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CV

Professional Interest                     

Excel in the field of academia, disseminate the knowledge and carry out research related to polymer science and technology that accounts my extensive research experience in understanding the interrelationships of materials’ performance to structures and dynamics of their components

Professional Qualifications                      

 Senior Lecturer (Gr.II) from Aug. 2017 to Present

Instrument Center, Faculty of Applied Sciences

University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Gngodawila, Nugegoda

Senior Lecturer (Gr.II) from Oct. 2015 to Aug. 2017

Department of Science & Technology, Faculty of Science & Technology

Uva Wellassa University, Badulla, Sri Lanka

 Post-doctoral Research Associate from Jan. 2014  to Aug. 2015

The University of Tennessee affiliated with Chemical Science Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, USA

Advisor:  Prof. Mark Dadmun

 Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry (Polymer Chemistry/Physics) from Aug. 2017 to Dec. 2013

Clemson University, Clemson, USA

Thesis: Neutron Study of Structured Polymers at Interfaces

Advisor: Prof. Dvora Perahia

 B.Sc. (Honors) in Chemistry - May 2006

University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

Final Year Research Title: Ruthenium Bipyridyl Complexes as Organic Light Emitting Diodes

Advisor: Prof. H. M. N. Bandara 

Teaching Experience

In Department of Chemistry, Faulty of Applied Sciences, Univesity of Sri Jayewardenepura

  • Polymer Blends and Composites for MSc in Polymer Science

 In Plastic and Rubber Research Institute

  • Polymer Physics-Graduate study program

 In Institute of Chemistry Ceylon

  • Material Chemistry

 In Department of Science and Technology, Faculty of Science and Technology

Uva Wellassa University

  • Polymer Science and Technology
  • General Chemistry
  • Material Chemistry II
  • Composites and Biomaterials
  • Chemical Engineering Science
  • Polymer Blends and Composites

 In Department of Chemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, USA

  • General chemistry laboratory
  • Organic chemistry laboratory
  • Physical chemistry laboratory

 In Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya

  • General chemistry laboratory
  • Physical chemistry laboratory

Research Experience                

2016 – Present

University Scholar 

Department of Science & Technology, Uva Wellassa University

  • Extraction of silica from rice husk ash using sol-gel method.
  • Investigation of structure property correlation of biomass (lignin) based polyurethane foams as a replacement for petrochemical based foams use in Sri Lanka
  • Investigations to check the feasibility to make composite materials from scrap tires, PET-based plastic wastes and rice husk wastes as a partial solution for waste management.
  • 3D printed polymer composite scaffolds and artificial bones as a new standpoint for bone tissue engineering

2014-2015 - Postdoctoral Research

Department of Chemistry, The University of Tennessee,USA

  • Investigated the correlation of the thermoelectric performance of polymers and polymeric nano-composites to their morphology and morphology development during post deposition processing
  • Investigated the kinetics of formation of novel metal-organic nanotubes that has potential applications as gas separation 
  • Explored the miscibility and thermodynamics of thermoplastic polymer blends for tunable interfaces
  • Investigated the morphology of various polymer nano-composites and correlate them to their properties
  • Studied the structure and dynamics of organic photovoltaic blends

 2007-2013 - Doctoral Research

Department of Chemistry, Clemson University,USA

  • Investigated the correlation of morphology and dynamics of guest molecules at interfaces of various ionomers
  • Examined the self-assembled structures of block copolymers with ionic blocks from solution to membranes
  • Studied insight of polymer interdiffusion of ionomers across interfaces and stability of polymer thin films in presence of polymer additives
  • Synthesized and characterized sulfonated polyphenylene ionomers and a series of ionic conjugated polymers, poly(phenylene ethynylene), that has capability of forming polydots for bio-medical applications

2005-2006 - Undergraduate Research,

Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya

  • Synthesized Ruthenium-bipyridyl light emitting complexes and fabricated prototype light emitting devices

2005-2006 - Chemistry Industrial Internship,

  • Polyfilms (Cey) Ltd, Kotugoda, Colombo
  • Worked as a group member in R&D division to optimize chemical waste generation during the printing of food packaging pouches
  • Team member of a research group that developed a humidity-resisted polymer based food packaging material

 Capable Instrumental Techniques

  • Light, X-ray and neutron scattering techniques (static light scattering, X-ray diffraction, wide angle scattering, small angle scattering, neutron reflectivity, quasi-elastic neutron scattering)
  • Surface characterization techniques (atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy)
  • Thermal analysis techniques (DSC, TGA)
  • Other spectroscopic techniques (UV-vis, IR, NMR)

Professional Trainings 

  • Instrumental training from Rigaku-USA on configuration of Ultima-IV instrument for small angle X-ray scattering measurements and data analysis
  • Instrumental training from TA Instruments-USA on TGA and DSC measurements and data analysis
  • Attended Neutron Scattering workshop in July 2013 at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, USA
  • Attended Neutron scattering data reduction and analysis workshop in April 2011 at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, USA
  • Attended APS DPOLY pre-meeting short course – Scattering and reflectivity techniques, in  March 2011 in Dallas, TX, USA

Research Grants (as of December 2017)

  1. 1.     “3D Printed Polymer Composite Scaffolds and Artificial Bones as a New Standpoint for Bone Tissue Engineering” UWU Capital Grant, Approved
  2. 2.      “Innovative polyurethane composites derived outdoor floor tiles: A partial solution for scrap tire, rice husk and PET-based plastic waste management” UWU Capital Grant (UWU/RG/2016/11)
  3. 3.     “Synthesis and characterization of structure property correlation of biomass (lignin) based polyurethane foams as a replacement for petrochemical based foams use in Sri Lanka” NSF-CRG 2016 (RG/2016/BS/03)

Publications             

  1. Thusitha Etampawala, M. Tehrani, A. Nematollahi, L. He, M. Dadmun, The impact of solvent doping on the morphology and performance of spray-coated PEDOT:dPSS: A USANS and SANS study, Organic Electronics  (2017) volume 51, page 86-93, doi: 10.1016/j.orgel.2017.08.030.
  2. Resolving Hierarchical Structures in Carbon Nanotube Networks Using Small and Ultra-Small Angle Neutron Scattering, Mehran Tehrani, Thusitha Etampawala, Mark D. Dadmun, and Mohammad Abir Hossain J. Phys. Chem. C, 2017, 121 (40), pp 22442–22451, DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcc.7b06114
  3. Wang, Donghui; Evonik Corp, Etampawala, Thusitha, Perahia, Dvora; Cornelius, Chris; “Pentablock Ionomer Solution to Film Evolution: Thermodynamics, Morphology, and Ion Transport”, ACS Macro Letters, (Impact Factor [2015] = 5.766),  Submitted (manuscript ID: mz-2016-00651e)
  4. Thusitha Etampawala , Dipak Aryal , Naresh Osti , Lilin He , William T. Heller , Carl Willis , Gary S. Grest, Dvora Perahia, “Association of a Multifunctional Ionic Block Copolymer in a Selective Solvent” Journal of Chemical Physics(Impact Factor [2015] = 2.894), 145, 184903 (2016)
  5. N. C. Osti, T. N. Etampawala, U. M. Shrestha, D. Aryal, M. Tyagi, S. O. Diallo, E. Mamontov, C. J. Cornelius5, D. Perahia “Water Dynamics in Rigid Ionomer Networks” Journal of Chemical Physics, (Impact Factor [2015] = 2.894), 145, 224901 (2016)
  6. P.M. Sirimanne, T.N.B. Etampawala “An enhancement of efficiency of dye sensitized solar cell by minimizing formation of aggregation of Sq2 dye by co-absorption of N719 dye”, Int. J. Sci. Eng. & Applied Sci., 2(8) (2016) 168-173
  7. Adam Holt, Vera Bocharova, Shiwang Cheng, Alexander Kisliuk, Benjamin White, Tomonori Saito, David Uhrig, Jyoti Mahalik, Rajeev Kumar, Adam Imel, Thusitha Etampawala, Halie Martin, Nicole Sikes, Bobby Sumpter, Mark Dadmun, Alexei Sokolov, “Controlling Interfacial Dynamics: Covalent Bonding versus Physical Adsorption in Polymer Nanocomposites" ACS Nano, (Impact Factor [2015] = 13.334),  2016 10 (7) 6843-6852
  8. Shiwang Cheng, Vera Bocharova, Alex Belianinov, Shaomin Xiong, Alexander Kisliuk, Suhas Somnath, Adam P. Holt, Olga S. Ovchinnikova, Stephen Jesse, Halie Martin, Thusitha Etampawala, Mark Dadmun, and Alexei P. Sokolov, “Unraveling the Mechanism of Nanoscale Mechanical Reinforcement in Glassy Polymer Nanocomposites” ACS Nano Lett., (Impact Factor [2015] = 13.779),  2016, 16(6), 3630-3637
  9. T. Etampawala, D.L. Mull, J.K. Keum, D.M. Jenkins, M.D. Dadmun “Insights into the Morphology and Kinetics of Growth of Silver Metal-Organic Nanotubes”, Cryst. Growth Des., (Impact Factor [2015] = 4.425),   2016, 16 (3), 1395–1403
  10. Shiwang Chen, Adam P. Holt, Huiqun Wang, Fei Fan, Vera Bocharova, Halie Martin, Thusitha Etampawala, B. Tyler White, Tomonori Saito, Nam-Goo Kang, Mark D. Dadmun, Jimmy W. Mays, Alexei P. Sokolov, “ Unexpected Molecular Weight Effect in Polymer Nanocomposites” Phys. Rev. Lett. (Impact Factor [2015] = 7.645),   116, 038302 (2016)
  11. Thusitha Etampawala, Dilru Ratnaweera, Brian Morgan, Souleymane Diallo, Eugene Mamontov, Mark Dadmun, “Monitoring the Dynamics of P3HT:PCBM Blends: A Quasi Elastic Neutron Scattering Study of Organic Photovoltaic Active Layers”, Polymer, (Impact Factor [2015] = 3.586),    2015, 61, 155-162
  12. Dipak Aryal, Thusitha Etampawala, Dvora Perahia, Gary S. Grest, “Phase Behavior of a Single Structured Ionomer Chain in Solution" Macromolecular Theory and Simulations, (Impact Factor [2015] = 1.793), 2014, 23, 543-549.

