Dr. Sibu Simon
Dr. Sibu Simon
Associate Professor
Mob: +91 9188342193
E mail: sibusimon@mgu.ac.in; simon.sibu@gmail.com
Area of Research: Environmental Biotechnology, Chemical fertilizer pollution, plant nutrient stress adaptation.
Education
Ph. D. Biochemistry, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic (2011)
M.Sc. Biotechnology, SHUATS, Allahabad (2003)
B.Sc. Biology, Acharya Nagarjun University (2000)
Work experience
Associate Professor, School of Environmental Sciences, MG University (March 2025 onwards)
K-BiRE Fellow, School of Environmental Sciences, MG University (December 2022 onwards)
Associate Professor, MACFAST (January 2021 to December 2022)
Principal Investigator, CEITEC, Masaryk University, Czech Republic (July 2016 to June 2019)
Post-Doctoral Fellow, CEITEC, Masaryk University, Czech Republic (September 2015 to June 2016)
Post-Doctoral Fellow, KAUST, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (July 2014 to July 2015)
Post-Doctoral Fellow, Institute of Science and Technology, Vienna, Austria (April 2013 to June 2014)
Post-Doctoral Fellow, VIB- UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology Belgium (October 2011 to March 2013
Junior Scientist, VIB- UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology Belgium, (June 2011 to October 2011)
Professional Recognition
Kerala Biotechnology Commission Re-Entry Fellowship (KSCSTE): 2022-2027
Marie Sklodowska-Curie fellowship for experienced researchers (European Commission): 2016-2019
Travel grant (Marie Curie Alumni Association) to attend Keystone Symposium, USA: 2018
Travel grant (Marie Curie Alumni Association) to attend IPGSA, Paris: 2019
Editorial board member of the journal Frontiers in Plant Science
PhD student supervisorship from Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
Research grant reviewer of the United States – Israel Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund grant
Appointed as a PhD thesis defense jury member of 4 PhD students by Ghent University, Belgium
International PhD student selection committee member, Masaryk University, 2016.
Poster prize judgement committee member IPGSA 2019, Paris, France.
Membership
Society for Experimental Biology (SEB) (Regular member)
European Plant Science Organisation (EPSO) (Regular member)
The International Plant Growth Substances Association (IPGSA) (Regular member)
North American Arabidopsis Steering Committee (NAASC) (Regular member)
Research Interests
Chemical Fertilizer pollution, Plant response to microplastics exposure, plant nutrient stress adaptation, plant environmental stress resilience.
Research Collaborations
IST Austria
Ghent University, Belgium
VIB, Plant systems Biology, Belgium
University of Brussels, Belgium
Institute of Experimental Botany, Prague, Czech Republic
Umea Plant Science Centre, Sweden
La Trobe University, Australia
IISER Thiruvananthapuram
Research Grants
- Title of the Project: Strigolactone mediated root morphology modulation
Grant Agency: KSCSTE (K-BiREF grant)
Grant Duration: 06.12.2022 to 5.12.2027
Grant Amount: Rs. 3000000 /-
Role: Principal Investigator
- Title of the Project: Elucidating the molecular mechanism behind strigolactone-mediated plant root morphology modulation and exploring the resulting effect in nutrient stress adaptation
Grant Agency: SERB (SRG/2021/001707)
Grant Duration: 29.01.2022 to 28.01.2024
Grant Amount: Rs. 2901800 /-
Role : Principal Investigator
- Multi-disciplinary approach in strigolactone research to battle crop infestation by parasitic Striga sp.
Grant Agency : South Moravian Centre for International Mobility. Grant Duration : 1.07.2016 to 30.06.2019
Grant Amount : Rs. 19500000/-
Role : Principal Investigator
Research Guidance (8th April 2025)
PhD awarded: 2
PhD ongoing: 1
MSc. : 2
List of Publications (8th April 2025)
- Francis B., Aravindakumar CT., Simon S (2025) Strigolactone and Plant Defense: Protection Against Pests and Pathogens. Tariq Aftab and Kaiser Wani (eds.) Strigolactones:Emerging Plant Hormones. (279-298) Scrivener-Wiley Publishing.
- Francis B., Aravindakumar CT., Simon S (2024) Regulatory Role of Strigolactones in Biotic Stress Tolerance. Chapter in an ELSEVIER book titled ‘Strigolactones: Role in Plants and Applications’ Academic Press. 189-200.
- Francis B., Aravindakumar CT., Brewer P., Simon S (2023) Plant Nutrient Stress Adaptation: A Prospect for Fertilizer Limited Agriculture. Environmental and Experimental Botany. 213: 105431.
- Thula S, Moturu TR, Salava H, Balakhonova V, Berka M, Kerchev P, Mishra KB, Nodzynski T, Simon S (2023) Strigolactones stimulate high light stress adaptation by modulating photosynthesis rate in Arabidopsis. Journal of Plant Growth Regulation. 42: 4818-4833.
