Will Hehemann | School of Agriculture, Fisheries and Human Sciences
PINE BLUFF, Ark. – Dr. Suja Aarattuthodiyil has been appointed assistant professor of fish pathology for the Aquaculture/Fisheries Center of Excellence at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB). In this position she will provide Extension diagnostic and research support for Arkansas aquaculture.
Dr. Aarattuthodiyil will oversee UAPB’s four-lab diagnostic system in the state and will conduct fish inspections necessary for industry certification. She will also work to develop a dynamic Extension educational program focused on fish health and biosecurity.
“The fish pathology portion of the Aquaculture/Fisheries Center is one of the most critical parts of our program in terms of support to the Arkansas aquaculture industry and to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission,” Dr. Carole R. Engle, director of the Center, said. “Dr. Aarattuthodiyil brings a rare combination of state-of-the-art laboratory techniques related to the molecular biology of viruses and other types of pathogens as well as a deep commitment to solving problems of fish farmers. We are fortunate to have her join our Center.”
Prior to this position, Dr. Aarattuthodiyil managed a diagnostic and water quality laboratory for Cargill Foods India. There, she served shrimp and fish farmers’ diagnostic needs and traveled to over 30 farms in the West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, India.
She also implemented shrimp biosecurity plans for demonstration farms and worked as a microbiology laboratory technician at a processing plant for Sandhya Marines Ltd., one of India’s largest exporters of cultured shrimp.
Dr. Aarattuthodiyil has a doctorate degree in biochemistry and molecular biology from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, a master’s degree in aquaculture and fisheries from UAPB and a master’s degree in pathology and microbiology from the Central Institute of Fisheries Education in Mumbai, India.
Her research has been published in several scientific journals, and she patented lead compounds that could potentially prevent the replication of the Hepatitis C virus in the human liver without killing liver cells.
UAPB News 