Ph.D. in Food and Nutrition, Massey University, New Zealand.

M.Phil. in Food and Nutrition, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.

M.Sc in Food and Nutrition, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.

B.Sc. (Hons) in Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.

- Doctoral scholarship from Massey University, New Zealand.

Teaching:

Course Units Lectured at Faculty of Agriculture, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka:

Biochemistry

Principles of Food Science and Technology

Postharvest and Food Technology

Food Packaging

Food and Nutrition

Postharvest Technology of Fruits and Vegetables

Practical Classes handled:

Biochemistry

Principles of Food Science and Technology

Postharvest and Food Technology

Food Packaging

Administrative experience:

Academic Sub Warden  - 2010 - 2017

Student Counsellor - 2016-2017

Other responsibilities held:

• Member – Library Committee from 2015 -2017.
• Member – Medical certificate selection committee from 2014 to 2017.
• Member – Grace chance selection committee from 2014 to 2017.
• Coordinator – Industrial Training Programme for final year students from 2014 to 2017.
• Member of the reviewing panel, 3rd International research symposium (IRSyRUSL 2015) held on 26th January 2016 at Rajarata University of Sri Lanka.
• Member of the organizing committee of the Stakeholder workshop for industrial collaboration program (ICP), under the Quality and Innovative Grant (QIG) in Higher education for 21st century (HETC) project on 17th November 2014.
• Resource Person – teacher training, farmer training, and school student training programs conducted by the Faculty.
• Faculty Coordinator – Deyata Kirula National Exhibition – 2012 held at Oyamaduwa, Sri Lanka.
• Coordinator - Quiz program, Food Processing and Preservation Session of the 10th Anniversary Celebration Programme of the Faculty.

- Paper of excellence under the category of Nutrition/General- Gastro 2020 Hybrid Meeting, Auckland, New Zealand. 

- Best poster  - Peoples' choice award - Student Colloquium 2018, Riddet Institute, Massey University, New Zealand.

- One of the 12 finalists - Visualize Your Thesis Competition 2019 - Riddet Institute, Massey University, New Zealand.

- Riddet Institute Travel Award - March 2019 - 6th International Conference on Food Digestion, Granada, Spain.

• 2017 - Research title: Association of lifestyle patterns and non-communicable disease risk factors in the academic and non-academic staff of the Rajarata University of Sri Lanka
• 2013 - 2016 - Research title: Association between lifestyle patterns and non-communicable disease risk factors in a cohort of males in the Central Province of Sri Lanka

Professional Expertise:

Fruit and vegetable process technology

Food and nutrition

• Introduced new courses to the curriculum 2014-2018.
• Developed a practical manual and a display board for the course unit Food Packaging.
• Taken actions to incorporate practical component for the course unit Biochemistry and developed a practical manual.
• Assisted the ELTU to teach Agriculture related English by doing mini-lectures.
• Trained the Technical Officer and the Lab attendant of the Animal Science and Postharvest laboratory on some important practical aspects with special reference to Biochemistry and Food Processing.
• Developed a practical manual on Principles of Food Science and Technology
• Instigated a Food Processing Laboratory (2009) in the faculty and taken steps to develop it.
• Developed the Animal science and Postharvest laboratory by taking steps to include new equipment, glassware, chemicals and consumables.
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• Writing panel member (author) of the textbook for Practical & Technical Skills compiled in accordance with the new local syllabus for grade 9 in collaboration with the Educational Publication Department, Battaramulla, 2017.
• Member, Industrial Liaison Committee of the B. Tech Food Technology Degree program offered the Faculty of Industrial and Vocational Technology, University of Vocational Technology, Rathmalana, 2017.
• Panel member for the quality development of textbooks compiled in accordance with the new syllabus for grade 2 and grade 8, conducted by Educational Publication Department, Battaramulla (20, 21, 22 July 2016).
• Panel member for the quality development of the textbook for Agriculture Technology compiled in accordance with the new local syllabus for grade 11, conducted by Educational Publication Department, Battaramulla (6, 7, 8 April 2016).

