Shamila Abeynayake

Dr. Shamila Abeynayake serves as an Honorary Research Fellow in the Department of Ecological Plant and Animal Sciences at La Trobe University, Melbourne. Her research bridges molecular plant science and ecological applications, with emphasis on stress physiology and pathogen detection.

Her primary research interests include plant molecular biology, plant pathology, and plant biochemistry, focusing on molecular mechanisms of cold acclimation in grasses, proanthocyanidin biosynthesis in white clover, and stress-induced metabolic changes in aquatic plants. She integrates genomics, metabolomics, and field ecology to address agricultural challenges.

Analysis of her 14 publications (2008-2024) reveals three dominant research trajectories: molecular diagnostics for plant pathogens (e.g., CRISPR-based Xylella detection), stress adaptation in perennial grasses, and specialized metabolite production in tropical flora. Recent work increasingly emphasizes field-deployable tools and Sri Lankan biodiversity.

Dr. Abeynayake maintains extensive collaborations across Australian and Sri Lankan institutions, with co-authors spanning molecular biologists, virologists, and ecologists. Her work on Azolla stress responses and cinnamon essential oils demonstrates strong regional focus on South Asian ecosystems.