Samanthi Kottegoda, Ph.D.

Contact

skottegoda@twu.edu
940-898-2782
ASSC 320

Biography

Dr. Samanthi Kottegoda earned her BS degree in Microbiology from the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka before pursuing her MS degree in Chemistry (with an emphasis in Biochemistry) from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Then she earned a Ph.D. in Microbiology from North Carolina State University, where she studied bioremediation under the direction of Dr. Michael Hyman. She joined the faculty of Texas Woman’s University in 2017 as an adjunct instructor and became a full-time lecturer in 2019. She teaches microbiology, anatomy and physiology I & II, and environmental biology in the department of biology at TWU.

Education

Ph.D., Microbiology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
M.S., Chemistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
B.S., Microbiology, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka

Expertise

Microbiology; Anatomy and Physiology; Environmental Biology

Latest Articles

Isolation and characterization of a novel 2-methylpropene (isobutylene)-metabolizing strain Mycobacterium sp. ELW1
Applied and Environmental Microbiology (2015)
Samanthi Kottegoda, E Waligora, M Hyman

Recent Presentations

To buy or not to buy: The Impact of Open Educational Resources (OER) on Student-Performance
American Society for Microbiology Conference for Undergraduate Educators (ASMCUE) (2020)
Podium | Samanthi Kottegoda, Amy Jo Hammett

Immersive Experiences for Teaching Biology
Teaching and Learning Symposium, Texas Woman's University (2020)
Podium | Samanthi Kottegoda, Jorge Figueroa

Honors & Awards

• Outstanding Academic Achievement Faculty Support, University Housing & Dining, Texas Woman's University (2022)
• Highest workload in fall 2021 for Division of Biology, Texas Woman's University (2022)
• Faculty member who produced most SCH in fall 2021 for the School of the Sciences, Texas Woman's University (2022)
• Outstanding Academic Achievement Faculty Support, University Housing & Dining, Texas Woman's University (2021)
• Distinction in Teaching Award, Texas Woman's University (2021)
• Pioneer Teaching and Learning Academy Scholar, Texas Woman's University (2019)