GAYANI WATHSALA
Saskatoon,Canada
Summary
University of Saskatchewan MSc in Food Science sooner to be graduated with 3+ years of laboratory experiences in spectrometry analysis and overseeing research projects involving protein extraction and determination functional and physiochemical properties of plant proteins. Have hand on experience on fatty acid derivatisation (oil seeds sample preparation) for GC-MS during the undergrad research in University of Sri Jayawardapura-Sri Lanka. As a highly-motivated fresh graduate have the desire to take on new challenges. Seeking to join as a research assistant in Nutrien Ag Solutionsto enhance my skills in lab management including and acitvely help the research team to finalize project and deliver accurate results withtin the deadlines.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
Work History
Laboratary Research Assistant
Agriculture and Agri-food Canada
Saskatoon, Canada
01.2019 - 12.2023
- Research Assistant under Research Affiliate Program (RAP) in Agriculture Canada (Saskatoon Research and Development Centre, Saskatoon)-part time employee
- Plant protein samples prepared (Soy, Yellow pea and Faba bean) for extraction and fractionation of globular proteins.
- Data entering through Microsoft excel and data analysing usisng stastical softwares ( SAS, minitab)
- Organized laboratory materials and kept work areas clean and orderly.
- Maintain lab notebooks accurately to keep clear records in data collection and any special remarks.
- Analaysing data, report writing and presenting data for audiances.
Research Assistant
Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Livestock, Fisheries and Nutrition, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka
Makandura, Gonawila (NWP), Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka
01.2016 - 08.2018
- Research Assistant (Sri Lanka National Science Foundation granted project) conducted in Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Livestock, Fisheries and Nutrition, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka
- Performed literature reviews to ensure accuracy of results.
- Created detailed summaries of existing studies for use in further investigations.
- Managed multiple research projects simultaneously while ensuring accurate record keeping.
- Provided support for faculty members with grant applications related to research projects.
- Contributed ideas and suggestions regarding potential new areas of inquiry based on current trends in the field.
- Participated in team meetings to discuss progress on ongoing projects or brainstorm ideas for future endeavors.
- Presented findings at professional conferences or seminars as required by faculty supervisors.
- Prepared comprehensive reports summarizing research findings.
- Conducted primary and secondary research to identify relevant information for project development.
Teaching Assistant
Department of Food Science and Technology and Department of Chemistry- Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura
Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka
01.2016 - 12.2016
- Teaching Assistant in Department of Food Science and Technology and Department of Chemistry- Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka
- Instructed students individually or in groups to reinforce learning concepts.
- Monitored student progress by keeping detailed records of academic performance.
- Facilitated small group instruction sessions on various topics.
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Industrail Technological Istitute
Colombo, Sri Lanka
01.2015 - 05.2015
- Assisted in the design of qualitative and quantitative research studies.
- Prepared presentations summarizing study results for internal use.
- Performed laboratory experiments in accordance with established protocols.
- Conducted literature searches to identify relevant articles for review.
- Gathered, compiled, and interpreted information from various sources.
- Supported principal investigators during research by handling administrative tasks.
- Examined experiment results to identify potential underlying causes for scientific findings.
Education
Master of Science in Food Science -
University of Saskatchewan
Canada12.2024
Diploma in Industrial Quality Assurance and Management - Food Safety And Quality Assurance
Sri Lanka Institute of Standardization
Colombo, Sri Lanka12-2017
Bachelor of Science (Special) Degree in Food Science and Technology -
University of Sri Jayewardenepura
Sri Lanka12.2015
B.Sc. (Special) in Food Science and Technology, Tertiary -
University of Sri Jayewardanapura
Sri Lanka12.2015
Stage 1 - Marketing And Consumer Studies
Charted Institute of Marketing (CIM)
London, UK08-2014
High-school -
Devi Balika Vidyalaya
Colombo 08, Sri Lanka12.2009
Skills
- Dedication
- Active contribution
- Coordination
- Innovative food production
- Communication skills
- Leadership skills
- Entrepreneur guidance program
- Lab Organization skills
- Planning skills
- Adaptability
- Corporate culture
- Food processing
- Industrial exposure
- Laboratory Testing
- Statistical Analysis
- Quality Assurance
- Lab Safety
- Data Analysis
- Document Management
- Technical Writing
- Data Collection
- Recordkeeping
- Experimental design
- Research Paper Writing
- Data Entry
- Quantitative and qualitative analysis
- Lab Equipment Operation
- Analyzing and synthesizing data
- Problem-Solving
- Undergraduate research
- Microsoft Office
- Creating Presentations
- Documentation skills
- Literature searches
- Research methods
- Proficient in spectrometry methods
- sample preparation for GC-MS (Deravatization of fatty acids)
- Publication Preparation
- Teaching students
Affiliations
- Student Member in The American Oil Chemists' Society (AOCS)
- Student member in Canadian Institute of Food Science and Technology (CIFST)
