Dula Amarasiriwardena, emeritus professor of chemistry, has a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry from North Carolina State University and his undergraduate work was completed at the University of Ceylon in Sri Lanka. He has a M.Phil. in chemistry from the University of Sri Lanka and a postgraduate diploma in international affairs from the Bandaranaiake Center for International Studies.
Professor Amarasiriwardena regularly teaches analytical chemistry, environmental chemistry and general chemistry. His research interests include topics in chemistry, environmental pollution, water quality, inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, studies of trace metal analysis, toxic wastes, radon monitoring, pesticide residues, soil and environmental chemistry. This includes chemical speciation of arsenic and antimony and characterization of trace metals bound to soil-derived humic acids by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) or ion chromatography (IC) coupled with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). He is also interested in the application of laser ablation (LA)-ICP-MS for investigation of past trace metal nutrition and the exposure to toxic metal pollutants using tissues such as human teeth and hair. He serves on the editorial boards of Environmental Pollution and Microchemical Journal. Professor Amarasiriwardena is a member of American Chemical Society, and Sigma Xi Honorary Research Society, and he served as the Chair of the Society for Applied Spectroscopy – New England Section. He has received grants from the National Science Foundation and the Pittsburgh Conference. Dula received the Gruber Award for Excellence in Students Advising at Hampshire College in 2014. He served as a Fulbright Specialist at the University of Concepción and University of Tarapaca in Chile. Professsor Amarasiriwardena is interested in chemical education, environmental issues in developing nations, and in activism in environmental groups through lobbying and education.
Hear Professor Amarasiriwardena on the Academic Minute Audio Stream– WAMC Channel, Albany, NY.
