Hey

I ‘m

Jonathan S.

Weerakkody!

Postdoctoral Researcher @Yale | ​Engineer | Digital Artist

I specialize in extracellular vesicles and exosome biology, ​with a deep interest in biotechnology development and its ​applications in neurodegenerative disord​ers.

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A Bit ​About ​Me

Ultra Thin Lined Spiral

InequaLity

InequaLity

Equity

Equity

EquaLity?

EquaLity?

Justice

Justice

Adapted from 2019 Design in Tech Report.

Bio

I was born and raised in the island nation of Sri-Lanka. My passion ​for research began during my undergrad at Louisiana Tech University ​(Go Bulldogs!!), where I worked on NASA's EPSCOR project. This ​experience led me to secure a full-ride scholarship from the ​European Commission to pursue a Master's at KU Leuven. There, I ​had the privilege to train at IMEC, a leading R&D hub in ​nanoelectronics, further driving my interest towards biotechnology ​with a focus on developing and commercializing micro/nano devices.


For my PhD, I joined the Yanxia Hou Lab in the Interdisciplinary ​Research Institute of Grenoble, part of the French Alternative ​Energies and Atomic Energy Commission in France. Here, I ​collaborated with the start-up Aryballe Technologies to develop an ​optoelectronic nose, contributing to several technical papers that ​supported the commercialization of the device. Aiming to bridge my ​expertise to biomedical technologies, I continued my postdoctoral ​training in the Ramakrishnan lab and Rothman lab, focusing on in ​vitro technologies for neurodegenerative disorders.


I am currently in the final phase of my postdoctoral training at the​ Pitt Lab, where I am applying clinical insights to deepen our ​understanding of multiple sclerosis progression. This endeavor ​represents the culmination of my experiences in science and ​engineering, each steering my research, hopefully, towards ​meaningful advancements in biomedical applications.

Research ​Philosophy

My research journey has spanned multiple continents, with each ​location uniquely enriching my knowledge and broadening my ​experiences. At the core of this global exploration is my commitment ​to equity and diversity, which shapes every interaction and ​collaboration. We are like vessels, continuously gathering diverse ​experiences throughout our lives. As scientists, we blend these ​experiences, much like an artist with their palette, to create a ​cohesive body of work. This synthesis not only deepens our ​understanding of the world but also reshapes the landscape of ​research, emphasizing inclusivity and expanding perspectives in our ​pursuit of justice.

Education

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SKILLS

Postdoctoral Associate

Yale School of Medicine, U.S.

Neurology & Pathology Departments

Ph.D. in Biophysics

University Grenoble-Alpes, France

Doctoral School of Physics

M.S. in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (Hons.)

Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium

Bio-nanotechnology Concentration

EU commission funded Joint degree

B.S. in Nanosystems Engineering (Top 5%)

Louisiana Tech University, U.S.

Biomedical Concentration

Minor in Mathematics

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Doctoral

Fellowship

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Erasmus+ ​Masters ​Scholarship

EU Commission (2015-2017)

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Outsanding

Junior

Louisiana Tech University (2014)

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Freshman ​Engineer of the ​year

Tau Beta Pi - Louisiana Gamma ​Chapter (2011)

Current ​Research

Extracellular Vesicles - ​‘FedEx for your cells’

Discovering Invisible Messengers in the Fight Against ​Neurodegenration: In cellular communication, tiny ​carriers known as extracellular vesicles (EVs) are ​revolutionizing our understanding of neurodegenerative ​diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS) and ​Alzheimer’s disease [1]. Once dismissed as mere ​cellular debris, these nanoscale particles have ​emerged as potent biomarkers for the early detection of ​disease progression. By analyzing the molecular ​signatures carried by plasma-derived EVs in patient ​blood, we are gaining vital insights into how ​neurodegenerative conditions alter cellular ​communications. This approach advances our ​diagnostic capabilities ushering in a new era of ​targeted interventions and personalized care for ​neurodegenerative disorders.


Quotation Mark

Tiny but mighty, extracellular ​vesicles might just be the dark ​horse of cellular ​communication, with the ​potential to revolutionize how ​we diagnose and treat diseases.


~ A. Abbot Nature ​News (2023)

Previous Research

Exploring Exocytosis

Investigating Protein Modulation in Synaptic Vesicle Pools: What is ​the role of protein isoforms and their enrichment in distinct vesicle ​pools? Our research explores the vital role of exocytosis proteins in ​regulating neurotransmitter and hormone release and their potential ​links to Diabetes and Alzheimer's. By studying protein modulation ​within vesicle pools, we aim to uncover mechanisms that could lead ​to advanced therapeutic targets. unpublished

High-Throughput Luciferase Reporter Assay for Insulin Secretion: Our ​research involved the development of a high-throughput luciferase ​reporter assay specifically designed to study the dynamics of insulin ​secretion in pancreatic β-cells. This innovative tool enables precise ​quantification of insulin promoter activity under various stimuli, ​offering critical insights into the cellular mechanisms that control ​insulin release—a key aspect of diabetes research [2].

