Shashini Gunathilaka is currently attached to the Molecular Microbiology and Human Diseases research project at NIFS as an M.Phil. Research student. She received her B.Sc. from the University of Ruhuna Sri Lanka in 2020 and joined NIFS in May 2022. Her study at NIFS focuses on ‘Determining the Microcystin producing gene cluster variability in selected cyanobacteria using molecular characterization and Morpho physiological responses.’ Her research interests include Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Environmental Science, and Toxicology (NIFS RA).