Title – Cytogenetic abnormalities In the Male Partners of couples with recurrent pregnancy loss and subfertility.
Supervisors –Dr Kalum Wetthasinghe & Ms. Imalki Kariyawasam
Study Setting – Human Genetics Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo
Title –Analysis of antimicrobial activity of Ethanol extracts of Trachyspermum roxburghianum (Asamodagam) leaves and seeds
Supervisors –Prof. Chandrani Wijeyaratne (Department of Botany, University of Sri Jayawardanepura)
Study Setting – Spectrum Institute of Science and Technology, Colombo
Title – Isolation, identification and characterization of thermophilic bacteria isolated from Nelum-wewa hot well spring, Polonaruwa
Supervisors – Dr. Minoli Perera
Study Setting – Spectrum Institute of Science and Technology, Colombo
Title –Comparison of the effectiveness of different bacterial DNA isolation kits and the phenol-chloroform method
Supervisors – Dr. Minoli Perera
Study Setting – Spectrum Institute of Science and Technology, Colombo
Title – Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria in the Wild Bird Faeces
Supervisor – Mrs. Sajeevee Sarathchandra
Study Setting –Spectrum Institute of Science and Technology, Colombo
Title –Estimation of Terpenoid contents of different parts of Gyrinops walla (walla patta) tree from different locations of Sri Lanka.
Supervisor - Dr. Pathmasiri Ranasinghe
Senior Deputy Director, Herbal Technology Section, Modern Research & Development Centre, Industrial Technology Institute – Malabe.
Study Setting –Industrial Technology Institute, Malambe
Title – Identification and characterization of antibiotic resistant uidA and sul1 gene of Escherichia coli in Muthurajawela estuary in Sri Lanka
Supervisor – Mrs. Sajeevee Sarathchandra
Study Setting –Spectrum Institute of Science and Technology, Colombo
Title –Cytogenetic abnormalities in the female partners who face recurrent pregnancy loss and subfertility
Supervisor – Dr. Kalum Wetthasinghe & Mrs. Imalki Kariyawasam
Study Setting –Human Genetics Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo
Title –Establishment of callus cultures for Gyrinops walla (Walla Patta) using leaf materials as explants.
Supervisor – Dr. Pathmasiri Ranasinghe, Senior Deputy Director, Herbal Technology Section, Modern Research and Development Centre, Industrial Technology Institute, Malabe.
Study Setting –Industrial Technology Institute, Malabe
Title –Antimicrobial Activity of Basidiomycetes Grown in Sri Lanka
Supervisors –Prof. Chandrani Wijeyaratne (Department of Botany, University of Sri yawardanepura)
Study Setting –Spectrum Institute of Science and Technology, Colombo
Title –Preliminary Screening on forest leaf litter leachate as a novel source of small molecules for drug leads
Supervisors –Dr. Pathmasiri Ranasinghe, Senior Deputy Director, Herbal Technology Section, Modern Research and Development Centre, Industrial Technology Institute, Malabe.
Study Setting –Industrial Technology Institute, Malabe
Title –Study on the in-vitro glycation process of isolated Human Hemoglobin as an alternative to BSA for novel bio-assay development.
Supervisors – Dr. Pathmasiri Ranasinghe, Senior Deputy Director, Herbal Technology Section, Modern Research and Development Centre, Industrial Technology Institute, Malabe.
Study Setting –Industrial Technology Institute, Malabe
Title –Comparison of Three Genomic DNA Extraction Methods To Obtain High Quality DNA From Coconut And Rubber Leaf
Supervisors – Mrs. Imalki Karyawasam
Study Setting –Spectrum Institute of Science and Technology
Title –Biotransformation of ‘Ma Dan’ (Syzygium cumini) by semi solid-state fermentation using Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Supervisor – Dr. Pathmasiri Ranasinghe, Senior Deputy Director, Herbal Technology Section, Modern Research and Development Centre, Industrial Technology Institute, Malabe.
Study Setting –Industrial Technology Institute, Malabe
Title –Screening for gene polymorphism rs77990309 in leptin (LEP) gene in patients with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome in Sri Lanka.
Supervisor - Prof. W.S.S. Wijesundera (Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo)
Study Setting –Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medcine, University of Colombo
Title –Antimicrobial activity of Trachyspermum roxburghianum.
Supervisor – Prof. Chandrani Wijeyaratne (Department of Botany, University of Sri Jayawardanepura)
Study Setting –Spectrum Institute of Science and Technology, Colombo
Title –Characterization of Phytoplankton communities in mangrove ecosystems associated with basin estuaries in the western coast of Sri Lanka
Supervisor – Mrs. Azra Sartaj & Prof. Pathmalal Manage (University of Sri Jayawardanepura)
Study Setting –Faculty of Science and Department of Zoology, University of Sri Jayawardenapura
Title –The isolation, characterization and analysis of the bacterial diversity in selected Sri Lankan Mangrove Ecosystems.
