About
I am a plant molecular biologist dedicated to uncovering mechanisms of crop resilience under both biotic and abiotic stress. My long-term vision is to translate fundamental discoveries into sustainable, climate-smart agricultural innovations. I hold an MSc in Molecular Life Sciences (Merit) from the Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (University of Colombo), supported by a Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarship. My MSc research focused on Exobasidium vexans infection in Camellia sinensis, exploring its effects on flavonoid production and gene expression. This work strengthened my skills in RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis, qPCR, and HPLC. I further gained experience in plant pathology at the Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka, working on fungal isolations, pathogenicity assays, and bio-fungicide screening. Additionally, I have contributed to environmental and animal research projects, which broadened my interdisciplinary perspective. Currently, I am pursuing a PhD in the Department of Experimental Plant Biology at the University of South Bohemia (USB), with research based at the Laboratory of Plant Biophysics and Biochemistry, Institute of Plant Molecular Biology, Biology Centre CAS (Czech Republic). My doctoral work investigates zinc- and copper-induced resistance in Capsicum spp. against Botrytis cinerea, with an emphasis on micronutrient-mediated plant defense mechanisms. Through my ongoing research, I aim to contribute to global efforts in sustainable agriculture and welcome collaborations that align with this mission.