Name :Dr. Yasmin Chathurika Aluwihare

Contact :yasminaluwihare@gmail.com
yasmin@nara.ac.lk

Academic qualifications :

• Ph.D. in Molecular Biology, Genetics and Plant Molecular Breeding
  Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.  Ph.D. at the Board of Study in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Postgraduate Institute of Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
  Research Project: Screening of selected Sri Lankan rice genotypes for phosphorus deficiency tolerance and identification of genomic regions associated with phosphorus deficiency tolerance in Sri Lankan rice germplasm for the development of phosphorus use efficient rice genotypes by marker assisted breeding.
  Key Courses Followed in Ph.D.:Successfully completed and passed the courses on Biostatistics (MB 558), Biotechnology in Plant Breeding (MB 555) with Distinctions (‘A’ Grade equivalent to >75%), Board of Study in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Postgraduate Institute of Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, 2012.

• Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Molecular Life Sciences (Completed with a Merit Pass), Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IBMBB), University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka, (2008-2010).
  Research Project:Isolation and characterization of putative gene analogues for plant disease resistance from Sri Lankan rice varieties.(April 2009 - February 2010)
  Key Courses Followed in M.Sc.: Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Genetic Engineering, Biotechnology, Enzymology, Genetic Transformation, Recombinant DNA Technology and Bioinformatics      

• Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) Major: Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Chemistry and Botany. Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka (2004-2007).
  Key Courses Followed in B.Sc.: Advanced Microbiology, Biochemistry, Molecular Genetics, Recombinant DNA Technology, Molecular Cell Biology, Molecular Immunology, Biotechnology, Molecular Biology of Plant and Animal Diseases, Environmental Biotechnology, Plant Breeding, Statistics, Analytical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Organic Chemistry and Organic Synthesis.

Professional Experience

• Scientist (GR II): Marine Biological Resources Division, National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency, Crow Island, Colombo 15, Sri Lanka, December 2016- to date.
• Research Assistant: Worked under J. Senanayaka (PI) and Mr. K.N. Kannangara (Co-PI) in a project on ‘Detection of chilli leaf curl virus and isolation of quality protein maize by using SSR markers. National Agricultural Research Project (NARP), Field Crop Research and Development Institute (FCRDI), Department of Agriculture, Sri Lanka, September 2010 –May 2011, FCRDI, Department of Agriculture.
• Volunteer Research Assistant: Worked under D.N. Magana-Arachchi (PI) in a project on Cell Biology, Microbiology and Molecular Biology at the Institute of Fundamental Studies (IFS), Kandy, Sri Lanka, May 2010-August 2010.

   Fellowships, awards and distinctions

• Awarded the National Research Council (NRC) scholarship to study for a PhD at Postgraduate Institute of Science (PGIS) and Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka 2012.

 Research interests

• In the fields of Plant Genetics, Breeding and Biotechnology for the applications in sustainable food production and environmental management.
• Marine Biotechnology and Genetics for the applications in species identification and marine biodiversity applications

International professional training

• Participated in a Molecular Plant Breeding short course conducted at International Rice Research and Development Institute (IRRI), Manila, Philippines. 12-23 November, 2012

Theory and laboratory skills gained

High throughput DNA extraction, molecular marker genotyping using SSR markers, PCR, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), gel imaging and scoring, automated genotyping of SNP markers, data analysis of given mapping populations, learn the basic principles and theory of marker-assisted selection (MAS) in modern rice breeding, review case studies of the application of molecular breeding in rice, acquire essential laboratory and data analysis skills necessary for conducting MAS in a breeding program, develop skills in writing proposals for future molecular breeding programs, familiarized with software ALCHEMY allele calling software, illumine-SNP analysis, Pedimap, Power Marker diversity analysis software, GGT, QGene for QTL mapping and TASSEL for associated mapping, flapjack SNP graphical genotype software

• Poster presentation at 20^th World Congress of Soil Sciences (WCSS), at Jeju, Korea, 2014

