Chethani Athukorala, PhD Candidate / Post-Doc or Industry Research Position / Experimental Research

CHETHANI ATHUKORALA, Clarkson University

     Abstract Number: 743
     Working Group: Meet the Job Seekers

Abstract
Bio: I am currently in my 5^th year of pursuing a Ph.D. at AIR (Aerosol Instrumentation Research) Lab in Clarkson University working with Prof. Suresh Dhaniyala. My expertise is on conducting experimental studies to comprehend indoor aerosol generation, transport, and control. My work is published in two recent ASHRAE conference proceedings on indoor air quality and ventilation.

Interests: My research interest stems from a realization of the impact of poor air quality can have on human health, especially highlighted by the recent pandemic and its effect on lives worldwide. Consequently, I have been devoted to investigating various ventilation and filtration strategies to effectively curb disease transmission within indoor environments. My involvement in measuring PM2.5 levels during Canada's wildfires further solidified my commitment to finding solutions that promote cleaner and healthier air for everyone.
Driven by this passion, I have broadened my research focus to include policy-making in the context of infectious aerosols. My ultimate goal is to contribute actively to developing comprehensive solutions that address air quality challenges and play a crucial role in safeguarding public health.

Skills: Experimental designs : I design aerosol sampling systems to measure aerosol characteristics in real-world occupational settings using both research-grade aerosol measuring devices and low-cost sensors. My previous work includes experiments in aerosol generation, classification, and filtration systems.

CFD analysis : I have done CFD simulations for devices utilizing aerosol transport under gravity and electrostatics using ANSYS Fluent and some of my work is published in AS&T journal.

Troubleshooting aerosol sampling instruments : I involve in calibrating and troubleshooting aerosol sampling instruments including impactors, classifiers (eg. DMA-Differential Mobility Analyser) and aerosol sizing instruments.

Job interest: Post-doc/ Industry research positions

Preferred start date: Early 2024

Contact: athukocd@clarkson.edu