Nirmani Wickramasinghe

• Initial process and method validation of commercial projects and optimization of biologics production.
• Tech transfer of the optimized process back to clients.

• Managing client expectations and bioprocess optimization in a reproducible, cost-effective method that meets the quality standards.
• Working in a regulated manufacturing facility.

• Maintaining electronic lab notebooks (Labarchives) and maintaining batch records.

• Running laboratory operations according to OGTR guidelines and maintaining compliance.

• Managing multiple commercial projects in biologics production.

• Optimizing soluble protein expression in recombinant E. coli (Clear coli, Rosetta, BL21(DE3)).
• Optimizing biologics production in GMOs (Saccharomyces, Pichia pastoris, E.coli) under OGTR regulations.

• Leading and managing projects independently as well as working on projects led by other team leaders.

• Assembling, sterilizing, and running bioreactors of various capacities (2 L, 10 L to 400 L).
• Downstream processing of samples using centrifugation, filtration, TFF and chromatographic techniques.

• Leading and managing projects independently as well as working on projects led by other team leaders.
• Collaboration across different departments and CSIRO’s business units to deliver successful research outcomes.
• Supervising students and training junior staff members on bioreactor operation and bioassays.

• Completed analysis of data acquired from research and verified careful documentation of information

• Extracting and purifying RNA/DNA from bacterial biofilms and sequencing
• Analyzing sequencing data and bacterial gene expression using Galaxy pipeline
• Conducting rt-qPCR, dd PCR and gene expression verification
• Skilled in imaging with CLSM and epifluorescence microscopy
• Image analysis and quantification using COMSTAT, FIJI, AVIZO
• Spectral acquisition from bacterial samples with Raman coupled with DVS and data analysis (via ORIGIN)
• Writing research manuscripts and publishing in high impact journal publications

• Experience working with laboratory scale biofilm bioreactors in assessing microbial growth in wastewater.
• Designing and optimizing bioassays to screen antibacterial and antibiofilm compounds.
• Conducting high through put assays for single and mixed species biofilms- Eg-synergy testing, live/dead assays, time kill assays, crystal violet assays, MIC, MBEC and MBIC assays.
• Experience in working with mammalian cell lines and tissue culture assays.
• Antimicrobial testing on artificial sputum medium.
• Experience working with clinical strains of Gram-positive and negative bacteria and mixed species biofilm models.
• Experience in growing biofilms in flow cell models and tissue culture models.
• Skilled in imaging technologies including Confocal laser Scanning Microscope, Epifluorescence microscope and image quantification software (IMARIS).
• Experience in PCR and gel running for protein analysis.

• Microbial quality assessment of raw material and finished products (sugar, milk and cocoa powder)
• Maintaining and record keeping of test results
• Equipment calibration
• Managing daily housekeeping in the laboratory
• Maintaining log sheets of chemicals and consumables

• Organizing and demonstrating laboratory practical experiments to undergraduates
• Preparing laboratory chemicals, master mixes & culture media
• Teaching microbiological test procedures and food quality testing methods
• Conducting new product development experiments and shelf-live studies
• Student report assessment, record keeping & exam supervision

• Water quality testing
• Sample collection & raw material testing of milk, cocoa butter and of finished products
• Conducting yeast and mold counts, aerobic plate counts, total coliform counts
• Instrument calibration and maintenance of the laboratory
• Shelf-life testing of novel chocolate products
• Conducting sensory analysis trials

• Final year research project – Analyzing the volatile flavor profile of raw & dry-roasted almonds, using GCMS and SPME
• Worked as visiting undergraduate research student
• Assisting sample processing of raw and dry roasted almonds
• Data gathering in GCMS and analysis using NIST software.
• Participating as a trained panelist in sensory analysis tests