| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Syeda, H. I., Muthukumaran, S., & Baskaran, K. (250119). Investigation of regeneratable biopolymer-based aerogels for heavy metal decontamination from water: Quantum chemical analysis and experimental investigation. Separation and Purification Technology, 353 |
| 2024 |
Sanciolo, P., Haby, C., Sharma, A. K., Muthukumaran, S., & Gray, S. (241201). Wastewater desalination for irrigation in inland regions. Water Reuse, 14(4), (626-641). doi: 10.2166/wrd.2024.069 |
| 2024 | Jayasooriya, V. M., Sirimanne, A. P., Silva, R. M., & Muthukumaran, S. (240901). Role of Urban Trees in Enhancing the Thermal Comfort of Rapidly Urbanizing Cities: An Analysis of Tropical Asian Tree Species Based on Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET). Arboriculture and Urban Forestry, 50(5), (326-345). |
| 2024 | Kumar, Gautam., Olubukola, A., Verma, S., Muthukumaran, S., & Navaratna, D. (240701). Investigating effective strategies for sustainable operation of a submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactor (SAnMBR) coupled with ceramic ultrafiltration membrane. Chemical Engineering Journal, 491 |
| 2024 | Moazzem, S., Bhuiyan, M., Muthukumaran, S., Fagan, J., & Jegatheesan, V. (240601). A Critical Review of Nature-Based Systems (NbS) to Treat Stormwater in Response to Climate Change and Urbanization. Current Pollution Reports, 10(2), (286-311). |
| 2024 | Jayasinghe, S., Jayasooriya, V., Dassanayake, S. M., & Muthukumaran, S. (240601). Effects of street tree configuration and placement on roadside thermal environment within a tropical urban canyon. International Journal of Biometeorology, 68(6), (1133-1142). |
| 2024 | Gautam, R. K., Vithanage, N., More, N., Muthukumaran, S., & Navaratna, D. (240501). Biomethane recovery performance and microbial community dynamics of a high-biomass submerged AnMBR (HBSAnMBR) treating abattoir wastewater. Biochemical Engineering Journal, 205 |
| 2024 |
Islam, N., Sandanayake, M., Muthukumaran, S., & Navaratna, D. (240401). Review on Sustainable Construction and Demolition Waste ManagementChallenges and Research Prospects. Sustainability (Switzerland), 16(8), doi: 10.3390/su16083289 |
| 2024 | Syeda, H. I., Muthukumaran, S., & Baskaran, K. (240201). Shape-memory cellulose nanofiber/polyglutamic acid-based aerogels as novel adsorbents for the removal of heavy metals from aqueous solutions. Journal of Water Process Engineering, 58 |
| 2024 | Samarasinghe, L. V., Muthukumaran, S., & Baskaran, K. (240201). Recent advances in visible light-activated photocatalysts for degradation of dyes: A comprehensive review. Chemosphere, 349 |
Key details
Areas of expertise
- Water and wastewater treatment
- Membrane separation technology
- Advanced oxidation processes
- Resource and energy recovery from wastewater
- Integrated urban water management
Available to supervise research students
Not available for media queries
About Shobha Muthukumaran
Dr Shobha Muthukumaran is an Associate Professor in Civil Engineering with the College of Sport, Health and Engineering and Research Fellow in the Institute for Sustainable Industries & Liveable Cities at Victoria University. Prior to joining Victoria University in 2010, she worked at the University of Melbourne and Deakin University. Shobha completed her PhD at the University of Melbourne.
Shobha has over nineteen years of teaching and research experience in the fields of water and environmental engineering. Her research focuses on the area of wastewater processing, membrane separation process, advanced oxidation processes and integrated urban water management.
Her research work has made significant contributions and it has been widely highlighted in media articles. She has published more than 90 journal and conference publications, 3 book chapters and prepared several technical reports.
Shobha has been extensively involved in collaborative research projects and supervision of postgraduate students. Shobha is an active reviewer of many international journals focused on membrane separation technology, advanced oxidation processes and wastewater treatment.
