KOTTAYAM: While serving as a KSRTC bus conductor in the district, Jaison Joseph, 35, always nurtured his predilection for doing research.
The commuters on the Angel Valley-Kanjirapally route will be privileged to buy their tickets from a doctorate holder in botany from now on.
Mr Jaison, a native of Kanamala near Erumely who is attached to the KSRTC depot in Kottayam, got a doctorate from the Bharathiar University, Tamil Nadu, on Kallur Vanchi (rotula aquatica), a rare species of a plant having medicinal properties found on the Western Ghats.
The plant is a rare species of shrub found on the riverbeds which has proven quality of curing ailments like kidney stones and the urinary tract infection.
“I have attended classes since the job will be mostly three days a week. I used to take additional leaves for completing my PhD. My colleagues helped and encouraged me to complete research by adjusting leave for me,” he told Deccan Chronicle.
His centre for research was the SB College, Changanacherry. Dr V T Antony, a former professor there, was his guide.
The topic was chosen by Mr Joseph accidentally when he went in search of the plant when his friend got infected with kidney stone after being advised by doctors.
Now after the completion of PhD, he plans a career in teaching. “I love my current job. But since I have studied this much, I would like to change my career to teaching,” he says.
An MSc in Botany, his wife too is a teacher of biology at St Thomas High school, Kanamala. The couple have two children.
