bagyaraj DJ, Ashok EG, Singh D, Kahmen A, Boller T an Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems 4:88. doi: 10.3389/fsufs.2020.00088 2020 5
5 Deep-rooted pigeon pea promotes the water relations and survival of shallow-rooted finger millet during drought—Despite strong competitive interacti Devesh Singh, Natarajan Mathimaran, Thomas Boller and Ansgar Kahmen PLOS ONE 15(2), e0228993. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0228993 2020 3.75
6 Bioirrigation: A common mycorrhizal network facilitates water transfer from pigeon pea to finger millet under drought. Natarajan Mathimaran, Thomas Boller and Ansgar Kahmen Plant and Soil 440, 1–2, 277–292 2019 5
7 Improving Crop Yield and Nutrient Use Efficiency via Biofertilization—A Global Meta-analysis Schütz L, Gattinger A, Meier M, Müller A, Boller T, Mäder P and Mathimaran N Frontiers in Plant Sciences 8. Article 2204 2018 6.6
8 Finger Millet Growth and Nutrient Uptake Is Improved in Intercropping With Pigeon Pea Through “Biofertilization” and “Bioirrigation” Mediated Saharan K, Schütz L, Kahmen A, Wiemken A, Boller T and Mathimaran N Frontiers in Environmental Science 6. Article 46 2018 5.4
9 Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis and drought tolerance in crop plants Mathimaran N, Sharma MP, Raju M and Bagyaraj DJ Mycosphere 2017. 8(3). 361-376 2017 4.1
10 Non-target effects of bioinoculants on rhizospheric microbial communities of Cajanus cajan Gupta R, Mathimaran N, Wiemken A, Boller T, Bisaria VS and Sharma S Applied Soil Ecology 76. 26-33 2014 5.5
11 Mycorrhizal networks: Common goods of plants shared under unequal terms of trade Walder F, Niemann H, Mathimaran N, Lehmann MF, Boller T and Wiemken A Plant Physiology 159. 789-797 2012 9.1
12 Genome sequences of two plant growth promoting fluorescent pseudomonas strains R62 and R81 Mathimaran N, Srivastava, Wiemken A, Sharma A K and Boller T Journal of Bacteriology 2012. 194. 3272-3273 2012 3.49

Papers Published in Conference Proceedings

S.No Title Name of the Authors as per the order in Paper Details of Conference Publication Page Nos. Year

Books

S.No Title of the Book Name of the Authors as per the order in Book Publisher Year ISBN No.

Chapters in Books

S.No Title of the Chapters Name of the Authors Title of the Book Publisher Year ISBN No.
1 Millet based intercropping systems facilitated by beneficial microbes for climate resilient sustainable farming in tropics. Mathimaran N, Singh D, Rengalakshmi R, Thimmegowda MN, Prabavathy VR, Sekar J, Yuvaraj P, King E.D.I.O, Bagyaraj DJ, Boller T, Kahmen A and Mäder P. Orphan Crops for Sustainable Food and Nutrition Security: Promoting Neglected and Underutilized Species Routledge 2021 9780367902827

Edited Books

S.No Title of the Book Name of the Authors as per the order in Book Publisher Year ISBN No.

Ongoing Projects

S.No Title of the Project Sponsored By Period Sanctioned Amount(Rs. Lakh) Year
1 Using millet-legume model intercropping systems to establish mycorrhiza-facilitated bioirrigation in dryland agriculture Department of Biotechnology, India 2021-2025 161.2728 2021
2 Urban Resilience and Adaptation for India and Mongolia: curricula, capacity, ICT and stakeholder collaboration to support green & blue infrastructure and nature-based solutions ERASMUS and Programme of the European Union 2021-2024 90 Lakhs 2021

Ongoing Consultancy Works

S.No Title of the Consultancy Work Sponsored By Period Sanctioned Amount(Rs. Lakh) Year

Completed Projects

S.No Title of the Project Sponsored By Period Sanctioned Amount(Rs. Lakh) Year
1 Mycorrhiza-facilitated bioirrigation in intercropping systems in dryland agriculture as a new tool to stabilize and increase yields of small holder farms Syngenta Crop Protection, Switzerland 01/02/2019 – 31/01/2021 Approx. 122 lakhs 2019
2 Biofertilization and "bioirrigation" for sustainable mixed cropping of pigeon pea and finger millet Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation 01/11/2017 – 31/10/2019 Approx. 110 lakhs 2017
3 Biofertilization and "bioirrigation" for sustainable mixed cropping of pigeon pea and finger millet Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation 25/5/2014 – 24/04/2017 Approx. 150 lakhs 2014

Completed Consultancy Works

S.No Title of the Consultancy Work Sponsored By Period Sanctioned Amount(Rs. Lakh) Year

Career Guidance Offered to students

S.No Name of the Scheme No. of Students Competitive Examinations/ Career Counseling No. of Students Passed No. of Students Placed

List of capability enhancement such as Soft skill development, Remedial coaching, Language lab,
Bridge courses, Yoga, Meditation, Personal Counselling and Mentoring etc.,

S.No Name of the Programme/Scheme Date of Implementation No. of Students Enrolled Agencies Involved

