I am Hasanka Dangalla, a graduate of Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, where I completed a B.Sc. (Honours) in Environmental Sciences and Natural Resources Management in 2022 with a Second Class Upper Division. My primary research interests lie in lichen biology and lichen-associated fungi, with a particular focus on the taxonomy and ecological roles of lichenicolous fungi.

During my undergraduate research, I conducted the first systematic study on lichenicolous fungi in the mountainous regions of the Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, which revealed a hidden diversity of these understudied fungal groups. This pioneering work contributed valuable insights into the country’s mycological biodiversity.

I have also served as both a Research Volunteer and a Research Supervisor at the Institute for Research and Development (IRD), where I was actively involved in guiding student projects and delivering lectures on basic microbiology techniques, sample collection methods, and field practices related to microbiology, with an emphasis on mycology. In addition, I have presented and published several abstracts in local and international scientific conferences.

Currently, I am pursuing a Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.) in Applied Microbiology at the University of Colombo, focusing on lichenicolous fungi in Horton Plains and Hanthana, Sri Lanka. My research integrates taxonomic studies with the analysis of fungal secondary metabolites, aiming to better understand the biodiversity, ecology, and potential applications of these unique fungi.