Rachakonda Nagabhushanam obtained BSc (Hons), MSc (Zoology), and DSc (Marine Biology) under the guidance of Professor PN Ganapati. He joined as Lecturer (1954), Zoology Department, Andhra University, and later worked as Reader there. He studied at Tulane University, New Orleans, USA under the supervision of Professor Mithon Fingerman (1959-63) and obtained PhD (Animal Physiology). On returning to India, he joined the Zoology Department, Marathwada University as Professor and Head, initiated teaching and research in comparative animal physiology and invertebrate endocrinology, and continued working there up to his retirement (1991). He was also Visiting Scientist (1991- ) at Tulane University, USA.

Academic and Research Achievements: Nagabhushanam has done much work in marine biology and invertebrate endocrinology. He has shown that hormones play an important role in controlling the reproduction in shellfish. He has confirmed that in oysters, clams and prawns, neurosecretory products control reproduction. His findings are of importance to aquaculture practice of Indian oysters and prawns. He has mentored nearly 75 PhD students, authored over 300 research articles and written/edited 28 books.

Other Contributions: Nagabhushanam set up an Advanced Centre in Invertebrate Endocrinology at Marathwada University with the UGC assistance. He developed a series of Indo-USA Programmes in Marine Biology and organized several International Conferences with the support of American Institute of Biological Sciences. Along with Dr Fingerman, he edited ten publications as part of a series on "Recent Advances in Marine Biotechnology". He was on the Editorial Board of the Indian Journal of Experimental Biology.

Awards and Honours: Professor Nagabhushanam was conferred the Outstanding University Teacher Award by the Government of Maharashtra. He was elected Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences (India), Allahabad and Zoological Society of India, Kolkata; and President of the Indian Society of Comparative Endocrinology, and the Indian Society of Invertebrate Reproduction.