The Center for Environmental Nuclear Research (CENR), formerly known as the Center for Interdisciplinary Research, radiates an undying pursuit for knowledge in the form of research. Comprising a plethora of laboratories, the CENR, located on the fourth floor of the University Building, is a host to path - breaking research in many areas. The Center was established in 2009 with grants from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC), and Mumbai with the extensive support from Directorate of Research, SRM University. CENR comprises multidisciplinary group of environmental researchers and engineers with experience in a wide spectrum of fields & research. Dr. Kantha D. Arunachalam, Ph.D., M.A. Sc., (Canada) is the Professor and Co - Ordinator, heading the Center for Environmental Nuclear Research.
CENR goal is to become a recognized leader in environmental nuclear research, which conducts research needed to address national environmental contaminant issues and effects of habitat alterations on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems for better understanding of the environment and tocultivate leaders to address the ecological challenges of the 21st century by integrating scientific disciplines to address complex environmental issues.
The Center for Environmental Nuclear Research has the independent laboratory facilities for its research work. It comprises Radiation Instrumentation Laboratory, Tissue Engineering laboratory, Aquatic Toxicology Laboratory, Hydroponics Laboratory, Radio - Chemistry Laboratory, Genomics and Proteomics Laboratory, Nutrition Analysis Laboratory & Wet Lab. Also the Center has a separate Green House to maintain the large number of plants for its research work.
While the CENR is active in a wide range of multidisciplinary studies, the following themes are dominant. The on - going research and development activities of the Center are focussed on Environmental Risk Assessment, Radio Ecological Monitoring, Ecosystem Modelling, Ecotoxicology, Microbial & Molecular Ecology, Spatial Analysis using Geographic Information System (GIS), Sediment & Water Chemistry, Clinical nutrition Immunology & Green Nano medicine. The Center holds project collaboration with School of Civil Engineering and Center for Excellence in Nanotechnology.
The department is engaged in collaborative projects with various schools and Centers of SRM University and Directorate of Medical Research. Also associate with Institutes and R & D Centers like Indira Gandhi Center for Atomic Research - Kalpakkam, King Institute - Guindy, National University of Singapore [NUS] - Singapore, National Institute of Ocean Technology [NIOT] - Chennai, Environmental Survey Laboratory(ESL), Kalpakkam and interacting with industries Like Hatsun Agro Products Ltd - Chennai,Medox Biotech Pvt Ltd - Chennai for its research activities.