I am a Postdoctoral Scholar in the Department of Agricultural, Food, and Nutritional Science at the University of Alberta, working under the supervision of Dr. Malinda Thilakarathna. My academic journey began with a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, where a spark of curiosity about the microbial world first took hold, and continued with a Master’s degree in Molecular and Applied Microbiology from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka — a training that took me from molecular bench work to the intersection of soil ecology and agroecosystem science.
My doctoral research, recognised with a nomination for the University of Alberta Best Thesis Award, examined some of the most fundamental questions about how legume-grass systems function under stress. My thesis, Legume-Based Resilience: Microbiome Dynamics, Nitrogen Cycling, and Agronomic Performance Under Stress, investigated how legume presence maintains ecological function under drought and defoliation, how the soil microbiome drives that resilience, and whether legumes enhance nitrogen cycling at the ecosystem scale without amplifying greenhouse gas loss potential. This work spanned controlled greenhouse experiments and native grassland field sites across two western Canadian ecoregions, producing insights into rhizosphere microbial community assembly, co-occurrence network stability, and nitrogen cycling functional gene abundance that have direct implications for sustainable land management.
My fascination with microbiology has always been rooted in a deeper appreciation for the natural systems that sustain life — systems that are often invisible to the naked eye but fundamental to everything above ground. Beyond the lab, I seek inspiration through time spent in nature. I enjoy travelling, hiking, camping, and capturing diverse landscapes through photography. These experiences not only refresh my perspective but deepen my appreciation for the ecosystems I study. I am also a proud husband and find great joy in sharing life’s adventures — both big and small — with my family.