Sardha Suriyapperuma

Sardha Suriyapperuma serves as an Associate Teaching Professor of Biology and Botany at Connecticut College, where she has taught since 2007. Her role encompasses lecturing and laboratory instruction across both departments, with primary responsibilities in cell/molecular biology and microbiology courses.

Her educational background includes a B.S. in Botany from the University of Colombo and M.S./Ph.D. degrees from the University of Rhode Island.

Research specializations span molecular biology, plant/cell biology, microarray technology, genomics, linkage mapping, and plant-microbe interactions. Her work investigates mycorrhizal fungal physiology, turf grass DNA fingerprinting, cytoskeleton protein gene expression, and glaucoma genetic mapping, reflecting interdisciplinary expertise bridging plant science and human genetics.

Publications demonstrate an evolution from foundational plant-microbe studies to human disease genetics, appearing in journals like Archives of Ophthalmology, Mammalian Genome, and Mycologia. Current research focuses on improving undergraduate laboratory pedagogy.

As an academic adviser for first-year students, botany majors, and biology majors in the cell molecular track, she emphasizes student-centered teaching and diverse learning styles. Professional development includes attending the American Society for Microbiology's undergraduate educator conference (2008) and Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges' 'Pedagogies of Engagement' workshop.

She coordinates Cell and Molecular Biology laboratories (Bio 106), teaches Organisms laboratories (Bio 105), and instructs General Microbiology (Bio 330), maintaining an active teaching schedule in Olin Science Center.