Helani Singhapurage, a fifth-year PhD student in Nonlinear Optics research group of the Physics
department of the University of Rhode Island, USA received the People’s choice winner in the first
annual Three Minute Thesis competition of the University of Rhode Island.
The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is an academic research communication competition developed by The
University of Queensland (UQ), Australia. In this competition graduate students are expected to present
their research findings to a general audience in a vivid, cogent, and jargon-free style using a single static
slide within three minutes.
The first-round video submissions of the competition were in January 2023, and as the results were
announced in February 2023, Helani was selected as one of the 10 finalists for the URI Three Minute
Thesis competition. In the University-Wide Finals which was held on March 21, 2024, she successfully
competed with her fellow finalists of different research areas and won the 2024 People’s Choice Winner
with a prize.
Helani graduated from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science Degree
Specialized in Physics. As a student who learned Biology, Physics and Chemistry for her A/L Education,
upon her successfully completion of the degree she realized that she wanted to pursue a PhD in areas that touch Biophysics, Optics targeting to enhance her experimental research experience. As the result, she started her PhD journey in 2019 at the University of Rhode Island, USA. Currently she is studying the
phonon dynamics of technologically important materials. She wishes to expand her experiments to study
biological samples along with the ongoing research work. Apart from that, currently she plays the role of
the secretary of the Graduate Student Association (GSA) of the University of Rhode Island as well as
serving to the GSA community services committee engaging Graduate students in extracurricular
activities. Her hope is to empower women in STEM, and to make a sustainable discovery in Physics with
the thought of making the world a better place.
The Department of Physics at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura was honored to welcome back one of its distinguished alumnae, Dr. Nadeera Gunaratna. Dr. Gunaratna, currently a consultant at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, Austria, returned to her alma mater for an engaging academic discussion and interview.
Dr. Gunarathna’s academic journey began at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, where she excelled in her undergraduate studies, earning an honors degree in Physics. Her passion for the field led her to the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board, where she gained valuable experience before transitioning to the IAEA. Along the way, she furthered her education by obtaining a Ph.D. from Brunel University in London.
On April 4th, the Department of Physics extended a warm welcome to Dr. Gunaratna. She participated in a stimulating academic discussion with esteemed faculty members, including the Head of the Department, Prof. N.G.S.S. Gamage, Prof. W.K.I.L. Wanniarachchi, Dr. W.W.P. De Silva, and Mr. B.H.L.M. Fernando.
Following the academic exchange, Ms. P. Karunaratne interviewed Dr. Gunarathna, exploring her path from an undergraduate in the Physics Department to her current position as a consultant at the IAEA. Dr. Gunarathna undoubtedly shared valuable insights into her career progression, offering inspiration and guidance to current physics students.
The University of Sri Jayewardenepura’s Department of Physics is proud of Dr. Nadeera Gunaratna’s accomplishments and is grateful for her return visit. Her dedication to her field and her remarkable career trajectory serve as a testament to the exceptional foundation provided by the university.
