Scientist @ Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)

Hi there! 👋

  • 🤖 I'm Ishara — a senior engineer with 8+ years of experience working across medical imaging, computer‑vision‑based robotics and automation, neurotechnology, and applied AI/ML, delivering end‑to‑end solutions from data to deployment.
  • 📈 I have built intelligent systems for regulated, high performance environments from prototypes to reproducible, scalable solutions, ensuring methods and outputs are robust, well‑validated, and ready for reliable real‑world use.
  • 🧠 My current work focuses on developing AI‑driven quantitative PET/MR biomarkers to support early diagnosis, treatment monitoring, and evidence‑based clinical decision‑making in Alzheimer’s disease.
  • 🚀 To learn more about my work, check out my resume and Google Scholar profile.

Recent updates

  • — Abstract accepted - AAIC 2025 · [Abstract]
    Comparison of visual read performance of NAV and FBP Aβ PET against AI-enabled Centiloid quantification (DeepSUVR)
  • — External funding secured - Lilly Research Award Program
    Validate ARIA Risk genes using brain MRI/PET imaging endpoints: A collaborative project with Eli Lilly & Company (USA) & Edith Cowan University (Australia)
  • — Released a code repository - DeepSUVR · [Github]
    A deep learning method to improve Aβ PET Centiloid quantification
  • — Facilitated a panel discussion - IMNIS Catalyst
    Health technology panel discussion on STEM careers in industry targeted for IMNIS mentees
  • — Media release - The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age · [News]
    Interview about my PhD work: Transforming Infant Hearing Care with Objective Neuroimaging Measures

Professional Experience

  • Aug 2024 — Present

    CERC Fellow — Neuroimaging Team (Full‑time)

    Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia · Australian e‑Health Research Centre · Biomedical Informatics Group

    Developing AI‑enabled imaging biomarkers (PET/MR) to support early detection and treatment monitoring in Alzheimer’s disease.

  • May 2024 — Aug 2024

    BridgeTech Program Participant

    MTPConnect Australia
  • Feb 2021 — Aug 2024

    Teaching Associate (Casual)

    Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
  • Feb 2020 — Feb 2024

    PhD Candidate — Human Hearing Group/Neurobionics Lab (Full‑time)

    Bionics Institute/Monash University, Australia

    Developed objective neuroimaging measures (fNIRS) for early diagnosis and intervention of hearing impairment in infants.

  • Jun 2016 — Dec 2019

    Research Engineer — Robotics Innovation Laboratory (Full‑time)

    Pillar of Engineering Product Development, Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), Singapore

    Built an ultrasound-guided robot-assisted needle tracking for kidney stone removal surgery and a portable, low-cost, self-initialising robotic micromanipulation system for cell handling.

  • Oct 2014 — Mar 2015

    Research Intern — SUTD‑MIT International Design Centre (Full‑time)

    Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), Singapore

    Automated IVF lab procedures with vision-based detection & tracking of blastomere and micropipette, improving procedural accuracy and efficiency.