Raman Gurusamy
Research Associate
Affiliation: NYU Abu Dhabi
Education: PhD Pondicherry University
Research Websites: Genetic Heritage Group Center for Genomics and Systems Biology
Research Areas: Plant Comparative Genomics, Transcriptomics, Population and Evolutionary Genomics
Raman Gurusamy is a Research Associate in the Genetic Heritage Group, supported by the Center for Genomics and Systems Biology at New York University Abu Dhabi. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Biotechnology from Madurai Kamaraj University, India, a Master's in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and a PhD in Biotechnology from Pondicherry University, India. His doctoral research focused on characterizing nicotine-degrading bacteria and elucidating their biodegradation pathways at biochemical, molecular, and genomic levels.
Currently, Gurusamy’s research leverages multi-omics approaches to study the evolution of pathogen resistance in plants. His ongoing project explores the mechanisms behind the long-term maintenance of disease resistance in natural plant populations. Specifically, he is conducting comparative multi-omic studies of resistance genes in Arabidopsis thaliana, aiming to understand how genetic architecture, pathogen interactions, and ecological context influence the evolution of durable resistance. The goal of his work is to uncover strategies for sustaining resistance over time, with applications in sustainable agriculture.
From 2014 until January 2025, Gurusamy served as an international Assistant Professor at Yeungnam University in South Korea, where he led genomic and transcriptomic studies on a wide range of plant species, including angiosperms, gymnosperms, and ferns. He was the principal investigator of a major project funded by the National Foundation of Korea and played a key role in several government-funded research initiatives in South Korea. Additionally, during his doctoral studies, he contributed to various projects funded by the Indian government through agencies such as DBT, UGC, and CSIR.
Outside of his professional life, Gurusamy has a passion for exploring new cultures, photography, cycling, and hiking. He enjoys blending his scientific curiosity with outdoor adventures and creative pursuits, always seeking new ways to connect with both nature and innovation.