Professional Work & Projects
Below are some of the projects I have been involved in with academic institutions, government agencies, international organizations, and private companies.
Postdoctoral Research Assistant
Department of Agronomy
Purdue University, USA
2026 - Present
Core Responsibilities:
- Geospatial modeling and soil spectroscopy
- Carbon sequestration assessment and crop yield modeling
- Machine learning-based data analysis
- On-the-go soil sensing
- Programming in Python and R
Graduate Research Assistant
Department of Agricultural & Biological Engineering
Mississippi State University, USA
2022 - 2025
Core Responsibilities:
- Field sampling, spectroscopic scanning, and data analysis using Python
- Collaborated with USDA-NRCS field officers and USDA-ARS scientists
- Contributed to scientific writing and research publications
- Networked with professionals and mentored students
Consultant Field Manager
Janathakshan Limited
Colombo, Sri Lanka
2021 September – 2021 December
Core Responsibilities:
- Implemented the Livelihoods Restoration Plan for the Kandy Multimodal Transport Terminal Project, supporting resettlement and socioeconomic recovery efforts
Clients:
- Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development, Sri Lanka
- World Bank
Assistant Consultant
Waste to Energy Technologies Limited
Battaramulla, Sri Lanka
2019 - 2021
Core Responsibilities:
- Prepared environmental appraisals for housing developments and hotel projects
- Developed landfill rehabilitation strategies, waste management plans (including spent yeast), and manure management plans
- Analyzed polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in support of the Stockholm Convention
- Modeled vegetation effects on slope stability for landslide risk assessment
- Evaluated permeable reactive barrier materials for groundwater remediation
Clients:
- EX Research Institute Ltd., Japan
- Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
- Institute for Global Environmental Strategies
- Asian Disaster Preparedness Center
- World Vision
- Central Environmental Testing and Consultancy (Pvt) Ltd., Sri Lanka
- Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment, Sri Lanka
- National Building Research Organization, Sri Lanka
- Kurunegala Municipal Council, Sri Lanka
- United Dairies Lanka (Pvt) Ltd., Sri Lanka
- China Railway 25th Bureau Group Co., Ltd. (Projects submitted to the Urban Development Authority, Sri Lanka)
- Access Engineering PLC (Projects submitted to the Urban Development Authority, Sri Lanka)
- Tudawe Brothers (Pvt) Ltd., Sri Lanka
- Ambasewana Holdings Ltd., Sri Lanka
Project Coordinator
EX Research Institute Limited
Tokyo, Japan
2017 June – 2018 November
Core Responsibilities:
- Promoted 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) initiatives at Ratnapura Municipal Council (Article)
- Conducted a feasibility study on collection and treatment systems for used fluorocarbons
Intern - Research Division
International Water Management Institute
Battaramulla, Sri Lanka
2017 March 27 – 2017 July 28
Core Responsibilities:
- Conducted analysis of mechanization strategies for agricultural water management in farming systems (Article)
Intern
Waste Management Authority of Western Province
Colombo, Sri Lanka
2016 January 18 – 2016 February 19
Core Responsibilities:
- Gained experience in environmental management and composting operations
- Installed methane collection wells at a waste management facility
Intern
Hayleys Agriculture Holdings Limited
Colombo, Sri Lanka
2015 December 08 – 2016 January 14
Core Responsibilities:
- Agricultural machinery operations and field support
- Market surveys and data collection
Teaching Assisstant
Department of Agricultural Engineering
University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
2017 February – 2017 March
Core Responsibilities:
- Facilitated both theoretical and practical instruction for undergraduate students under the supervision of faculty and staff