Dr. D. Pamoda W. Jayatunga
B.Sc. (Colombo), A. I. Chem. C., M. Phil. (USJ), PhD (Australia)
Senior Lecturer and Coordinator of the Unit
Research Interests: Molecular Neuroscience, Neuroprotection, Nutraceuticals
Teaching:
GMB 101 2.0 Molecular Cell Biology
GMB 317 2.0 Biochemistry
GMB 323 2.0 Protein Engineering
GMB 407 1.0 Scientific Writing
GMB 131 1.0 Laboratory work in Genetics and Molecular Cell Biology
GMB 336 1.0 Laboratory work in Biochemistry, RNA, and Proteins
Work experiences:
April 2021– to date
Senior Lecturer – Genetics and Molecular Biology Unit, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka.
Senior Prof. B. G. D. Nissanka K. de Silva
B.Sc. (USJP), PhD (USJP)
Senior Professor
nissanka@sci.sjp.ac.lk, nissanka@sjp.ac.lk, nissankakolitha@gmail.com
Research interests: Molecular Biology, Medical Entomology, Molecular Entomology
Teaching:
GMB 326 2.0 Molecular Entomology
Work experiences:
2023 September – 2025 February – Consultant Senior Research Fellow, SLIBTEC
2023 April – 2023 July – Visiting Research Fellow, Ralph & Sarich Neuroscience center, Perth, Australia
2022 Feb. – 2022 Dec. – Head, Department of Zoology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura
2016 – 2022 – Director, Center for Biotechnology, Department of Zoology
2017 – 2022 – Coordinator, Genetics and Molecular Biology Unit, Faculty of Applied Sciences
2017 – 2019 – Coordinator, Biology Degree Programme, Faculty of Applied Sciences
2017– to date – Senior Professor in the Department of Zoology
Senior Prof. Dinithi Peiris
B.Sc. (Colombo), PhD (Sheffield, UK)
Senior Professor
dinithi@sci.sjp.ac.lk
Research Interests: Pharmacognosy, Molecular pathway analysis, in silico analysis, Infertility
Teaching:
GMB 313 1.0 Cell Signalling and Signal Transduction
GMB 304 1.0 Developmental Genetics
GMB 403 1.0 / GMB 464 1.0 Stem Cells and Regenerative Biology
Work experiences:
2015 – to date: Professor -Department of Zoology / Genetics & Molecular Biology Unit, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka.
2013 – 2015 Senior Lecturer: G1 – Department of Zoology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka
2008–2012 Research Fellow: Dept of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, BC, Canada
2006–2008: Senior Lecturer I- Department of Zoology, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.
2004-2006: Post-Doctoral Fellow- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Queens’ University, Ontario, Canada.
1999–2004: Senior Lecturer II: Department of Zoology, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. – Responsibilities same as for Senior lecture grade 1.
1995–1999: Graduate assistant- Dept. of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of Sheffield, UK.
1994–1999: Lecturer-Department of Zoology, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Dr. D. H. H. Munasinghe
B.Sc. (Colombo) M.Sc. (South Korea) Ph.D. (UK)
Senior Lecturer
h_munasinghe@yahoo.com
Research Interests: Microbiology, Physiology, Analysis of Food Quality, Marine Biotechnology, Molecular Biology, Neuroscience and Caenorhabditis elegans research
Dr. Hiruni Harischandra
B.Sc. (ISU, USA), Ph.D. (USA)
Senior Lecturer
hirunih@sci.sjp.ac.lk
Research Interests: Host-parasite interactions of parasitic nematodes, Vectors of zoonotic parasites.
Teaching:
GMB 102 2.0 Fundamentals of Genetics
GMB 103 2.0 Fundamentals of Molecular Genetics
GMB 205 1.0 Gene Expression and Regulation
GMB 348 1.0 Research Skills Development
GMB 333 2.0 Mini-project
GMB 131 1.0 Laboratory work in Genetics and Molecular Cell Biology
GMB 231 1.0 Laboratory work in Cloning and Gene Expression
Work experiences:
2018 June – to date: Senior Lecturer – Genetics and Molecular Biology Unit, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka.
