Academic and Professional Qualifications
Academic Qualifications:
- B.Sc. in Agricultural Technology and Management, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, 2013-2016 (First class honours, Specialization: Soil and Environment, Thesis title: Organic carbon dynamics in two biochar amended soils in Sri Lanka)
- PhD in Bioscience Engineering, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Belgium, 2017-2021 (Specialization: Applied Biological Sciences, Thesis title: Use of biochars and biochar-derived products for soil amendment and in soilless growing media).
Professional Experience:
- Senior Lecturer (Grade ll), Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka (Since 2026)
- Visiting Lecturer, Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka (Since 2026)
- Temporary Lecturer, Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka (2017)
- Ph.D. candidate, Department of Green Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Belgium (2017 – 2021).
- Postdoctoral researcher in the Environmental Analytics research group, Agroscope, Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research, Switzerland, and Ithaka Institute, Switzerland. (2022 – 2024).
- Postdoctoral researcher in Climate and Agriculture research group, Agroscope, Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research, Switzerland (2024 – 2026).
Research Expertise by Key Words:
- Biochar
- Soil carbon dynamics
- Soil organic matter chemistry
- Stable isotope analysis
- Analytical and applied pyrolysis
- Waste valorization
- Climate change
ACADEMIC DISTINCTIONS & AWARDS
Awards, medals, scholarships, and prizes:
- Prof. F.S.C.P. Kalpage gold medal for the academic excellence in soil science, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka (2016).
- S.F.H. Perera Memorial Prize for the greatest competence at the 4000 series (final year in B.Sc. examination), University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka (2016).
- University scholarship for the best performance at the 1000 series (first year in B.Sc.) examination, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka (2013).
- Scholarship from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No 72199, Project title: Advanced Carbon Materials from Biowaste: Sustainable pathways to Drive innovative Green Technologies, Project period: 11/07/2017 to 11/07/2020 at Ghent University, Belgium.
- Fellowship from the regional and community funding: special research fund (code: 01IT0120), Ghent University, Belgium, Project title: Use of biomass- derived carbons (BCs) and BC-derived products for soil amendment and in soilless growing media, Project period: 12/07.2020 to 11/01/2021, (total value of € 25,000).
- Commission of scientific research (CWO) mobility grant from Ghent University, Belgium, for participation in the IBI Biochar World Congress (Seoul, South Korea, 2019), (total value of € 1000).
Publications :
