Meet Sri Lankan Researcher — M. H. Jayan S. Karunarathna

What are you currently working on or worked on before?

Currently, I am working on extrinsic self-healing materials for my Postdoctoral research work at Rice University, USA. Previously, my Ph.D. research was focused on Iron(III)-carboxylate photochemistry. I studied this reaction and designed hydrogel materials with light-responsive properties.

These hydrogels were used for many different applications including reclaiming phosphates, nitrates and ammonium ions from wastewater and designing controlled-release fertilizer systems. In addition, I studied the surface modification of these hydrogel materials to change their properties including hydrophobicity and electrical conductivity.

What encouraged you to pursue your research topic?

I am very passionate about sustainability and environmental conservation. All the research projects that I conducted have the goal of replacing a currently existing material or a process with a more sustainable material/process. Nutrient capture from wastewater and controlled release fertilizer project is for recycling nutrients and minimizing the harmful effects of chemical fertilizers.

My current project on extrinsic self-healing materials has the aim of reducing the costs involved in replacing damaged materials by designing self-healing materials which is also a sustainable approach.

Where do you find your best inspiration for your work?

Nature is where I find the best inspiration. All of these research areas I studied including Self-healing materials, nutrient reclamation, and recycling are first inspired by a natural material or a phenomenon.

Can you share with us some of your publications?

You can find my publications here: link 1, link 2, link3, link 4,link5.

What’s one of your biggest personal achievements so far?

My “Nutrient capture from aqueous waste and light controlled-release” project is my biggest achievement so far. I came with the research ideas for this project, conducted research, and got some great results. This project gave me multiple research publications, a patent, and several awards at research conferences for my presentations.

What lessons would you share with a budding researcher?

“BELIEVE IN YOURSELF”.

There will be many people who will let you down, but you have to keep moving forward!

What motivated you to be a researcher?

As a kid, I read many stories about great scientists and inventors. Stories about Thomas Alva Edison, Marie Curie, Galileo Galilei inspired me and I believe they played a significant role in pursuing a career in Science. In addition, seeing some of my family members engaging in science also motivated me to choose this path.

According to your opinion, what are the changes that the Sri Lankan education system needs to do, in order to meet the requirement of the international industry and academia?

I believe the entire Sri Lankan education system needs to be revised to create more practical people to match the needs of both industry and academia. We definitely need more funding for education. Most of our syllabus is out of date and needs to be revised. We also need a big attitude change.