Thilini Chandrasiri is a Full-Time Doctoral student in nutrition at the Global Health Research Unit and Network (GHRU), South Asia, at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. Her PhD focus on assessing the Dietary Quality of school children in Sri Lanka. This evaluation is being conducted using a Dietary Quality Index based on the ‘Intake24’ tool and Food-Associated Urinary Metabolites.
Prior to joining the GHRU as a PhD trainee, she worked as a Lecturer (Temporary) and a Visiting Lecturer at Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka. During this period, she had the privilege to teach several undergraduate courses related to food science and technology, food and nutrition. Her role as a lecturer extended to course module development, curriculum revision, undergraduate research projects supervision, student evaluations and planning sustainable designs of laboratory spaces.
She graduated with a First-class Honors degree in Export Agriculture specialized in Food Processing Technology from Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, where she also earned other awards for her academic excellence. She also completed the course work of Master’s in Food and Nutrition from University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
She has presented research findings at numerous national and international conferences, workshops, and symposia where her work has been published in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings, contributing significantly to the scientific community. She had the opportunity to contribute as a panel member at the Communicating Research for Policy Impact Session at the NIHR Global Health Research Academy Member Event 2023. She holds memberships in organizations such as the Nutrition Society of Sri Lanka, Institute of Food Science and Technology and Young Scientist Forum, Sri Lanka.
She aspires to become a leading global health researcher and educator, who can generate and disseminate high-quality evidence and innovations for improving nutrition and food security outcomes in Low & Middle-Income Countries (LMICs).
University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
Established in 1959, the University of Kelaniya is a leading state university in Sri Lanka, organised in six Faculties and 44 departments that deliver higher education to approximately 38,000 students. The Faculty of Medicine, established in 1991, is situated in Ragama. The Faculty’s main clinical training centre is the Colombo North Teaching Hospital, one of the largest teaching hospitals in Sri Lanka. The Faculty of Medicine aspires to be an internationally recognised institution of higher education in a culture of excellence and integrity that helps generating and disseminating knowledge.
University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
Established in 1959, the University of Kelaniya is a leading state university in Sri Lanka, organised in six Faculties and 44 departments that deliver higher education to approximately 38,000 students. The Faculty of Medicine, established in 1991, is situated in Ragama. The Faculty’s main clinical training centre is the Colombo North Teaching Hospital, one of the largest teaching hospitals in Sri Lanka. The Faculty of Medicine aspires to be an internationally recognised institution of higher education in a culture of excellence and integrity that helps generating and disseminating knowledge.