Workshops/ seminars attended

• Followed Digital Forensics course organized by the Department of Statistics and Computer Science, Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, 14^th March, 2014
• Attended as workshop on the “Bio-safety of Genetically Engineered Crops: Best Practices from Laboratory to Farmers’ Fields”, organized by International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Italy and National Science Foundation, Sri Lanka. 21-25^th May, 2012.
• Short course on Data analysis using R and R-studio organized by the Board of Study in Statistics and Computer Science of the PGIS, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. (18-19 April, 2013)
• Workshop on Scientific Writing, conducted by PGIS, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. 15^th February, 2013
• Participated for a workshop on Intellectual Property and Patents, organised by PGIS, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. (22-23 November, 2014)
• Followed Plant Molecular Systematics course organized by the National Herbarium, Peradeniya, Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, and the Department of Plant Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, 4-8^th March, 2013
• Workshop on Scientific Writing and Publishing Research Work, organized by the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science on 12^th September 2017 at the University of Colombo.
• Workshop on Time Series Analysis in data science, conducted by Board of study in statistics & computer science (ISBIS-Co-sponsored), at the PGIS, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. 20-22 December, 2017

Publications

Journal Articles

• Aluwihare YC, Ishan M, Chamikara MDM, WeebaddeCK, Sirisena DN, Samarasinghe WLG, Sooriyapathirana SDSS (2016) Characterization and Selection of Phosphorus Deficiency Tolerant Rice Genotypes in Sri Lanka, Rice Science (Elsevier). 23(4): 184-195
• Aluwihare YC, Lelwala RV, Dissanayake DRRP, Chamikara MDM, Sirisena DN, Samarasinghe WLG, Sooriyapathirana SDSS (2016) Screening of segregating F2 progenies for phosphorus deficiency tolerance reveals complex genetic architecture of the associated traits, Tropical Agricultural Research Journal. 28 (1): 1-25
• Aluwihare YC, Chamikara MDM, DissanayakeDRRP, Dissanayake MDMIM, Karannagoda NNH, Dayananda AGMLK,Sirisena DN, Samarasinghe WLG, Sooriyapathirana SDSS (2017) DNA sequence polymorphism of Pup1 linked K20-1 STS product can be effectively used in molecular breeding of rice for phosphorous deficiency tolerance. Journal of National Science Foundation (accepted)
• Aluwihare YC, Chamikara MDM, DissanayakeDRRP,Karannagoda NNH, Sirisena DN, Samarasinghe WLG, Rajapakse S, Sooriyapathirana SDSS (2015) Characterization of k46, a pup1 linked marker locus, in Oryzasativa for molecular breeding towards phosphorous deficiency tolerance. Ceylon Journal of Science. (Bio. Sci.) 44 (2): 45-54
• Aluwihare YC, Dissanayake DRRP, Karannagoda NNH, Chamikara MDM, Sooriyapathirana SDSS (2016) Marker assisted selection to produce phosphorus deficiency tolerance rice varieties in country specific breeding programs-are we ready yet? A concise review. Rajarata University Journal. 4(1): 5-25
• Aluwihare YC, Chamikara MDM, Karannagoda NNH, DissanayakeDRRP, Ranawaka RAGB,TennakoonMI,Sirisena DN, Samarasinghe WLG, WeebaddeCK, Sooriyapathirana, SDSS (2016) Screening of segregating F₂ progenies and validation of DNA markers through bulk segregant analysis for phosphorous deficiency tolerance in rice. Ceylon Journal of Science. 45(2):87-101
• Aluwihare YC, Dissanayake MDMIM, Karannagoda NNH, Chamikara MDM Chamikara MDM, Sirisena DN, Samarasinghe WLG, Sooriyapathirana, SDSS (2017) Development of novel markers and identification of pup1 linked DNA marker haplotypes for molecular breeding of phosphorous deficiency tolerant rice varieties. Journal of National Science Foundation Sri Lanka. 45 (4): 413 - 425

