Ph.D. Candidate

I am a Ph.D. candidate in Biosystems Engineering at Advanced Plant and Soil Sensing Lab, Department of Agricultural & Biological Engineering, Mississippi State University, Mississippi, USA.

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Education

  • Ph.D. in Biosystems Engineering (2022 - Present)
    Department of Agricultural & Biological Engineering
    Mississippi State University, MS, USA
  • MBA in General (2020 - 2021)
    Cardiff School of Management
    Cardiff Metropolitan University, United Kingdom
  • M.Sc. in Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering (2017 - 2019)
    Department of Agriculture Engineering
    Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture
    University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
  • B.Sc. in Agricultural Technology & Management (2013 - 2016)
    Department of Agriculture Engineering
    Faculty of Agriculture
    University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

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Working Experience

Graduate Research Assistant (2022 January – Present)

Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering
Mississippi State University, MS, USA

Exposed functions:

  • Enhanced research capacity
  • Collaborations with USDA-NRCS field officers and USDA-ARS scientists
  • Exposure to field sampling and equipment
  • Data analysis using Python
  • Scientific writing
  • Networking with fellow researchers and professionals
  • Mentoring and instructing high school and undergraduate students

Earth Team Volunteer (2022 June – Present)

United States Department of Agriculture - Natural Resources Conservation Service,
Tupelo, MS, USA

Exposed functions:

  • Soil survey
  • New technology development & technology transfer
  • Training delivered and received
  • Outreach & communications

Consultant Field Manager (2021 September – 2021 December)

Janathakshan (Guarantee) Limited
Colombo 05, Sri Lanka

Exposed functions:

  • Implementing livelihoods restoration plan under the Kandy multimodal transport terminal project

Consultant/ Research Assistant (2019 January – 2021 September)

Waste to Energy Technologies Limited
Battaramulla, Sri Lanka

Exposed functions:

  • Preliminary environmental appraisal
  • Development of landfill rehabilitation plans
  • Development of waste management plans
  • Laboratory testing
  • Surveys

Project Coordinator (2017 June - 2018 November)

EX Research Institute Limited
Tokyo, Japan

Exposed functions:

  • Pilot project of 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) promotion in Ratnapura municipal council [paper]
  • Feasibility study on constructing a system for collection and treatment of used fluorocarbons

Internship (2017 March – 2017 July)

Research Division
International Water Management Institute
Battaramulla, Sri Lanka

Exposed functions:

  • Analysis of mechanization for agricultural water management in Sri Lankan farming systems [paper]

Internship (2016 January – 2016 February)

Karadiyana Waste Management Facility
Waste Management Authority
Western Province, Sri Lanka

Exposed functions:

  • Performed work in the Karadiyana waste management facility’s environmental and composting divisions and installed gas wells to collect methane at the dumpsite

Internship (2015 December – 2016 January)

Hayleys Agriculture Holdings Limited
Colombo, Sri Lanka

Exposed functions:

  • Gained knowledge in agricultural heavy machinery and conducted a market survey

Undergraduate Research Assistant (2016 August – 2016 December)

Waste Management Authority
Western Province, Sri Lanka

Exposed function:

  • Data collection at Karadiyana waste management facility to develop a methane surface emission map

Enumerator (2015 - 2016)

Sri Lanka
Exposed functions:

  • Surveys on use of hydrochlorofluorocarbons
  • Assessment on livelihood capital
  • Assessment on health & nutrition, education, child protection and economic development

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Awards

  • Earth Team Volunteer Award 2023 awarded by the United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service at the President’s Awards Luncheon of the Mississippi Association of Conservation Districts (79th Annual Meeting) in 2024
  • Published photos in the ASABE resource magazine (January/February 2024 issue)
  • Awarded Best Poster Presentation under the theme “Environment & Resource Management and Social Institutional & Economic Development”, at Faculty of Agriculture Undergraduate Research Symposium (FAuRS), University of Peradeniya in 2016
  • Awarded A. C. Vishvalingam Scholarship (for organizing a project to create peace between nations) in Annual Prize Giving at Kingswood College in 2009

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Publications

For the most recent version, please visit my Google Scholar page

Journal Articles

  • Gamagedara, Y., Wijewardane, N. K., Feng, G., Seybold, S., Williams, M., Tagert, M. L., Martins, V. S., 2024, Can we use a mid-infrared fine-ground soil spectral library to predict non-fine-ground spectra?, Geoderma, 443, 116799, ISSN 0016-7061, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2024.116799.

Working Reports/ Case Studies

  • Anurudda Karunarathna, Thilini Rajapaksha, Yasas Gamagedara, Shenal Kaldera, and Nadeesha Vidanage, (2021): Challenges and Opportunities of Source-Segregated Waste Collection in Sri Lanka, IGES Centre Collaborating with UNEP on Environmental Technologies (CCET). Available at: https://www.ccet.jp/publications/challenges-and-opportunities-source-segregated-waste-collection-sri-lanka
  • Anurudda Karunarathna, Thilini Rajapaksha, Yasas Gamagedara, Shenal Kaldera, and Nadeesha Vidanage, (2020): Effective Plastic Waste Management, in Sri Lanka, IGES Centre Collaborating with UNEP on Environmental Technologies (CCET). Available at: https://www.ccet.jp/publications/effective-plastic-waste-management-sri-lanka
  • Anurudda Karunarathna, Thilini Rajapaksha, Yasas Gamagedara, Shenal Kaldera, and Nadeesha Vidanage, (2020): Towards Sustainable Operation and Management of Centralized Composting in Sri Lanka, IGES Centre Collaborating with UNEP on Environmental Technologies (CCET). Available at: https://www.ccet.jp/publications/towards-sustainable-operation-and-management-centralized-composting-sri-lanka
  • Aheeyar, M., Manthrithilake, H., Ranasinghe, C., Rengaraj, M., Gamagedara, Y., and Barron, J., (2019): Mechanizing Water Lifting through Pumps: A Case Study in Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 61p. https://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/publications/iwmi-working-papers/iwmi-working-paper-188/

