Dr. S. Gajalakshmi is an Assistant Professor and Head (i/c) at Centre for Pollution Control and Environmental Engineering, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, India, with more than 15 years of experience in teaching and research. She is a Gold Medallist in BSc and MSc and has an MPhil and PhD in Environmental Science and Engineering from Pondicherry University. She was awarded ‘Best Teacher Award’, Pondicherry University for the years 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018. Her research interests are solid waste management, nutrient dynamics of soil, domestic and industrial wastewater treatment, energy, and microbial fuel cells. She has published over 50 publications in peer reviewed prestigious journals, has authored one book and contributed more than 10 chapters in other books. She is granted one patent on a unique wastewater treatment process and one patent published on novel process for ligninous waste treatment.