Prof. Nadeesh M. Adassooriya

Professor in Materials Science

Biography

Prof. Nadeesh Adassooriya obtained his BSc Honours Degree in Chemistry with a First Class from University of Sri Jayewardenepura in 2009. He completed his M.Sc Degree in Chemical & Process Engineering at University of Moratuwa in 2011. He obtained his PhD in Engineering in the field of energy materials from University of Cambridge, UK in 2017. He started his academic career as a Senior Lecturer in 2017 in Sri Lankan state university system and currently he is serving as a professor attached to the Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Peradeniya. In 2022, he secured a research fellowship from Massachusetts Institute Technology (MIT), USA and engaged in some research activities in the field of nanocrystals at MIT Chemical Engineering Department as a visiting assistant professor.
He has authored/co-authored over 100 research publications, which were presented at well reputed journals and international/national conferences. His research publications have been cited over 2000 times with H-index of 22 to date. He was one of the founding members of Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology Research Team and He has two US patents to his name from SLINTEC and one of them holds the record of first Nanotechnology based US patent from Sri Lanka. He has contributed to 3 books and over 35 book chapters in nanotechnology related areas published by leading international publishers such as Elsevier, Springer, Willy & Sons and Taylor and Francis.
He is a recipient of numerous international and national awards including, CVCD excellence award-Most Outstanding Young Researcher in the Field of Engineering and Technology 2022 (Life time award), Adams Glinsman Research Awards from University of Cambridge, UK, National Science and Technology Award from National Science Foundation, Sri Lanka, Presidential Awards for Scientific Publications from National Research Council, Sri Lanka and Research Excellence Award from University of Peradeniya. Prof. Adassooriya has a diverse research interest which includes nanocomposites for agricultural applications, organic nanocrystals, mechanochemistry and crystal engineering.

Educational Qualifications

BSc : B.Sc. Honours Degree in Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka, 2009 (First Class Honours)

MSc : MSc by Research in Chemical and Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University

of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka; Very Good Pass (Highest Grading), 2011

MPhil : MPhil in Chemistry (Materials), Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, UK, 2012

PhD : PhD in Engineering (Materials), Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, UK, 2017

Areas of Research:

Mechanochemistry, Crystal Engineering and Nanocrystals
Nanocomposites for Nanodelivery Applications
Nanocomposites for Energy Storage Applications

Selected Research Publications:

Publications in Peer Reviewed International Journals

Nadun H Madanayake, Diptajyoti Gogoi, Gehan KMG Jayasuriya, ATD Perera, Ranjit Thakuria, Nadeesh M Adassooriya, Synergistic Effect of Urea· Gallic Acid Cocrystal for Sustained Nitrogen Release and Plant Growth Enhancement, ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 2025, 13, 25, 9481–9489.
Dylan G. Ramanan, Roshan T. Bandara, Ranjit Thakuria and Nadeesh M. Adassooriya, Nanococrystals: a promising strategy for improved drug performance, CrystEngComm, 2025. 27, 2260-2280.
Chirangsri V Ihalavithana, Nadun H Madanayake, Nadeesh M Adassooriya, Montmorillonite nanoclay reinforced carboxymethyl cellulose/stearic acid modified TiO2 nanocomposites for food packaging applicationsJournal of Food Science and Technology, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1007/s13197-024-06169-9.
Nadeesh M Adassooriya, Dilek Ozgit, Pritesh Hiralal, Sai G Shivareddy, Damayanthi Dahanayake, Rachel Oliver, Gehan AJ Amaratunga, Dielectric behaviour of plasma hydrogenated TiO2/cyanoethylated cellulose nanocomposites, Nanoscale, 2023, 15, 1824-1834.
Shalika Parakatawella, Diptajyoti Gogoi, Poonam Deka, Yizhi Xu, Chanaka Sandaruwan, Anil CA Jayasundera, Mihails Arhangelskis, Ranjit Thakuria, Nadeesh M Adassooriya, Mechanochemical Synthesis of Polymorphic Urea⋅ Adipic Acid Cocrystal as a Sustained‐Release Nitrogen Source ChemSusChem, 2021, e202102445.

