How about a microbial process that not only cleans polluted water, but also generates energy — which is why it’s so exciting !
Tabish Noori, our next pathbreaker, Research Fellow at Imperial College London, develops technologies that use bacteria to convert waste into valuable products like natural dyes and clean energy.
Tabish talks to Shyam Krishnamurthy from The Interview Portal about how his hidden interest in environmental issues led him to work on tackling real-world problems like waste and pollution.
For students, never let your background limit your dreams. Stay consistent — small steps lead to big changes.
Tabish, can you tell us what were your growing up years like?
I was born and brought up in a remote village in Purnia district, Bihar. My village was small and often got flooded during monsoons, making it hard to travel or even attend school nearby. At the age of six, my parents sent me to a boarding school 17 km away, which was the beginning of my education journey.
My parents are simple, hardworking people who believed strongly in education, even though opportunities were very limited. I studied in Hindi medium till class 12 under the Bihar Board and didn’t have access to extra coaching or modern facilities. Still, I was always curious and loved to ask questions — especially about nature, science, and how things work.
What did you do for graduation/post graduation?
After high school, I tried for IIT entrance exams but didn’t get through. Instead, I got admission to Rajendra Agricultural University (PUSA) to study Agricultural Engineering. That was a big moment for me!
Later, I cleared the national GATE exam and joined IIT Kharagpur for my Master’s in Aquaculture Engineering. I loved learning there and eventually continued for a PhD in Environmental Engineering. My research focused on how we can turn waste into electricity using bacteria — yes, tiny microbes that eat waste and generate power!
What made you choose a career in Environmental Research?
From childhood, I had a hidden interest in environmental issues — like clean water, pollution, and green energy — even though I didn’t know the big words for them back then.
Key influencers were my teachers and friends who encouraged me to be curious. A turning point was when I realized during my BTech that I wanted to work on real-world problems like waste and pollution.
Also, my PhD guide at IIT Kharagpur, Professor Ghangrekar, had a big impact. He gave me the freedom to explore new ideas and always encouraged me to aim higher.
Tell us about your career path
I didn’t have a perfect plan in the beginning. I just took one step at a time and kept learning. After finishing my college in Bihar, I joined IIT Kharagpur for my master’s and then stayed there for a PhD. That’s where I started working on something very exciting: using bacteria to turn wastewater into electricity!
You might be wondering how that’s possible. Here’s how it works:
There are special kinds of bacteria — we call them electrogenic or electroactive microbes — that can “eat” the organic matter in dirty water (like food waste, sewage, or industrial wastewater). As they break it down, they release tiny electric charges. If we place these microbes on an electrode inside a device called a microbial fuel cell, we can actually capture that electricity!
This process not only cleans polluted water, but also generates energy — which is why it’s so exciting. In my research, I used different microbes, studied their behavior, and built small systems that could produce electricity, hydrogen gas (a type of clean fuel), and even useful materials like proteins and fertilizers.
During that time, I made great friends like Sanjeev, Bikash, Rupesh, Omprakash, Afaque, and Meraj, who supported me and made life easier. Also, my parents, siblings, and my wife always encouraged me to follow my dreams, even when it meant moving far from home.
After completing my PhD at IIT Kharagpur, I first worked in Spain, and then I joined Kyung Hee University (KHU) in South Korea as a Brain Pool Fellow — a special government program that brings top researchers from around the world to work in Korea.
My work at KHU was related to my PhD, but it went a step further. While my PhD focused on producing electricity from wastewater using bacteria, at KHU I worked on combining two systems:
- Dark fermentation — where microbes break down waste and produce hydrogen gas
- Microbial electrosynthesis (MES) — where we use electricity to help microbes convert waste into useful fuels
Together, we built a new hybrid system to treat strong industrial wastewater and produce biohydrogen and other valuable products at the same time.
As a Brain Pool Fellow, I also led my own mini research group, mentored junior researchers, and worked with industry to explore how we could scale up these technologies.
It was an amazing experience — both scientifically and culturally — and it helped shape the work I do today on clean energy and sustainable materials.
After that, I got a chance to do research in Spain, and now I work in the UK at Imperial College London. At every place, I learned something new — from cleaning water to making natural colours from algae.
I kept improving my skills, like writing, speaking English, and sharing ideas. That helped me grow from a village student to a scientist and entrepreneur working on big global problems.
How did you get your first break?
My first big break came when I was selected for the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship (MSCA) in Europe — a prestigious postdoctoral program that supports early-career researchers in building independent careers. It offers excellent funding, training, and international exposure. I applied with a strong research proposal and was fortunate to be selected.
This opportunity helped me grow both scientifically and personally.
During my MSCA fellowship at the University of Alcalá, Spain, my research was focused on cleaning toxic industrial wastewater, especially from tanneries that release harmful substances like chromium (Cr VI). I used electroactive bacteria that can survive in these harsh conditions to remove heavy metals while also generating electricity, using a system known as a microbial electrochemical system.
A major innovation was developing mutant strains through a safe method called adaptive evolution, making them even more efficient in removing pollution.
The goal was to create a low-cost, eco-friendly process that industries could one day use to treat wastewater while also recovering useful resources like energy and metals.
This project led to several research outcomes, industry collaborations, and built the foundation for the skills I now apply in both my academic work and Brilliant Dyes Ltd, my startup.
What were some of the challenges you faced? How did you address them?
Challenge 1:
Language. I studied in Hindi-medium schools, so speaking and writing English at IIT was very hard.
How I handled it: I practiced every day, read English papers, watched videos, and asked friends to help.
Challenge 2:
Limited access to resources and mentors early on.
How I handled it: I made full use of the few opportunities I had. I asked questions, sought help, and kept learning.
Challenge 3:
Staying motivated after failures, like not clearing IIT initially.
How I handled it: I kept reminding myself that failure is not the end. I focused on what I could do, and slowly, doors opened.
Where do you work now?
I work at Imperial College London, UK (2nd best university in the world), as a Research Fellow. My job is to develop technologies that use bacteria to convert waste into valuable products like natural dyes and clean energy.
I also co-founded a company called Brilliant Dyes Ltd to make eco-friendly colours from microalgae. These colours can be used in clothes, food, and cosmetics — replacing harmful chemical dyes.
What are the skills needed in your role? How did you acquire them?
Scientific thinking, problem-solving, teamwork, and communication. I learned these by doing research, reading, and working with international teams.
What I love most about my work?
Every day brings a new challenge. I love creating solutions that can help the planet and people.
How does your work benefit society?
My research helps clean polluted water, reduce waste, and replace toxic chemicals with natural materials. It promotes sustainability and circular economy — which means using resources again and again, not wasting them.
Our company’s natural dyes reduce environmental harm from textile and food industries and create green jobs.
Tell us an example of a specific memorable work you did that is very close to you!
Brilliant Dyes Ltd is very close to my heart. It started from our lab experiments and is now becoming a real-world solution. We use special algae that naturally produce bright blue colours — the strongest in nature! It’s amazing to see how something from a pond can be used in clothes or ice creams without harming the planet.
Your advice to students based on your experience?
- Never let your background limit your dreams.
- Failures are okay — learn from them and keep moving.
- Be curious and ask questions.
- Help others, and don’t hesitate to ask for help.
- Stay consistent — small steps lead to big changes.
You don’t need to be a topper to succeed — you need passion, hard work, and honesty.
Future Plans?
I want to grow our startup and bring natural dyes to the world. I also want to return to India one day and build a lab or training centre in rural areas to support students like me — so that no dream goes unfulfilled just because of where you come from.