Thara M V
Ph.D. Scholar, IIT Madras (AMRflows)
Hi, I’m Thara, an Environmental Engineer with a keen interest on assessing prevalence of antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance in the water environments of Chennai. I’m currently pursuing my Ph.D. in the Environmental and Water Resources Division at IIT Madras, India, under the guidance of Professor Indumathi M Nambi. I have been a part of AMRflows Indo-UK project since July 2022.
In my research, I’ve been focused on developing sampling methodologies, characterization techniques, and analytical protocols for antibiotics in water, wastewater, and sediment matrices. I’ve also conducted field sampling trips to Adyar river and other water bodies in Chennai to gather data.
One of my primary research interests is creating mesocosms to better understand the degradation of antibiotics and triggers for antimicrobial resistance, which poses an additional risk to human and animal health. I’m passionate about finding ways to improve water quality and reduce the potential negative impacts of antibiotics on the environment.
I completed my bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kerala, India. In 2018, I cracked the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) for Civil Engineering, which helped me to get into my Masters of Technology in Environmental Engineering program at the College of Engineering Thiruvananthapuram, affiliated with APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University, Kerala, India.
For my Master’s thesis, I conducted a study on “Antibiotic Resistance among Bacteria in Selected Water Sources of Trivandrum City,” which was funded by the Kerala State Pollution Control Board. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of antibiotic resistance in selected water sources and compare the removal efficiency of various wastewater treatment technologies in different wastewater treatment plants.
