Summary
Overview
Work history
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Timeline
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Caden Dias Bandaranayake

Croydon

Summary

I am an eager Life Science graduate with an advanced academic background and research expertise, particularly in utilising genetic and molecular techniques and adapting human iPSC neuronal models for drug-based pre-clinical research. My research experience, alongside medical writing and academic training, has equipped me with strong critical thinking, scientific communication, and problem-solving skills. As an autonomous and experienced researcher, I am eager to advance my career in a challenging role that will expand my research portfolio and foster my development as an independent investigator.

Overview

4
4
years of professional experience
4
4
years of post-secondary education

Work history

Medical Writing Internship

Klarity
09.2024 - Current
  • Research and write medical articles designed to be accessible to a general audience; empowering individuals to gain deeper insights into wellness and disease, and helping them take proactive steps in managing or preventing health conditions.
  • Developing medical writing proficiency and receiving extensive training in creating outlines, writing, and editing medical articles: enhancing scientific communication skills useful for academic research and publication
  • Gaining real-world experience by conducting research on a variety of dependable sources and developing communication skills to explain complex research to the wider public.

Qualified Health Advisor

Holland and Barrett
Croydon
02.2024 - Current
  • Providing personalised supplement and lifestyle advice through active listening and product suggestions. Proven good results are shown through customer feedback with over 80% customer satisfaction.
  • Conducted comprehensive health assessments for accurate diagnosis, utilising training provided alongside academic knowledge.
  • Ensuring store standards and task completion through team management and prioritisation.

Early Research Program

Genome Damage and Stability Centre University of Sussex
01.2023 - 12.2023
  • Independent and original research into the neuropathology of PARP1 hyper-activation following single-strand DNA damage in Xrcc1-deficient cortical neurons
  • Successfully implemented adaptation and optimisation procedures, exemplified in applying the alkaline comet assay and patch-clamp electrophysiology for iPSC-derived cortical neurons
  • Collaborated and accomplished the development of a lentiviral-mediated CRISPR-interference knockdown model of Xrcc1 to produce a human-appropriate disease model of PARP1 hyper-activity
  • Conducted live calcium imaging, immunochemistry, patch-clamp electrophysiology, confocal microscopy, and various biochemical and molecular techniques to investigate action potential modulation in Xrcc1-knockdown iPSC neurons and primary hippocampal neurons
  • Competence handling and utilising various mammalian cell lines, including SH-SY5Y, RPE-1, HEK293T, and U2OS
  • Extensive health and safety training, including handling infectious material (e.g., AAVs and lentiviruses), use of high-risk equipment such as centrifuges, and handling COSHH substances
  • Demonstrated advanced research skills with a keen ability to critically analyse data and evaluate published literature
  • Presented data-based findings and contributed to the refinement of experimental design and the construction of grant proposals.

Laboratory Assistant

One Scientific Bristol
09.2021 - 02.2022
  • Supported researchers during the COVID-19 pandemic by accurately performing qPCR compliant with government standards.
  • Additionally, undertook allergen testing using ELISA.
  • Collaborated with fellow laboratory members to enhance testing efficiency through split roles and optimisation of experiments, doubling the number of samples tested daily following an increase in international travel.
  • Competence in utilising LIMS to record results and obtain accurate results on the test condition.

Peer Mentor in Academic Reading and Writing

University of Surrey
Guildford
01.2021 - 08.2021
  • Communicated complex concepts in reading and writing clearly and comprehensibly to undergraduate peers.
  • Offered constructive and positive feedback to help peers improve their writing and comprehension, notably increasing the score of a written report from 55% to >90%.
  • Managed time efficiently to balance mentoring sessions with personal academic responsibilities.

Education

Master of Science - Molecular Neuroscience

University of Bristol
09.2021 - 09.2022

Biomedical Science BSc with Honours - Biomedical Science

University of Surrey
09.2018 - 07.2021

Skills

  • Complex Biochemical and Neuroscientific Methods
  • Laboratory Safety and Sample Management
  • Aseptic Culture Techniques
  • Human and Murine Cell Expertise
  • Scientific Communication and Collaboration
  • GraphPad, Matlab and Igor Expertis

Accomplishments

  • Fundamentals of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education
  • Psychoactive Drugs in Forensic Medicine course at Aarhus University Summer School.
  • Winner of 2018 Big Bang Young Scientist Competition attaining a position at the 2018 London International Youth Science Forum.
  • Nuffield Research Project completion and winner of Gold CREST award.


Timeline

Medical Writing Internship

Klarity
09.2024 - Current

Qualified Health Advisor

Holland and Barrett
02.2024 - Current

Early Research Program

Genome Damage and Stability Centre University of Sussex
01.2023 - 12.2023

Laboratory Assistant

One Scientific Bristol
09.2021 - 02.2022

Master of Science - Molecular Neuroscience

University of Bristol
09.2021 - 09.2022

Peer Mentor in Academic Reading and Writing

University of Surrey
01.2021 - 08.2021

Biomedical Science BSc with Honours - Biomedical Science

University of Surrey
09.2018 - 07.2021

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Caden Dias Bandaranayake