Dr. Sajeevee Kadawatha Dina Mithrage is a postdoctoral researcher and Honorary Research Fellow at the Institute of Agriculture, affiliated with the School of Agriculture and Environment in the Faculty of Science at the University of Western Australia. She began her doctoral studies in 2018 as a postgraduate research student in the UWA School of Agriculture and Environment and Institute of Agriculture, supported by RTP, UPA, and UWA Safety Net Top-Up funding. Supervised by Dr. Zakaria Solaiman, Professor Zed Rengel, and Professor Andy Whiteley, her PhD research examined the role of contrasting biochars in phytoremediation activity using industrial hemp and buffel grass on heavy metal-contaminated soils. This work laid the foundation for her expertise in sustainable soil rehabilitation techniques for mining-affected lands.

In 2023, Mithrage completed her Doctor of Philosophy with the thesis 'Organic amendments coupled with growing perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) enhance remediation of iron ore mine tailings,' supervised by Dr. Zakaria Solaiman and Professor Zed Rengel. The study established that long-term, inexpensive rehabilitation of mine tailings is feasible through vegetation combined with organic amendments, overcoming challenges posed by the poor physicochemical and biological properties of tailings. Amendments including 10% wheat straw, 75% compost, or 10% wheat straw biochar with 50% topsoil improved these properties, with perennial ryegrass showing optimal growth in the wheat straw treatment. Arsenic and lead levels fell below detection limits in amended tailings, while copper and zinc increased with amendment rates. She presented this research at the UWA Institute of Agriculture 2022 Postgraduate Showcase, titled 'Remediation of iron ore mine tailings by growing perennial rye-grass with organic amendments.' On 15 April 2025, she received the Honorary Research Fellow award from the Institute of Agriculture.

Professional Email: sajeevee.kadawathadinamithrage@uwa.edu.au