- Lifetime member in Nutrition society of Sri Lanka since January 2017 (Membership No: 2017-004)
- Life member in Sri Lanka Association for The Advancement of Science since July 2017 (Membership No: 10370/E2)
- Active Member in Association of Food Science & Technology – University of Sri Jayewardenepura since 2010
- Membership in the Charted Institute of Marketing (CIM)-UK since 2013 to 2014 (Membership No: 38422322)
Accomplishments
- Award for the poster presentation at IUFoST 2018- Mumbai-India- 19th world congress of Food Science and Technology
- Member of award winner team for “The Most Innovative Product – Institutional Category”- Hulankeeriya (Arrow Root) Cracker at Pro-food & Pro-pack International Exhibition in 2013 conducted by The Institute of Food Science & Technology Sri Lanka
Teachingexperiences
Teaching Assistant, Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka, 2016-01-01, 2016-12-31
Researchinterests
- Chemistry of macro food components of animal and plant origins (Carbohydrates, proteins and lipids)
- New food analysis techniques (chromatographic, spectroscopic and microscopic)
- Green technologies for bioactive extraction and separation (Super Critical, Ultrasonic and Microwave) and encapsulation technologies
- Novel food structure developments (Nano technology their use in new food product development)
Contactno
+1 306 914 4179
Seminarsandtraining
- 2018-01-25, New Trends in Natural Products Research and its potential applications in medicine and cosmetics, Institute of Chemistry Ceylon
- 2017-12-13, R statistical software, Department of Statistics and Computer Science and Research Service Centre, Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya
- 2013-09-14, Industrial Standardization and management system certification, Ind-Expo Certification Limited- Sri Lanka
Linguisticability
- IELTS (Academic), 7.0, 2016-11-19
- English Language course, B, 2016-07-15, 2016-09-22
- Diploma in English Language, Merit Pass, Aquinas College of Higher Studies, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Publications
- L’Hocine, L.; Martineau-Côté, D.; Achouri, A.; Wanasundara, J. P. D.; Loku Hetti Arachchige, G. W., Broad Bean (Faba Bean). In Pulses: Processing and Product Development, Manickavasagan, A.; Thirunathan, P., Eds. Springer International Publishing: Cham, 2020; pp 27-54
- Wathsala LHAG, Bandara JMLR, Illeperuma C, Nawarathna A, Sukirtha S, and Jayasinghe CVL (2018). Valorization of Industrial Fruit Peels; To Utilize as Functional Ingredient in Food Industry. Poster presentation at IUFoST 2018- Mumbai-India- 19th world congress of Food Science and Technology.
- Wathsala LHAG, Bandara JMLR, Illeperuma C, Nawarathna A, Sukirtha S, and Jayasinghe CVL (2018). Probe into Sri Lankan fruit processing industry for the quantification of industrial fruit processing byproducts and its potential utilization. ISBN 97-955-7442 p265 WinC-3rd Wayamba International Conference- Sri Lanka.
- Wathsala LHAG, Maheshika MDI, Illeperuma C. Nawarathna A. Sukiritha S. Jayasinghe CVL (2017) Assessment of incorporating pineapple bagasse as a raw material in bakery industry. ISSN 1391-023X p29, Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science. Proceeding of the 73rd Annual Sessions
- Wathsala LHAG, Herath HMT Wansapala MAJ. (2017) Study on Physico-Chemical and Fatty Acid Profile of Sri Lankan Groundnuts (Arachis hypogaea L.) ISSN 1391-023X p45, Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science. Proceeding of the 73rd Annual Sessions.
- Maheshika MDI, Wathsala LHAG, Jayasinghe CVL (2017) Incorporation of pineapple bagasse for value addition to bakery product, ISSN 2465-5821, p65 Undergraduate Research Symposium (UReS) 2017- Faculty of Livestock, Fisheries, & Nutrition, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka.
- Wickramaratna PS, Rathnayake RMNP, Wathsala LHAG, Dharmawansa KVSP and Jayasinghe CVL (2017). Impact of gamma irradiation on postharvest and shelf-life extension of coated giant guava (Psidum guajava L.) ISSN 1391-023X-p30, Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science. Proceeding of the 73rd Annual Sessions.
Volunteer Experience
2023-06-06, New comer student Orientation -USASK
2022-05-28, FABS Research Day
2019-04-13, Ag city exhibition, Lawson Heights mall
2018-11-15, FABS Research Day
References
- Phyllis J. Shand, Ph.D., Professor of Food and Meat Science, Department of Food and Bioproduct Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada, phyllis.shand@usask.ca, (306) 966-8842
- Janitha Wanasundara, Ph.D., Research Scientist, Saskatoon Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada / Government of Canada, Saskatoon, Canada, janitha.wanasundara@canada.ca, (306)-385-9455
Languages
English
Professional
Timeline
Laboratary Research Assistant
Agriculture and Agri-food Canada
01.2019 - 12.2023
Research Assistant
Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Livestock, Fisheries and Nutrition, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka
01.2016 - 08.2018
Teaching Assistant
Department of Food Science and Technology and Department of Chemistry- Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura
01.2016 - 12.2016
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Industrail Technological Istitute
01.2015 - 05.2015
Master of Science in Food Science -
University of Saskatchewan
Diploma in Industrial Quality Assurance and Management - Food Safety And Quality Assurance
Sri Lanka Institute of Standardization
Bachelor of Science (Special) Degree in Food Science and Technology -
University of Sri Jayewardenepura
B.Sc. (Special) in Food Science and Technology, Tertiary -
University of Sri Jayewardanapura
Stage 1 - Marketing And Consumer Studies
Charted Institute of Marketing (CIM)
High-school -
Devi Balika Vidyalaya
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