Dinelka Nanayakkara is a Biostatistics PhD candidate in the Rashid Lab at UNC Chapel Hill. He develops novel statistical methods for subtyping pancreatic cancer using liquid biopsies, with research spanning transfer learning frameworks, multi-omic data integration, and translational applications in precision oncology.

Before joining UNC, Dinelka earned his MS in Biostatistics from UNC (2022-2024) and worked as an Assistant Manager - Actuarial at Ceylinco Life Insurance Limited in Sri Lanka (2021-2022), focusing on product pricing for life insurance, critical illness, and health reimbursement products. He previously worked as an Actuarial Analyst at Spark Actuarial and Risk Consultants (2018-2020), specializing in model documentation and validation for investment products.

His current research focuses on developing statistical methods to subtype pancreatic cancer using liquid biopsies, with additional work through the Center for AIDS Research on infectious disease research. Dinelka also serves as Director of External Partnerships for the Graduate Business Careers Club at UNC-Chapel Hill and has consulting experience with biotech startups through Carolina Graduate Consulting Group (CGsquared).

Dinelka has co-authored publications including “Oral SARS-CoV-2 host responses predict the early COVID-19 disease course” (Scientific Reports, 2024). He holds certifications in actuarial sciences, including perfect scores (10/10) on the Society of Actuaries STAM exam and a 9/10 on the LTAM exam.