Kavindhi Wijesekara
Los Angeles,CA
Summary
Skilled professional with a proven track record of over 3 years in Research and Development, showcasing excellence in working across functions within the industry. Extensive experience includes proficiency in handling mammalian and bovine cell cultures, as well as expertise in protein research. Known for strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills, I am poised to contribute my diverse skill set to drive impactful outcomes in future projects.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
Work History
Research Scientist
Omeat Inc.
12.2022 - Current
- Proficient in a wide range of aseptic cell culture techniques, including, e.g., primary cell culture, immortalized cell lines, 3D cell culture
- Conducted experiments to study the proliferation of cells on the scaffold grown using bovine plasma and contributed towards scale up from 3D benchtop to 200L Bioreactors
- Implemented and optimized protocols for cell line maintenance, expansion, and differentiation
- Ability to communicate complex scientific concepts effectively
- Enhanced research efficiency by optimizing experimental designs and protocols.
- Performed preliminary and exploratory data analysis for immortalized cell studies into 3D Bioreactors
- Experience in presenting research findings at internal meetings and conferences
- Mentored research associates, fostering professional growth and enhancing team capabilities.
- Implemented quality control measures to ensure accuracy and reliability of study results.
- Spearheaded cross-functional projects, ensuring timely completion while maintaining high-quality standards.
Research Associate
Bio-techne-R&D Systems
01.2022 - 10.2022
- Contributed to company efforts to perform testing on generated proteins, antibodies and maintaining appropriate cell culture and performing cell-based assays/experiments
- Executed analytical testing on purified proteins using kinetic assays including Coomassie, HABA, BCA and Endotoxin
- Performed further chemical testing such as SDS-PAGE, HPLC, Entactin followed by standard operating procedures and good manufacturing practices while calibrating instruments for routine maintenance
- Actively engage with other company teams to communicate results and project progress as needed for collaborative efforts
- Completed and maintain cGMP documentation for the work performed.
Quality Assurance Laboratory Analyst
Philips Distilling Company
01.2021 - 12.2021
- Produced quality products followed by R&D approved formulas based on standard operating procedures
- Purified alcohol using fractional distillation as the main technique, while testing on pH, color, and clarity for Product standards.
- Contributed in creating, reviewing and updating SOPs
- Streamlined QA processes for increased efficiency and reduced time spent on redundant tasks.
- Ensured customer satisfaction by verifying that products met quality specifications and functioned as intended before release.
Research Assistant
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, SCSU
05.2019 - 12.2020
- Assisted in the completion of the research on E-Coli understanding the structure of Pyyroline-5 reductase, while conducting the literature reviews and gathering relevant information.
- Served as a research assistant on expression and purification of Pyyroline-5-reducatase performing experiment tasks- SDS-PAGE, affinity chromatography and data analysis
- Presented research findings at husky showcase, contributing to the advancement of the field.
Education
B.S. Biochemistry -
St. Cloud State University (SCSU)
Skills
- Documentation Expertise
- Research Planning
- Data Analysis
- Experiment Design
- Method Validation
- Project Support
- Critical Thinking
- Laboratory Techniques
- Regulatory Compliance
- Method validation
Leadership Experience
- Lead Scientist for the 2D/3D cell expansion Department Pilot Plant, Thousand Oaks, CA
- President and Secretary, Ayubowan Sri Lanka Organization, SCSU
Training
Completed Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) program to nurture integrity and professional advancement in Biosafety/Biosecurity, Good Clinical Practice, Good Laboratory Practice, Human Subjects Research and Public Health Research in September 2021.
Completed Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training under American Heart Association in February 2020.
Interned as a Lab technician at Gene-tech, Sri Lanka 2014 performing RNA/DNA quantification to compare the male/female DNA through their paternal/maternal ancestry line using fluorescence spectrometry.
Areas of Expertise
- Cell Culture Techniques: Mammalian and Bovine cell lines
- Kinetic Assays: Endotoxin
- SDS-PAGE
- HPLC
- RNA/ DNA extraction
- Protein expression Purification
- Plasmid Isolation and Purification
- ELISA
- Mycoplasma,PCR
- SEC, HABA and BCA assays
- Flow cytometry
Timeline
Research Scientist
Omeat Inc.
12.2022 - Current
Research Associate
Bio-techne-R&D Systems
01.2022 - 10.2022
Quality Assurance Laboratory Analyst
Philips Distilling Company
01.2021 - 12.2021
Research Assistant
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, SCSU
05.2019 - 12.2020
B.S. Biochemistry -
St. Cloud State University (SCSU)