Dr. Jibu Thomas is a distinguished scholar and leader in the field of biotechnology with a specialization in plant molecular biology and bioinformatics. He currently serves as Professor and Head of the Department of Biotechnology at Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences (Deemed to be University) in Coimbatore, India, where he also coordinates NAAC and NBA accreditation efforts while chairing both the Institutional Animal Ethical Committee and Institutional Biosafety Committee. With a strong educational foundation including an M.Sc. in Botany earned with first rank and Gold Medal from Bharathidasan University, Dr. Thomas built his early research career at the UPASI Tea Research Institute as a Research Scientist from 2002 to 2010. His transition to academia began in 2010 when he joined Karunya Institute as Assistant Professor, steadily advancing to Associate Professor in 2017 and achieving the rank of full Professor in 2021.
Dr. Thomas has made significant contributions to agricultural biotechnology through his innovative work on DNA barcoding techniques for detecting plant-based adulterants in tea, as evidenced by his publication in Natural Product Research in 2021. His research extends to tea plant physiology and quality improvement, informed by his eight years of experience at the UPASI Tea Research Institute where he conducted extensive field and laboratory studies. A notable innovation from his laboratory is the Aerobic Pre-fermenter for which he secured an Indian patent in 2017, demonstrating his capacity to translate scientific knowledge into practical applications for the agricultural sector. His scholarly output spans multiple domains including plant authentication methods, molecular biology, and computational approaches that have significant economic implications for India's tea industry and food safety standards.
Beyond his research achievements, Dr. Thomas has demonstrated exceptional leadership through his roles coordinating international student exchange programs, curriculum design initiatives, and serving as technical advisor for the Nature Club and Environment Unit extension activities. His expertise in GLP and ISO 17025 standards reflects his commitment to research excellence, while his PG Diplomas in Computer Applications and Bioinformatics position him at the intersection of traditional biology and computational approaches. He has received prestigious recognition including the Young Scientist Award from SERB-DST, Government of India and the UGC Research Awardee designation for his scholarly contributions. Currently, Dr. Thomas continues to advance his research in plant molecular biology while mentoring the next generation of biotechnologists and shaping academic policies that strengthen India's research ecosystem in agricultural biotechnology.
