Spotlight: Upeksha Tennakoon

Upeksha Tennakoon is a PhD candidate at the University of Western Australia, under the supervision of COECSI Chief Investigator Prof Hui Tong Chua. Bridging the disciplines of chemical engineering and microbiology, her research focuses on how to maximize the pigment yield in microalgae to help meet the growing needs of the Australian pigment industry. Her BSc (Hons) degree in microbiology from the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, saw her win the Gold Medal for the best performance in microbiology.

What is your elevator pitch?

I am understanding and manipulating the optimal light parameters and growth conditions for a species of microalgae to maximise their production of pigments that we use in medicines, cosmetics, nutraceuticals and food colouring. There is a large pigment industry in Australia. Our research is tapping into their needs to improve productivity.

What do you consider your key challenges?

Professionally, a challenge is working in a field that is very different to the microbiology and biochemistry that I studied in my undergraduate in Sri Lanka. My PhD is all about chemical engineering and I have to learn many new things. I was studying the intricacies of cellular biology and what happens inside the cells of an organism. Now, I am learning the mechanics of bioreactors, how to manipulate them and the complex mathematics to make it all work. But I love learning new things and it is a challenge I am happy to accept.

Adapting to a new country has been a challenge too. I have lived with my parents in Sri Lanka all my life. I realise I am getting better at being independent, which includes cooking for myself. I am trying to replicate my Mum’s recipes – the blending of the spices to get the correct tastes…I have not perfected this yet. That is another challenge, a goal maybe, to set myself.

What gets you out of bed in the morning?

This is a new life for me, in a new country. Every day is a new experience that I cherish.

Research for me is all about finding answers to questions and it is that curiosity alongside knowing I get to indulge my curiosity with a research group full of amazing, talented and engaging people that swings my legs out of bed each morning. I want to become a research scientist that can help solve environmental challenges through my microbial and biochemical research and I feel I am with a group of people that will support me in achieving that goal.

Favourite thing(s) to do on the weekend?

I have only been here for two months but I have made some really good friends and I love going out with them.

I love books and movies. My preferred genre will shift with my moods. It could be a romantic drama or thrillers. I have just started reading and I am really enjoying Sapiens, which is about the history and evolution of humans from the stone age to the 21^st century, and the key processes that shaped our species.

Cultural insights and what they mean to you?

I am from Sri Lanka. Our most famous cultural festival is the ‘Dalada’ festival. It is held over 10 days during the month of August, and it attracts thousands of foreign tourists.

The festival has so much colour, dancing and elephants. We conduct the festival to honour and pay respect to the sacred tooth relic of the Lord Buddha. The tooth is enshrined in the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy, the city where I was born and lived until coming to Australia. It is a Buddhist festival, but it brings together people from all religions and cultures who come to witness the festivities and participate. There are so many talented dancers who have excelled in various dance styles. It is not just a religious festival. It is a moving and passionate example of how creative and artistic Sri Lankan people are. It makes me proud of where I come from.