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Dr Nadeeka Rathnayake

B.Sc., M.Sc., PhD

Contact Details

Post Doctoral Researcher
E: NADEEKA.RATHNAYAKE@nuigalway.ie
Post-doctoral Researcher
Ryan Institute, University Road, Galway, H91 TK33, Ireland
T: +353914953921
M: +353871609109
E: Nadeeka.rathnayake@nuigalway.ie
Twitter: @RkNadee
 
researcher
 

Biography

Dr Nadeeka Rathnayake is a Post-doctoral Researcher at the Earth and Ocean Sciences, School of Natural Sciences and Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland Galway. Her research focuses on the biogeochemical cycling of nutrients and elements in marine and coastal environments and the applications of passive sampling techniques to understand the biogeochemistry of trace metals and rare earth elements (REEs) in these marine environments. Nadeeka graduated with a Bachelor of Science Honours degree in Chemistry from the University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka and then a Master of Science degree in Environmental Chemistry from IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, The Netherlands. Then Dr. Rathnayake obtain her PhD in Biogeochemistry from the Griffith University, Australia. Currently she is involved in EPA Ireland and Marine Institute Ireland funded Nuts&Bolts project which focus on biogeochemical cycling of nutrients, elements and carbon in Irish marine transitional zones.

Research Interests

My principal research interests lie in the fields of biogeochemistry and water quality management. My current research focuses on the biogeochemical cycling of nutrients and elements in marine transitional zones/coastal environments and the applications of in-situ passive sampling techniques to understand the biogeochemical processes of chemical species in these environments. Currently I am working in an EPA Ireland and Marine Institute Ireland funded Nuts&Bolts project which focuses on biogeochemical cycling of nutrients, elements and carbon in Irish marine transitional zones (MTZs) and fluxes of bio-relevant elements from Irish surface and groundwaters to the MTZ and continental shelf.   My future research plans are to further develop and use in-situ and conventional analysis techniques to understand the role of biogeochemical processes of chemical species in surface and ground waters and develop biogeochemical models and tools in conjunction with government bodies and environmental agencies.

Research Projects

  Project Start Date End Date
Physico-chemical Cycling of Nutrients and Carbon 01-FEB-19

Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
(2020) 'A new colorimetric DET technique for determining mm-resolution sulfide porewater distributions and allowing improved interpretation of iron(II) co-distributions'
 Nadeeka Rathnayake Kankanamge, William W. Bennett, Peter R. Teasdale, Jianyin Huang, and David T. Welsh (2020) 'A new colorimetric DET technique for determining mm-resolution sulfide porewater distributions and allowing improved interpretation of iron(II) co-distributions'. Chemosphere, [DOI] [Details]
(2019) 'Comparison of DET, DGT and conventional porewater extractions for determining nutrient profiles and cycling in stream sediments'
 Jianyin Huang, Hannah Franklin, Peter R. Teasdale, Michele Burford, Nadeeka Rathnayake Kankanamge, William W. Bennett, and David T. Welsh (2019) 'Comparison of DET, DGT and conventional porewater extractions for determining nutrient profiles and cycling in stream sediments'. Environmental Science-Processes & Impacts, [DOI] [Details]
(2018) 'Removing Ammonium from Water and Wastewater Using Cost-Effective Adsorbents – A Review'
 Jianyin Huang, Nadeeka Rathnayake Kankanamge, Christopher Chow, David T. Welsh, Tianling Li and Peter R. Teasdale (2018) 'Removing Ammonium from Water and Wastewater Using Cost-Effective Adsorbents – A Review'. Journal Of Environmental Sciences, [DOI] [Details]
(2017) 'A Modified DGT Technique for the Simultaneous Measurement of Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen and Phosphorus in Freshwaters'
 Jianyin Huang, William W. Bennett, Peter R. Teasdale, Nadeeka Rathnayake Kankanamge and David T. Welsh (2017) 'A Modified DGT Technique for the Simultaneous Measurement of Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen and Phosphorus in Freshwaters'. Analytica Chimica Acta, [DOI] [Details]
(2017) 'Comparing In Situ Colorimetric DET and DGT Techniques with Ex Situ Core Slicing and Centrifugation for Measuring Ferrous Iron and Dissolved Sulfide in Coastal Sediment Pore Waters'
 Nadeeka Rathnayake Kankanamge, William W. Bennett, Peter R. Teasdale, Jianyin Huang, and David T. Welsh (2017) 'Comparing In Situ Colorimetric DET and DGT Techniques with Ex Situ Core Slicing and Centrifugation for Measuring Ferrous Iron and Dissolved Sulfide in Coastal Sediment Pore Waters'. Chemosphere, [DOI] [Details]

Other Journals

  Year Publication
(2009) 'Development of Acid Sulphate Soils in Nilwala Flood Protection area, Matara, Sri Lanka'
 Fernando G.W.A.R. and R. K. N.Suranganee (2009) 'Development of Acid Sulphate Soils in Nilwala Flood Protection area, Matara, Sri Lanka' Journal of the Geological Society of Sri Lanka, . [Details]

Honours and Awards

  Year Title Awarding Body
2018 Scott Piper Highly Commended Publication Award EFRI, Griffith University, Australia
2016 Best Presenter award EFRI, Griffith University, Australia
2015 Best Poster Presentation Prize NZFSS & ASL Joint Conference
2013 Griffith University International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (GUIPRS) Griffith University, Australia
2013 Griffith University Postgraduate Research Scholarship (GUPRS) Griffith University, Australia
2012 Netherlands Fellowship Netherlands Government (Nuffic)

Professional Associations

  Association Function From / To
Australian Freshwater Sciences Society (AFSS) Member 01-JAN-15 /
Geological Society of Sri Lanka (GSSL) Member 01-JAN-09 /
Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) Member 01-JAN-14 /
Environmental Sciences Association of Ireland (ESAI) Member 01-FEB-20 /

Employment

  Employer Position From / To
School of Environment and Sciences, Griffith University, Australia PhD Researcher 07-OCT-13 /
EOS, School of Natural Sciences and Ryan Institute, NUI Galway Post-doctoral Researcher 01-JUL-19 /
/
Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB), Sri Lanka Chemical Scientist – Geochemistry 01-JAN-09 / 19-MAY-14
Department of Oceanography and Marine Geology, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Assistant Lecturer – Chemistry 24-DEC-07 /

Education

  Year Institution Qualification Subject
2018 Griffith University, Australia Ph.D Biogeochemistry
2014 IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, The Netherlands M.Sc Environmental Science Water Quality Management
2007 University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka B.Sc. (Honours) Chemistry

Languages

  Language
English

Community Engagement

  Title Type From / To
Research (e.g. Community based research) To communicate and engage with stakeholders and the general public regarding the impact of multiple environmental stressors on ecosystem services in Irish MTZs /

External Collaborators

  Name Organisation / Institute Country Description of Collaboration
Dr. Jianyin Huang Natural and Built Environments Research Centre, School of Natural and Built Environments, University of South Australia AUSTRALIA
Dr. Sunanda Kodikara Department of Botany, University of Ruhuna SRI LANKA