Amanda Liyanage

Amanda Liyanage is a passionate researcher in the field of chemistry, with the expertise in chemical sensor development, green synthesis, and the synthesis and characterisation of metal nanoparticles for dye removal applications. Her research experience includes the development of a chemical sensor for lead detection in beverages, synthesis of plant-based metal nanoparticles for the removal of industrial dyes, and the establishment of plant regeneration and transformation methods in chickpea using tissue culture techniques.

Amanda is currently undertaking her PhD at the Deakin Centre for Advanced Food Sciences, where her research focuses on identifying volatile organic compounds (VOCs) associated with microbial contamination in foods and developing a near-real-time sensing method for the detection of microbial food contamination.

Prior to commencing her PhD, Amanda worked as a Project Officer in Research Innovation and Commercialisation at the Accelerating Higher Education Expansion and Development (AHEAD) project, a World Bank-funded initiative in Sri Lanka aimed at strengthening the higher education sector under the Ministry of Education.

Education and Research Background

Amanda completed a Master of Science in Analytical Chemistry at the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, and a Master of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics at La Trobe University, Australia. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.