Dr. Sanika Wijayasekara is the Dean of the Faculty of Computing and a Senior Lecturer Grade I in Data Science at SLTC Research University, Padukka. Her research focuses on wireless communication, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), UAV path planning using Integer Linear Programming (ILP), cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI), and multi-access collision avoidance, with a particular emphasis on integrating machine learning with optimization techniques for enhanced efficiency in UAV systems and cybersecurity applications. She has received multiple research grants and fellowships, including the SLIIT Research Grant (2024-2025) for her work on adaptive optimization in multi-UAV systems, the Ratchadapisek Somphot Fund for Postdoctoral Fellowship at Chulalongkorn University, and the Overseas Research Experience Scholarship to serve as a Research Visiting Student at National Taiwan University (NTU), Taiwan, in the Mobile Networks and Wireless Communications (TONIC) Research Group. Dr. Wijayasekara earned her PhD in Telecommunication Networking and Systems from Chulalongkorn University, Thailand (2015–2019), where she conducted research on a tree-based collision resolution algorithm for RFID using Bayesian tag estimation under the supervision of Professor Lunchakorn Wuttisittikulkij. She also holds an M.Sc. in Telecommunications from the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand (2011–2012), where she worked on a cross-layer design approach in OLSR MANET using BER and weighted connectivity index, and a BSc (Hons) in Information Technology, specializing in Computer Systems and Networking, from Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) (2006–2009), graduating with First-Class Honours. Prior to her current role, she served as an Assistant Professor in Computer Systems Engineering and Programme Coordinator of the Computer Systems Engineering Degree Programme at SLIIT, a University Associate at Curtin University Australia, affiliated with Curtin Colombo, and a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Chulalongkorn University. She was also a Senior Lecturer Grade II at General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) atatched to Faculty of Engineering, Sri Lanka.