Research stay at SLU Uppsala: strengthening collaboration in environmental chemistry
From February to May 2026, PhD student Gayani Rajakaruna Kapukotuwa from the Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Biochemistry completed a research stay at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) in Uppsala, Sweden. The mobility focused on environmental analytical chemistry and aquatic toxicology, and further strengthened collaboration between FROV and SLU.
During her stay, Gayani joined a team working on persistent organic pollutants in landfill-affected waters under the supervision of Assoc. Prof. Oksana Golovko. She gained intensive hands-on experience in LC-MS/MS method development and optimization, sample preparation for complex water matrices, and data processing, and contributed to field sampling and laboratory work within the MECROPLAN project (FORMAS, Grant:022-02084).
Gayani also delivered a seminar at SLU based on her recent publication in Environmental Science & Technology. The presentation showcased FROV’s research on pharmaceutical pollution and fish neurobiology to an international audience and stimulated new discussions on joint research directions.
The stay brought clear benefits, including strengthened international links with a leading European institution, enhanced analytical expertise that can be transferred to FROV projects, and increased visibility of the faculty’s research on contaminants of emerging concern. The SLU team highlighted Gayani’s positive attitude, dedication, and valuable contributions to their work, underscoring the mutual benefit of this Erasmus+ mobility.