• Jayawardana, I. A., Boland, M. J., Higgs, K., Zou, M., Loo, T., Mcnabb, W. C., & Montoya, C. A. (2021). The kiwifruit enzyme 
• Jayawardana, I. A., Montoya, C. A., McNabb, W. C., & Boland, M. J. (2019). Possibility of minimizing gluten intolerance by co-consumption of some fruits–a case for positive food synergy?. Trends in Food Science & Technology. In press
• Jayawardana, N.W.I.A., Jayalath, W.A.T.A., Madhujith, W.M.T., Ralapanawa, U., Jayasekera, R.S., Alagiyawanna, S.A.S.B., Bandara, A.M.K.R. and Kalupahana, N.S., (2017). Aging and obesity are associated with undiagnosed hypertension in a cohort of males in the Central Province of Sri Lanka: A cross-sectional descriptive study. BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, 17(165). DOI 10.1186/s12872-017-0600-8.
• Jayawardana, N.W.I.A., Jayalath, W.A.T.A., Madhujith, W.M.T., Ralapanawa, U., Jayasekera, R.S., Alagiyawanna, S.A.S.B., Bandara, A.M.K.R. and Kalupahana, N.S., (2017). Lifestyle factors associated with obesity in a cohort of males in the central province of Sri Lanka: a cross-sectional descriptive study. BMC Public Health, 17(1), p.27.
• Gamage, G.G.A.P., Adikari, A.M.J.B., Nayananjalie, W.A.D., Prasanna, P.H.P., Jayawardena, N.W.I.A. and Wathsala, R.H.G.R. (2016). Physicochemical, microbiological and sensory properties of probiotic drinking yogurt developed with goat milk. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, 6 (6).
• Walallawita, W.K.U.S., Bopitiya, D., S Sivakanthan, Jayawardana, N.W.I.A. and Madhujith, T. (2016). Comparison of oxidative stability of sesame (Sesamum indicum), soybean (Glycine max) and mahua (mee) (Madhuca longifolia) oils against photo-oxidation and autoxidation. Procedia Food Science, 6; 204 – 207.
• Wijewardana, R.M.N.A., Karunathilake, K.N., and Jayawardana, N.W.I.A. (2014). Development of edible coating for shelf life extension of guava. Focusing on Modern Food Industry, 3(0), 28-34. doi: 10.14355/fmfi.2014.0301.04.

