
Dr. (Mrs.) S. Kirushanthan
PhD in Food Science (Otago University, New Zealand), B.Sc. in Agriculture (Hons) (UOJ, Sri Lanka)
Senior Lecturer Grade II
- +94
- rsarathadevi@univ.jfn.ac.lk
- Website
Academic Profile
Admin Positions
Teaching
Research
Publications
Awards
Outreach Activities
Academic Profile
Education
- PhD in Food Science at University of Otago, New Zealand (2024)
- Sc. (Hons.) in Agriculture, University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka (2017)
Academic positions held
- Senior Lecturer Grade II – August 2024 to date
- Lecturer– July 2018 to August 2024
- Assistant Lecturer – January 2018 to July 2018
- Demonstrator – August 2017 to January 2018
Research Interests
- Food Analysis
- Food Microbiology
- Flavours/aroma compounds
- Fermentation Technology
- Food Product Development
Admin Positions
Faculty Level
- Member of Faculty Research Committee, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Jaffna (Present)
- Student Counsellor (Present)
- Coordinator – Orientation Programme for the New Entrants -2024
- Joint Secretary – International Conference on Dryzone Agriculture (10th-ICDA) Committee – July 2024 to September 2024
- Assistant secretary – Welfare Society, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Jaffna (2020)
- Member of SER writing team, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Jaffna (2019)
Teaching
Undergraduate Teaching
- FS 21012: Biochemistry
- FS 22013: Principles of Food science and Nutrition
- FS 32012: Food Technology
- FS 32022: Food Chemistry
- FS 32032: Food Microbiology
- FS 41032: Food and Nutrition
- FS 41053: Food Product Development and Sensory Evaluation
Research
Research Grants Received
- University research grant (2019): Evaluation of antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of selected seaweeds available in Northern region of Sri Lanka (Principal Investigator)
Publications
Full Papers in Peer Reviewed Journals
- Rajendran, S., Khomenko, I., Silcock, P., Betta, E., Biasioli, F., & Bremer, P. (2025). The use of proton-transfer-reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometry (PTR-ToF-MS) to determine the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by different lactic acid bacterial strains growing in defined media. Applied Microbiology, 5, 33. doi: 10.3390/applmicrobiol5010033
- Sarathadevi Rajendran, Iuliia Khomenko, Patrick Silcock, Emanuela Betta, Franco Biasioli, and Phil Bremer. (2024). Impact of different carbon sources on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced during fermentation by Levilactobacillus brevis WLP672 measured using proton transfer reaction-time of flight-mass spectrometry (PTR-ToF-MS). Molecules , 29, 3275. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29143275
- Sarathadevi Rajendran, Iuliia Khomenko, Patrick Silcock, Emanuela Betta, Michele Pedrotti, Franco Biasioli, and Phil Bremer. (2024). The effect of different medium compositions and LAB strains on fermentation volatile organic compounds (VOCs) analysed by proton transfer reaction-time of flight-mass spectrometry (PTR-ToF-MS). Fermentation, 10. https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation10060317
- Rajendran, S.; Silcock, P.; Bremer, P. (2024). Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) Produced by Levilactobacillus brevis WLP672 Fermentation in Defined Media Supplemented with Different Amino Acids. Molecules, 29, 753. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29040753
- Rajendran, S., Silcock, P., & Bremer, P. (2023). Flavour Volatiles of Fermented Vegetable and Fruit Substrates: A Review. Molecules, 28(7), 3236. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/molecules28073236
- Sivakanthan, S., Rajendran, S., Gamage, A., Madhujith, T., Mani, S. 2020. Antioxidant and antimicrobial applications of biopolymers: A review. Food Research International, 136 (October 2020), 109327. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2020.109327.
- Croos, A.M.B., Rajendran, S. and Ranganathan, K., 2019. Isolation of a cellulase producing Bacillus cereus from cow dung and determination of the kinetic properties of the crude enzyme. Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka, 47(2), pp.261–267. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/jnsfsr.v47i2.9168
- Sarathadevi,R., Kapilan, R. and Vasantharuba, S. (2018). Papaw fruit juice as source for single cell protein production using natural palmyrah toddy yeast.Ceylon Journal of Science, 47(4), 379–386. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/cjs.v47i4.7556
- Sarathadevi,R., Kapilan, R. and Vasantharuba, S. (2018). Single Cell Protein Production from Papaw and Banana Fruit Juices Using Baker’s Yeast. American-Eurasian Journal of Agriculture and Environmental Science. 18 (4): 168-172. DOI: 10.5829/idosi.aejaes.2018.168.172
Abstracts Presented at Conferences
- Ketharany, J., Sivakanthan, S. and Sarathadevi, R. (2025). Development and characterization of ash gourd (Benincasa hispida) and beetroot (Beta vulgaris) jam incorporated with cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) flavour. Proceeding of the Annual Scientific Sessions of the Nutrition Society, Sri Lanka. 18th-19th January 2025,pp.74.
