Dr. Anushka Rajapaksha
BSc. (Hons)(UoP), MPhil. (Hons) (UoP), PhD. (Chuncheon, Korea)
Currently a Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura.
Dr. Anushka holds B.Sc. in Chemistry Special from University of Peradeniya (2008), M.Phil (Chemical Sciences) from University of Peradeniya (2012) and Ph.D. in Biological Environment from Kangwon National University, South Korea (2015). Her research work includes the development of novel engineered/designer biochar as innovative solutions to environmental issues, mainly for remediating toxic heavy metals and pharmaceuticals contaminated soil and water, Heavy metal dissolution, Environmental remediation etc. Dr. Rajapaksha has published more than 35 SCI journal articles (SCOPUS h index 17, Google h index 17 with 1700+ citations). Among those, many were published in high impact journals in the area of environmental chemistry/science. Publications in most journals are highly recognized in the area of Environmental and material science such as Environmental Science and Technology, Geoderma, Science of the Total Environment, Journal of Hazardous Materials etc. Some of the recently published articles are highly cited and some were considered as most downloaded articles in journal history.
Academic Qualifications
PhD, Biological Environment, Department of Bioconvergence Science and Technology, Kangwon National University, South Korea, 2012/2015 “Biochar impacts on the behavior of antibiotics and heavy metals in soil and water”
MPhil, Chemical Sciences, Post Graduate Institute of Science, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, 2009/2012 “Natural dissolution mechanisms of serpentinite soils from Sri Lanka: Leaching of chromium, nickel and manganese to the environment”
BSc Special Degree in Chemistry 2nd Class Upper Division, Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, 2004/2008
Professional Experience / Employment
Senior Lecturer Grade II, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka
Senior Lecturer (On Contract), Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, The Open University of Sri Lanka, Nawala, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka (Jan 2016 – June 2017)
Secretary, Korea Biochar Research Center, Environmental Remediation and Restoration Laboratory, Kangwon National University, Korea (Aug 2012 – Aug 2015)
Research Assistant, Chemical and Environmental Systems Modeling Laboratory, Institute of Fundamental Studies, Kandy, Sri Lanka (Sep 2009- Aug 2012)
Visiting Student, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Korea (Oct. 2011-Jan. 2012)
Teaching Assistant, Department of Physical Science, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka (Sep 2008-Sep 2009)
Coordinating Editor: Environmental Geochemistry and Health (Springer Journal)
Awards/ Scholarships
- President’s Awards for Scientific Publication – Sri Lanka (Published in the year 2014)
- President’s Awards for Scientific Publication – Sri Lanka (Published in the year 2013)
- President’s Awards for Scientific Publication – Sri Lanka (Published in the year 2012)
- Merit Award for Scientific Research (Published in the year 2010 & 2011), National Research Council, Sri Lanka
- BEST RESEARCH ACHIEVEMENT AWARD (Kangwon National University, 2015 August Graduation)
- Recipients of BEST KNU “Bring Excellent Students to Kangwon National University” Program– 2012