Supervisor – Ms Fathina Fara
Study Setting –Spectrum Institute of Science and Technology, Colombo
Title –Association of leptin receptor (LEPR) gene polymorphisms and serum leptin levels in women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Sri Lanka
Supervisor – Prof. W.S.S. Wijesundera (Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo)
Study Setting –Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo
Title –Isolation and characterisation of fungal species in selected mangrove environments in Sri Lanka.
Supervisor – Ms. Fathina Fara
Study Setting –Spectrum Institute of Science and Technology, Colombo
Title –Preliminary study on isolation and culturing of bacteria and fungi from leaf litter samples in Peak Wilderness Sanctuary (Sri Pada)./p>
Supervisor – Mrs. Azra Sartaj & Dr. Pathmasiri Ranasinghe (Senior Deputy Director, Herbal Technology Section, Modern Research and Development Centre, Industrial Technology Institute, Malabe)
Study Setting –Industrial Technology Institute, Malambe
Title of Internship –Antimicrobial Activity of Different Nanostructured Coatings on Glass Surface
Supervisors –Dr. Abhilasha Misra
Study Setting –Department of Biotechnology of the Graphic Era deemed to be University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
Title of Internship –Inter-relationship between Diabetes Mellitus and Vitamin D Deficiency in patients with Osteoarthritis: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study in a South Indian Tertiary Healthcare Facility
Supervisors –Dr. Sonal Sekhar
Study Setting –Department of Pharmacy Practice Kasturba Hospital, Manipal, Karnataka
Title of Internship –Study of the vegetation and soil analysis under soil forest ecosystem in Doon valley, Uttarkand, India.
Supervisors – Dr. Archana Bachheti
Study Setting –Department of Biotechnology of the Graphic Era deemed to be University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
Title of Internship –Pre-Formulation and Formulation studies on anti-hypertensive drugs
Supervisors – Dr. Anup Naha, associate professor of Manipal University
Study Setting –Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Science, Manipal University, Manipal, India.(The program was arranged by AIESEC of Colombo North, Sri Lanka with AIESEC at Manipal University )
Title of the internship: Effect of Natural Compounds on Inhibiting Bacterial Biofilms
Supervisors: Prof. T. S. Murali, Ms. Anjali Warrier (Research Scholar)
Study Setting: Department of Life Science, Manipal Academy of HIgher Education, Karnataka, India.
Title of Internship – Produce and purify the exopolysaccharides from three bacterial strains by adopting submerged fermentation process
Supervisors –Subbalaxmi S (Assistant Professor – Senior Scale)
Study Setting – Department of Biotechnology, Manipal Institute of Technology, Karnataka, India.
Adshayan Ganeshamoorthy, Amani Rasmi, Andrene Joseph, Omanthi Jayasekara, Randhila Withanarachchi, and Vindhya Senanayake from Spectrum Institute of Science and Technology was selected for a ten week short term scholar exchange programme at the University of North Dakota under the guidance of Dr. Bryon Grove and Miss. Ashrifa Ali, an Alumni from SIST currently following her PhD at the University of North Dakota. They will be involved in a project to investigate the role of scaffolding protein (AKAP12) in blood vessel development. The work will involve culturing vascular endothelial cells, performing assays to study endothelial cell migration and blood vessel sprouting, performing immunofluorescent labeling assays to examine the structure using fluorescence and confocal microscopy, and performing DNA and protein assays using PCR and western blotting.
An Edinburgh Napier degree with a spectrum of opportunities
Ashinsa from Sri Lanka was lucky enough to visit us from one of our transnational education partners, the Spectrum Institute of Science and Technology. She shares her Edinburgh Napier experience and her thoughts on Edinburgh as she hopes to return in the near future.
Gaining an Edinburgh Napier degree from the comfort of my own home
I’ve loved biology ever since I was a child and I knew biology was what I wanted to pursue my future career in. Growing up in Sri Lanka, I wanted an undergraduate programme that allowed me to stay in Colombo for the entirety of its duration. Thus, I found Spectrum Institute of Science and Technology (SIST), which is the partner of Edinburgh Napier University in Sri Lanka. The microbiology and biotech programme they offered seemed very interesting and covered a variety of topics.
Course content
The permanent teaching staff at SIST are excellent in their handling and delivery of the module content. Lectures and practicals are conducted methodically and on time. They often go out of their way to help students who are having difficulties comprehending certain sections and are sure to make themselves available whenever needed. Thus far, my favourite modules have been Molecular Genetics and Immunology (level 9). I’m quite eager to start all the level 10 modules as I think they sound extremely interesting.
Project Title I –
Development of a standard plant tissue culture laboratory.
Specific Objectives –
Project Title II –
Development of a bacterial treatment model to facilitate biodegradation and detoxification of textile dyes present in waste water derived from apparel industries in Sri Lanka.
SIST research & development committee is the framework through which research activities at SIST. This committee is comprised of senior scientific personnel from Sri Lanka and abroad. They will be the Principle Investigators for the research projects while young scientists are co-principle investigators.