Professor Sharmila Jayasena
Professor Sharmila Jayasena
Sharmila Jayasena is a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo. She graduated from University College London with BSc. Microbiology (Hons) and holds a PhD. in Molecular Biology from University of Colombo. She is a SEDA (UK) qualified teacher in higher education.
She is currently the convenor of the Postgraduate Programs Committee and, chairperson of the Research Communication and Dissemination Committee of the Center for Research Development and Innovation at UCFM.
Her research on bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbons led to the isolation of a natural biofilm- forming Aspergillus – Bacillus community that demonstrated highly efficient degradation of alkanes and in silico identification of novel alkane monooxygenases in A. flavus involved in alkane degradation. Isolation of the genes are currently underway with the aim of developing a biocatalytic formulation for bioremediation of terrestrial environments.
She has recently initiated a project to investigate bioactive natural products of microbial origin having antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties. This study additionally provides opportunities for pre and post A’ level students as well as undergraduates to obtain research experience in microbiology & molecular biology areas.
She is also collaborating on a project to investigate the effects of medicinal plant extracts on multiple myeloma cells which was funded by the world bank.
She is currently supervising one PhD student, Two MSc students and one BSc student.