Abstracts in Conference Proceedings

• Aluwihare YC, Lelwala RV, Ishan M, Sirisena DN, Samarasinghe WLG, Sooriyapathirana SDSS (2014), Screening and Selection of Sri Lankan Rice Varieties for Phosphate Deficiency Tolerance,  The 20th World Congress of Soil Science (WCSS), June 8-13, 2014 ICC Jeju, Korea p2-22
• Aluwihare YC, Biyanvila B.K.I.D, Sirisena DN, Samarasinghe WLG, Sooriyapathirana SDSS (2013) Preliminary screening of the Sri Lankan rice germplasm for phosphate deficiency tolerance. Book of Abstracts of the Peradeniya University Research Sessions, Sri Lanka. 2012, Vol 17. p244
• Aluwihare WBWMRYC, Weerasena J (2010) Isolation and characterization of putative plant disease resistance gene analogues from Sri Lankan rice varieties. Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IBMBB), Annual Scientific Sessions, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka p37
• Ishan M, Aluwihare YC, Lelwala RV, Sirisena DN, Samarasinghe WLG, Sooriyapathirana SDSS (2014) Morphometric parameter analysis putative rice hybrids to confirm the hybridity. Proceedings of the International Conference of Agricultural Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka. p94
• Ishan M, Aluwihare YC, Lelwala RV, Sirisena DN, Samarasinghe WLG, Sooriyapathirana SDSS (2014) Analyses of the true hybrid nature of F₁ rice varieties using morphological parameters. Postgraduate Institute of Science Research Congress (PGIS ResCon), University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. p68
• Aluwihare YC, Lelwala RV, Ishan M, Sirisena DN, Samarasinghe WLG, Sooriyapathirana SDSS (2014) Screening of selected Sri Lankan rice varieties under non-phosphate fertilizer condition. Ruhuna International Science and Technology Conference, Faculty of Science, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka. p33
• Aluwihare YC, Lelwala RV, Ishan M, Sirisena DN, Samarasinghe WLG, Sooriyapathirana SDSS (2014) Genetics of color changes in rice leaves due to phosphate starvation. International Proceedings of the Peradeniya University Research Sessions (iPURSE), Sri Lanka. p535
• Aluwihare YC, Lelwala RV, Ishan M, Sooriyapathirana SDSS, Sirisena DN, Samarasnghe WLG (2013) Quantitative assessment of leaf color change in response to phosphate deficiency tolerance in rice. Proceedings of the Research Symposium of UvaWellassa University, Sri Lanka. p1-3
• Lelwala RV, Aluwihare YC, Ishan M, Sirisena DN, Samarasinghe WLG, Sooriyapathirana SDSS (2014) Genetic variability and heritability estimates in F₂ populations of rice in response to phosphate deficiency tolerance. Wayamba International Conference (WinC), 2014, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka.p263
• Lelwala RV, Aluwihare YC, Ishan M, Sirisena DN, Samarasinghe WLG, Sooriyapathirana SDSS (2014) Analysis of leaf color and shoot dry weight variations due to phosphate deficiency tolerance in Rice. Proceedings of the International Conference of Agricultural Sciences 2014, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka. p92
• Aluwihare YC, Lelwala RV, Ishan M, Sirisena DN, Samarasinghe WLG, Sooriyapathirana SDSS (2014) DNA marker genotypes for PUP 1 locus in rice to identify tolerant varieties under low P soils in Sri Lanka. Postgraduate Institute of Science Research Congress (PGIS ResCon), University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. p89
• Mawalagedara SMUP, Perera GAD, AluwihareYC and Sooriyapathirana SDSS (2014) Breaking the seed dormancy in Phylanthusembelica (V.Nelli),Ruhuna International Science and Technology Conference, Faculty of Science, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lank. p34
• Aluwihare YC, Dissanayake MDMIM, Karannagoda NNH, Sirisena DN, Samarasinghe WLG andSooriyapathirana, SDSS (2015) Mining for novel pup1 genomic regions in Sri Lankan rice germplasm.Postgraduate Institute of Science Research Congress (PGIS ResCon), University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. p72
• Aluwihare YC, Lelwala RV, Dissanayake DRRP, Chamikara MDM, Sirisena DN, Samarasinghe WLG, Sooriyapathirana SDSS (2016) Screening of segregating F2 progenies for phosphorus deficiency tolerance reveals complex genetic architecture of the associated traits, Tropical Agricultural Research Journal. p2