August 27, 2024
By Kenneth Mullinax/ASU
A fourth-year PhD student enrolled in Alabama State University’s microbiology program has been awarded a $75,000 fellowship to study feline coronavirus, a contributing factor to the COVID-19 virus.
ASU’s Sandani Wijerathne, a native of Sri Lanka, received an “Alabama Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, Graduate Research Scholars Program (EPSCoR GRSP) grant from the National Science Foundation.
“I am very grateful for the EPSCoR grant, which will greatly assist me in obtaining a PhD in microbiology from Alabama State University,” Wijerathne said from his lab workshop. “The ultimate goal of my research in this field is to prevent or mitigate the effects of future outbreaks of coronaviruses, which have recently had such a negative impact around the world.”
The Sri Lankan-born student, who is expected to graduate from the university in 2025, said that since her undergraduate studies in biomedical sciences were affected by the pandemic, she has chosen to use her intellect and research to help eradicate the coronavirus.
“As a microbiology student, I couldn’t think of a better use of my research abilities than to work toward a cure for one of the most dangerous diseases that threaten the global population, and both ASU’s microbiology program and the grant I received are making my work possible,” Wijerathne said.
ASU faculty advisor for Wijerathne and other graduate students in Alabama State's microbiology department,
Dr. Kiana Matthews has a history of having high-achieving students who are awarded NSF fellowships and grants. She said she is not surprised that Wijerathne received such an impressive fellowship.
“I am so excited that a hardworking and talented student like Ms. Wijerathne was awarded this important fellowship,” said Matthews. “She is one of our most talented and compassionate students, and has a genuine desire to make a positive impact in the field of science. She has discussed with me the possibility that she might one day start a nonprofit to help people in ways that make medical care more affordable for them and improve their overall health.”
Matthews believes the NSF's EPSCoR award says a lot about Wijerathne's academic ability as well as the success of the university's microbiology program.
“This award communicates to academics and health professionals around the world that Alabama State University’s microbiology program and its graduate students – like Ms. Wijerathne – are conducting and recognizing the highest level of research that helps reduce the impact of disease, and helps us as a university recruit more talented students to study in our microbiology graduate program, which will contribute to the cycle of greatness for which ASU is known worldwide.”