Aravinda Bandara is a Research Assistant in the Natural Products Chemistry project at the National Institute of Fundamental Studies, currently pursuing his M.Phil. degree at the Postgraduate Institute of Science, University of Peradeniya. He obtained his B.Sc. (Hons) degree in Chemistry from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura in 2023.

His research specializes in the isolation, purification, and structural characterization of bioactive secondary metabolites from medicinal plants and endophytic fungi using advanced chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques such as column chromatography, preparative HPLC, NMR spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry. His work integrates natural product extraction, bioassay-guided fractionation, and structure elucidation to discover novel compounds with potential applications in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and human health.

Aravinda’s broader research interests include phytochemistry, medicinal chemistry, fungal metabolomics, and the development of eco-friendly bioactive agents for sustainable agriculture and disease management. He is particularly keen on exploring plant-fungal symbioses as a source of unique natural products and their potential for drug discovery and biocontrol solutions.