As an Associate Professor (Env. Science), Dr P Kalaiselvi guided 15 postgraduate students and handled undergraduate, post-graduate, and doctoral course. As a researcher, she works in two core themes within the Environmental Science Department: Bioremediation and Solid Waste Management. She developed a sustainable technology for the bioremediation of industrially polluted ecosystems and a microbial consortium for lignocellulosic waste management. Presently, she works in the in situ decomposition of rice stubbles and developed an Effective Microbial formulation product for managing both liquid and solid waste.

In the past, she served as the principal investigator for a venture capital scheme operating in the Department of Env. Science, which focuses on the production of bioinputs like TNAU Biomineralizer, TNAU Panchagavya & Biocompost and supplying for various stakeholders. She also looked after the compost technology Park in Tamil Nadu Agricultural University — where the organic manure from biodegradable waste was produced — and monitored various waste management activities. In the part of extension and exhibition in charge, she organized various exhibitions to portray the technologies developed by the Department for farmers’ welfare. She was also involved in the media’s popularization of the technologies, attended various trainings, seminars, symposium and workshops to improve her professional skills, and presented papers to share knowledge with peers. She has published sixteen books, several chapters in books, and research articles in high impact factor journals of national and international repute.