Wajira Balasooriya

Biography

Wajira Balasooriya graduated with Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (Honors) from University of Peradeniya in 1999. She gained early work experience as a Teaching assistant at University of Peradeniya and Wayamba University of Sri Lanka during 2000-2002. She obtained MSc in Agriculture (University of Peradeniya) in 2003 and MSc in Environmental Sanitation (Ghent University, Belgium) in 2006. During 2006-2008 she worked as a research scientist at the Laboratory of Hydrology and Water Management at Ghent University commencing her doctoral research. In 2008, she received the Ghent University scholarship to continue doctoral studies at the Isotope Bioscience Laboratory. She obtained PhD in Applied Biological Sciences in 2011 and her thesis titled variation of soil microbial community structure along ecohydrological gradients.

Research Interest

Soil microbial ecology and microbial communities Wetland and paddy soils Sustainable soil management Biofertilizers Environmental Biotechnology