Thanuka is a chemistry graduate from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka, where he earned a B.Sc. Honors degree with a Second Upper class in 2023. Initially studying chemistry, physics, and polymer science, he chose to specialize in chemistry due to his strong performance in these subjects. His final year undergraduate research project, titled “Photocatalytic Food Packaging Based on Graphene Oxide (GO) Incorporated Iron Titanate Derived from Natural Ilmenite,” was supervised by Prof. Nilwala Kottegoda, Dr. Imalka Munaweera, and Prof. Dilushan R. Jayasundara. The study involved synthesizing a novel nanocomposite by calcining magnetically separated ilmenite and incorporating GO through microwave-assisted synthesis to enhance photocatalytic activity. This nanocomposite, combined with sodium alginate, was developed as a biopolymer food coating to extend the shelf life of food products, reducing spoilage and waste. The project earned him an “A” grade and was published and presented as an abstract at the ACS Spring 2024 conference.

In the fall of 2024, Thanuka began his Ph.D. studies in physical chemistry at Temple University, USA. He joined Dr. Borguet’s lab, where his research focuses on afterglow photocatalysis, nanomaterials, and porous materials, particularly metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). He is especially interested in exploring their catalytic properties and mechanisms, aiming to develop innovative solutions in this