Prof. S Anbazhagan received his Ph.D., in Earth Science from Bharathidasan University and awarded the Humboldt Research fellowship for his Post-Doctoral Research in Germany. He joined IIT Madras as Senior Project officer in 1998 and then moved to IIT Bombay as faculty member in the Department of Earth Sciences. Their he established the computational facilities for image processing, GIS, and spectral studies. He joined Periyar University as Professor and Head in the Department of Geology (2005), established various labs, infrastructure facilities through DST-FIST grant and introduced several programs. He severed various positions in the University as Director CGIPS, Dean Faculty of Science, Director CDOE, Syndicate Member, and Coordinator Research & Development. He was a Vice Chancellor for Dr J Jayalalitha University for a short period. He retired as a Senior Professor in 2024.
He has published 150 research articles, made significant contributions in Remote sensing applications, Groundwater exploration and management, disaster mapping, hyperspectral and planetary analogue studies. Fourteen scholars were completed their Ph.D., program under his guideship. He received various awards include Humboldt Research fellowship, Tamil Nadu Scientist Award, Best Researcher & Best teacher awards and ISRO Certificate of Appreciation. He received patent for production of Lunar Soil Simulant for Chandrayaan mission program.