About

About Me

I work at the meeting point of computational biology, disease omics, and space biology. My research uses RNA expression profiling and in silico study design to find shared molecular signatures across inflammatory and neurodegenerative disease, and extends into astrobiology through work on lunar regolith, astromicrobes, biosignatures, and microbial adaptation in space-relevant environments. Alongside that, I research physiology and hardware interfacing for bio-intelligence systems. I thrive on challenge and ambitious goals, and my strength is combining analytical work with the communication needed to carry it across disciplines.

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Resume

Resume

I am Keerthana, a computational biology and disease-omics researcher with a background in biotechnology, bioinformatics, and space biology. I design in silico studies, interpret gene-expression and pathway data, and carry findings across research teams and disciplines.

Education

2021-2025

BSc (Hons) in Biotechnology — Second Class Honours, Upper Division

Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT)
2025

PGDP in Bioinformatics, Genomics, and Data Science

Bversity

Current Roles

2025-Current

Computational Biology and Disease-Omics Researcher

Independent / araCreate Group
2026-Current

Computational Biologist (Bio-Intelligence Systems)

Armortrix Technologies Pvt Ltd (India / Remote)
2019-Current

Astrobiology and Space Biology Researcher

Independent / Collaborative Projects

Memberships & Ambassadorships

2026-Current

Abstract Reviewer

American Society for Gravitational and Space Research (ASGSR)
2025-Current

Regular Member

NASA Open Science for Life Sciences (AWG)
2025-2026

Eisenhower Fellowship Team — Sri Lanka

Eisenhower Fellowships
2024-Current

Collective Member

NASA Space Apps Challenge
2024-Current

Citizen Scientist Ambassador

CitSci Foundation
2024-Current

Ambassador of Asia

Women in Data Science (WiDS)
2024-2025

Mentee

Women in Big Data Science
2019-Current

Member

Space Generation Advisory Council · Space Medicine and Life Sciences Project Group
2020-2021

Marketing Team

Moon Village Association

Expertise

What I Work On

Research areas I contribute to across biology, data, and space science.

Skills

My Skills

Skills come from experience

In Silico Study Design

95%

Python

95%

Machine Learning & Deep Learning

90%

R (Statistics Language)

90%

Bioinformatics tools

100%

Arduino & Hardware Interfacing

90%

Scientific Writing & Science Communication

95%

Creative Writing & Translation

90%

Projects

Research & Technical Projects

Selected research and technical projects I have led or contributed to.

Periodontitis & Alzheimer's Disease

Integrative RNA Expression Profiling — In Silico Study

SPLASH

Data Analysis & Review of ISS Bioinstruments

Lunar Regolith

Space-Relevant Surface Materials

Project Astromicrobes

Astrobiology & Synthetic Biology

Biofuel

Microbial Approaches to Bioenergy

Biosignature

Life-Detection Concepts

Project SangerScope

Internship Research — GeneLabs Medical (Pvt) Ltd

Building the Space Biology Model Zoo

NASA Space Apps Challenge — Global Nominee

NASA Space Apps Local Lead

Community Leadership

NASA Space Apps Local Judge

Community Leadership

Flyer design

Graphic Design

Flyer design

Graphic Design

Flyer design

Graphic Design

Editing

Graphic Design

Editing

Graphic Design

Editing

Graphic Design

Research

Publications & Manuscripts

Published works, and manuscripts currently under review or in preparation.

Published Works

2024

Kilonova Seekers: the GOTO project for real-time citizen science in time-domain astrophysics

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (MNRAS)
2022

The Kepler — Creative Writing Competition, Poetry

Astrobiology Science Conference (AbSciCon), Atlanta, Georgia, US · NASA ADS

Manuscripts & Unpublished Research

2026

Integrative RNA Expression Profiling to Identify Shared Molecular Signatures between Periodontitis and Alzheimer's Disease: In Silico Study

Selected — Young Medicine Forum
2026

Characterization of Soil- and Rock-Inhabiting Fungi from Three Selected Localities in Sri Lanka with Potential Astrobiological Applications

Undergraduate research project — Selected for EANA 2026
2026

Comparative genomics and synthetic design platform for analyzing space-induced microbial mutations, assessing risks, and proposing engineered solutions

Selected for EANA 2026
2026

Microgravity-associated oral biofilm dysbiosis and cardiovascular risk: a bioinformatic analysis of inflammatory and endothelial pathways

Submitted to ESCI Conference
2025

Project SangerScope

Internship research project

Awards

Awards, Prizes & Honours

Selected recognition, competitive selections, and invited presentations.