- Suwathy, M., Vasantharuba, S. and Sarathadevi, R. (2025). Impact of different drying methods on nutritional characteristics of carrot, sweet potato, and moringa leaf powder and the production of noodles. Proceedings of the Annual Scientific Sessions of the Nutrition Society, Sri Lanka. 18th-19th January 2025,pp.79.
- Sarathadevi Rajendran, Jini John, Iuliia Khomenko, Patrick Silcock, Emanuela Betta, Michele Pedrotti, Franco Biasioli, and Phil Bremer. Impact of media composition and temperature on the volatile organic compounds produced by lactic acid bacteria growing in defined media. 22nd world congress in food science and technology (IUFoST, September 2024, Italy).
- Jini John, Sarathadevi Rajendran, Phil Bremer and Patrick Silcock. (2024). Effect of amino acid addition on volatile organic compound (VOC) production by Levilactobacillus brevis WLP672 during fermentation in defined media. New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology (NZIFST) Annual Conference, Hamilton, New Zealand, 2-4, July 2024.
- Sarathadevi Rajendran, Iuliia Khomenko, Patrick Silcock, Emanuela Betta, Franco Biasioli, and Phil Bremer. (2023). Impact of lactic acid bacterial strains on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) profile analyzed using proton transfer reaction-time of flight-mass spectrometry (PTR-ToF-MS). Graduate research symposium, University of Otago, New Zealand, 29-30, November.
- Sarathadevi Rajendran, Iuliia Khomenko, Patrick Silcock, Emanuela Betta, Franco Biasioli, and Phil Bremer. (2023). Determining the volatile organic compound (VOC) profiles produced by seven lactic acid bacterial strains growing in defined media using proton transfer reaction-time of flight-mass spectrometry (PTR-ToF-MS). Proceedings of the 3rd Food Chemistry Conference: Shaping a healthy and sustainable food chain through knowledge, Germany, 10-12, October 2023
- Sarathadevi Rajendran, Iuliia Khomenko, Patrick Silcock, Emanuela Betta, Franco Biasioli, and Phil Bremer. (2023). Effect of different carbon sources on fermentation volatile organic compounds (VOCs) profile by Levilactobacillus brevis WLP672 using proton transfer reaction-time of flight-mass spectrometry (PTR-ToF-MS). Proceedings of the 1st International symposium on direct injection food flavour analytics (DIFFA23), Italy, 20-22, September 2023
- Sarathadevi Rajendran, Phil Bremer, and Pat Silcock. (2022). Effect of different amino acids on the volatile organic compound (VOC) profile produced by Lactobacillus brevis during fermentation. Proceedings of the 7th MS food 5-7 October 2022. P-108-110. ISBN 9788894952117 (Poster abstract).
- Aruna Christella, C., R. Sarathadevi and S. Vasantharuba. (2021). Development of Banana Pseudo-Stem Incorporated Chips and Study the acceptability of the Product. Proceedings of 7th International Conference on Dry zone Agriculture -2021 (ICDA 2021). University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka, 3rd – 4th December 2021, p.58
- M. Sanduni Nuwanthika Galagedara, R. Sarathadevi and S. Vasantharuba. (2021). Production of Green Banana Powder from Ambul and Puwalu Varieties and Comparisons of their Physicochemical, Antioxidant Properties and Shelf-Life Evaluation. Proceedings of 7th International Conference on Dry zone Agriculture -2021 (ICDA 2021). University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka, 3rd – 4th December 2021, p.57
- Nitharshana, R., Sarathadevi,R., and Vasantharuba, S. (2021). Quality analysis of commercially available selected bottled drinking water samples in jaffna district. International Symposium on Agriculture and Environment (ISAE) 2021.
- Shakana, K., Sarathadevi,R., and Vasantharuba, S. (2020). Evaluation of nutritional composition and antioxidant properties of Cissus quadrangularis (‘Pirandai’) Proceedings of 6th International Conference on Dry zone Agriculture -2020 (ICDA 2020). University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka, 3rd – 4th December 2020, p.44.
- Selvanogelin, S., Sarathadevi,R., and Vasantharuba, S. (2020). Evaluation of nutritional composition and antioxidant properties of seaweeds available in the northern region of Sri Lanka. Proceedings of 6th International Conference on Dry zone Agriculture -2020 (ICDA 2020). University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka, 3rd – 4th December 2020, p.46.
