Ms. Lakshika Dissanayake
About me
Lakshika Dissanayake is a Ph.D. candidate in Molecular Biology, Microbiology, and Biochemistry at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, specializing in synthetic microbiology and sustainable biotechnologies. Her research focuses on engineering microbial systems for the upcycling of plastic and textile waste into high-value bioproducts, including bio-nylon precursors and platform chemicals. She holds an M.S. (GPA 4.00) from SIU and an M.Sc. in Biotechnology from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
Lakshika has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications and numerous conference presentations centered on microbial engineering, PET biodegradation, and circular bioeconomy solutions. She has received several prestigious awards and fellowships, including the EREF Ph.D. Scholarship, Sigma Xi research awards, the SIUC 3MT Competition Winner, and national recognition in agricultural research in Sri Lanka. In addition to her research, she has served as a Graduate Research and Teaching Assistant and is an active member of several professional scientific societies.
Lakshika Dissanayake is a molecular microbiologist and biotechnology researcher specializing in synthetic microbiology, metabolic engineering, and sustainable bioprocess development. She is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Molecular Biology, Microbiology, and Biochemistry at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), where her research centers on developing innovative chemo-biological hybrid systems to upcycle plastic and textile waste into high-value bioproducts. Her doctoral work focuses on engineering novel microbial chassis, particularly Erwinia species, to enable circular bioeconomy solutions, including the production of bio-nylon precursors, jet fuel intermediates, and platform chemicals from waste materials.
Lakshika earned her M.S. in Molecular Biology, Microbiology, and Biochemistry from SIUC with a perfect 4.00 GPA. During her master’s research, she engineered Erwinia aphidicola as a “catabolic powerhouse” capable of deconstructing and upcycling synthetic polymers such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Prior to this, she completed an M.Sc. in Biotechnology at the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, where her research focused on molecular characterization of rice germplasm for bacterial leaf blight resistance genes. She received her B.Sc. (Hons) in Applied Biology with a specialization in Microbiology from Rajarata University of Sri Lanka.
Her scholarly contributions include multiple peer-reviewed journal publications in leading international journals spanning microbial engineering, enzyme optimization, PET biodegradation, and sustainable biomanufacturing. She has also authored and co-authored numerous conference proceedings and presentations at national and international forums, including ACS regional and national meetings, ASM conferences, SIMB annual meetings, and interdisciplinary research symposia. Several additional manuscripts are currently under review or in preparation, reflecting her continued productivity and leadership in the field of plastic and biomass valorization.
Throughout her academic career, Lakshika has held positions as a Graduate Research Assistant and Graduate Teaching Assistant at SIUC, where she conducted advanced research in synthetic microbiology and taught undergraduate microbiology laboratory courses. She previously worked as a Research Scientist at John Keells Research in Sri Lanka, gaining experience in molecular biology techniques, microbiology, tissue culture, and greenhouse trials. She also served as a Demonstrator in Botany at Rajarata University, supporting undergraduate instruction.
Her work has been recognized with numerous competitive awards and honors. She is a recipient of the Environmental Research & Education Foundation (EREF) Ph.D. Scholarship and multiple doctoral fellowships from SIUC. Her awards include the Sigma Xi Rose and Essie Padgett Scholarship Award, Outstanding Graduate Presentation honors, Top Poster Awards, the Love of Learning Award from Phi Kappa Phi, and victory in the 2023 SIUC Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition. Internationally, she was part of a team receiving the SLCARP National Award for Excellence in Agricultural Research in Sri Lanka. She has also secured multiple professional development and travel grants to present her research nationally and internationally.
Lakshika maintains active membership in several professional organizations, including the American Society for Microbiology (ASM), the American Chemical Society (ACS), the Society for Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology (SIMB), Sigma Xi, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD), and the Institute of Biology Sri Lanka. Beyond research, she contributes to academic service activities such as judging science fairs and research forums and mentoring students.
Through her interdisciplinary expertise in molecular biology, enzyme engineering, and microbial biotechnology, Lakshika Dissanayake continues to advance sustainable solutions for global waste challenges, bridging fundamental microbiology with applied industrial biotechnology to support the transition toward a circular and environmentally responsible bioeconomy.
Other Memberships/Affiliations
Degrees:
University of Peradeniya
University of Peradeniya
University of Peradeniya
University of Peradeniya