2026

Abstract Selected via Competitive Review — All-Russian Pitch Session

"Young Medicine" International Scientific School, V.P. Filatov International Foundation, Russia — Periodontitis and Alzheimer's Disease in silico study
2026

EANA — Poster Presentation

European Astrobiology Network Association — Comparative genomics and synthetic design platform for space-induced microbial mutations
2026

EANA — Oral Presentation, Space Factor

European Astrobiology Network Association — Soil and rock-inhabiting fungi from Sri Lankan localities
2025

Mycological Society of America — Oral Presentation

Soil and rock-inhabiting fungi from selected Sri Lankan localities with potential astrobiological applications
2024

Global Nominee — "Biological Zoo"

NASA Space Apps Challenge
2025

International Panelist

8th International Conference on Innovation and Research in Engineering — UNAD

Certifications & Training

2024

Galactic Problem Solver / Global Problem Solver · Certificate of Stellar Lead

NASA Space Apps Challenge
2024

Certificate of Achievement, Educator Professional Development Event

NASA EPDC Virtual Learning Opportunities
2024

Finalist, 2nd Inter University Space Quiz Competition

Also: Mission to Mars Student Challenge · Humanos en el Espacio
2023

Certificate of Planetary Defender

The Planetary Society and Stardust@Home
2023

NASA Artemis Generation Member

NASA
2023

Top 105 Young Entrepreneurs, Certificate of Achievement

SPARK
2023

Presenter, Moon Village Design Hackathon

Also: Codecon 3.0 · Flood Risk Assessment in Cameroon Workshop
2022

International Space Challenge · ReLaCa ESPACIO

VI Encuentro Internacional de la Red Latinoamericana y del Caribe del Espacio

Graphic Design

Graphic Design

These are some advertisements I have done!

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Video Editing

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Blog

Our Blog

You don't have to be afraid to put your dream in action, You've never gonna fade, you'll be the main attraction!

Why NASA Means Everything to ME!.

Today, I want to speak from a place I never open publicly. I recently read that the International Space Station (ISS) is slated to be fully operated by NASA through 2030... Reading this made my heart sink!

March 30, 2025 Keerthana Gunaretnam 3

Role of DNA Repair Mechanisms in Extremophiles & Implications for Space Exploration

Extremophiles, organisms that thrive in harsh environments, offer invaluable insights...

June 30, 2024 Keerthana Gunaretnam 3

The Nature of the Universe

Cosmology is the study of the Universe as a whole...

June 30, 2024 Keerthana Gunaretnam 3

Celestial Objects

Scores of different types of objects exist out in space...

June 30, 2024 Keerthana Gunaretnam 3

Astronomy is "The Heart of the Science"!

Sounds curious! Right? Astronomy is the Heart of Science! ...

June 30, 2024 Keerthana Gunaretnam 3

Birth of the Stars

Space is an incredible field to research...

June 30, 2024 Keerthana Gunaretnam 3

How to become a NASA Citizen Scientist?

As a NASA Citizen Scientist, I get tons of questions daily...

Life Beyond Earth — Where we're looking for?

For centuries, humans have been captivated by the celestial bodies...

Nov 10, 2024 Keerthana Gunaretnam 3

How Quantum Mechanics Revolutionize Space Exploration

Imagine a future where spacecraft communicate instantly across galaxies...

Nov 13, 2024 Keerthana Gunaretnam 3

Discover the universe's building blocks!

Imagine standing on the edge of the cosmos, gazing into the vast expanse of space...

Nov 13, 2024 Keerthana Gunaretnam 3

How Astrobiology and Biotechnology Could Shape Extraterrestrial Life Research

Astrobiology and Biotechnology are two scientific disciplines...

Wordsmith

My Works

My thoughts spill from the tip of ink

Before I Vanish

They called her Patient 013. A girl with a fractured mind and a heart that remembered what science tried to erase. But Ana wasn't broken; she was becoming. Trapped inside a sterile lab, watched by unseen eyes and wired into machines that listened to her thoughts, Ana begins to uncover the truth!

Merlin

No young man, no matter how great, can know his destiny. He cannot glimpse his part in the great story that is about to unfold. Like everyone, he must live and learn. And so it will be for the young warlock arriving at the gates of Camelot. A boy that will, in time, father the legend. His name: Merlin.

0 Awards & Honours
0 Research Projects
0 Certifications
0 Publications

I'm Available for research collaboration

Glad to join new research! If my work or writing helped you, you can support it by buying me a book.

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Contact

Contact Me

If you want to discuss your research, don't hesitate to reach me!

Address

Batticaloa, Sri Lanka