Udara Dharmasiri, Ph.D
Louisiana State University
Department of Chemistry 3550 Nicholson Dr, Apt 2101
*** ******* **** ***** *****, LA 70802.
Baton Rouge, LA 70803. Ph #: 225-***-****
Ph #: 225-***-****
********@*****.***
Education:
. Ph.D., Bio-analytical Chemistry (Fall/2010); Louisiana State
University, Department of Chemistry, Baton Rouge, LA. (GPA 4.00/4.00)
Adviser: Professor Steven A. Soper
. M.S., Analytical Chemistry (Fall/2006); Postgraduate Institute of
Science, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. (GPA 3.8/4.0)
. CIMA, Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (Spring/2006),
London, UK.
. B.S., Chemistry with Honors (Spring/2004); University of Peradeniya,
Sri Lanka.
Expertise:
. On-chip cell manipulations to isolate low-abundance adenocarcinoma and
pathogenic cells from biological and environmental fluids.
. Culture and maintenance of adenocarcinoma related cell lines and bio-
pathogens.
. Experience in molecular profiling techniques-RTqPCR, PCR and LDR
. DNA/RNA aptamers, proteins, and antibodies immobilization on polymeric
surface modification using carbodiimides and succinimidyl esters.
. Thoroughly experienced in instrumentation, analytical techniques, and
methods development involving bright-field and fluorescence
microscopy, SEM, UV-Vis, AAS, HPLC, XRD, and XRF.
. AutoCAD design and microfabrication of mold inserts and polymeric
microdevices via UV and X-ray LIGA.
Experience:
. Cleanroom training at Center for Advanced Micro Structures (CAMD),
Baton Rouge, LA. (Summer/2010)
. Research at Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center under Prof. Bert
Vogelstein for selection, enumeration and molecular profiling of rare
circulating tumor cells in patients' blood. (Spring/2010)
. Graduate Research Assistant: Professor. Steven A. Soper, Louisiana
State University, Department of Chemistry and Center for BioModular
Multi-Scale Systems (CBM2). (Fall/2007-present)
> Design, fabrication, and assembly of polymer-based microfluidic
devices for bioassays.
> Electrophoretic and hydrodynamic biological cell manipulations
in polymer-based microfluidic devices.
> Development of on-chip clinical diagnostics and prognostics
using polymer-based BioMEMS.
. Research Associate at Post Graduate Institute of Science, University
of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. (Fall/2005-Fall/2006)
> Chemical characterization of effluent after feldspar treatment of Cd2+
containing solutions.
> Developed an economical, environmentally friendly, and efficient
method to remove toxic Cd2+ from effluent waters.
> Investigations of possible sorption, adsorption, desorption and ion
exchange processes to develop effluent water purifying filters.
. Teaching assistant at Louisiana State University, Department of
Chemistry.
. Teaching assistant at University of Peradeniya, Department of
Chemistry, Sri Lanka.
. Mentoring undergraduate and new graduate students towards successful
completion of their research projects.
Volunteer Affiliations:
. LAVA (Louisiana Volunteers in Action) - Assisting hurricane Gustav
recovery efforts across East Baton Rouge Parish, LA. (Fall/2008)
. LSU Volunteers - Assisting special needs patients at special medical
needs shelter at Pete Maravich Assembly Center (PMAC), Baton Rouge,
LA. (Fall/2008)
. Educational and outreach activities at the Center for Advanced Micro
Structures (CAMD) open house. (2008/2009)
Awards & Honors:
. James W. Robinson award for outstanding research in analytical
sciences (Spring/2010)
. Dr. Charles E. Coates memorial travel award. (Spring/2010)
. Outstanding graduate student, Postgraduate Institute of Science,
University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
Publications
. Udara Dharmasiri, Subramanian Balamurugan, Andre A. Adams, Paul I.
Okagbare, Annie Obubuafo, and Steven A. Soper, "Highly Efficient
Capture and Enumeration of Low-Abundance Prostate Cancer Cells Using
Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen Aptamers Immobilized to a Polymeric
Microfluidic Device" Electrophoresis, 2009, 30: 1-12.
. Udara Dharmasiri, Ma?gorzata A. Witek, Andre A. Adams, Mateusz L.
