Ms. Keerthika Shakthivel

Educational Qualifications

• Mphil in Agriculture (reading) - Eastern University Sri Lanka.
• Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (Honors) with First class (GPA of 3.82/4.00) – Eastern University Sri Lanka (2022)

Work Experience

• Lecturer (Probationary) in Agricultural Biology - Department of Agricultural Biology, Faculty of Agriculture, Eastern University, Sri Lanka (01 January 2025 – Present).
• Temporary Assistant Lecturer - Department of Agricultural Biology, Faculty of Agriculture, Eastern University, Sri Lanka (2023 March – 2024 March)

Professional Memberships

• Member of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (Membership No: 12785/B)
• Member of Young Scientist Forum – National Science and Technology Commission (Membership No: ID – Y/K/75)
• Member of the Science and Technology Management Information System (STMIS No: NSF/STMIS/010562

• Google Scholar
  https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=7ccv0TEAAAAJ&hl=en
• ResearchGate
  https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Keerthika-Shakthivel?ev=hdr_xprf
• Web of Science
  https://www.webofscience.com/wos/author/record/MEK-9816-2025
• ORCiD
  https://orcid.org/0009-0001-4071-1830
• LinkedIn
  www.linkedin.com/in/keerthika-shakthivel-812a6034b

Book Chapter

1. Prasannath, V., Shakthivel, K., Rakulan, T. and Prasannath, K., 2025. Market Avenues and the Availability of Mycorrhizal Products for Use in Agriculture by Farmers. In Sustainable Mycorrhizal Cultivation: Innovations for Hillside Farming Systems (pp. 385-403). Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore.

Full Research Paper in Journals

1. Prasannath, K., Peter Arulraj, S., Shakthivel, K., Rakulan, T. and Chandranath Karunarathna, S., 2025. Revisiting the ecological significance, composition, and functions of plant microbiome: a review. New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science, pp.1-33.
2. Keerthika, S. and Niranjana, R. F. (2023). The effectiveness of powdery formulations of long pepper (Piper longum L.) and sweet flag (Acorus calamus L.) to combat the cowpea weevil (Callosobruchus maculatus F.) on stored mung beans. Journal of Dry Zone Agriculture, 9(2), 48- 64.

Published Conference Proceedings-Abstract/Extended Abstracts

1. Keerthika, S., Thibisha, R., Karunakaran, S., Niranjana, R. F. &   Uthayachandran, P. (2025 A survey on the prevalence and distribution of coconut mite (Aceria guerreronis) infestation in selected regions of the Batticaloa district. 3rd International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research- 2025, Eastern University Sri Lanka. 3 – 4 January 2024. p. 28.
2. Shiromiya, P. A., Thibisha, R., Keerthika, S., Karunakaran, S. and Niranjana, R. F. (2024). The impacts of temperature variations on the mortality rate and f1 generation of Tribolium castaneum. International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research- 2024, Eastern University Sri Lanka. 23rd January 2024. p. 26–27.
3. Keerthika, S., Thibisha, R., Shiromiya, P. A. and Niranjana R. F. (2024). Assessing the median lethal dose of the powdery Acorus calamus pesticide against Callosobruchus maculatus. International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research- 2024, Eastern University Sri Lanka. 23rd January 2024. p. 28.
4. Suriyapperuma, S. V. E. D. P.,   Prasannath, K.  and Keerthika, S. (2024). Impact of different pre-weeding control methods on centella asiatica l. (gotu kola) cultivation. Proceedings of the 6th National Symposium on Agriculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Eastern University, Sri Lanka. 06 March 2024. p. 22.
5. Shiromiya, P. A., Keerthika, S., Thibisha, R., Sarroojan, P., Fernando, P. R. & Niranjana, R. F. (2023). Influence of Electro Magnetic Field on the Biology of Immature Stages of Swarming Armyworm (Spodoptera mauritia). 1st International Conference on Technological Research and Innovation, Faculty of Technology, Eastern University, Sri Lanka. 27th September 2023. p. 14.
6. Thibisha, R., Keerthika, S., Shiromiya, P. A., Karunakaran, S. & Niranjana, R. F. (2023). Assessing the effectiveness of eco-friendly extracts to control spiralling whitefly (Aleurodicus disperse) in coconut (Cocos nucifera). Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science Annual Sessions 2023. p. 17.
7. Keerthika, S. & Niranjana, R. F. (2023). Evaluating the potency of formulated pesticides from sweet flag (Acorus calamus Linnaeus, 1753) to fend off cowpea grain deterioration by Callosobruchus maculatus Fabricius, 1775. Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science Annual Sessions 2023. p. 18.
8. Keerthika, S. and Niranjana, R. F. (2023). The effectiveness of powdery formulations of long pepper (Piper longum L.) and sweet flag (Acorus calamus L.) to combat the cowpea weevil (Callosobruchus maculatus F.) on stored mung beans. Journal of Dry Zone Agriculture, 9(2), 48- 64.

1. Crop Improvement
2. Sustainable Plant Breeding
3. Pest-Resistant Variety Development

1. AB 1101 Agricultural Botany
2. AB 2102 Principles of Genetics
3. AB 2201 Principles of Crop Improvement Technology

• Sivasubramaniam Raveendranath Memorial Gold Medal Award 2021 in the Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Degree programme for the best performer among those specializing the Agricultural Biology (2016/2017 Batch). The award was formally conferred in 2023

1. Editor for Faculty Newsletter 2025, Faculty of Agriculture, Eastern University, Sri Lanka.
2. Coordinator of the Orientation Programme – Academic Year 2023/2024, Faculty of Agriculture, Eastern University, Sri Lanka.
3. Student Counsellor, Faculty of Agriculture, Eastern University, Sri Lanka (2025–Present).
4. Committee Member, International Symposium Agriculture – ISA 2026, Faculty of Agriculture, Eastern University, Sri Lanka.