Meet Sri Lankan Researcher — Sumudu Herath
What are you currently working on or worked on before?
Data-driven Computational homogenization and design of Textile membranes.
What encouraged you to pursue your research topic?
The rapid boost in the additive manufacturing of textiles and the trending machine learning field and the potentials to use them in the domain of computational mechanics for efficient numerical simulations.
What is the name of your current institute?
University of Cambridge — CSMLab.
Where do you find your best inspiration for your work?
The feeling of responsibility and accountability to give something back to Sri Lanka, the best possible way. Because I am always humbled to say that I am a proud product of the free education system in Sri Lanka.
Can you share with us some of your publications?
Yes. You can find my Google Scholar profile for the publications.
What’s one of your biggest personal achievements so far?
- All island second at the G.C.E A/Ls in 2010
- Most Outstanding Graduand Gold medal award at the University convocation
- Gold medalist for being the batch top at the Department of Civil engineering
- Record holder for the highest GPA in the history of the Civil Engineering Department
- Securing a Ph.D. at Cambridge with only semester 5 results of the undergraduate degree
What lessons would you share with a budding researcher?
There are many ways to move forward but stick to the ones that keep you happier and motivated to run your game.
What motivated you to be a researcher?
Self-motivated mostly, but the final year research project at the University of Moratuwa laid a solid foundation. Also, the guidance and advice from Dr. Mallikarachchi were invaluable in successfully securing a Ph.D. position at the prestigious University of Cambridge with only semester 5 results.
If there is a chance, will you help build research in Sri Lanka?
Yes, surely.
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?
1.Syllabus updates to include current trends and advancements in technology,
2. Reduce the time lags taken to release results
3. Create more diverse career-focused opportunities for passing out students
4. Invest more in research in both academia and industrial levels