In recognition of her research efforts, Shobha was awarded both Vice Chancellor’s Peak Award and Citation For Excellence In Research & Research Training (Research Team Category) and teaching time relief award for two and half years as part of Victoria University’s Collaborative Research Network (CRN) to conduct water management research.
Before commencing an academic career, Shobha spent more than nine years in Industry with position in Pollution Control Board, India.
Qualifications
- PhD (Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Chemistry), The University of Melbourne, Australia
- M Tech (Chemical Engineering), National Institute of Technology, India
- B Tech (Chemical Engineering), Anna University, India
- Master of Problem Based Learning in Engineering and Science, (Module 2), Aalborg University, Denmark
- Graduate Certificate in Tertiary Education, Victoria University, Australia
Key publications
Shobha has over 164 publications, with a selection listed here.
A more comprehensive list of Shobha's publications is available in the VU Research Repository.
Journal article (showing 10 of 83)
Research funding for the past 5 years
Please note:
- Funding is ordered by the year the project commenced and may continue over several years.
- Funding amounts for contact research are not disclosed to maintain commercial confidentiality.
- The order of investigators is not indicative of the role they played in the research project.
2021
|
Stormwater sampling and analysis for stormwater harvesting project in Werribee
river catchment
From: Greater Western Water
Other investigators: Dr Dimuth Navaratna, Dr Ashok Sharma
For period: 2021-2022
|
$40,000 |
|
Next Generation Water Management in the Werribee River Catchment
From: Victorian Higher Education Strategic Investment Fund
Other investigators: Ms Rowena Price, Ms Karen Jackson, Dr Ashok Sharma, Dr Dimuth Navaratna, Prof Mikel Duke, Dr Daniel Ooi, Mr Nitin Muttil
For period: 2021-2022
|
$500,000 |
|
Increasing Viability of Wastewater Desalination in Regional Victoria (Horsham).
From: Future Drought Fund: Natural Resource Management Drought Resilience Program
Other investigators: Dr Peter Sanciolo, Dr Ashok Sharma, Prof Stephen Gray, Dr Dimuth Navaratna
For period: 2021-2022
|
$50,000 |
2017
|
Pilot Plant Evaluation of a Novel Bio-membrane Waste Water Treatment Process
From: ARC - Industrial Transformation Research Hubs, Institute of Sustainability and Innovation, PVC (Research and Research Training), Akvotek Grant
Other investigators: Prof Stephen Gray
For period: 2017-2020
|
$646,383 |
Supervision of research students at VU
Available to supervise research students
Not available for media queries
Currently supervised research students at VU
| No. of students | Study level | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PhD | Associate supervisor |
| 1 | PhD | Principal supervisor |
Currently supervised research students at VU
| Students & level | Role |
|---|---|
| PhD (1) | Associate supervisor |
| PhD (1) | Principal supervisor |
Completed supervision of research students at VU
| No. of students | Study level | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | PhD | Associate supervisor |
| 1 | Masters by Research | Associate supervisor |
| 1 | PhD by Publication | Associate supervisor |
Completed supervision of research students at VU
| Students & level | Role |
|---|---|
| PhD (4) | Associate supervisor |
| Masters by Research (1) | Associate supervisor |
| PhD by Publication (1) | Associate supervisor |
Other supervision of research students
Shobha has completed co-supervision 2 PhD students one each at RMIT, Australia, 2018 and Deakin University, Australia 2014.
Shobha is currently co-supervising 1 PhD student at RMIT, Australia and will start co-supervise 1 PhD student at Deakin University, Australia.
Teaching activities & experience
Teaching Responsibilities
Dr Muthukumaran teaches the following units at Victoria University:
- NEC4101 Environmental Engineering 1 (Unit coordinator and Lecturer)
- NEF4207 Engineering Applications (Unit coordinator and Lecturer)
- NEC3201 Hydraulic Engineering (Lecturer)
- NEF4101 & NEF4201 Research Project 1 & 2 (Lecturer)
She has previously taught the following units at VU:
- VAC3031 Civil Engineering Design 1 (Unit Coordinator and Lecturer)
- VAC4032 Civil Engineering Design 2 (Unit Coordinator and Lecturer)
- VAC4081 Environmental Engineering 1 (Unit Coordinator and Lecturer)
- VAC4082 Environmental Engineering 2 (Unit Coordinator and Lecturer)
- NEF4102 & NEF4202 Capstone Projects (Lecturer).