Dr. Kasun M. Thambugala
B.Sc. Hons (Kalaniya), PhD (MFLU, Thailand), PhD (Kelaniya)
Lecturer
kasun@sci.sjp.ac.lk
Research Interests: Fungal Systematics, Bioinformatics, Plant pathology, Microbial Genetics, Biotechnology
Teaching:
GMB 105 2.0 Techniques in Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering
GMB 209 1.0 Introduction to Bioinformatics
GMB 204 2.0 Microbes and Microbial Genetics
GMB 311 2.0 Modern Biotechnology
GMB 408 2.0 / ASB 466 2.0 Marine Biotechnology for Sustainable Development
GMB 413 2.0 / ASB 463 2.0 Tissue and Cell Culture
GMB 232 1.0 Laboratory Work in Microbial Genetics and Immunology
GMB 132 1.0 Laboratory Work in Molecular Biology Techniques
GMB 329 1.0 Occupational Competence (Course coordinator)
GMB 340 2.0 Special Topics in Genetics and Molecular Biology (Course coordinator)
GMB 341 3.0 Current Topics in Genetics and Molecular Biology (Course coordinator)
Work experiences:
2013 March – 2017 October: Visiting Scholar, Guizhou Key Laboratory of Agricultural Biotechnology, People’s Republic of China.
2018 February – 2018 November: Senior Scientist, Center of Excellence in Fungal Research, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, Thailand.
2018 December – 2020 February: Lecturer, Faculty of Science and Technology, Thammasat University, Pathumthani, Thailand.
2020 August – to date: Lecturer, Genetics and Molecular Biology Unit, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka.
Dr. Samawansha Tennakoon
BSc. in Genetics (Ind), MSc in Biomedical Basis of Diseases (UK),
PhD in Malignant Diseases (AUT)
Lecturer (Un-confirmed)
samawansha@sci.sjp.ac.lk, samawansha@gmail.com
Research Interests: Cell receptors and cell signaling, Molecular pathology, Therapeutic effects of herbal medicine, Molecular diagnosis of diseases
Teaching:
GMB 203 1.0 Genomics and Proteomics
GMB 412 2.0 / ASB 469 2.0 Molecular Diagnostics and Therapeutics
GMB 413 2.0 / ASB 463 2.0 Tissue and Cell Culture
GMB 419 1.0 Systems Biology
GMB 415 1.0 / ASB 468 1.0 Journal Club
GMB 401 2.0 Case Studies in Genetics and Molecular Biology
GMB 131 1.0 Laboratory work in Genetics and Molecular Cell Biology
GMB 336 1.0 Laboratory work in Biochemistry, RNA, and Protein Techniques
GMB 340 2.0 Special Topics in Genetics and Molecular Biology
GMB 341 3.0 Current Topics in Genetics and Molecular Biology
Work experiences:
2021 December to present: Lecturer (Unconfirmed) – Genetics and Molecular Biology Unit, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka.
2020 Sep – 2021 Sep: Visiting Lecturer, Rajarata University, Sri Lanka
2011 Oct– 2015 Dec: Marie Curie Early-Stage Researcher (ESR), Medical University of Vienna, Austria
2014 April– 2014 June: Visiting Research Associate, Cardiff University, UK
2011 Mar – 2011 Sep: Researcher, Max F. Perutz Laboratories, Austria
Dr. Dilakshini Daynanda
BSc (Colombo), PhD (USJP)
Senior Lecturer (On contract)
dilakshini@sci.sjp.ac.lk
Research Interests: Viruses, Vector borne diseases, Immunology
Teaching:
GMB 105 2.0 Techniques in Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering
GMB 348 1.0 Research skills and development
GMB 344 1.0 RNA Biology
GMB 345 1.0 Virology
GMB 415 1.0 / ASB 468 1.0 Journal Club
GMB 401 2.0 Case Studies in Genetics and Molecular Biology
GMB 132 1.0 Laboratory Work in Molecular Biology Techniques
GMB 336 1.0 Laboratory work in Biochemistry, RNA, and Protein Techniques
GMB 340 2.0 Special Topics in Genetics and Molecular Biology
GMB 341 3.0 Current Topics in Genetics and Molecular Biology
Work experiences:
2023 January – to date Senior Lecturer (On contract)- Genetics and Molecular Biology Unit, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka.
2022–2023 Lecturer (On contract) – Genetics and Molecular Biology Unit, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka.
2019–2021(June) Research Assistant, Centre for Biotechnology, Department of Zoology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka
2016–2017 Research Assistant, Centre for Biotechnology, Department of Zoology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura
2013–2016 Research Assistant, Department of Zoology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura
2008–2011 Scientific Assistant, Staff Development Centre, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
2006–2008 Temporary Demonstrator, Department of Zoology, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka