My name is Asela Sampath Dikkumbura, and I am a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Chemistry. I received my Ph.D. in 2021 from Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA, under the supervision of Prof. Louis H. Haber on “Colloidal Nanomaterial Surface Chemistry and Characterization Studied by Linear and Nonlinear Spectroscopy.” In 2016, I received an M.S. in Chemistry from Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois, USA, where I conducted research on halogenated hydrocarbons using microwave spectroscopy and computational chemistry under the supervision of Prof. Rebecca A. Peebles. In 2008, I received my B.S. (Special) Degree in Chemistry from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura and conducted research on silver nanoparticles under the supervision of Prof. Pradeep M. Jayaweera.
Following graduation, I worked as a teaching assistant and visiting lecturer at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Departments of Chemistry, Pharmacology, and Medical Education. In 2009, I began working at the Open University of Sri Lanka, Department of Chemistry, where I held various academic positions, such as teaching assistant, temporary lecturer, probationary lecturer, and confirmed lecturer.
I currently teach and coordinate general chemistry, practical chemistry, physical chemistry and mathematics for chemistry and biology courses for general and special degree students. I am involved in curriculum development, writing course material and evaluation for the other degree programs and diploma courses at the university. I am a dedicated and professional educator who is committed to my students’ social and academic development.
Noble metallic nanoparticles and their biomedical applications, lipid and polymeric nanomaterials and their biomedical and surface chemistry applications, soil and environmental chemistry, chemical education, and open and distance learning methodologies are among my research interests.