By Kenneth Mullinax/ASU
A fourth-year Ph.D. student enrolled in Alabama State University's microbiology program has been awarded a $75,000 fellowship for her study of the Feline Coronavirus, which is a contributing factor of the COVID-19 virus.
ASU's Sandani Wijerathne, a native of Sri Lanka, received her "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 the EPSCoR grant which will greatly assist me in obtaining my Ph.D. in mircobiology from Alabama State University," Wijerathne said from her laboratory workshop. "My research in this area has as its ultimate goal the prevention or the lessening of the effects of future outbreaks of the Coronavirus, which recently had such a negative impact worldwide."
The Sri Lankan native, who is expected to obtain her graduate degree from the University in 2025, shared that since her undergraduate studies in Biomedical Science were impacted by the Pandemic, she has used her intellect and research to do all that she can to help eradicate the Coronavirus.
"As a student of microbiology, I thought of no better use of my research capabilities than to work for a cure for one of the most dangerous diseases that threatens the global population, and ASU's microbiology program and the grant that I have received, are both making my work possible," stated Wijerathne.
The ASU faculty advisor for Wijerathne and other graduate students in Alabama State's microbiology department,
Dr. Qiana Matthews, has a history of having high-achieving students who are awarded NSF fellowships and grants. She said that she is not surprised at Wijerathne being awarded such an impressive fellowship.
"I am very excited that such a hard worker and gifted student as Ms. Wijerathne was awarded this important fellowship," Matthews said. "She is among our brightest and kindest students, and she has a real desire to make a positive impact in the field of science. She has discussed with me the possibility of her one day starting a non-profit so she will be able to help individuals in a manner that makes medical care more affordable to them and enhances their overall health."
Matthews believes that the NSF's EPSCoR award speaks volumes about the academic ability of Wijerathne, as well as the success of the University's microbiology program.
"This award informs academics and healthcare professionals worldwide that Alabama State University's microbiology program and its graduate students – like Ms. Wijerathne -- are conducting and being recognized for achieving the highest level of research that helps lessens the effects of disease, and helps us, as a University, recruit more gifted students to study within our microbiology graduate program, which will contribute to the cycle of greatness that ASU is known for worldwide."