• Isuri Jayawardana, Kamran Rostami, C.A. Montoya, and Mike J. Boland. Actinidin Kiwifruit enzyme hydrolyses antigenic gluten.
• Wathsala, R.H.G.R., Jayasena, K.D.R., Jayawardana, N.W.I.A, Karunarathna, G.P.S.I., Bandara, A.M.K.R. and Tilakaratne, B.M.K.S. (2016). An edible food product from Armored Catfishes (Pterygoplichthys spp.). 3rd International Conference on Fisheries and Aquaculture (2016). 48pp.
• Shuhadha, M.F.F., Panagoda, G.J., Madhujith, T., Jayawardana, N.W.I.A. and Senanayake R.M.D.M. (2016). Evaluation of probiotic attributes of Lactobacillus species isolated from cow and buffalo curd samples collected from Central Province, Abstracts and Proceedings of 16th Conference of Science Council of Asia, Colombo. Sri Lanka. 216-220pp.
• Jayawardana, N.W.I.A., Jayalath, W.A.T.A., Madhujith, W.M.T., Ralapanawa,U., Jayasekera, R. S., Alagiyawanna, S.A.S.B., Bandara, A.M.K.R. and Kalupahana, N.S. Association of diet, the level of physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption and sleeping hours with overweight and obesity in a cohort of males in the central province of Sri Lanka [abstract]. 37th annual academic sessions, the Kandy Society of Medicine: 2015. 38.
• Jayawardana, N.W.I.A., Jayalath, W.A.T.A., Madhujith, W.M.T., Ralapanawa,U., Jayasekera, R. S., Alagiyawanna, S.A.S.B., Bandara, A.M.K.R. and Kalupahana, N.S. Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Nutrition Related Non-Communicable Diseases In a Cohort of Males in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. 17th International Conference on Nutrition and Food Sciences; International scholarly and scientific research and innovation, Singapore: 2015. 17 (9) part II; 255.
• Wijewardene, R.M.N.A., Senevirathne, G.D., Jayawardana, N.W.I.A., Dissanayake, T.M.R., Wasala, W.M.C.B. and Thilakarathne, B.M.K.S (2014). Reduction of postharvest losses in leeks (Allium porum) during transportation using wooden bulk packages. International research symposium on postharvest technology, Institute of postharvest technology, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. 57-61pp.
• Thilakarathne, B.M.K.S., Gunasekara, A.A.M.T., Jayawardana, N.W.I.A. and Ginigaddara, G.A.S. (2014) Development of murunga leaves (Moringa oleifera) based bread spread. International research symposium on postharvest technology, Institute of postharvest technology, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. 33-41pp.
• Walallawita, W.K.U.S., Bopitiya, D., Jayawardana, N.W.I.A., Ranadheera, S. and Madhujith, T. (2014). Stability of selected edible oils against photosensitized oxidation and autoxidation, Wayamba International Conference Proceedings (WinC 2014), 233pp.
• Hettige, K.D.T., Ranadheera, C,S., Jayawardena, N.W.l.A. and Vidanarachchi, J.K. (2013). Quality evaluation of Avocado (Persea americana) fruit yoghurt made from buffalo milk. International symposium on agriculture and environment, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka. 51-53pp.
• N. Jeyagowri, M.M.T. Madhujith, P.I. Mary, J.A.M.S. Jayatilake, R.D.C.S. Ranadheera and N.W.I.A. Jayawardana (2013). Evaluation of the prebiotic effect of selected yam varieties. Proceedings of the International Conference on Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods, November 5-9, Taipei, Taiwan, p. 223.

• Workshop on ‘A Short Course in Academic Writing’ for University lecturers organized by the University Grants Commission of Sri Lanka. (29th of May and 2nd June 2017)
• Workshop on ‘R statistical software usage and applications’ conducted by the Staff Development Centre of the Rajarata University of Sri Lanka. (8th of March, 2017)
• Workshop on ‘Research methodology, students’ research supervision and research groups’ conducted by the Staff Development Centre of the Rajarata University of Sri Lanka. (13-14th of March 2014)
• Workshop on “Sri Lanka Qualification Framework (SLQF), conducted by the Staff Development Centre of Rajarata University of Sri Lanka
• Workshop on “Adaptive training workshop on e-learning process at the Faculty of Agriculture, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka. (17th and 23rd of June, 2015)
• Workshop on “Capacity building on the use of Statistical software” at the Faculty of Agriculture, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka. (26th and 27rd of January 2015)
• Short course on Multivariate Data Analysis conducted by the Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka (24th – 26th of February, 2014).
• Training Program on Teaching Methodology conducted by the Staff Development Unit, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka (September – January 2013)

• Isuri A. Jayawardana, Carlos A. Montoya, Mike J.Boland, Trevor S Loo, Gillian E Norris, Warren C. McNabb. Actinidin eliminates the immunogenic gluten peptides rapidly during in vitro gastrointestinal digestion – preliminary evidence.5th International Conference on Food Structures, Digestion and Health. Rotorua, New Zealand. 30 Sep – 3 Oct 2019.
• Isuri A. Jayawardana, Carlos A. Montoya, Mike J.Boland, Warren C. McNabb. Actinidin: an exogenous enzyme to digest gluten and reduce gluten immunogenicity. 6th International Conference on Food Digestion.Granada, Spain. 2 - 4th of April 2019.
• Jayawardana, N.W.I.A., Jayalath, W.A.T.A., Madhujith, W.M.T., Ralapanawa, U., Jayasekera, R. S., Alagiyawanna, S.A.S.B., Bandara, A.M.K.R. and Kalupahana, N.S. Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Nutrition Related Non-Communicable Diseases In a Cohort of Males in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. 17th International Conference on Nutrition and Food Sciences; International scholarly and scientific research and innovation, Singapore: 2015. 17 (9) part II; 255.