Hupert, and Steven A. Soper, "Enrichment and Detection of Escherichia
coli 0157:H7 Using An Antibody Modified Microfluidic Chip" Analytical
Chemistry, 2010, 82 (7), 2844-2849.
. Udara Dharmasiri, Ma?gorzata A. Witek, Andre A. Adams, and Steven A.
Soper, "Microsystems for the Capture of Low-Abundance Cells" Annual
Reviews of Analytical Chemistry, 2010, Vol. 3.
. John K. Osiri, Johannes Buerle, Udara Dharmasiri, Jost Goettert, and
Steven A. Soper, "Cyclic Olefin Copolymer based Micro-fabricated Chip
with Integrated Conductive SU-8 Electrodes for Label-free Detection of
Biological Samples" Lab on a Chip. (In preparation)
. Udara Dharmasiri, Samuel Njoroge, Ma?gorzata A. Witek, Francis Barany
and Steven A. Soper, "High-Throughput Selection, Enumeration,
Electrokinetic Manipulation, and Molecular Profiling of Low-Abundance
Circulating Tumor Cells Using a Microfluidic System" Analytical
Chemistry (Submitted)
Presentations & Posters
. "Capture and Enumeration of Low-Abundance Circulating Prostate Cancer
Cells" Gordon Research Conference 2010, Bioanalytical Sensors, New
London, NH. (Poster presentation)
. "Analysis of Rare Circulating Tumor Cells in Peripheral Blood Using
Microfluidics and Conductometric Enumeration" Gordon Research
Conference 2010, Bioanalytical Sensors Seminar, New London, NH. (Oral
presentation)
. "Selection and Enumeration of Rare Biological Cells from Complex
Matrices" Analytical Seminar Spring 2010, LSU Chemistry. (Oral
presentation)
. "Isolation of Circulating Tumor Cells Using Antibodies Immobilized to
a Polymeric Microfluidic Device", CAMD User Meeting 2010, Baton Rouge,
LA. (Oral presentation)
. Presider for the session "Affinity-Based Measurement Methods", Pittcon
2010, Orlando, FL.
. "Enrichment and Detection of E. coli O157:H7 from Water Samples Using
an Antibody Modified Microfluidic Chip", Pittcon 2010, Orlando, FL.
(Oral presentation)
. "Highly Efficient Capture and Enumeration of Low-Abundance Prostate
Cancer Cells Using Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen Aptamers
Immobilized to a Polymeric Microfluidic Device", Pittcon 2009,
Chicago, IL. (Oral presentation)
. "Noninvasive Detection of Concealed Liquid Explosives Using Raman
Spectroscopy", Analytical Chemistry Student Seminar, Fall 2008. (Oral
presentation)
. "Capture and Enumeration of Low-Abundance Prostate Cancer Cells Using
Prostate Specific Aptamers (PSA) Immobilized to Poly
(methylmethacrylate) Microfluidic Devices", Pittcon 2008, New Orleans,
LA. (Poster presentation)
. "Applications of Polymer-Based Microfluidic Devices for LNCaP Cell
Capture and Prostate Cancer Diagnosis", CBM2 Colloquium 2007, LSU,
Baton Rouge, LA. (Poster presentation)
. "Applications of Polymer-Based Microfluidic Devices for Cancer
Diagnosis", CAMD Colloquium 2008, LSU, Baton Rouge, LA. (Poster
presentation)
List of References
Prof. Steven A. Prof. Evgueni Prof. Gamini Prof. Jayne Garno
Soper Nesterov Rajapakse Louisiana State
Louisiana State Louisiana State Faculty of University
University University Science Department of Chemistry
Department of Department of University of 311 Choppin Hall
Chemistry Chemistry Peradeniya Baton Rouge, LA, 70803
229 Choppin Hall 731 Choppin Hall Sri Lanka Fax #: 225-***-****
Baton Rouge, LA, Baton Rouge, LA, Fax #: +94 Ph #: 225-***-****
708**-***** 81-2388018 ******@***.***
Fax #: Fax #: Ph #: +94
225-***-**** (225)-578-323 81-2389129
Ph #: Ph #: ****@***.**.**
******@***.*** ***@***.***