Arun Venugopalan

Arun Venugopalan is an assistant research professor at the Gulf Coast Aquatic Health Laboratory under the Global Center for Aquatic Health and Food Security (GCAHFS). He conducts research in the Gulf Coast Aquatic Health Lab, with a primary focus on investigating the interrelationships among viruses, microorganisms, and aquatic animals, which significantly impact global biogeochemical cycles, aquatic animal health, and ocean health. Additionally, Venugopalan is establishing an aquatic genomic epidemiology center for the Gulf Coast region of Mississippi. The lab is dedicated to upholding the fundamental principle of promoting one-health solutions for attaining a sustainable blue economy along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, adhering strictly to the core principles of sustainability, interdisciplinary research, and collaboration with relevant stakeholders. The establishment of this Biosafety Level-2 laboratory will allow for the investigation of emerging diseases in the aquaculture sector, as well as in marine animals, such as sea turtles and mammals. The long-term vision is to create a core genomics laboratory equipped with the capacity to conduct microbial genome sequencing, molecular diagnostics, and high-performance computing. The ultimate goal is to develop innovative state-of-the-art techniques that can accelerate the identification of novel pathogens, thus reducing financial losses for farmers. The establishment of GCAHFS signifies Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine's ongoing commitment to fulfilling the increasing demands of aquaculture farms, wildlife managers, and policymakers for advancing the sustainability of the coastal economy and welfare.

Venugopalan holds a Bachelor of Fisheries Science degree from the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies in Kerala, India, as well as a master’s degree in aquaculture from the Central Institute of Fisheries Education in Mumbai, India. He earned a PhD in infectious disease with a minor in computer science from the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine, specializing in aquatic virology. He also completed postdoctoral training at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) in Massachusetts, focusing on the role of viruses in shellfish cancer development. Presently, he serves as a guest investigator at WHOI and a reviewing editor for the American Society of Microbiology's MRA journal.