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Dr. Asela Sampath Dikkumbura

Ph.D. (Louisiana State, USA); M.S. (Eastern Illinois, USA); B.S. (Sri Jayewardenepura)

Senior Lecturer (G II)

Department of Chemistry
  • Kandy Regional Center, Kandy
  • +94 812 494 495, Fax: +94 812 494 498
  • asdik@ou.ac.lk, aseladikkumbura@gmail.com

My name is Asela Sampath Dikkumbura, and I am a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Chemistry. I received my Ph.D. in 2021 from Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA, under the supervision of Prof. Louis H. Haber on “Colloidal Nanomaterial Surface Chemistry and Characterization Studied by Linear and Nonlinear Spectroscopy.” In 2016, I received an M.S. in Chemistry from Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois, USA, where I conducted research on halogenated hydrocarbons using microwave spectroscopy and computational chemistry under the supervision of Prof. Rebecca A. Peebles. In 2008, I received my B.S. (Special) Degree in Chemistry from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura and conducted research on silver nanoparticles under the supervision of Prof. Pradeep M. Jayaweera.

Following graduation, I worked as a teaching assistant and visiting lecturer at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Departments of Chemistry, Pharmacology, and Medical Education. In 2009, I began working at the Open University of Sri Lanka, Department of Chemistry, where I held various academic positions, such as teaching assistant, temporary lecturer, probationary lecturer, and confirmed lecturer.

I currently teach and coordinate general chemistry, practical chemistry, physical chemistry and mathematics for chemistry and biology courses for general and special degree students. I am involved in curriculum development, writing course material and evaluation for the other degree programs and diploma courses at the university. I am a dedicated and professional educator who is committed to my students’ social and academic development.

Noble metallic nanoparticles and their biomedical applications, lipid and polymeric nanomaterials and their biomedical and surface chemistry applications, soil and environmental chemistry, chemical education, and open and distance learning methodologies are among my research interests.

 

Physical Chemistry

Noble metallic nanoparticles and their biomedical applications, Lipid and polymeric nanomaterials and their biomedical and surface chemistry applications Soil and Environmental Chemistry, Chemical education Open and distance learning
  • Senior Lecturer (Grade II)–Department of Chemistry, The Open University of Sri Lanka (November 2016–to present)
  • Lecturer (Confirmed)–Department of Chemistry, The Open University of Sri Lanka (November 2011–October 2016)
  • Teaching and Research Assistant–Department of Chemistry, Louisiana State University, USA (August 2016–December 2021)
  • Teaching and Research Assistant–Department of Chemistry, Eastern Illinois University, USA (August 2014–August 2016)
  • Lecturer (Probationary)–Department of Chemistry, The Open University of Sri Lanka (November 2011–October 2016)
  • Lecturer (Temporary)–Department of Chemistry, The Open University of Sri Lanka (January 2011–November 2011)
  • Teaching Assistant–Department of Chemistry, The Open University of Sri Lanka (June 2009–January 2011)
  • Teaching Assistant–Department of Chemistry, University of Sri Jayewardenepura (July 2008–June 2009)
  • Temporary Visiting Lecturer–Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura (July 2008–May 2009)
  • Temporary Visiting Lecturer–Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura (July 2008–May 2009)
  • Industrial Intern–Laboratory Assistant, Lanka Hospitals PLC (January 2007–May 2007)

CYU3201–Basic Principles of Chemistry II (Physical Chemistry)

CYU3302–Basic Practical Chemistry (KRC Coordinator)

CYU4301–Concepts in Physical Chemistry

CYU4302–Practical Chemistry (KRC Coordinator)

CYU5614–Physical Chemistry I (Special Degree)

Ongoing Research 

Synthesis and characterization of hybrid plasmonic nanoparticles of gold and silver and their applications in dye sensitized and quantum dot sensitized solar cells” funded by the Open University Faculty Research Grant. (Collaborative work with Prof. G. K. R. Senadeera, Department of Physics, OUSL)

 

Dikkumbura, A. S.; Hemalika, D.V.D.; Haniffa, M.R.M.; Zoysa, M. N. K. De. Physical Chemistry Foundation Level–Book IV. Published by the Open University of Sri Lanka, 2013, ISBN: 978-955-23-1403-2.

