Presented at IASNR (June 2026)
Presented our research, “Farmer and rancher trust in conservation and adaptation science: A global systematic review” at the 40th International Association for Society and Natural Resources Conference at Oregon State University on June 24, 2026.
Received ACES International travel grant (Apr 2026)
Received the international travel grant from College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign for my dissertation summer field work in July 2026.
Presented at the NRES Research Symposium (Apr 2026)
Presented my research proposal, “Knowledge Co-Creation and Smallholder Farmers’ Uptake of Agroecological Practices in Sri Lanka,” at the 6th Annual Research Symposium of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
New Publication on Co-Planning and Community-Based Research (Mar 2026)
A new paper was published in Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability. This review synthesizes emerging evidence on co-planning as a foundational and relational stage of community-based research (Link)
New Publication in Regional Environmental Change (Mar 2026)
A new paper was published in Regional Environmental Change. The article presents a systematic literature review of non-climatic factors affecting Indigenous food security across the pan-Arctic region. (Link)
Graduate College Dissertation Travel Grant (November 2025)
Received the Graduate College Dissertation Travel Grant from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. This competitive award supports my dissertation fieldwork in Sri Lanka in the Summer 2026
Presented at ICES 2025 (September 2025)
Presented at the ICES Annual Science Conference at Klaipėda University, Lithuania. My presentation focused on Indigenous knowledge-based adaptation strategies for addressing Arctic food insecurity amid non-climatic stressors.
Jonathan Baldwin Turner Fellowship (May 2025)
Awarded the prestigious Jonathan Baldwin Turner Fellowship in recognition of my academic achievements and potential for future scholarly contributions.
Starting My PhD at UIUC (May 2025)
I will begin my PhD in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in August 2025, within the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences.
Masters Thesis Defense (April 2025)
I successfully defended my MSc in Geography at Virginia Tech. My thesis, titled “Identifying Impacts of Non-Climatic Factors on Food Security of Indigenous Peoples in the Pan-Arctic Region,” examined critical issues shaping Indigenous food security across the Arctic.
Received George E. and Hester B. Aker Fellowship (Dec 2024)
I was honored to receive the George E. and Hester B. Aker Fellowship from the College of Natural Resources and Environment at Virginia Tech. The fellowship awarded in recognition of the significance of my MSc research, the fellowship includes a $12,000 stipend and a tuition scholarship for Spring 2025.
Presented at SEDAAG (Nov 2024)
I presented my research at the Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Division of the American Association of Geographers, held in Greenville, South Carolina, from November 23–25.
Community Research Visit to the Arctic (Nov 2023)
I traveled to Pangnirtung, Nunavut, Canada, for a two-week community research visit. Our team facilitated community workshops, radio programs, and discussions with key knowledge holders to co-develop a research proposal and strengthen respectful, reciprocal research partnerships in the Arctic.
Beginning My Master’s at Virginia Tech (Jan 2023)
I began my MSc in the Department of Geography, College of Natural Resources and Environment, Virginia Tech. I also started working as a research assistant on an NSF-funded project focused on collaboratively developing community partnerships with Indigenous communities in Canada.
Travel to Malaysia (Dec 2022)
An in-person workshop was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to discuss AI4COVID project progress with the Sri Lankan and Malaysian teams, together with representatives from IDRC. The workshop provided an opportunity to review ongoing work, share updates across country teams, and receive feedback on current research activities. Participants also discussed future collaborative opportunities and potential pathways for strengthening the project’s next phase.
Launching a Nationwide Household Survey (Nov 2021)
We launched a nationwide household survey for the AI4COVID Project, aiming to collect data from more than 3,000 households from all nine provinces in Sri Lanka.
Joining the AI4COVID Project (March 2021)
I joined the AI4COVID Project at the Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya, as a research assistant. Funded by the International Development Research Centre, Canada, the project aimed to develop an AI-based framework to assess the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19 in Sri Lanka and Malaysia.
Started working as Lecturer(Temporary) (July 2019)
I began working as a Lecturer (Temporary) in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Business Management, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya.
Research Assistantship at the Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture (May 2019)
I started working as a research assistant to innovative marketing strategies for Sri Lanka’s agriculture sector modernization project. My work involved reviewing and documenting policy initiatives in the agricultural marketing sector.
Won Best Undergraduate Oral Presentation Award (Feb 2019)
I received the Best Undergraduate Oral Presentation Award in the Agricultural Policies and Socio-Economic Development session at the Faculty of Agriculture Undergraduate Research Symposium 2018, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
Won Three-Minute Presentation Award (Feb 2019)
I was awarded First Runner-up in the Three-Minute Presentation Competition at the Faculty of Agriculture Undergraduate Research Symposium 2018, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
Travel to Philippines for Research Training at IRRI (Jan 2019)
I completed a two-week research training at the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines, advised by Prof. Jeevika Weerahewa and Dr. Jean Balié.
Internship at the Institute of Policy Studies (Feb 2018)
I began an internship at the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka, contributing to several projects, including the 2018 Voluntary National Review of SDG Implementation in Sri Lanka and economic analyses of the land and transport sectors. During the time I also participated the International conference on Innovative Models for Inclusive and Sustainable Agribusiness Development through Public Private Producer Partnerships (4Ps).