Dr. Dilini Rathnayake
BSc (Hons), PhD
Lecturer - Medical Science (Pathway to Medicine)
School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences
- d.rathnayakemudiyanselage@cqu.edu.au
- ORCID: 0000-0003-2459-9145
- (07) 4150 7137
- 0452536365 Mobile Phone
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Bundaberg
8 - 47
My Networks
About Me
Born and raised in Sri Lanka, I completed my tertiary education at the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, obtaining first class Honours in Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Immunology and Molecular Biology. Driven by my strong interest in immunology and infectious diseases, I pursued my postgraduate studies on protective immune responses to malaria in pregnant women and young children at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Australia at a time when infectious diseases were receiving an unprecedented global attention amidst of a pandemic. Engagement in COVID-19 related clinical studies during my PhD has led to me to work as a research assistant to investigate COVID-19 vaccine–induced immune responses that provided a strong foundation for my subsequent postdoctoral studies. After my PhD, I completed a three-year postdoctoral position at the Burnet Institute for Medical Research in Melbourne, where my work centered on COVID-19 vaccines and T-cell immunity.
A consistent thread throughout my academic journey has been my passion for teaching, mentoring, and inspiring students. My work as an Assistant Lecturer and a Teaching Assistant at the University of Melbourne led me to join CQUniversity in January 2026 as a Lecturer in Medical Science (Pathway to Medicine), motivated by a commitment to strengthening regional education, expanding access to high-quality scientific training, and contributing to the development of future health and biomedical professionals.
General
Background
I completed my Honours degree in Integrative Immunology and Molecular Biology at the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, before undertaking a PhD in Infectious Diseases at the Peter Doherty Institute, University of Melbourne, which I completed in 2022. Following my doctoral studies, I undertook a three‑year postdoctoral research appointment in immunology at the Burnet Institute for Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia.
I am currently following a graduate certificate in tertiary and adult education (AQF8), that will further strengthen and support my learning and teaching experience at the CQUniversity.
Universities Studied At
The University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
The University of Melbourne, Australia
Universities Worked At
The University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
The University of Melbourne, Australia
Awards
- National Travel Fellowship (2025), Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia.
- American Society for Tropical Medicine & Hygiene (ASTMH) Annual Meeting Travel Award (2023), Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Best Publication (2019) offered by the Ceylon College of Physicians in collaboration with Royal College of Physicians, Colombo, Sri Lanka
- Professor PCB and Clauda Fernando Gold Medal Award for the Best Undergraduate Research Project in Immunology (2018), University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
Media Citations
A simple lab test, developed by researchers at the Doherty Institute, could help explain why some people are naturally protected from deadly malaria while others aren’t, and improve vaccine development - Doherty News| A new blood test tracks malaria antibodies at work.
Previous teaching
Assistant Lecturer-University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
Teaching Assistant-The University of Melbourne, Australia
Professional Experience
Research Assistant-Peter Doherty Institute, The University of Melbourne, Australia
Postdoctoral Research Officer-Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
Professional Memberships
Australasian Society for Immunology
American Society for Tropical Medicine & Hygiene
Professional Interests
Medical science education in regional and rural Australia
Research Supervision
Accreditation
I am currently accredited for supervision in the following:
- 3206 Medical Biotechnology
- 3204 Immunology
- 3107 Microbiology
Current Capacity
Research Interests
Microbiology - Infectious Agents
Infectious disease immunology
Microbiology - Virology
Vaccines responses
Other biomedical and clinical sciences - Other biomedical and clinical sciences not elsewhere classified
Immunology and human diseases (infectious, autoimmune, non-communicable etc.)
