THIUNUWAN. P. Thanthrige
Madison,USA
Summary
Accomplished scientist with 11+ years of research experience in academia, specializing in molecular biology, immunology, microbiology, and cell culture. Expertise in developing and utilizing advanced in vitro human models, including brain organoids, to investigate complex diseases such as CNS tuberculosis. Published 35 peer-reviewed articles in international journals and presented research findings at 30+ conferences. Committed and enthusiastic individual with strong self-motivation and a keen interest in understanding fundamental biology to develop better applications. Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively with high adaptability to changing environments. Currently seeking a challenging role that leverages extensive background in biomedical research and offers opportunities for leadership and further scientific exploration. Adept at driving scientific innovation and contributing to the advancement of biomedical research.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Scientist I
Dept of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison
03.2024 - Current
- Experimental Design and Research: Designed and conducted experiments to investigate the mechanisms of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infected neural progenitor cells (NPCs) and their contributions to neurocognitive functions elicited by CNS-TB.
- Project Leadership: Led BSL3 and BSL2 projects focusing on Mtb and BCG infectious mechanisms in the CNS, both in vitro and in vivo.
- Manuscript and Data Management: Completed and submitted manuscripts, and finalized datasets for publication.
- Statistical Analysis and Data Visualization: Gained a deep understanding of statistical methods and data visualization techniques.
- Presentations: Presented research data at national and international meetings.
- Supervision and Training: Supervised undergraduate researchers and provided technical and operational training to graduate researchers.
- Grant Writing: Contributed to the writing and submission of grant proposals to secure funding for ongoing research projects.
- Molecular Biology Projects: Contributed to molecular biology-focused projects in the lab, including PCR, qPCR, transfection, and DNA/RNA extraction.
- Immunohistochemistry and Immunocytochemistry: Specialized in immunohistochemistry and immunocytochemistry techniques.
- Confocal Microscopy: Expert in using confocal microscopy for detailed cellular and molecular imaging.
- Flow Cytometry: Expertized in flow cytometry for cell analysis.
- Animal Experiments: Conducted animal experiments using mouse models to study the relationship between CNS-TB and neurocognitive impairments.
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Dept of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison
03.2019 - 02.2024
- Designed and conducted experiments to investigate Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection mechanisms in the human central nervous system (CNS) using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)-derived 3D neural organoids.
- Discovered Mtb phagocytosis mechanisms by human iPSCs-derived neuron progenitor cells, contributing to a deeper understanding of host-pathogen interactions in the CNS.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Marine Molecular Genetics Lab, Dept of Marine Life Sciences, Jeju National University
03.2018 - 02.2019
- Identified and functionally characterized immunologically important genes of marine organisms from different taxonomic levels.
- Drafted manuscripts and presented findings at major conferences.
- Presented research findings at national and international conferences, showcasing the institution''s leadership in the field.
- Mentored and advised graduate and undergraduate students
Graduate Research Assistant
Marine Molecular Genetics Lab, Dept of Marine Life Sciences, Jeju National University
03.2013 - 02.2018
- Investigated the Toll-like receptor signaling pathway in marine invertebrates
Education
Ph.D. - Marine Life Sciences (Molecular Biology)
Jeju National University
Jeju, South Korea 02.2018
MSc - Marine Life Sciences (Molecular Biology)
Jeju National University
Jeju, South Korea 02.2015
BSc - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
University of Colombo
Colombo, Sri Lanka01.2013
Skills
- Molecular biology
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Cell culture
- 3D neural organoids
- Animal experiments
- Immunocytochemisty
- Data analysis
- Design of Experiments
- Scientific presentation
- Flow Cytometry
- Microsoft Office
Awardsscholarships
- The Award of Excellence, 2018: National level award presented by the Korean Society of Fisheries and Aquatic Science (KOSFAS) for outstanding performance for the growth of fisheries and sciences.
- Award of Presentation Excellence, 2018: The Korean Society of Marine Life Sciences Conference, Busan, Republic of Korea.
- Best Paper Award, 2017: 14th Joint Symposium of Jeju National University and Nagasaki University on Science and Technology, Jeju, Republic of Korea.
Research Interests
- Molecular Biology: Exploring gene expression, regulation, and molecular mechanisms in various organisms.
- Immunology: Investigating immune responses and developing novel immunotherapies.
- Neuroscience: Studying the interactions between pathogens and neural cells, particularly in the context of CNS infections.
Trainings & workshops
42nd Annual course in cytometry-Research methods and applications, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA, June 8-13, 2019.
Publications
h-index = 15; Citations (Sept. 2024) = 478
Authored 36 peer-reviewed publications and presented at over 30 conferences. (Detailed list available upon request)
Google Scholar link: https://scholar.google.com/scholarhl=en&as_sdt=0%2C50&q=thiunuwan&oq=
Timeline
Scientist I
Dept of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison
03.2024 - Current
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Dept of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison
03.2019 - 02.2024
Postdoctoral Fellow
Marine Molecular Genetics Lab, Dept of Marine Life Sciences, Jeju National University
03.2018 - 02.2019
Graduate Research Assistant
Marine Molecular Genetics Lab, Dept of Marine Life Sciences, Jeju National University
03.2013 - 02.2018
Ph.D. - Marine Life Sciences (Molecular Biology)
Jeju National University
MSc - Marine Life Sciences (Molecular Biology)
Jeju National University
BSc - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
University of Colombo
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