Next-Generation In-Vitro Membrane-On-Chip Technology: Our ​research involved the development of an advanced membrane-on-chip ​in vitro platform, specifically focusing on a synapse-on-chip, enabling ​the mechanistic dissection of exocytosis [3,4]. This platform allows ​for precise studies of synaptic functions and capturing the intricate

choreography of molecules during fusion events crucial for ​understanding the states of neurodegenerative diseases.

Biomimetic Opto-electronic Nose

Interplay between Biologocal structure and Function in odor ​detection: Our research focuses on the physiochemical roles of ​nanostructured biological receptors within the optoelectronic nose ​system. We have underscored the importance of biomimetic structural ​elements, utilizing hairpin DNA and short peptides to boost system ​functionality [7, 8]. A fortunate discovery led to the development of ​innovative biomaterials aimed at enhancing odor sensing. We have ​crafted biohybrid heterostructures, meticulously designed through the ​self-assembly of simple short peptides for the sensitive and selective ​detection of odors [5].

Plasmonic Contributions of a Gas-Phase Surface Plasmon ​Resonance Imaging (SPRI) Chip: Our research achieved a significant ​breakthrough in understanding surface plasmon damping effects on ​plasmonic sensors. We identified the critical role of nanometric semi-​ellipsoidal gold grains on the sensor's surface. Through a ​comprehensive numerical model, we successfully matched theoretical ​predictions with experimental outcomes for the first time [9]. This ​foundational work has driven pioneering advancements in SPRI ​technology and the development of optoelectronic nose technology. ​These innovations form the core of the start-up, Aryballe [6].


Select Publications


  1. Weerakkody JS, Tseng T, Topper M, et al. Photosensitive Nanoprobes for Rapid High Purity Isolation and ​Size-Specific Enrichment of Synthetic and Extracellular Vesicle Subpopulations. Advanced Functional ​Materials. 2024 Patent Pending - Yale Ventures
  2. Thoduvayil S, Weerakkody JS, Sundaram RVK, et al. Rapid Quantification of First and Second Phase ​Insulin Secretion Dynamics using an In vitro Platform for Improving Insulin Therapy. Cell Calcium. 2023
  3. Kalyana Sundaram RV, Bera M, Coleman J, Weerakkody JS, Krishnakumar SS, Ramakrishnan S. Native ​Planar Asymmetric Suspended Membrane for Single-Molecule Investigations: Plasma Membrane on a ​Chip. Small. 2022
  4. Ramakrishnan S, Weerakkody JS. Suspended lipid bilayer: a versatile platform for nextgen drug discovery ​and biomedical applications. Accounts of Materials Research. 2022
  5. Weerakkody JS, El Kazzy M, Jacquier E, et al. Surfactant-like peptide self-assembled into hybrid ​nanostructures for electronic nose applications. ACS nano. 2022
  6. El Kazzy M, Weerakkody JS, Hurot C, et al. An overview of artificial olfaction systems with a focus on ​surface plasmon resonance for the analysis of volatile organic compounds. Biosensors. 2020
  7. Brenet S, Weerakkody JS, Buhot A, et al. Improvement of sensitivity of surface plasmon resonance ​imaging for the gas-phase detection of volatile organic compounds. Talanta. 2020. Aryballe Start-up ​Technical Paper
  8. Gaggiotti S, Hurot C, Weerakkody JS, et al. Development of an optoelectronic nose based on surface ​plasmon resonance imaging with peptide and hairpin DNA for sensing volatile organic compounds. ​Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical. 2020
  9. Weerakkody JS, Brenet S, Livache T, Herrier C, Hou Y, Buhot A. Optical index prism sensitivity of surface ​plasmon resonance imaging in gas phase: Experiment versus theory. The Journal of Physical Chemistry ​C. 2020 Aryballe Start-up Technical Paper


Community Outreach

Arbeiter Samariter Bund

2004: Post-Tsunami Program

Contributed to ASB’s post-tsunami relief ​efforts in Sri Lanka, focusing on rebuilding ​preschools in underprivileged communities and ​combating long term psychological impact due ​to displacement.

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World Vision

Positive Deviance Hearth Program

Spearheaded vital community health and ​nutrition programs to sustainably prevent ​malnutrition among children under five in Sri-​Lanka’s impoverished coastal communities.

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Boost Foundation

Project Sharing Knowledge

Engaged in delivering science and ​mathematics education to overcome staffing ​and resource challenges in rural schools in Sri-​lanka, contributing to the educational ​empowerment of the community.

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Email:

Ad​dress

8th floor

300 George St.,

New Haven, CT, 06511

Get in touch

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