- Nitharshana, R., Sarathadevi,R., and Vasantharuba, S. (2020). Quality analysis of selected commercially available reverse osmosis treated drinking water samples in Jaffna District. Proceedings of 6th International Conference on Dry zone Agriculture -2020 (ICDA 2020). University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka, 3rd – 4th December 2020, p.62.
- Theepana, Y., Sarathadevi, R and Sivakanthan, S. (2019). Antioxidant properties of selected varieties of banana blossom dried using different methods. 1st International Conference on Agriculture, Food Security & Safety. Vol 1, p.24.
- Theepana, Y., Sarathadevi, R and Sivakanthan, S. (2019). Determination of Antioxidant properties of Blossoms of Banana (Musa acuminate) Varieties Available in Jaffna District. Proceedings of the Peradeniya University International Research Session, Sri Lanka. Vol 22, p.152.
- Theepana, Y., Sarathadevi, R and Sivakanthan, S. (2019). Effect of solvent and extraction duration on antioxidant properties of banana (Musa acuminata “Itharai”) blossom. Proceeding of Jaffna science association. Vol 26 (1), p.41.
- Sarathadevi,R., Kapilan, R and Vasantharuba, S. (2017). Optimization of single cell protein production from banana fruit juice using palmyrah toddy mix under liquid fermentation system. Proceedings of Peradeniya university international research sessions (iPURSE 2017). Volume 21, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, 24th November 2017, p.93-94.
- Sarathadevi,R., Kapilan, R and Vasantharuba, S. (2017). Production of single cell protein using mixed culture of toddy with banana fruit juice: A cost effective method. Proceedings of 22nd international forestry and environment symposium. University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka, 10th -11th November 2107, p.34.
- Sarathadevi,R., Kapilan, R and Vasantharuba, S. (2017). Production of single cell protein from papaw fruit juice using palmyrah toddy mix. Proceedings of 3rd International Conference on Dry zone Agriculture -2017 (ICDA 2017). University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka, 1st – 2nd November 2017, p.67.
- Sarathadevi,R., Kapilan, R and Vasantharuba, S. (2017). Comparative study on single cell protein production with Baker’s yeast and mixed culture of toddy from papaw juice. The international conference on food quality, safety and security (Food qualiSS-2017). The international institute of knowledge management, Sri Lanka, 24th-25th October 2017, p.27.
Awards
Scholarship/ Fellowship
- The Accelerating Higher Education Expansion and Development (AHEAD) operation, a world bank funded project, Ministry of Education, Sri Lanka (2020-2023)
Medals
- Obtained Late Dr. & Mrs. C. Jeyaratnam memorial gold medal for the best overall performance in Agricultural chemistry along with highest OGPA
Research Awards
- Dean merit certificate for best research in Agricultural chemistry (Food)
Other Awards
- University prize for the best performance in the fourth examination in Agriculture
Outreach Activities
- Facilitator for five-day workshop of British Council’s Going Global Partnership – UNICYCLE 2022, University of Jaffna, March 2022
- Moderator for the webinar on Prospects of tropical dry forest in Sri Lanka: ways forward to conservation and utilization, organized by the Jaffna Science Association, November 2021
- Resource person for the soft skill development program organized by the Faculty of Allied Health Science, University of Jaffna, August 2021
- Facilitator for the Active citizens, the British council (Climate change) for the faculty of Science (June 2021) and Faculty of Arts (July to September, 2021), University of Jaffna
- Contributed in the field research and report writing for the commissioned report on the Biodiversity and ecosystem analysis in the riparian zone of the Kanagarayan River, Mullaitivu for the Central Environment Authority, Mullaitivu (2021).
- Involved in the field research and report writing for the commissioned report on the Biodiversity and ecosystem analysis in the riparian zone of the Akkarayan River, Kilinochchi for the Divisional Secretariat, Kilinochchi (2021).
- Currently work on the Biodiversity survey in the Chundikulam National park in the Northern province collaborating with the Center for Children’s’ Happiness and the Thinnai group, Sri Lanka.
- Member of the panel of judges for the evaluation of action projects of the undergraduates, Department of Chemistry, the University of Jaffna, organized by the English speakers’ club of the University of Jaffna, December 2021
- Resource person for the webinar for school students on the importance of the English language in higher education, June 2021 in collaboration with American spaces, Sri Lanka and American corner, Jaffna
- Speaker at the webinar on Rescuing our environment- Act together, Environmental day 2021, organized by the American corner, Jaffna
- Speaker at the Earth day program, 2019, organized by the American Corner, Jaffna
- Facilitator for the Active citizens program of the British council organized by the University of Ruhuna, January 2017
- Resource person for the workshop on water conservation for the school students in the Delft Island organized by Jaffna Science Association, September 2016