- Kashkan I, Hrtyan M, Filepová R, Vondráková Z, Hejátko J, Simon S, Rombaut R, Jacobs TB, Frilander MJ, Friml J, Petrášek J, Růžička K (2022) Mutually opposing activity of PIN7 splicing isoforms is required for auxin- mediated tropic responses in Arabidopsis thaliana. New Phytologist. 233: 329-343.
- Moturu TR., Sinha S., Salava H., Thula S., Nodzyński T., Vařeková RS., Friml J., Simon S (2020) Evolution and divergence of the miRNA maturation pathway. Plants. 9: 299-304.
- Moturu TR., Thula S., Nodzyński T., Vařeková RS., Friml J., Simon S (2018) Molecular Evolution and Diversification of SMAX- Like Gene Family. Journal of Experimental Botany. 69: 2367-2378.
- Fan L., Zhao L., Hu W., Li W., Novák O., Strnad M., Simon S., Friml J., Shen J., Jiang L., Sheng Qiu Q (2018) NHX antiporters regulate the pH of endoplasmic reticulum and auxin- mediated development. Plant Cell and Environment. 41: 850-864.
- Simon S., Skůpa P., Tejos R., Čarná M., Rolčík J., Viaene T., De Rycke R., Moreno I., Klima P., Dobrev PI., Zažímalová E., Orellana A., Friml J (2016) PIN6 auxin transporter at endoplasmic reticulum and plasma membrane mediates auxin homeostasis in Arabidopsis. New Phytologist. 211: 65-74.
- Grones P., Chen X., Simon S., Kaufmann WA., De Rycke R., Nodzynski T., Zažímalová E., Friml J (2015) Auxin binding to ABP1 is crucial for its cellular functions and developmental roles. Journal of Experimental Botany. 66: 5055-5065.
- Sasse J., Simon S., Gubeli C., Friml J., Martinoia E., Borghi L (2015) The asymmetric and cell- specific localization of PhPDR1 regulates the polar transport of the phytohormon e strigolactone in plant roots. Current Biology. 25: 647-655.
- Simon S., Skupa P., Deberev PI., Petrasek J., Zazimalova E., Friml J (2014) Analyzing in vivo status of exogenously applied auxins: A HPLC based method to characterize intracellularly localized PIN5 auxin transporter. Methods in Molecular Biology. 1056: 255-264.
- Pěnčík A., Simonovik B., Petersson, SV., Henyková E., Simon S., Greenham K., Zhang Y., Kowalzcyk M., Estelle M., Zazímalová E., Novák O., Sandberg G., Ljung K (2013) Regulation of auxin homeostasis and gradients in Arabidopsis roots through the formation of the IAA catabolite oxIAA. Plant Cell. 10: 3858-3870.
- Rubbo SD., Irani NG., Kim SY., Dejonge W., Gadeyne A., Vanhoutte I., Persiau G., Eeckhout D., Simon S., Song K., Klein- Vehn J., Friml J., Jaeger GD., Van Damme D., Hwang I., Russinova E (2013) The clathrin adaptor complex AP2 mediates endocytosis and signaling of BRI1. Plant Cell. 8: 2986-2997.
- Cazzonelli CI., Vanstraelen M., Simon S., Yin K., Arthur AC., Nisar N., Tarle G., Cuttriss A J, Searle IR., Benkova E., Mathesius U., Masle J., Friml J., Pogson BJ (2013) Role of the Arabidopsis PIN6 auxin transporter in auxin homeostasis and auxin mediated development. PLoS ONE. 8: e700 69.
- Simon S., Kubes M., Baster P., Robert S., Dobrev PI., Friml J., Petrasek J., Zazimalova E (2013) Defining selectivity of processes along the auxin response chain: a study using auxin analogues. New Phytologist. 200: 1034-1048.
- Ding Z., Wang B., Moreno I., Dupáková N., Simon S., Carraro N., Reemmer J., Pěnčík A., Chen X., Skůpa P., Pollmann S., Mravec J., Honys D., Rolčík J., Murphy A., López A. O., Geisler M., Friml J (2012) ER-localized auxin transporter PIN8 regulates auxin homeostasis and male gametophyte development in Arabidopsis. Nature Communications. 3: 941.
- Simon S., Petrasek J (2011) Why plants need more than one type of auxin. Plant Science. 18: 454-460.
- Robert S., Klein- Vehn J., Barbez E., Sauer M., Paciorek T., Baster P., Vanneste S., Zhang J., Simon S., Yang Z., Bednarek SY., Jones AM., Lusching C., Aniento F., Zazimalova E., Friml J (2010) ABP1 mediates auxin inhibition of clathrin- dependent endocytosis in Arabidopsis. Cell. 143: 111-121.
- Jelinkova A., Malinska K., Simon S., Kleine-Vehn J., Pejchar P., Kubes M., Martinec J., Friml J., Zazimalova E., Petrasek J (2010) Probing plant membranes with FM dyes: tracking, dragging or blocking? The Plant Journal. 61: 883-892.
- Ruzicka K., Simásková M., Duclercq J., Petrásek J., Zazímalová E., Simon S., Friml J., Van Montagu MC., Benková E (2009) Cytokinin regulates root meristem activity via modulation of the polar auxin transport. PNAS. 106: 4284-4289.