Patents

Nilwala Kottegoda, Imalka Munaweera, Nadeesh Madusanka and Veranja Karunaratne, Compositions for sustained release of agricultural macronutrients and process thereof, US Patent No: US 8,361185, B, Pub. Date: 29th Jan 2013 (First Nanotechnology based US patent from Sri Lanka).
Nilwala Kottegoda, Imalka Manuweera, Nadeesh Madusanka, Sunanda Gunasekara, Lilantha Samaranayake, Ajith De Alwis, Veranja Karunaratne, Cellulose based sustained release macronutrient composition for fertilizer application, US Patent No: US 8617284 (B2) Pub. Date: Dec 2013.
H.M. Anura Bandara, Nadeesh Adassooriya, R.M.G. Rajapakshe, Mechanical exfoliation technique for scalable production of nanoflakes from layered materials, NIPO Patent No. 22026, Nov. 2021.
NM Adassooriya, NH Madanayake, Ranjit Thakuria, Macronutrient biostimulants agent and the process of manufacturing, Sri Lankan Patent application No: LK/P/1/23024, App. Reg. Date: 26th Feb 2024.

Books

Madanayake, N.H., Ekanayaka, B., and Adassooriya, N.M., Carbon-Based Nanosensors in Agricultural Practices, Book: Emerging Carbon Nanomaterials for Sustainable Agricultural Practices, 2025, ISBN: 978981-97-5103-7, 181–197, Published by Springer.
Vishwajith, H.K.I.S., Madanayake, N.H., and Adassooriya, N.M., Nanomaterials, Magnetic Beads, and Microfluidic Systems for Detecting Emerging Biotoxins, Book: Biotoxins, 2025, ISBN: 978-3031-753084, 55–74, Published by Springer.
Ekanayaka, B., Madanayake, N.H., and Adassooriya, N.M., Gold Nanocomposites for Improved Plant-Soil System and Underlying Mechanism, Book: Plant Response to Gold Nanoparticles, 2024, ISBN: 978-981-977173-8, 141–153, Published by Springer.
Madanayake, N.H. and Adassooriya, N.M., Nanofertilizers for Sustainable Agricultural Practices, Book: Nanotechnology in Sustainable Agriculture, 2024, ISBN: 9781003375104, 33–46, Published by CRC Press.

Presidential awards for scientific publications- 2023
CVCD Research Excellence Award- 2022 (Most Outstanding Young Researcher (MOYR) in the Field of Engineering and Technology)- All Island Award
Tier 4* Researcher Award – 2021 from University of Peradeniya
Presidential awards for scientific publications- 2017
Adam Glinsman Research Award from Sidney Sussex College, University of Cambridge-2014
Cambridge Commonwealth Scholarship and Dyson Studentship from University of Cambridge -2013
Cambridge Commonwealth Shared Scholarship from Cambridge Trust-2011
National Science & Technology Award-2010 Sri Lanka, Category- Best Innovative Advanced Technologies with Commercial Potentials

Professional Experiences

Visiting Research Scholar, Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA — September 2022
Professor in Materials Science, Department of Chemical & Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya — June 2022 to date
Senior Lecturer, Department of Chemical & Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya — March 2021 to June 2022
Senior Lecturer, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka — June 2019 to February 2021
Senior Lecturer (on contract), University of Sri Jayewardenepura — June 2017 to April 2019
Postdoctoral Fellow, Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology (SLINTEC) — May 2017 to June 2017
Nanotech Consultant, Talga Resource Technologies, Cambridge, UK — October 2016 to April 2017
Research Scientist, Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology (SLINTEC) — October 2012 to September 2013
Research Scientist, Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology (SLINTEC) — August 2009 to September 2011
Trainee Chemist, Dipped Products Limited (Vocational Training) — May 2008 to July 2008

Training Programmes Attended

Certificate Course on Leading & Managing Universities (CCLM) – 150-hour module by the Staff Development Centre, University of Peradeniya (March 2025)
Chemical Safety and Security Management Programme for Asian Member States, jointly organized with the National Authority of Qatar (Online) – 23 February 2021
Certificate Course on Staff Development (150-hour course accredited by the University Grants Commission of Sri Lanka; UGC Circular 721) – Staff Development Centre, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka (July 2020)

CP1030/CE1110 Material Science
CP511 Food Process Engineering
CP516 Nano Technology for Chemical Engineers
CP518 Polymer Science and Engineering
CP313 Independent Study (Research supervision)
CP407 Process Engineering Research Project I (Research supervision)
CP411 Process Engineering Research Project II (Research supervision)