Sithira Ratnayaka

Sithira was born in Sri Lanka, but has lived in the United States since the age of 3. He has lived for extended periods of time in New York, New Mexico, and New Orleans. He attended Tulane University for his Bachelors degree in Biomedical Engineering with minors of Math and Chemistry, and expects to graduate with a Masters degree in Biomedical Engineering in the Spring of 2013. His projects in Tulane University Department of Biomedical Engineering include the designing of a door-answering system for a disabled person with Muscular Dystrophy and designing a wheelchair desk for a child with Cerebral Palsy. His prior research, conducted at Tulane Medial Center, includes: the development and application of a protein assay to determine whether ovarian cysts were malignant or benign; application of a protein to convert blood type B to type O; working with telomeres in transformed yeast to measure genetic drift and the ability to bypass senescence. His work in Dr. Khismatullin's involves the growth and development of tumor spheroids in PDMS wells in vivo. Soon there will be research conducted testing the effect of ultrasound bombardment on these spheroids.

In his spare time, Sithira enjoys being in a number of clubs on campus. He in involved in science, multicultural, and student government organizations. In addition, Sithira enjoys listening to live music, and plays the violin, piano, and percussion instruments (he has been a member of the TUMB drumline for 4 years). Sithira also loves to play sports, such as racquetball, dodge ball, volleyball, and soccer.

curriculum vitae