Dr. Gayan Rubasinghege

Gayan Rubasinghege, PhD

Associate Professor

Chemistry


RESEARCH GROUP HOMEPAGE

Education

Assistant Professor, Saint Cloud State University, 2013-2014

Visiting Assistant Professor, University of Iowa, 2011-2013

Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Iowa, IA 2011-2013

Ph.D., Physical and Environmental Chemistry, University of Iowa, 2011

B.Sc., Chemistry, University of Kelaniya, 2005

Keywords

environmental interfaces, heterogeneous chemistry,  photochemistry, mineral dust, climate, biogeochemistry, marine chemistry, environmental toxicity and health, implications of nanoscience and nanotechnology, wastewater treatment.

Research Interests

Dr. Rubasinghege’s research revolves around nanomaterial, polymer composite and environmental chemistry, studying hidden reaction pathways and mechanisms in environmental processes to better understand the impact of mineral oxides and engineered nanoparticles on poorly understood environmental process. One of his projects focuses on (i) how and why different metal oxides and engineered nanoparticles behave differently during their environmental processing under various environmentally relevant conditions and (ii) the potential impacts of these processes on aquatic life and human health. These interdisciplinary studies specifically focus on effects of particle size (nano vs. micro), ionic strength, organic and inorganic pollutants and solar radiation on chemical reactivity and environmental processing of metal oxides in mineral dust as a source of trace metals to aquatic life, and their follow up aqueous phase behaviors.

surface of an aerosol dust/mineral oxide/engineered particle

In another research project Dr. Rubasinghege will combine molecular level insight from above aqueous phased studies to develop inorganic polymer and carbon nanotube based catalytic systems to address various environmental issues in open water bodies, including increasing amounts of wastewater pollutants. His research involves cutting-edged-technologies in spectroscopy (FTIR, XPS, ICP & AAS, UV-VIS, DLS), microscopy (SEM, TEM) and chromatography (GC-MS, HPLC).

Ongoing Projects:

1. Chemistry and Photochemistry of Mineral Oxides and Engineered Nanoparticles in Atmospheric Aerosol.

2. Linking Biological Activity of Ocean Diatoms to Atmospheric Processing of Fe-containing Minerals.

3. Fate, Trasformation and Toxoclogical Implications of Emerging Contaminants.

4. Development of Nanoparticle based Catalytic Systems / Polymer Composites for Wastewater Treatments.

5. Toxicity, Mechanisms and Human Health Effects of Airborne Heavy Metals.

Research Divisions

Atmospheric and Environmental

Bioanalytical

Solar Energy and Sustainability

Meet Dr. Gayan Rubasinghege discussing his reseach

Recent Publications

For the complete list of publications, please visit our Group website