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  • Himani Ruwanthika Kekiri Obada Gamage

    Himani Ruwanthika Kekiri Obada Gamage

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Himani Ruwanthika Kekiri Obada Gamage

Overview of thesis

My PhD project involves identifying and characterizing bioactive peptides (BPs) in selected fruits from the family Cucurbitaceae. These fruits have been reported to have high wastage levels in Western Australia (WA). The project is based on Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and combines native and bottom-up proteomic approaches with genome-aided BP prediction for peptide discovery. Additionally, it is uses in vitro assays to validate in silico findings. Since the study aims to address the wastage associated with these crops, we will also evaluate the impact of storage duration and conditions on BP distribution and abundance. The outcome of this study will generate fundamental knowledge about the abundance and distribution of BPs in different edible and non-edible tissues of the selected Cucurbitaceae crops with high demand and wastage in WA. Furthermore, it will improve the valorisation of processing by-products, leading to the development of value-added nutritional and nutraceutical ingredients as an effective waste management strategy.

Qualifications

Bachelor of Science in Biology (Honors), University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka – (2017-2022)

Research

Research Interests

  • Plant proteomics
  • Computational biology
  • Food and agriculture
  • Biochemistry

Past Teaching

  • 2022-2023: Graduate Teaching Assistant – Department of Botany, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka.

Scholarships and Awards

  • 2024 – ARC Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science (CIPPS) scholarship
  • 2022 – Prof. A.C.J. Weerakoon Memorial gold medal for the best academic performance in Biology (Hons.) degree at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka.

Supervisors

  • Dr Angéla Juhász, Edith Cowan University
  • Dr Utpal Bose, Edith Cowan University
  • Dr Mekhala Vithana, Edith Cowan University
  • Prof. Michelle L. Colgrave, Edith Cowan University
  • Dr Mahya Bahmani, CSIRO
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