Shobha Muthukumaran has previously taught the following units at Deakin University:
- SEN740 Water Treatment processes (Postgraduate level- Unit Chair and Lecturer)
- SEN741 Wastewater Treatment Processes and Membrane Technology (Postgraduate level- Lecturer)
- SEV710 Risk and Environmental Sustainability (Postgraduate level- Unit chair and Lecturer)
- SEN704 Principles of Bioprocessing (Postgraduate level- Unit chair and Lecturer)
- SEV314 Industrial pollution control (Undergraduate level- Unit chair and Lecturer)
- SEV328 Water and Wastewater Treatment (Undergraduate level- Lecturer)
- SEV318 Environmental Impact Assessment (Undergraduate level- Unit chair and Lecturer)
- SEV430 Engineering Audits and Quality Management System (Undergraduate level- Unit chair and Lecturer)
- SEV313 Air Pollution and Solid Waste Management (Undergraduate level- Unit chair and Lecturer)
- SEV216 Bioprocessing (Undergraduate level- Unit chair and Lecturer).
Key academic roles
| Dates | Role | Department / Organisation |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2020 - Present |
Associate Professor
|
Victoria University |
| Jul 2013 - Dec 2019 |
Senior Lecturer
|
Victoria University |
| Aug 2010 - Jun 2013 |
Lecturer
|
Victoria University |
| Nov 2006 - Aug 2010 |
Research Academic
|
Deakin University |
| Jan 2006 - Oct 2006 |
Research Assistant
|
The University of Melbourne |
| Jun 2001 - Dec 2005 |
PhD Candidate
|
The University of Melbourne |
| Dates | Role & Department/Organisation |
|---|---|
| Jan 2020 -
Present
|
Associate Professor
Victoria University |
| Jul 2013 -
Dec 2019
|
Senior Lecturer
Victoria University |
| Aug 2010 -
Jun 2013
|
Lecturer
Victoria University |
| Nov 2006 -
Aug 2010
|
Research Academic
Deakin University |
| Jan 2006 -
Oct 2006
|
Research Assistant
The University of Melbourne |
| Jun 2001 -
Dec 2005
|
PhD Candidate
The University of Melbourne |
Key industry, community & government roles
| Dates | Role | Department/Organisation |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 1990 - Jun 1999 |
Environmental Engineer
|
TamilNadu Pollution Control Board, Government of TamilNadu, India |
| Sep 1990 - Jun 1999 |
Part Time Trainer, Environmental Training Institute (ETI)
|
TamilNadu Pollution Control Board, Government of TamilNadu, India |
| Dates | Role & Department/Organisation |
|---|---|
| Sep 1990 - Jun 1999 |
Environmental Engineer
TamilNadu Pollution Control Board, Government of TamilNadu, India |
| Sep 1990 - Jun 1999 |
Part Time Trainer, Environmental Training Institute (ETI)
TamilNadu Pollution Control Board, Government of TamilNadu, India |
Awards
| Year | Award |
|---|---|
| 2011 |
Vice Chancellor’s Citation Award for Excellence in Research and Research Training (Research Team category) - Victoria University |
| 2011 |
Vice Chancellor’s Peak Award for Excellence in Research and Research Training (Research Team category). - Victoria University |
| 2011 |
Teaching Time Release Award - Victoria University |
| 2008 |
Travel Scholarship - Deakin University |
| 2006 |
The David Hay Postgraduate Writing-up Awards - The University of Melbourne |
| 2001 |
Australian Postgraduate Award - Australian Government |
Media appearances
24th August 2005
Method to milk protein (The Weekly Times)
A group of Melbourne University researchers may have found a way to speed up the process of extracting proteins form the milk.
11th July 2005
Ultrasonic edge sounds sweet for dairy industry
University of Melbourne researchers are developing ultrasound technology that could transform the Australian diary industry by overcoming many current difficulties in dairy processing.
