Dr. Bhagya Gunasekera

Biography

Bhagya Gunasekera received a B.S. degree in Biology in 2003 and an M.S. in Analytical Chemistry in 2008 from the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. Gunasekera worked at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in field biological conservation and with Holcim Cements Group focusing on sustainable waste management before pursuing doctoral studies. In 2014, Gunasekera earned a Ph.D. in Clinical Bioanalytical Chemistry from Cleveland State University, working with medical implants. Gunasekera served as a postdoctoral associate at the Regenerative Bioscience Center at the University of Georgia from 2014 to 2015, contributing to research in neuroregeneration and brain cancer. Following this, Gunasekera's teaching career began at Cleveland State University where a passion for education was realized, and later worked as an Adjunct Professor at Notre Dame College in Ohio. Gunasekera is actively involved in recruitment and retention efforts within Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields and has served as treasurer for the Cleveland Section of the American Chemical Society (ACS). Gunasekera's teaching philosophy is centered on making scientific concepts accessible and engaging for students, emphasizing the value of knowledge and critical thinking.

Research Interests