Dr Shalini Rajakaruna joined the NIFS in April 2019 as a Scientific Officer to initiate the operations of the Research Office at the Institute. She graduated in Applied Biology from the Faculty of Applied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka in 2011 and worked there as a temporary demonstrator in Zoology until 2012. Dr. Rajakaruna completed her PhD in Ecology in 2017 from the University of Peradeniya and thereafter worked as a voluntary researcher for WAFA- Denmark for a short period before joining NIFS. She has been actively engaged in scientific research in the fields of Ecology and Biodiversity Conservation for nearly six years and has won international awards including the best essay at the Asia Pacific Forestry Week, Beijing 2011, Best internship report at the Students Conference for Conservation Science, University of Cambridge, UK 2013, and the best presenter at the Students Conference for Conservation Science- Hungary, 2016. Shalini is currently engaged in designing and developing the activities in the Research Office in order to enhance the quality and the visibility of the research carried out at the NIFS. Her research interests include Ecosystem Management, Fresh Water Ecology, Invasive Species and Community Ecology.