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Dr. Shalini Thiruchittampalam

Senior Lecturer Gr. II Department of Bioprocess Technology Faculty of Technology Rajarata University of Sri Lanka Mihintale.

Education

  • Ph.D. in Computational Chemistry – Department of Chemistry, University of Colombo
  • Graduateship in Chemistry – Institute of Chemistry Ceylon, College of Chemical Sciences

Grants / Awards / Scholarships

  • Postgraduate Research Merit Award (2022) – 78th Annual sessions of Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLAAS).
  • Semi-finalist, Asia-Pacific 3MT Competition (2018) – University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia (1st Sri Lankan invitee).
  • Session’s Best Presentation Award and Gold Medal (2018) – 3rd International Conference on Bioscience and Biotechnology, The International Institute of Knowledge Management (TIIKM).
  • The Champion of the SLAYS 3-Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition (2017) – Sri Lankan Academy of Young Scientists (SLAYS), National Science Foundation (NSF) and Coordinating Secretariat for Science, Technology and Innovation (COSTI).
  • People’s Choice Winner of the SLAYS 3MT Competition (2017) – Sri Lankan Academy of Young Scientists (SLAYS), National Science Foundation (NSF) and Coordinating Secretariat for Science, Technology and Innovation (COSTI).
  • Gold Medal for reaching the Finals of the SLAYS 3MT Competition (2017) – Sri Lankan Academy of Young Scientists (SLAYS), National Science Foundation (NSF), and Coordinating Secretariat for Science, Technology and Innovation (COSTI).
  • Sakura Exchange Program in Science Grant (2017) – Administered by Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), Japan.

Research Interests

  • In silico Drug Discovery
  • Pathogenesis Mechanisms
  • Biomolecular Simulation
  • Atomistic Modeling

Publications

Peer-reviewed Indexed Journal Articles

  • “Characterization of a Bacillus megaterium strain with metal bioremediation potential and in silico discovery of novel cadmium binding motifs in the regulator, CadC”, Kumari Weerasingha Mudiyanselage Nilmini Hasintha, Shalini Thiruchittampalam, Mahinagoda Siril Samantha Weerasinghe, Naduviladath Vishvanath Chandrasekharan, and Champika Dilrukshi Wijayarathna, Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2021, 105: 2573-2586
  • “Plausible compounds drawn from plants as curative agents for neurodegeneration: An in-silico approach”, Shalini Thiruchittampalam and Samantha Weerasinghe, Journal of Computer-Aided Molecular Design, 2020, 34:1003-1011

Conference Abstracts & Presentations

  • “Are you ready to celebrate your hundredth birthday”, Shalini Thiruchittampalam, 2018 Asia-Pacific 3MT Semi-Finals held in the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, September 27, 2018
  • “Whether mankind has a chance of succour from the plant kingdom in neurodegeneration? An in-silico investigation”, Shalini Thiruchittampalam and Samantha Weerasinghe, 3rd International Conference on Bioscience and Biotechnology, Movenpick hotel, Colombo, Sri Lanka, March 08-09, 2018
  • “A computational investigation of metal binding ability of selected compounds from Sri Lankan flora for the treatment of neurodegeneration”, Shalini Thiruchittampalam, Presented the PhD research work in 3-minutes and participated in the course of Japan-Asia Youth Exchange program in Science (SAKURA Exchange Program in Science) administered by Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), Japan, November 05-11, 2017
  • “A computational approach to identify suitable compounds from Sri Lankan flora envisaging remedial therapy for selected neurodegenerative diseases”, Shalini Thiruchittampalam and Samantha Weerasinghe, International research symposium on Pure and Applied Sciences University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, October 20, 2017
  • “Probable chemical compounds from Sri Lankan flora for the treatment of neurodegeneration”, Shalini Thiruchittampalam and Samantha Weerasinghe, SLAYS Open Forum 2017, “Research for Impact: March of the Sri Lankan Young Scientists”, Hilton Colombo Residences, Colombo, Sri Lanka, February 28 – March 01, 2017
  • “A computational study for the Identification of lead compounds from Sri Lankan flora to treat selected neurodegenerative diseases’’, Shalini Thiruchittampalam and Samantha Weerasinghe, 72nd Annual sessions of SLAAS, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka, December 05-09, 2016
  • “Identification of lead compounds from Sri Lankan flora to treat prion and Huntington’s diseases: A molecular mechanics approach’’, Shalini Thiruchittampalam and Samantha Weerasinghe, Annual research symposium of University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka, October 11-22, 2016
  • “Stability of murexide-metal ion complexes in aqueous medium: A preliminary study using classical and quantum mechanics”, Shalini Thiruchittampalam, Madhurani Edussuriya and Samantha Weerasinghe, 71st Annual sessions of SLAAS, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka, December 02-04, 2015

Magazines & Newspaper Articles

  • “Why up to date or bang on Neurodegeneration?” Shalini Thiruchittampalam, Published a draft review of the research in the Sri Lankan Scientist Magazine, volume 03, 2017
  • Identification of chemical compounds from native plants for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases (ස්නායු පිරිහීමේ රෝග සඳහා පිළියම් ලෙස භාවිතා කළ හැකි දේශීය ශාකමය සංයෝග හඳුනාගැනීම), Newspaper interview published in Vidusara, February 28, 2018

National Level Contributions

  • Resource Person (2019) – Workshop for the SLAYS 3MT finalists on “improving presentation and communication skills to deliver an outstanding 3MT speech,” held at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo (Organized by SLAYS 3MT committee).
  • Resource Person (2018) –Delivered a talk on “Experiences from Sakura Exchange programme in Science” in SLAYS Open Forum 2018, “Research for Impact: March of the Sri Lankan Young Scientists” (Organized jointly by SLAYS and NSF in collaboration with COSTI), Galle Face Hotel, Colombo.
  • Chair of the Membership Subcommittee (2023/24) –Sri Lankan Academy of Young Scientists (SLAYS), Sri Lanka.
  • Council Member (2023/24) –Sri Lankan Academy of Young Scientists (SLAYS), Sri Lanka.
  • Organizing Committee Member –SLAYS 3MT (2024, 2019, and 2018).
  • Programme Host (2023) –SLAYS outreach programme “Charting Futures: Academic and Tech. Journeys in Science,” at the Faculty of Technology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura.
  • Translator (2020) –Translated Chemistry laboratory “Safety Poster” from English to Tamil for the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLAAS) for island-wide school distribution.
  • Voice-over Narrator & Stall Demonstrator – CHEMEX Exhibition & Trade Fair organized by the Institute of Chemistry Ceylon at BMICH (2011) and the Institute of Chemistry Ceylon (2014).

Supervisory & Evaluation Experience-National Level Contributions

  • Co-supervisor for M.Phil. project (2025) –Department of Chemistry, University of Colombo (Thesis title: In silico investigation of protein-ligand complex formation of steroid nuclear receptor with steroid-like molecules from plants of Sri Lanka).
  • Examiner (2025) –B.Sc. Special Degree in Computational Chemistry research thesis evaluations and viva, Department of Chemistry, University of Colombo.
  • Examiner (2025) –Undergraduate research proposal presentations for CHE 43016 Research Project, College of Chemical Sciences, Institute of Chemistry Ceylon.
  • Reviewer (2024) –CINEC International Research Symposium (CIRS), CINEC Campus, Malabe, Sri Lanka.