Welcome Muneeswari Rajasekaran, post‑doctoral researcher, is a new employee at NDH
Muneeswari Rajasekaran is a newly hired postdoctoral fellow at NDH. She comes from Virudhunagar, a small town in southern Tamil Nadu, India. “The projects I work on integrate environmental sustainability with transformative initiatives, and I am proud to be a part of that,” she says.
What´s your impression of Mid Sweden University so far?
– I appreciate the welcoming and collaborative atmosphere at the university. The campus is vibrant, accompanied by an incessant, refreshing chill breeze. The staff are both supportive and appreciative, fostering a cooperative environment that encourages deep commitment, innovation and forward-thinking.
What will you be working on here with us?
– I’m about to embark on an exciting journey alongside Dr. Gabriela Paladino and her dynamic research team working on addressing some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges. One project Fiber2Comp, is dedicated to the bioremediation of fiberbanks—legacy waste that has accumulated in Sweden's marine regions for years. The other SUNDSREM, is aimed at reclaiming terrestrial soils that have been heavily polluted over time with carcinogenic, persistent organic pollutants.
– These projects are not just about cleaning up our environment; they’re about shaping the future. With a dual focus on climate change mitigation and contributing the circular economy, thereby creating pathways to a more sustainable environment.
– In my role, I’ll be investigating the biodegradability of persistent pollutants present in the fiberbanks and the soil —to what extent they are available for microbial degradation. I’ll also explore the potential of biosurfactants—a multi-functional biomolecule that could be a key player in accelerating bioremediation. To top it off, I’ll be using cutting-edge metagenomics to decode the microbial communities involved in these bioremediation processes, unlocking a new level of understanding about how microbes can help us reclaim our environment.
What do you like to do when you’re not working?
– In my spare time, I enjoy exploring the city of Sundsvall, which is beautifully surrounded by diverse natural landscapes as forests, mountains, the sea, and, during the winter months, snow.