My personal page...

After completing my Bachelor's degree at the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, I began my Ph.D. journey in fall 2021 under the guidance of Dr. Dassanayake. My research is dedicated to exploring the remarkable adaptability of halophytes to high salt. Despite the considerable phylogenetic differences within the halophyte community, these plants share a common adaptive trait of salt tolerance. Therefore, my project aims to uncover genomic traits that have convergently evolved in extremophytes adapted to high salinity comparing >200 angisperm genomes utilizing bioinformatics techniques. Additionally, I am investigating functional responses to high salinity in the model halophyte Schrenkiella parvula, focusing on photosynthesis and responses related to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species. This endeavor not only promises to deepen our understanding of halophyte adaptation but also sheds light on broader questions surrounding adaptive mechanisms in response to environmental stress.

I joined Dassanayake’s lab in 2021 Fall for my Ph.D. program after I finished my undergraduate and MS in Biotechnology at Nong Lam University, Vietnam. During my graduate study, I investigate how plants adapt to environmental stresses using methods in cell biology, genetics, proteomics, metabolomics, transcriptomics, and genomics. Using an extremophyte model, Schrenkiella parvula, I explore genes involved in stress-adapted plants with novel functions regulating stress tolerance absent in crops. I also combine results derived from advanced techniques of confocal microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, mass spectrometry together with RNA-seq data to understand how salt is transported and compartmentalized inside the plants while roots continue to grow and respond to salt stress. These approaches help to uncover the genetic mechanisms underlying metabolic adjustments required for sustained growth under high salinities. Ultimately, my goal is to apply the benefits provided by salt-tolerant plants to enhance crop resilience, thereby providing promising solutions for their cultivation in saline environments in the future

Before I joined Dr. Dassanayake’s lab in Fall 2022, I had previously worked on agricultural crops such as rice, sorghum, maize and foxtail millet at International Rice Research Institute and LSU-Agricultural Center. I finished my BS in Biology and MS in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at the University of the Philippines. Basically, I have been in plant science research for a while; also, I love plants. Right now, I want to realize my research ideas in understanding plant abiotic stresses for my PhD. Here at Dr. Dassanayake’s lab I will have that opportunity. I will be using brassica extremophyte species using transcriptomic, ionomic and metabolomic studies to understand the physiology, biochemistry and underlying mechanisms of plant abiotic stress tolerance.

I joined Dr. Dassanayake’s lab in the Fall of 2022 as a PhD student. I attained my undergraduate degree at Ohio Wesleyan University in May of 2022. I also completed work at the Boyce Thompson Institute at Cornell for an REU. In the Dassanayake lab, I am working with the halophytes Schrenkiella parvula and Eutrema salsaginium which are considered the experts at adapting to extreme environments such as soil with high salt and low essential nutrients like phosphorus. These stresses have been studied respectively, but often in nature these types of abiotic stresses occur at the same time. Studying extremophyte plants under these conditions  will give insight into how plants are adapted to high salt and low phosphorus conditions combined. I am using a plethora of transcriptomic tools to understand these two extremophytes' responses to complex stresses, and also studying physiological responses to the combined and singular stresses.

I am a McNair scholar and a recent alum with a BA in Biological Sciences from CUNY-Hunter College in New York City. My research interests revolve around understanding how plants adapt and thrive under environmental stresses such as drought, UV radiation, and salinity. I am specifically fascinated by the molecular and physiological mechanisms that enable survival in extreme environments, including deserts, salt lakes, hot springs, and arctic regions. In 2025, I lived in Egypt, working with an environmental non-profit dedicated to conserving local deserts, wetlands, and native biodiversity while engaging communities through environmental education. In November 2025, I joined the Dassanayake Lab to further explore these survival mechanisms and contribute to advancing our understanding of plant resilience and adaptation.

My personal page

I am a second year LSU Ogden Honors College undergraduate majoring in biological sciences on the pre-med track, and I am currently working in the Dassanayake lab helping postgraduates in their research on plant genetics. I am learning and applying various plant growth and molecular techniques in the lab. I believe hands-on research will not only deepen my understanding of molecular genetics but also help me better prepare for medical school after college.

I am a biology major, minoring in psychology. I’m currently a sophomore and joined Dr. Dassanayake’s lab recently in fall of 2025. I’m still deciding about what I want to do after graduation, but I know I’d like to stay in science, most likely go into healthcare or research.

Currently, I am an undergraduate junior majoring in biochemistry and minoring in psychology. Also, I am a member of the Ogden Honors College and hope to attend medical school after graduating with my Bachelor’s degree. In Fall 2025, I decided to become more involved in the College of Science and joined the Dassanayake lab. My goal is to deepen my understanding of molecular genetics and biochemistry through experimental plant research. In addition to proper laboratory and research practices, this lab is teaching me how to make connections and collaborate with peers and superiors in an academic setting, which is definitely preparing me for a future in research and medicine.