معرفی
Fernando Sandun is the Dow Professor in Bioprocess Engineering and Associate Department Head for Graduate Programs at Texas A&M University's Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering. He holds a B.S. from the University of Peradeniya (Sri Lanka), and M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
His research focuses on biomolecular interactions, with expertise in enzyme-substrate-ligand systems, protein-ligand interactions for antiviral/antimicrobial applications, catalysis for bioenergy, and surface functionalization. His lab develops tools like the ELIXIR-A platform for molecular dynamics simulations to predict ligand-receptor behaviors, applied to enzyme inhibition, synthetic enzymes, and fuel cell systems.
Notable awards include the Thomson-Reuters Highly Cited Researcher (2014), multiple teaching accolades (2010–2015), and the Barbara and Ralph Cox Faculty Fellowship (2013–2014). His work spans antiviral aptamer design (SARS-CoV-2, Dengue), fungicide resistance solutions, and biofuel innovations using methane-oxidizing microbes.
His lab’s contributions include the SPAM process for algae dewatering, iron-sulfur-based bioelectrodes, and enzyme immobilization techniques. Ongoing projects address bioremediation, plant pathogen control (Candidatus Liberibacter), and molecular-level engineering of biological systems.