Presentations

  • Nuwan Wijewardane, and Yasas Gamagedara, (2023): Predicting Non-Fine-Ground Spectra using Fine-Ground Soil MIR Models: Comparison of Four Calibration Transfer Techniques, ASABE Annual International Meeting, Omaha, Nebraska, July 9-12, 2023.
  • Gamage H.G.V.D., Karunarathna A.K., and Gamagedara K.Y.B., (2020): Test of Root Tensile Strength of Candidate Plant Species for Soil Bioengineering in Shallow Landslides, Proceedings of the 6th Faculty of Agriculture Undergraduate Research Symposium (FAuRS 2019) held in Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, 16th July 2020. pp 205.
  • Gamagedara K.Y.B., Alahakoon A.M.Y.W. Karunarathna A.K., Kirindage K.G.I.S., and Attanayake C. P., (2019): Thermo-Pyrolysis Conversion of Sewage Sludge into Biochar and its Characterization, Proceedings of Peradeniya University International Research Sessions (iPURSE 2019), Volume 22, pp 50.
  • Karunarathna, A., Gamagedara, Y., Mannapperuma, N., Ariyawansha, R., and Basnayake, B.F.A., (2018): Development of a Methane (CH4) Surface Emission Map: A Case Study at Karadiyana Dumpsite, Sri Lanka, APLAS TOKYO 2018, The 10th Asia-Pacific Landfill Symposium (Japan), 24 – 26, November 2018, pp 291-296.

Posters

  • Yasas Gamagedara, Nuwan Wijewardane, Mary Love Tagert, Vitor S. Martins, and Gary Feng, (2023): Investigating the Feasibility of Using Mid-Infrared Fine-Ground Soil Spectra to Predict Non-Fine-Ground Soil Spectra, 2023 Fall Graduate Research Symposium, Graduate Student Association of Mississippi State University, Starkville, Mississippi, October 21, 2023.
  • Yasas Gamagedara, Nuwan Wijewardane, Cathy Seybold, Travis Waiser, and Michael Williams, (2023): Use of a Large Mid-Infrared Soil Spectral Library for Dynamic and Hydrological Soil Property Estimations in Mississippi and Texas, National Cooperative Soil Survey National Conference, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, Bismarck, North Dakota, July 9–13, 2023.
  • Yasas Gamagedara, Gary Feng, and Nuwan K. Wijewardane, (2022): Comparison of Vis-NIR and MIR Spectroscopy for Estimation of Total Carbon and Nitrogen using a Mississippi Soil Dataset, Summer Science & Engineering Symposium, Mississippi Academy of Sciences & Mississippi State University, Starkville, Mississippi, June 8, 2022.
  • Gamagedara K.Y.B., Karunarathna A.K., and Mannapperuma M.M.N.R.C., (2016): Development of a Methane (CH4) Emission Concentration Map: Case Study at Karadiyana Dumpsite, Proceedings of the 3rd Faculty of Agriculture Undergraduate Research Symposium (FAuRS 2016) held in Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, 16th December 2016. pp 154.

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Out-Bound Trainings, Workshops

  • Preparing Future Faculty program at Mississippi State University in 2023/24 (pending)
  • Completed Graduate Teaching Assistant workshops at Mississippi State University in Spring 2024
  • Completed Acceleration to industry (A2i) program at Mississippi State University in Fall 2023
  • Completed Bulldog Mentor Program at Mississippi State University in Fall 2023
  • Mentor for high school student from Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science in Fall 2023
  • Participated in developing business in resource recovery and reuse, five days training session, which was conducted by International Water Management Institute, and International Centre for Water Management Services, Colombo, Sri Lanka in 2018
  • Completed a course on effective use of AutoCAD for drafting & 3D modelling in TecView, Institute of Computer Aided Engineering, Sri Lanka in 2017
  • Farm machinery training at Farm Machinery Training Centre, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka in 2016
  • Six months of agricultural field work and socialization training with an academic session at Maha-Illuppallama Sub Campus, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka in 2013
  • Participated in four-day residential training program on leadership and team development, which was organized by the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka in 2013
  • Participated in two weeks training program on “developing leadership qualities & positive thinking” which was conducted by the Ministry of Higher Education, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka in 2013

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Skills and Competencies

  • Ability to plan, organize and lead activities with good leadership skills
  • Interpersonal skills with sound communication skills
  • Presentation skills
  • Computer literacy (Python, MS Office, AutoCAD, ArcGIS)

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Memberships

  • Member of American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers since February 2022
  • Member of American Society of Agronomy since January 2022
  • Member of Crop Science Society of America since January 2022
  • Member of Soil Science Society of America since January 2022

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Extra-Curricular Activities

  • President of Sri Lankan Student Association, Mississippi State University, Mississippi in 2024
  • President of Softball Cricket Club, Mississippi State University, Mississippi from July 2023 to present
  • Federal Aviation Administration’s Remote Pilot Certificate (14 CFR Part 107 Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems) in 2023
  • President Scout (Eagle Scout in USA) at 2nd Kandy Kingswood College Scout Troop in 2009
  • University Colors holder from University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka in 2015 & 2016
  • The Junior Treasurer of the Chess Society, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya in 2015
  • The Editor of Forestry Society, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya in 2015
  • Student Coordinator of Agriculture Faculty Students’ Union, University of Peradeniya in 2015/2016
  • Batch Representative of semester 2100, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya in 2014

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