Principal investigator
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Dr. Malinda Thilakarathna Associate Professor in Agronomy and Plant-microbial InteractionsPhD (Biology), Dalhousie University, NS, Canada PDF (Plant Microbial Interactions, Agronomy), University of Guelph, Canada MSc (Crop Science), Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka BSc (Agriculture), Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka Awards Outstanding Associate Editor – Canadian Journal of Plant Science (2023) Faculty of ALES Tyrchniewicz Innovative Teaching Award (2023) Faculty of ALES Teacher of the Year (2023) Faculty of ALES Research and Innovation Award (2022) Early Career Agronomist Award (2021) – Canadian Society of Agronomy Editorial Associate Editor in Canadian Journal of Plant Science (2021 – present) |
| Postdoctoral Researchers | |
| Graduate students | |
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Chathuranga De Silva PhD Student Project: Belowground nitrogen transfer from legumes no non-legumes |
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Aayushi Rambia PhD Student Project: Composed-based bioinoculants on soil microbial diversity under crop rotations |
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Dayani Patuwatha Withanage PhD Student Project: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on wheat performance under crop rotations |
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Navoda Wadumesthrige PhD Student Project: Improvement in symbiotic nitrogen fixation in dry beans |
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Boran Liu PhD student (co-supervision) Project: Nitrification Inhibitors on GHG emissions and soil health in barley |
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Prabhat PanditMSc Student (Co-supervision) Project: Long-term fertilization practices on plant drought responses and nutrient uptake performances |
| Research Assistants |
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Surangi Thilakarathna |
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Oshadhi Athukorala Arachchige |
Undergraduate Summer Students
Allie Pilling
Sanuka Attanayake
Annie Liu
Lab Alumni
Postdoctoral Research Fellows
Dr. Pramod Rathor – Current position: Biologist, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Dr. Rhea Lumactud – Current position: Assistant Professor at Dalhousie University
Dr. Dhanuja Abesinghe
Graduate Students
Dilrukshi Liyanage (MSc student) – Current position: PhD student at the University of Guelph
Danielito Dollete (MSc student) – Current position: Associate Professor II Rank, Polytechnic University of the Philippines
Michele Tran (MSc student) – Current position: Research Assistant, University of Alberta
Keshav Bhattarai (MSc student) – Vertical Farm Technician, High Prairie School Division
Tianyi Zhao (MSc student) –
Oshadhi Athukorala Arachchige (MSc student) – Research Assistant, University of Alberta
Ashmita Timsina (MSc student course-based) – Research Assistant, University of Alberta
Nithinkumar Kadagonda (Visiting PhD Student) – Indian Agriculture Research Institute
Undergraduate Students
Michele Tran
Vianne Rouleau
Bailey Dickie
Zachary Burgess-Akitt
Nithesh Liyanaarachchi
Alex Beaupre
May 2026
July 2024
Aug 2022
May 2022