Associate Professor Rajesh Ramanathan

Dr. Ramanathan is currently a Vice Chancellor's Fellow at the School of Science, RMIT University. He has a cross-disciplinary expertise that spans from physical sciences (materials chemistry) to biological sciences (microbiology, biochemistry, biotechnology and bioinformatics) and engineering (nanotechnology). This broad expertise across academia and industry (previous experience) has enabled him to lead and contribute to several projects across disciplinary boundaries.

While being on a research focused position, he substantially contributes to teaching activities within the School of Science including, course coordination of Biological Chemistry and Professional Scientist. His teaching style is research-informed, which stimulates students to acquire internationally relevant skills making them work-ready graduates. 

A full publication profile of Dr. Rajesh Ramanathan can be found using Google Scholar

Academic and Professional Honours

• INDEX: Design to Improve Life Award Finalist (2017)
• Hitachi Social Impact Prize for Connected Health (2016)
• RMIT Global Media Star Award (2016)
• Vice Chancellor's Research Fellowship, RMIT University (2015-2018)
• Kavli Fellow, 5th Kavli Frontiers of Science, Makassar, Indonesia (2015) 
• Endeavour Research Fellowship, Department of Education, Commonwealth of Australia (2014)
• RMIT University Doctoral Research Excellence Prize, RMIT University (2013)
• Centre for Advanced Materials and Industrial Chemistry Achievement Award (2013)
• Higher Degree by Research Publication Award, RMIT University (2012) 
• RACI Graduate Student Award, Royal Australian Chemical Institute, Australia (2011)
• Pro Vice Chancellor Research & Innovation Postgraduate Research Award (2011)
• CNR Rao Postgraduate Research Excellence Award, RMIT University (2010)
• Pro Vice Chancellor Research & Innovation Postgraduate Research Award (2010)
• RACI Travel Award (2010)
• Australian Postgraduate Award, Department of Education, Commonwealth of Australia (2010-2012)

Key research areas

• Biosensing platforms – Nanozyme-based colorimetric sensors and fluorescence-based biosensors for detection of chemical and biological species
• Photoactive Functional Materials – TCNQ-based organic photoactive semiconductors, p-n heterojunctions and functional metal nanoparticles for catalysis, antibacterial and wound healing applications
• 2D Materials – Fabrication of next generation 2D materials similar to Graphene for electronics applications
• Nano-biogeochemistry and Geomicrobiology – Decoding role of metal resistance during nanoparticle production in bacterial systems
• Biomimetics – Biomineralization

Teaching commitments

• BIOL 2260 – Course Coordinator, Biological Chemistry 
• SCB 210 – Course Coordinator, Biological Chemistry, Open University Australia
• BIOL 2260 – Lecturer, Biological Chemistry 
• ONPS 2335 – Course Coordinator, professional Scientist
• ONPS 2335 – Project Mentor, Professional Scientist 
• ONPS 2498 – Lecturer, Advanced Nanotechnology 
• ONPS 2505 – Lecturer, Introduction to Smart Materials 
• CHEM 1257 – Guest Lecturer, Analytical Chemistry 
• ONPS 1664 – Project Mentor, Dean's Scholar Program 

Editorial responsibilities

• Academic Editor – PLoS ONE (Public Library of Science Publishers) since June 2017
• Associate Editor – Frontiers in Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry (Frontiers Publishers) since November 2016
• Review Editor – Frontiers in Oncology: Cancer Imaging and Diagnostics (Frontiers Publishers) since October 2013

Other professional activities

• Committee member of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI) VIC branch (2016+)
• Organisational member of the Australasian Research Management Society (ARMS) (2016+) 
• ECR Observer for the National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC) (2015)
• Early career member, Occupational Health and Safety Committee, School of Applied Sciences (2010-2013)
• Charted Chemist, Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI) (2009+) 
• Member, Proteomics and Metabolomics Victoria (PMV) (2009+) 
• Member, The Australian Nanotechnology Network (ANN) (2009+) 
• ECR Member, RMIT Research Committee, RMIT (2009-2012) 
• Reviewer for research funding bodies including Australian Research Council and Chilean National Commission for Scientific and Technological Research 
• Reviewer of reputed Journals including Nanoscale, ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, Acta Biomateriala, Advances in Colloids and Interface Science, Sensors and Acctuators B, Chemical Communications, Advanced Functional Materials, Advanced Materials Interfaces, Langmuir, Nanotechnology, Applied Nanoscience, Colloids and Surfaces A, Colloids and Surfaces B, CrystEngComm, Journal of Colloids and Interface Science, Materials and Design, RSC Advances, PLoS ONE, Process Biochemistry and Talanta

• PhD RMIT University (Materials Science and Nanobiotechnology) awarded in 2012
• MBiotech RMIT University (Bioinformatics) awarded in 2006
• BSc University of Mumbai (Botany and Biotechnology) awarded in 2004

• Jan 2016-present: Course Coordinator – Biological Chemistry, School of Science, RMIT University, Australia
• July 2015-present: Vice Chancellor Fellow, School of Science, RMIT University, Australia
• Jan 2013+-present: Guest Lecturer for multiple courses, School of Science, RMIT University, Australia
• Nov 2014 – May 2015: Endeavour Research Fellow, University of Massachusetts Amherst, USA (Prof. Vincent M. Rotello)
• Jan 2013 – Jun 2015: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, School of Science, RMIT University, Australia (Prof. Vipul Bansal)
• Jan 2010 – Dec 2012: Microscopist, RMIT Microscopy and Microanalysis Facility (RMMF), RMIT University, Australia
• Jan 2010 – Dec 2012: Demonstrator for Bioinformatics and Biological Chemistry, School of Science, RMIT University, Australia
• Jul 2011 – Oct 2011: Visiting Research Scholar, University of Waterloo, Canada (Prof. Pu Chen)
• Jun 2007 – Feb 2009: Clinical Analyst, DiagnoSearch Life Sciences Pty. Ltd., India