Bhagya Jayantha
Carbondale
Summary
Synthetic microbiologist and metabolic engineer with experience in genetic engineering of bacteria for biomanufacturing applications. Skilled in microbial strain and pathway optimization, fermentation and bench-scale bioreactor operation, and data-driven process improvement. Strong analytical background including HPLC and LC-based method development and validation, LC–MS and mass spectrometry, with prior experience at a metabolomics core facility. Author of high-impact peer-reviewed publications and co-inventor on a US patent application, with a practical, application-oriented approach to industrial biotechnology. Detail-oriented graduate researcher with expertise in experimental design, data analysis, and scientific writing. Proven ability to manage laboratory operations and mentor undergraduate students, driving successful research outcomes.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Graduate Research Assistant
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
Carbondale
06.2022 - Current
- Experimental design and analysis of experiments.
- Used plasmid design, cloning, PCR, genome engineering, adaptive laboratory evolution, gene editing for metabolic engineering of bacteria.
- Experience with HPLC-PDA and LC-MS method development and validation.
- Training and guiding undergraduate students in research work and data reporting.
- Attend conferences, delivering presentations, writing manuscripts and published in peer-review journals.
- Attend conferences, delivering presentations, writing manuscripts, and publishing in peer-reviewed journals.
- Grant and research proposal writing and submission.
- Maintaining laboratory equipment and inventories.
- Assist team mates with research work to achieve goals in a timely manner.
Graduate Teaching Assistant
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
Carbondale
01.2023 - 05.2023
- Graded assignments and provided constructive feedback to students on performance.
- Coordinated laboratory sessions, ensuring all equipment was ready for use.
- Conducted weekly office hours to provide academic guidance to students.
- Created a positive learning environment through effective classroom management techniques.
Research Student
Uppsala University, Sweden
Uppsala
03.2021 - 03.2022
- Conducted literature reviews to support ongoing research projects at a leading Swedish university.
- Collaboration with industry and academic professional for research work.
- Quality control, sample preparation and analysis of biological samples (serum, CSF, urine, tissues)
- HPLC, SFC (Supercritical Fluid Chromatography)-Mass spectrometry (MS/MS) method development and validation.
- Data analysis, interpretation, and presentation.
- Manuscript writing and publication.
Internship
Metabolomics Core-facility
Uppsala University
03.2021 - 05.2021
- Sample preparation and analysis of biological samples.
- HPLC, SFC, and tandem mass spectrometry analysis.
- Assisting with in-house research work and maintaining high-tech lab instrumentation.
- HPLC, SFC, and tandem mass spectrometry analysis.r meetings with researchers and collaborators.
Education
Ph.D. - Molecular Biology, Microbiology And Biochemistry
Southern Illinois University, Carbondale
Carbondale, IL05-2027
Analytical Chemistry
Uppsala University
Uppsala, Sweden03-2022
Bachelor of Science - Agricultural Technology and Management
University of Peradeniya
Sri Lanka08-2021
Skills
- Experimental design
- Data analysis
- Scientific writing
- Laboratory management
- Team collaboration
- Project management
- HPLC method development and validation
Certification
US Patent application (63/539,64421.09.2023 US); Engineered Microbial Monocultures and Biocatalytic Methods for Producing Purine Alkaloids, Including 7-methylxanthine
Accomplishments
Doctoral Fellowship (2024 and 2025) awarded by Gradaute School of Southern Illinois University carbondale, IL, USA
Publications
- Jayantha, B., Zhang, S., Summers, R. M., Mendis, G. P., & Jayakody, L. N. (2025). Engineered Pseudomonas putida monoculture system for green synthesis of 7-methylxanthine. Green Chemistry, 27, 11365-11379.
- Jayantha, J., Rad, F. M., Vidanarachchi, J., Bergquist, J., & Ubhayasekera, S. K. A. (2023). A fast ultra performance supercritical fluid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric method for profiling of targeted phytosterols. Journal of Chromatography B, 1225, 123737.
- Jayasekara, S. K., Joni, H. D., Jayantha, B., Dissanayake, L., Mandrell, C., Sinharage, M. M., Molitor, R., Jayasekara, T., Sivakumar, P., & Jayakody, L. N. (2023). Trends in in-silico guided engineering of efficient polyethylene terephthalate (PET) hydrolyzing enzymes to enable bio-recycling and upcycling of PET. Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal, 21, 3513-3521.
- Kaleta, M., Kolitha, B. S., Novák, O., Rad, F. M., Bergquist, J., & Ubhayasekera, S. K. A. (2025). Targeted analysis of seven selected tryptophan-melatonin metabolites: Simultaneous quantification of plasma analytes using fast and sensitive UHPLC–MS/MS. Journal of Chromatography B, 1256, 124520.
- Kolitha, B. S., Jayasekara, S. K., Tannenbaum, R., Jasiuk, I. M., & Jayakody, L. N. (2023). Repurposing of waste PET by microbial biotransformation to functionalized materials for additive manufacturing. Journal of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology, 50, kuad010.
Timeline
Graduate Teaching Assistant
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
01.2023 - 05.2023
Graduate Research Assistant
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
06.2022 - Current
Research Student
Uppsala University, Sweden
03.2021 - 03.2022
Internship
Metabolomics Core-facility
03.2021 - 05.2021
Ph.D. - Molecular Biology, Microbiology And Biochemistry
Southern Illinois University, Carbondale
Analytical Chemistry
Uppsala University
Bachelor of Science - Agricultural Technology and Management
University of Peradeniya