Biography and education
I received BS (Hons.) degree in Sri Lanka, and MS and PhD degrees from the University of Hawaii. After working for several years as a tenured faculty member at the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, I moved back to US in 1998 for postdoctoral fellowships at UT, Austin and IU, Bloomington, before joining Texas State University in 2005.
Teaching Interests
Research Interests
Featured grants
- Dharmasiri, Nihal (Principal), Dharmasiri, Sunethra (Co-Principal). Functions of SAUR genes in auxin response, Texas State University, Texas State University, $14500. (Submitted: 2006, Funded: 2006 - 2007). Grant.
- Dharmasiri, Nihal (Principal), Dharmasiri, Sunethra (Co-Principal). Functions of SAUR genes in auxin response., Texas State University, $14500.00. (Funded: 2006 - 2007). Grant.

Featured scholarly/creative works
- Weerakkody, H. N., Opara, I. E., Acharjya, P., Dharmasiri, S., & Dharmasiri, N. (n.d.). Simplified in-vitro assay for testing auxin activity of chemicals using direct protein-protein interaction. In Methods in Molecular Biology: Plant hormone methods and protocols. Springer Nature.
- Kathare, P. K., Dharmasiri, S., Arellano, I., & Dharmasiri, N. (2020). Interaction of SAUR53 and its close homologs with Calmodulin may play a role in early development in Arabidopsis. Plant Molecular Biology Reporter, 38, 343–351. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11105-020-01199-x
- Kathare, P., Dharmasiri, S., Arellano, I., & Dharmasiri, N. (2020). Interaction of SAUR53 and Its Close Homologs with Calmodulin May Play a Role in Early Development in Arabidopsis. Plant Molecular Biology Reporter, 38(2), 343–351. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1007/s11105-020-01199-x
- Kathare, P. K., Dharmasiri, S., Vincill, E., Routray, P., Ahmad, I., Roberts, D. M., & Dharmasiri, N. (2019). Arabidopsis PIC30 encodes a Major Facilitator Superfamily (MFS) transporter responsible for the uptake of picolinate herbicides. The Plant Journal. https://doi.org/10.1111/tpj.14608.
- Kathare, P. K., Dharmasiri, S., & Dharmasiri, N. (2018). SAUR53 regulates organ elongation and apical hook development in Arabidopsis. Plant Signaling & Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1080/15592324.2018.1514896
Featured awards
- Award / Honor Recipient: College Achievement for Excellence in Teaching, CoSE, Texas State University. August 17, 2023
- Award / Honor Nominee: Teaching Award of Honor, Alumni Association of Texas State University. April 2022
- Award / Honor Recipient: Award for Best PhD Research Presentation, University of Hawaii. April 1994
- Award / Honor Recipient: Award for Best Research Presentation in Plant Molecular Physiology, University of Hawaii. April 1994

Featured service activities
- Member
Greenhouse Committee
- Other
Plant Biology Society
- Member
Marketing and Development Committee
- Organizer
Biology Exhibits, CoSE Welcome Week Openhouse
- Member
NLF Evaluation Committee
- Judge
SSASPB Annual Conference, undergraduate poster competition
