Asantha Fernando

Asantha earned his Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy from the University of Colombo. After graduation, he joined a clinical research organization where he contributed to several projects focused on drugs for diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and conjunctivitis. Driven by a deep passion for discovering novel therapeutics, he pursued a Master’s in Organic Chemistry at the University of Colombo. He then went on to complete his doctorate at Kansas State University, where his research focused on the total synthesis of natural products with anticancer and biofilm-inhibitory properties. After completing his Ph.D., Asantha joined the Wuest Lab as a postdoctoral fellow, with the goal of pursuing an academic career and mentoring the next generation of researchers. His current research focuses on the total synthesis and biological evaluation of natural antibiotics and their analogs. Outside the lab, Asantha enjoys watching movies, playing guitar, volunteering, and traveling.