Research Guidance - PG

S.No Year Degree No. of Students Awarded Department/Centre
1 2019 M.SC 2 Dept. of Environ. Sci., Uni. of Basel, Switzerland
2 2008 M.SC 1 Dept. of Environ. Sci., Uni. of Basel, Switzerland
3 2007 M.SC 2 Dept. of Environ. Sci., Uni. of Basel, Switzerland

Research Guidance - Ph.D

S.No Student Name Registration Date Registration No. Thesis Title Thesis Submitted Status Thesis Submitted Date Vivavoce Completed Status Date Awarded

Research Guidance - Post Doctoral

S.No Scholar Name Designation Funding Agency Fellowship Title Year of Joining Year of Completion

Financial assistance availed to attend conferences / workshops and to pay membership fee
of professional bodies during the year

S.No Conference/ workshop attended for which financial support provided Professional body for which membership fee is provided Amount of Support Place From Date To Date Year

E-Lecture Details

S.No E-Lecture Title Development of e-content/e-learning/delivering Member of Editorial Bodies Reviewer/Referee of
Content/Module Title Institution/Platform Year Weblink

Details of Online Education Conducted

S.No Nature of Online Course No. of Sessions Target Group Date

Invited Talks in Conference/Seminar/Workshop/Training Programme

S.No Title of the Paper Conferences/Seminar/Workshop/Training Programme Organized by Whether International / National / State / Regional / College or University Level From To Year
1 Module 9: Sustainable Development Goals Faculty Induction Programme UGC-HRDC, Pondicherry University National 27-08-2022 27-08-2022 2022
2 Module 9: Health and Environment Faculty Induction Programme UGC-HRDC, Pondicherry University National 11-11-2022 11-11-2022 2022
3 Module 9: Sustainable Development Goals Faculty Induction Programme UGC-HRDC, Pondicherry University National 11-11-2022 11-11-2022 2022
4 Module 9: Health and Environment Faculty Induction Programme UGC-HRDC, Pondicherry University National 27-08-2022 27-08-2022 2022
5 Module 9: Sustainable Development Goals Faculty Induction Programme UGC-HRDC, Pondicherry University National 20-06-2022 20-06-2022 2022
6 Module 9: Health and Environment Faculty Induction Programme UGC-HRDC, Pondicherry University National 20-06-2022 20-06-2022 2022
7 Indo-Swiss Collaboration in Agricultural Research and Education: Past, present & opportunities Summit/Programme Indian Embassy, Switzerland International 28-02-2019 28-02-2019 2019
8 Biofertilizer and bioirrigation: Tools for sustainable pigeon pea and finger millet production Conference Dept. of Agriculture, Govt. of Karnataka International 19-01-2018 21-02-2018 2018
9 Millets, Mixed-cropping and Microbes. Dialogue on Millets, Monsoon and Market Dialogue/Conference MSSRF, India National 15-04-2017 17-04-2017 2017
10 National Conference on “Challenges and Opportunities in Mycological Research (NCCOMR-2016) Conference University of Madras National 11-02-2016 12-02-2016 2016
11 Biofertilization and "bioirrigation" for sustainable mixed cropping of pigeon pea and finger millet Symposium Agroscope Reckenholz, Switzerland International 21-09-2016 21-09-2016 2016
12 Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi as below ground microbial reso Seminar Annamalai University University 08-01-2014 08-01-2014 2014
13 Biofertilization and bioirrigation for sustainable agriculture Seminar Pondicherry University University 31-07-2014 31-07-2014 2014

Conferences/Seminars Organized

S.No Title of the Programme Sponsors Venue & Duration Whether International / National / State / Regional / College or University Level From To Year

Workshop Organized

S.No Title of the Programme Sponsors Venue & Duration Whether International / National / State / Regional / College or University Level From To Year

Administrative Responsibilities in the Government and Quasi Government Agencies

S.No Name of the Position Agency/Organisation Duration Nature of Duties

Affiliation in Academic Bodies/Societies

S.No Name of the Body/Society Nature of Affiliation Year

Participation & Extension Activities (Academic/Administraion)

S.No Name of the Position (Head, Dean, Co-ordinator, Director, etc.,) Duration Nature of Dutites

Participation & Extension Activities (Co-Curricular)

S.No Name of the Position (NSS, NCC, Warden etc.,) Duration Nature of Dutites

Collaboration with Institution/Industry

S.No Collaborator Name Designation Institution/Industry Type Nature of Collaboration Period of Collaboration Visits to Collaborating
Institution / Industry		 Details of Collaborative Research/Teaching
From Date To Date From Date To Date

Faculty Development Programme Attended (Orientation, Refresher, other Short Term Course during the year)

S.No Title of the FDP Organiser Venue Duration From Date To Date Year

Details of Executive Development Prog/Management Development Prog. conducted

S.No Name of the Programme No. of Participants Venue Duration From Date To Date Year Revenue Generated

Participation in IMPESS, IMPRINT, SPARC, STARS, LEAP Programme etc and DSF Funding Programme

S.No IMPRESS/IMPRINT/SPARC/STARS/LEAP/Others Place From Date To Date Year

Enrolment under ARPIT Programme

S.No Name of the Programme Period of the Programme
From Date To Date