Shashika Hewavitharana, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor in Plant Sciences and Strawberry Pathologist with the Strawberry Center
Plant Sciences
College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences
Dr. Hewavitharana received her B.S. in Plant Biotechnology at the University of Colombo, in Sri Lanka. She obtained her M.S. in Plant Pathology and her Ph.D. in Plant Pathology from Washington State University.
Dr. Hewavitharana's last position was as a postdoctoral research associate working under Dr. Mark Mazzola at USDA-ARS and Tianna DuPont at Washington State University's Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center.
Her research involved application of bio-renovation methods of anaerobic soil disinfestation and Brassicaceae seed meal application to control apple replant disease. Her research program at Cal Poly focuses on integrated management of both current and emerging disease threats to California's strawberry industry.