Subject Area
Biological Oceanography, Marine Ecology
Climatology, Meteorology
Activities
Undergraduate – BSc. Special Degree
Title – Reconstruction of the paleo environmental changes in Choctawhatchee bay, Florida, USA.- Paleo climatic implications.
Description – Study the past environmental changing frequency to interpret future disaster planning by using biological proxy – foraminifera.
· Postgraduate – M.Phil Degree
Title - Reconstruction of The Quaternary Climate Variability in Sri Lanka using Marine Proxies.
Description – Studying the paleo climate variability with the changes of monsoonal cycles by using biogeochemical and physical proxies. Use biogeochemical procedure to detect FAMEs as Biomarkers.200,000 full travel grant from National Science Foundation (NSF) under the reference No: RGB/GEN/06/2016/04/46 for participate American Geo-Physical Union (AGU) Fall meeting – 2016, San Francisco, 12-16 December 2016, California, USA.
· Awarded Rs 737,400 postgraduate research scholarship grant from National Science Foundation (NSF) under the reference No: NSF/SCH/2017/05 for the period of 12 months.
· Research Student at National Science Foundation from May 2017 to present.
· Research Student at National Research Council from April 2016 to April 2017.
· Industrial training at Petrology laboratory, Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) head office for 3 months (Jan 2016 to March 2016).
· Workshop and training about petroleum and other marine resources in Petroleum Resourse Development Secretariat (PRDS), Colombo.
· Field training regarding with the Integrated Coastal Zone Management at Madu Ganaga, Negambo and Hikkaduwa by Coast Conservation Department (CCD).
· Training about Survey and leveling by Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna.
· Hydrography, navigation and international signals by Sri Lanka NAVY, NAVY base, Galle.
· Training about drinking water treatment process in Malimbada and Ambalanthota drinking water treatment plants.
· Workshops and training Curriculum about Waste Water treatment in Board of Investment (BOI)- Biyagama and MAS fabric holding company limited in Thulhiriya.
Computer Literacy
· Diploma in information technology with E-commerce in ESOFT computer studies (Pvt) Ltd, Galle. (2011)
· Certificate Course of Computer Literacy (CLC) concurrent to undergraduate academic coursework of Level I ,Department of Computer Science, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka (2011 - 2012)
· Six month certificate course in computer Technology by Department of Computer Science & Computer Unit, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka (2011)
· Achieved basic level of the University Students’ Competency test of information Technology (HETC) by Ministry of higher education. (2013)
Laboratory work
Well practiced in both chemical analysis and petrology analysis. Practically experienced in numerous subject related scientific instruments such as multi-parameter water quality meter ,laser Particle size analyzer, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometer, X-Minolta Colour spectrophotometer, Gas chromatography Mass Spectrometer (GCMS), Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) , Ground Penetration Radar (GPR), seismography , Microwave digestion system, theodolite, X- Ray Diffractometer (XRD), 3D Multi-electrode Resistivity Imaging System.. ect.
Field work
· 2 weeks laboratory training at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution , USA for Fatty acid methyl ester extraction isolation and GC identification.
· 38 days cruise experience in RV SONNE 258/2 research expedition in Indian Ocean for a seismic, gravity, magnetic and bathymetry survey.
· 6 days Field work to Jaffna peninsula, Kachchathive island, Delft island for sediment coring, GPR analysis , Seismic analysis in November 2015.
· 7 days filed visit to Yala national park- block 2 and Minihagal kanda for sampling to Geological and geochemical analysis in February 2016.
· 3 days field visit to Katharagama, Palatupana sand dune for studying sand dune formation, mechanism and geological variation in land formations in 2015.
· 3 days field visit to Bibila, for study about hot water springs and sediment sampling for climatic studies in 2014.
· 1 day deep sea field visit to Mirissa off shore for studying whale behavior and sampling deep sea water samples for analysis zooplanktonic and phytoplanktonic horizontal variation in 2014.
· 5 days field visit to Jaffna peninsula including Nainativu island and Iranathive island for coral and sediment sampling in Sept 2016.
LITERACY IN ACADEMIC COMPUTING
· GIS applications - Ilwis Academic 3.3, Arc GIS
· Geo Rose software
· Spectra Magic software for colour Reflectance data processing
· Rad Explorer software for GPR processing
· Microtrac software for Partical size analyzing
· AA Winlab Software for Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy
· GC solutions software for Gas chromatography
· Statistical packages - SPSS Package 16.0
LANGUAGE SKILLS
· Excellent communication skills both written and spoken in English and Sinhala
· Successfully completed English Proficiency Examination conducted by the University of Ruhuna ,Sri Lanka
· Passed the University Test for English Language (UTEL) - 2014
· Obtained honors level in certificate in spoken English and grammar, American Collage of Higher Education, Sri Lanka- 2010
OTHER QUALIFICATIONS
· Achieved high distinction in Australian National Chemistry quiz in senior division – 2008
· Achieved distinction in Australian National Chemistry quiz in junior division – 2006
· Obtained “B” pass in the Sri Lankan Biology Olympiad competition – 2009
Perform successfully in the Sri Lankan Biology Olympiad competition – 2010
EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Skills
- Nanayakkara, N.U 2015, ‘HOLOCENE PALEO COASTAL ENVIROMENTAL CHANGES IN CHOCTAWHATCHEE BAY, FLORIDA,USA’,BSc thesis, University of Ruhuna, Matara.
- Nanayakkara, N.U., Ransinghe,P.N., Hawks A., Van Hengstum P., Donnelly J., (2016) Foraminiferal evidence for Paleo-cosatal environmental Changes Influenced by The Holocene Transgression and Varying Storminess in Choctawhatchee Bay, Florida, USA, American Geophysical Union.
- Nanayakkara,N.U., Ransinghe, P.N., Priyantha, A.A.C., Embillapitiya, T., (2016) Colorstratigraphy; A New Stratigraphic Correlation Technique, American Geophysical Union (Accepted)
- Ransinghe,P.N., Nanayakkara, N.U., et al., (2016) Changes in the Indian Summer Monsoon Intensity in Sri Lanka during the last 30 ky – A multiproxy record from a marine sediment core, American Geophysical Union.
- Nanayakkara, N.U, Kodithuwakku, R.K.K.A.S.N., Ranasinghe, P.N., Siriwardana, Y.P.S., (2016) Long term variability of the Indian summer monsoon in Sri Lanka, TWAS-ROCASA Young Scientists Conference, Bangalore, India.
- Nanayakkara,N.U., Ransinghe, P.N., Priyantha, A.A.C., Embillapitiya, T., (2017) Colorstratigraphy; A New Stratigraphic Correlation Technique, Geological Society of Sri Lanka (GSSL).
· Ransinghe,P.N., Nanayakkara, N.U, Rathnayake, K.M, Hewawasam, A.L.T, Galappaththi, R, Siriwardana, S. (2017) A 30 KA SUMMER MONSOON DRIVEN TERRESTRIAL RAINFALL VARIABILITY RECORD FROM CENTRAL HIGHLANDS OF SRI LANKA , GSA (Geological Society of America) Annual Meeting in Seattle, Washington, USA.
Comment(s)
IELTS - 6.5
GRE - verbal reasoning - 141
quantitative reasoning - 151
analytical writing - 3.5