Professor Suren Singh assumed the position of lecturer in September 1997 at the former M.L. Sultan Technikon (now DUT) when research was still at its infancy. His arrival brought a much-awaited impetus to research at the then Technikon. Within five years, he was able to establish a core research group in Industrial Biotechnology and achieved a Y2 – NRF rating in 2002 and a C1 – NRF rating in 2007 and 2013.

His research focuses on Enzyme Technology,the isolation, production (shake flask to large scale fermenters) biochemical characterization, purification, and application of thermostable enzymes viz.,: i xylanases - targeted towards the pulp and paper industry to reduce the chemical demand and for the production of biofuels