Conference Proceedings

  1. G.V. Amangilihewa, A.S.Mahaliyana, M.G.T.R.Kariyawasam , E.D.N.S. Abeyrathne, T. Ettampawala “Production of Biodiesel from Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) fish skin wastage” International Research Symposium of Uva Wellassa University, 2018, Accepted
  2. W.B.M.W.P.K. Weerasekara, D. Ratnaweera, T.N. B. Etampawala “Most Prominent Way of Extracting Lignin from Coconut (Cocus nucifera) Saw Dust” International Research Symposium of Uva Wellassa University, 2018, Accepted
  3. Y. G. Kondrage, T. Kirushanthi, H.M.J.C. Pitawala, Dilhara Edirisinghe, T. N. B. Etampawala, “Waste Ceramic-Based Natural Rubber Composites: An Exciting Way for Improving Mechanical Properties” International Research Symposium of Uva Wellassa University, 2018, Accepted
  4. T. Kirushanthi, H.M.J.C. Pitawala, Dilhara Edirisinghe, Dilru R Ratnaweera, Thusitha N Etampawala, “Silica from Paddy Husk as an Alternative to Commercially Existing Silica Fillers in Tyre Compounding” International Research Symposium of Uva Wellassa University, 2018, Accepted
  5. Maleesha Nishshanke, Thusitha Etampawala, “Cheap and Simple Natural Indicator for Acid-Base Titrations from Clitoria ternatea” International Research Symposium of Uva Wellassa University, 2018, Accepted
  6. T.A.R.W.M.M.C.G. Bandara, T.N.B Etampawala, Sarath Kularathne, H.G.I.M. Wijesinghe, A.M.W.K. Senevirathna “Cellulose Whiskers Extracted from Banana Pseudo-Stem as Reinforcing Filler for Natural Rubber Tyre Treads Using Latex Intercalation Method”   International Research Symposium of Uva Wellassa University, 2018, Accepted
  7. K.C. Samaraweera, H.G.I.M. Wijesinghe, T.N.B. Etampawala, D.G. Edirisinghe, A.M.W.K. Senevirathna “Silica extracted from Rice Husk Ash (RHA) as effective Reinforcing Filler for Natural Rubber Composites” International Research Symposium of Uva Wellassa University, 2018, Accepted
  8. Herath H.M.P.K, Karunarathne A.G.C, Liyanage R.L, Kartheeswaran T, Etampawala T, Ranasinghe R.I.M.S “Characterization of the Mechanical Behavior of Packaging Material Using Digital Image Processing” International Research Symposium of Uva Wellassa University, 2018, Accepted
  9. T. Kirushanthi, Dilru R Ratnaweera, Thusitha N Etampawala, “Crumb rubber and silica reinforced rubber composites for out door flooring applications” International Symposium on Polymer Science and Technology, 2017 
  10. D. D. H. C. Jayawardana, Thusitha Etampawala, “Different Methods of Extraction of Lignin from Coconut Sawdust: The First Step of Development of Lignin-Based Polyurethane Thermoplastics”, International Research Symposium of Uva Wellassa University, 2017
  11. V.Tharmakulenthiran, Thusitha Etampawala, “Crumb Rubber and Silica Nano Particle Derived Rubber Floor Tiles: A Partial Solution for Waste Management”, International Research Symposium of Uva Wellassa University, 2017
  12. Thusitha Etampawala,  Mehran Tehrani, Mark Dadmun “Morphology of PEDOT:PSS/SWCNT Composites: Insight into Carbon Nanotube Based Organic Thermoelectric Matrices”, APS March meeting, vol. 60, No.1, 2015
