Tell us about yourself
I am a 2nd year PhD student in the Department of Biology and the Graduate Degree Program in Ecology. I grew up in Sri Lanka and came to the United States for my higher studies. Since then, I have lived in Seattle, Washington, for my undergraduate studies and completed my Master’s in Northridge, California.
When did you know that you wanted to become a scientist? What do you like most about your research field?
I grew up surrounded by nature and watching nature shows with my family. As a result, I wanted to be like Steve Irwin, with a career interacting with wildlife. However, when I started my undergraduate studies, I learned about careers in research. After joining a lab, I realized I could conduct research that involved being in nature—like Steve Irwin—but also use new and interesting techniques to answer conservation questions that fascinated me. I like my research field because I get to work with wild populations to identify the factors threatening the survival of the organisms I love, so I can better protect them.
How would you explain your research to someone who is not a scientist? Can you summarize it in 5 sentences?
My research explores how habitat fragmentation and climate change affect tropical organisms. Because tropical organisms experience stable climatic conditions, they are likely to be sensitive to severe weather events caused by climate change. Additionally, habitat fragmentation has reduced the amount of suitable habitat available. I investigate the temperatures and microhabitat conditions required for three Sri Lankan rainforest lizards to survive and compare them with those found in plantations, to understand how reforestation strategies—including in plantations—can help these lizards persist. I also use genomic methods to study what environmental and landscape factors affect population connectivity across the range of one of these lizard species. Overall, I aim to use my research to inform species- and ecosystem-level conservation in Sri Lanka.
What are your hobbies and preferred activities when you are not doing science?
I enjoy being outside, hiking, and doing wildlife photography. I also enjoy making jewelry and reading when I can.
What are some of the challenges you’ve faced in your research?
It has been quite challenging to find funding for my research since it is international and conducted in a politically and economically unstable country. Dedicating enough time to my research is also difficult because I balance taking and teaching classes as a graduate student. While conducting my research, obtaining large sample sizes has been challenging because I work with rare species. This difficulty is compounded by climate change, which causes severe storms and irregular weather patterns that make accessing field sites and finding my study species even harder.
What are some of the challenges you face as an international scholar/student?
Coming from the tropics and having lived in much warmer places, the cold winters of Colorado have been a real challenge. I also haven’t found any Sri Lankan food nearby, so I miss eating some of my favorite dishes from home.
Can you describe a city or place in your country that everyone should visit, and what would you recommend doing there?
I think many people might disagree with me, but I suggest visiting Galle. Although it is a popular tourist spot, the town has a lot of historical significance. It is also by the beach, has plenty of restaurants, and is close to the airport. Most importantly, I recommend Galle because it is just a few minutes away from one of my favorite rainforest reserves, Kanneliya. It is a beautiful and accessible rainforest, with clear trails, knowledgeable guides, and the chance to see many incredible endemic and endangered species right from the paths.
Contact Information:
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://shanellewiks.github.io/