For Dr. Suganya Pitchai Muthusamy, joining the RESTART project has been both a professional challenge and a personal adventure. With a background in chemistry and a PhD in electrochemistry, she brings expertise and curiosity to one of the project’s most important goals: making bathing waters safer, faster.

Her research focuses on reducing the time it takes to detect E. coli in water. Traditional methods can take up to 18 hours, but Suganya is developing ways to cut this down to under an hour. She does this by testing and optimising lytic agents, chemicals that break open bacterial cells and release enzymes that can be detected quickly using fluorescent markers. “Every lytic agent behaves differently,” she explains. “So finding the right combination is key to making detection both faster and more sensitive.”

From Challenge to Discovery

When she first started, many of the laboratory instruments were completely new to her. “At first, I was nervous using the microplate reader,” she recalls. “But once I saw the results matching my expectations, it was a really exciting moment.” One of her proudest achievements so far was successfully applying the method to real environmental samples, proof that the technique works outside the lab.

Why It Matters

For Suganya, the motivation is clear: public health. Quicker detection means safer decisions. “People can know when and where it is safe to swim,” she says. “It also helps authorities identify contamination sources faster, reduce unnecessary beach closures, and respond more effectively during floods or sewage overflows.” The broader scientific community also benefits, as portable and rapid methods can support regions without advanced laboratory infrastructure.

Learning Along the Way

Suganya describes her RESTART journey as full of surprises. Beyond the science, she has embraced opportunities to improve her communication skills, present her work, and even learn data tools such as Python to support her experiments.

When asked to give herself a nickname for her role, she smiles and says, “Maybe ‘Rapid Detective’ because I am always chasing faster results.”

Outside the Lab

Suganya’s interests extend well beyond her benchwork. She enjoys dancing, often teaching herself routines from movies, and has a passion for modelling. Both pursuits reflect her creative and expressive side, balancing the precision of her scientific work.

Looking Ahead

Suganya’s contributions are helping RESTART move closer to its mission of ensuring cleaner and safer water for all. Her blend of technical skill, curiosity, and commitment to public health makes her a vital part of the team and a scientist to watch.

👉 You can also learn more about Suganya’s background and expertise on her profile page: https://restart-sfi.ie/person/suganya-pitchai-muthusamy/