  1. Dikkumbura, A. S.; Aucoin, A. V.; Ali, R. O.; Schneider, G. J.; Haber, L. H. Influence of Acetaminophen on Molecular Adsorption and Transport Properties at Colloidal Liposome Surfaces Studied by Second Harmonic Generation Spectroscopy. Langmuir 2022, 38, 3852−3859.
  2. Dikkumbura, A. S.; Hamal, P.; Chen, M.; Babayode, D. A.; Ranasinghe, J. C.; Lopata, K.; Haber, L. H. Monitoring the Growth Dynamics of Colloidal Silver–Gold Core–Shell Nanoparticles Using In–Situ Second Harmonic Generation and Extinction Spectroscopy. J. Phys. Chem. C 2021, 125, 46, 25615–25623.
  3. Abu-Laban, M.; Hamal, P.; Arrizabalaga, J. H.; Forghani, A.; Dikkumbura, A. S.; Kumal, R. R.; Haber, L. H.; Hayes, D. J. Combinatorial Delivery of miRNA-nanoparticle Conjugates in Human Adipose Stem Cells for Amplified Osteogenesis. Small. 2019, 1902864-1902878.
  4. Ranasinghe, J. C.; Dikkumbura, A. S.; Hamal, P.; Chen, M.; Khoury, R. A.; Smith, H. T.; Lopata, K.; Haber, L. H. Monitoring the Growth Dynamics of Colloidal Gold-Silver Core-Shell Nanoparticles Using In-Situ Second Harmonic Generation and Extinction Spectroscopy. J. Chem. Phys. 2019, 151, 224701-224709
  5. Khoury, R. A.; Ranasinghe, J. C.; Dikkumbura, A. S.; Hamal, P.; Kumal, R. R.; Karam, T. E.; Smith, H. T.; Haber, L. H. Monitoring the Seed-Mediated Growth of Gold Nanoparticles using In-Situ Second Harmonic Generation and Extinction Spectroscopy. J. Phys. Chem. C 2018, 122, 24400-24406.
  6. Jang, H.; Ka, S.; Dikkumbura, A. S.; Peebles, R. A.; Peebles, S. A.; Oh, J. J. Microwave Spectrum, Structure and Dipole Moment of 4–Fluorophenylacetylene (4FPA). J. Mol. Struct. 2017, 1133, 320–328.
  7. Bandarage, G.; Zoysa, M. N. K. De.; Dikkumbura, A. S.; Loganathan, S. Assessment of Thinking Skills in a Non–Traditional Undergraduate Chemistry Laboratory Class. Annual Academic Sessions of the Open University of Sri Lanka. 2013, 18, 78–81.
  8. Bandarage, G.; Zoysa, M. N. K. De,; Dikkumbura, A. S.; Makandu, A. A Novel Approach in Transforming a Recipe Driven Laboratory Class in Chemistry to a Thinking Oriented Laboratory Class. Annual Academic Sessions of the Open University of Sri Lanka. 2011, 82, 307–310.
  • Oral Presentation–American Chemical Society Southwest Regional Meeting and Exposition, Austin, Texas, USA. (Fall 2021)
  • Poster Presentation–American Chemical Society National Meeting and Exposition, Spring Virtual Meeting. (Spring 2021)
  • Poster Presentation–47th National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers National Meeting and Exposition. (Virtual Conference–Fall 2020)
  • Oral Presentation–46th National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers National Meeting and Exposition, St. Louis, Missouri, USA. (Fall 2019)
  • Poster Presentation–45th National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers National Meeting and Exposition, Orlando, Florida, USA. (Fall 2018)
  • Poster Presentation–255th American Chemical Society National Meeting and Exposition, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. (Spring 2018)
  • Poster Presentation–Student Research and Creative Discovery Conference 2017, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, Illinois, USA. (Spring 2017)
  • Oral Presentation–71st International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Champaign, Illinois, USA. (Summer 2016)
  • Poster Presentation–Student Research and Creative Discovery Conference 2016, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, Illinois, USA. (Spring 2016)
  • Poster Presentation–19th Annual Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society Banquet, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, Illinois, USA. (Spring 2016)
  • Poster Presentation–251st American Chemical Society National Meeting and Exposition, San Diego, California, USA. (Spring 2016)
  • Poster Presentation–Student Research Celebration, Department of Chemistry, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, Illinois, USA. (Fall 2015)
  • American Chemical Society
  • National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers
  • Phi Kappa Phi
  • The Institute of Chemistry Ceylon
  • The Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science
  • COATES Research Travel Award, Department of Chemistry, Louisiana State University, USA. (Fall 2021)
  • Outstanding Physical Chemistry Teaching Assistant Scholar Award–Department of Chemistry, Louisiana State University, USA. (Spring 2021)
  • 1st Place Poster Award in Nanoscience Division–2020 NOBCChE (National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists & Chemical Engineers) Conference. (Fall 2020)
  • Graduate Student Association Travel Award–Department of Chemistry, Louisiana State University, USA. (Spring 2020)
  • Outstanding General Chemistry Teaching Assistant Scholar Award–Department of Chemistry, Louisiana State University, USA. (Spring 2018)
  • Membership Rewards Academic Excellence of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi Chapter at Louisiana State University, USA. (Spring 2017)
  • Master’s Thesis Award of Excellence in the College of Sciences–Department of Chemistry, Eastern Illinois University, USA. (Spring 2017)
  • Distinguished Graduate Student Award for Chemistry–Graduate School, Eastern Illinois University, USA. (Spring 2016)
  • Graduate Student Investigator Award for Chemistry Research–College of Sciences, Eastern Illinois University, USA. (Spring 2016)
  • Distinguished Graduate Student Award–Department of Chemistry, Eastern Illinois University, USA. (Spring 2016)
  • Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award–Department of Chemistry, Eastern Illinois University, USA. (Spring 2016)
  • Best Graduate Student Poster Award–Sigma Xi Scientific Society Banquet, Eastern Illinois University, USA. (Spring 2016)

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