  13. Manjula Senanayake, Thusitha Etampawala, Sidath Wijesinghe, Naresh Osti , Lilin He, Dvora Perahia “Solvents Effect on the Structure of Pentablock Ionic Polymers: A SANS study”, APS March meeting, vol. 60, No.1, 2015
  14. Dusantha Alwis, Dilru Ratnaweera, Thusitha Etampawala,  Mark Dadmun, Udumalagala Chandrika,  Pradeep Jayaweera, “Self-Assembly of Carotenoids During Solution Casting of Solar Devices” APS March meeting, vol. 60, No.1, 2015
  15. Naresh Osti,  Sidath Wijesinghe, Manjula Senanayake, Anuradhi Wickramasinghe,  Thusitha Etampawala, Dvora Perahia “Salt Effects on the Structure and Stability of Ionizable Polydots - SANS Study”,  APS March meeting, vol. 60, No.1, 2015
  16. Thusitha Etampawala , Manjula Senanayake , Naresh Osti , Lilin He , William Heller, Dvora Perahia  “Self-assembled Structures of a Multifunctional, Structured Block Copolymer in Solution; A SANS Study”, APS March meeting, vol. 59, No.1, 2014
  17. Dipak Aryal , Dvora Perahia , Thusitha Etampawala , Gary Grest, “Association of Multi-Chain Pentablock Ionomers in Solutions: A Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study” APS March meeting, vol. 59, No.1, 2014
  18. Naresh Osti , Thusitha Etampawala , Sidath Wijesinghe , Dvora Perahia,  “Structure and Conformation of Ionic Conjugated Polymers: Polydots”, APS March meeting, vol. 59, No.1, 2014
  19. Naresh Osti, Thusitha Etampawala, Umesh Shrestha, Souleymane Diallo, Christopher Cornelius, Dvora Perahia, “Dynamics of Water in Sulfonated(polyphenylene) Membrane” American Conference on Neutron Scattering, 2014
  20. Donghui Wang, Thusitha Etampawala, Dvora Perahia, Chris Cornelius “Morphology, Thermodynamics, and Transport Properties of Solution-cast Pentablock Copolymers”,  American Chemical Society, vol 247, 2014
  21. Thusitha Etampawala, Brian Morgan, Souleymane Diallo, Eugene Mamontov, Mark Dadmun, “Effects of Composition and Temperature on Side-Chain Dynamics of P3HT:PCBM Blends: A Quasi Elastic Neutron Scattering Study”  American Conference on Neutron Scattering, 2014
  22. Naresh Osti, Thusitha Etampawala, Sidath Wijesinghe, Dvora Perahia, “Structure and Conformation of Conjugated Ionic Polymers” American Conference on Neutron Scattering 2014
  23. Thusitha Etampawala, Manjula Senanayake, Naresh Osti, Lilin He, William Heller, Dvora Perahia, “Association of a Multifunctional Block Copolymer from Solution to Thin Films” Neutron and Nano User Meeting, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 2013
  24. Thusitha Etampawala, Nampueng Pangpaiboon, Dvora Perahia, Candice Halbert, Jim Browning, Nisanart Traiphol, Rakchart Traiphol, “Insight into Polymer Dewetting: A Neutron Reflectivity Study of Three-Arm Polystyrene Stars in polystyrene Thin films”, APS March Meeting, vol. 58, No.1, 2013
  25. Naresh Osti, Thusitha Etampawala, Umesh Shrestha, Sidath Wijesinghe, “Effects of Solvents on Confinement of Conjugated Polymer into Soft Nanoparticle”, APS March Meeting, vol. 58, No.1, 2013
