Education
[2007 to Present] Department of Food Science, Louisiana State University. PhD. Candidate Food Science/ major - Food Microbiology. Major Professor Dr. Marlene Janes
[2005 to 2007] Department of Food Science, Louisiana State University. M.S. Food Science/ major - Food Microbiology
[1999 to 2003] Wayamba University of Sri Lanka Makadura, Gonawila (NWP), Sri Lanka. B.Sc. agriculture / major - Food Technology.
[1996 to 2000] The Institute of Chemistry Ceylon, Wejerama Mawatha, Colombo 7, Sri Lanka. B.Sc. Graduate (Grad I. Chem.) / major - Chemistry.
Professional accomplishments and awards
IFT - Gulf Coast Section 2008 Scholarship Competition: Received the Tom Quinn Student Scholarship, based on research abstract, “Consumer acceptance and purchase intent of vegan burgers formulated with fermented cowpea flour, soy protein, and wheat gluten”. · Received the “Barkate Scholarship for The Outstanding Graduate Student” in 2006 at the Department of Food Science, LSU. · Member of Gamma Sigma Delta honor society.
IFT - Gulf Coast Section 2006 Scholarship Competition: Received the Tom Quinn Student Scholarship, based on my MS research abstract, “Direct Colony Immunoblot for Enumeration of Vibrio vulnificus”. · Received the “Mahapola Higher Education Scholarship” in 1997/1998 in Sri Lanka.
Extracurricular activities and interests
Director of Undergraduate Research Paper Competition: IFTSA 2008-2009
President: LSU Food Science Club 2007- 2008
Vice President: LSU Food Science Club 2006 -2007
Student Affairs Committee Chair: Gulf-Coast IFT section2007- 2008
Research projects
I worked on diverse research projects in food microbiology and food product development and sensory evaluation under the Food Science Department at Louisiana State university scince 2005. Those are:
1. Rapid identification and enumeration of Vibrio vulnificus using antibody based method titled "Detection of Vibrio vulnificus by Direct Colony Immunoblot".
2. Multi state research project named "Ecology and Pathogenic Strains of Vibrio vulnificus and Vibrio parahaemolyticus in U.S. Gulf Coast Oysters"
3. "Effect of Resistant Starch Diet in Lactobacillus spp, Clostridium perfringens in a Rat and Mice model of Human Endocrine Obesity".
4. "Sensory Properties of Vegan Burgers Extended with Fermented Black Eye Pea, Soy and Wheat Gluten".
5. Alligator meat quality control
Professional memberships
Student member of Institute of Food Technology (IFT) (2006- present)
Student member of International Association of Food Protection (IAFP) (2006- present)
Student member of American Society of Microbiology (ASM) (2008)
Member of Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science ( SLAAS) (2003- Present)
Committee member of the Alumni Association of Institute of Chemistry Sri Lanka (2002-2003)
Publications
1. Senevirathne RN ,Janes ME and Simonson JG.2008. In press. Detection and Enumeration of Vibrio vulnificus by Direct Colony Immunoblot. Journal of Food Science.
2. Melody K, Senevirathne R, Jaykus L, Janes M and Supan J. 2008. In press. Effectiveness of icing as a post-harvest treatment for reduction of Vibrio vulnificus and V. parahaemolyticus in Crassostrea virginica. Journal of Food Protection. 3. Ge B, Janes ME, Han F, Senevirathne R and Simonson J.2007. Developing Rapid and Sensitive Pathogen Detection Systems for Food Safety and Biosecurity. Louisiana Agriculture magazine.
4. De Alwis RN, Wanninayake TB, Fonseka TSG (2002)A Microbial Assessment for a Technique of Depuration of Culture Flat Oyster, (Crassostrea madrasensis) for Panadura Estuary. Proceedings of 02nd Agricultural Research Symposium, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka.