Dr. V. Stalin Raj
Associate Professor
School of Biology
IISER Thiruvananthapuram, India
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Work Experience
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Associate Professor, School of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Thiruvananthapuram, India (2017 - Current)
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Scientist, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands (2010 - 2017)
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Post-Doctoral Fellow, University of Liege, Belgium (2009 - 2010)
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Research Associate, Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (CIBA), Chennai, India (2005 - 2007)
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Secondment, CSIRO Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL), Australia (2006)
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Senior Research Fellow, Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (CIBA), Chennai, India (2001 - 2005)
Academic Qualification
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B.Sc. in Microbiology, University of Madras, Chennai, India (1999)
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M.Sc. in Biotechnology, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, India (2001)
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Ph.D., Department of Biotechnology, Pathology and Microbiology in Aquaculture, University of Madras, Chennai, India. Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (CIBA), ICAIR, Chennai, India (2007) [Supervisor: Dr. KK. Vijayan, Director, CIBA, ICAIR]
Awards and Recognition
Patents and Technologies Developed
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B. L.Haagmans, T.M.Bestebroer, B.Sander VAN, R.A.M. Fouchier, A.D.M.E.Osterhaus, A.M. Zaki, Victor Stalin RAJ, B. J Bosch. Human betacoronavirus lineage c and identification of n-terminal dipeptidyl peptidase as its virus receptor.
Application numbers: EP2898067A2, US20150275183, WO2014045254A2, WO2014045254 A3. -
Developed a Versatile, Simple, and Rapid (VSR) gene cloning method. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ymeth.2026.04.005
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Developed versatile platform for multivalent coronavirus vaccine. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.5c06081
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Developed MVA based vaccine for MERS-CoV. DOI: 10.1126/science.aad1283
Discoveries
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Identified single-chain antibodies against MERS-CoV in dromedary camels.
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Discovered dipeptidyl peptidase 4 as the entry receptor for MERS-CoV.
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Discovered dromedary camels as host reservoir for MERS-CoV.
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Identification and characterization of a novel coronavirus "Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV)".
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Identified major portal of entry of Koi Herpesvirus.
Media Coverage
1. The Hindu: SARS-like virus targets cells in human airway, March 13, 2013
2. News & Views: Declan Butler. Broad reception for coronavirus: Nature 495: 179-177.
3. News in Focus: Tom Gallagher & Stanley Perlman. Receptor for new coronavirus found: Nature.
4. The NEWS Minute: Meet Stalin Raj, the Indian microbiologist working on a vaccine for coronavirus: In an interview with TNM, Stalin Raj talks about his work on vaccine development and on working with a team that discovered coronavirus. March 2020, Saritha S Balan