  26. Thusitha Etampawala, Dilru Ratnaweera, Sidath Wijesinghe, Dvora Perahia, Jaroslaw Majewski, “Neutron Reflectivity Study of Interdiffusion of Ionomers into Vander Waals Polymer Thin Films”,  APS March Meeting, vol. 57, No.1, 2012
  27. Naresh Osti, Dilru Ratnaweera, Thusitha Etampawala, Umesh Shrestha, Dvora, “Structure and Assembly of Polymeric Dots Formed by Conjugated Polymers”, APS March Meeting, vol. 57, No.1,2012
  28. Thusitha Etampawala, Dilru Ratnaweera, Sidath Wijesinghe,  Jaroslaw Majewski, Dvora Perahia, “Dynamics of Ionic Polymers at Interfaces: Key to Enhance Longevity of Clean Energy Devices, Neutron Scattering and Molecular Dynamic Simulation Studies” Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies user conference, 2012
  29. Thusitha Etampawala, Dilru Ratnaweera, Naresh Osti, Umesh Shrestha, Jaroslaw Majewski, Dvora Perahia, “Interfacial Effects on a Pentablock Ionomer” Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies user conference, 2011
  30. Thusitha Etampawala, Dilru Ratnaweera, Naresh Osti, Umesh Shrestha, Jaroslaw Majewski, Dvora Perahia, “Dynamics of Water in Sulfonated Polyphenylene Membranes” Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies user conference,2011
  31. Thusitha Etampawala, Dilru Ratnaweera, Naresh Osti, Umesh Shrestha, Dvora Perahia, Jaroslaw Majewski, “Interfacial Effects on Pentablock Ionomer Thin Films”, APS March Meeting, vol. 56, No.1, 2011
  32. Naresh Osti, Thusitha Etampawala, Umesh Shrestha, Dvora Perahia, Christopher Cornelius, “Dynamics of Water in Sulfonated Polyphenylene Membranes”, APS March Meeting, vol. 56, No.1, 2011
  33. Thusitha Etampawala, Dilru Ratnaweera, Umesh Shrestha, Dvora Perahia, Christopher Cornelius, Jaroslaw Majewski, “Interdiffusion of Long Alcohols into Thin Ionomer Films: In situ Neutron Reflectivity Study”, APS March Meeting, vol. 55, No.1, 2010
  34. Naresh Osti, Thusitha Etampawala, Dilru Ratnaweera, Uwe Bunz, Vincent Rotello, Dvora Perahia., “Assembly of Conjugated Polymers-Gold Nanoparticles”, APS March Meeting, vol. 55, No.1, 2010
  35. Thusitha Etampawala, Lilin He, Christopher Cornelius, Dvora Perahia, “In situ Neutron Reflectivity Study of Alcohols into Ultra-Thin Ionomer Films” , APS March Meeting, vol. 54, No.1, 2009
  36. Thusitha Etampawala, Lilin He, Christopher Cornelius, Dvora Perahia, “Long Chain Alcohol Penetration into Ultra-Thin Ionomer Films: An In-Situ Kinetic Study Using Neutron Reflectivity” International Conference on Neutron Scattering, 2009
  37. Lilin He, Thusitha Etampawala, Christopher Cornelius, Jaroslaw Majewski, Dvora Perahia, “Methanol Diffusion into Ionomer Films: An In-Situ Study Using Neutron Reflectometry” APS March Meeting, vol. 53, No.1, 2008

 Extra Curricular Activities

  • A team member of rugby football team of University of Peradeniya from 2002 to 2005
  • Sri Lanka Universities Sports Association (SLUSA) award for outstanding player/performance in Sri Lanka universities rugby football in the year 2005
  • Full colours for rugby football in year 2004 and 2005-University of Peradeniya
  • Half colours for rugby football in year 2003-University of Peradeniya