Bio
Charini Maladeniya earned her BSc Chemistry special honors degree from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka, in 2017. Following this, she served as a chemistry lecturer at the University of Kelaniya before embarking on her Ph.D. journey in 2019. She subsequently pursued her Ph.D. in Polymer Science at Clemson University, graduating in 2023. Post-graduation, she joined the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences (CNMS) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in Oak Ridge, TN, as a postdoctoral researcher. Her current research focuses on the synthesis and characterization of polymers, with expertise in Free Radical and ATRP polymerizations.
Awards
- Finalist of Your science in a nutshell competition in Oak Ridge National Laboratory (2024)
- Champion of 3-Minute Thesis competition in the PhD candidate category in Clemson University (2022)
- Recipient of Professional Enrichment Grant, Clemson University (2022)
- Graduate Student Travel Grant - International Travel Grant, Clemson University (2022)
- Recipient of Mandel Fellowship for achieving an outstanding level of productivity in research, Clemson University (2021)
- First -authored paper got selected as a 2020 HOT article featured by the journal Materials Advances (2020)
- Earl C Ray '38 Fellowship, Clemson University (2019)
Education
- Ph.D. in Polymer Chemistry, Clemson University, USA
Aug.2019−Aug.2023
Dissertation Title: “Atom Economical Polymerization of Terpenoids, Post-consumer plastic with Sulfur to Yield Durable Composites”
- B.Sc. in Chemistry (Honors), University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka
Aug.2010−Feb. 2015
Thesis Title: “Biological evaluation of Platinum (II) sulfonamide complexes: synthesis, characterization, cytotoxicity and biological imaging”
Specialized Equipment
UV-Visible Spectroscopy, FTIR, NMR (1D, 2D), SEM/EDX, MALDI, GC-MS, GPC, DSC, XRR, AFM, QCM-D, Fluorescence microscopy, Flexural strength/ rheology/viscoelastic properties analysis with DMA, Compressive/Tensile Strength Measuring Instrument, Ellipsometry, Profilometer, Sputter Bob
Other Publications
- Maladeniya, C. P., Tennyson, A. G., & Smith, R. C. (2023). Thermal and mechanical properties of guaiacol-fatty acid-sulfur composites. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, in preparation.
- Maladeniya, C. P., Tennyson, A. G., & Smith, R. C. (2023). Single-stage chemical recycling of plastic waste to yield durable composites via a tandem transesterification-thiocracking process.
- Maladeniya, C. P., Karunarathna, M. S., Lauer, M. K., Lopez, C. V., Thiounn, T., & Smith, R. C. (2020). A role for terpenoid cyclization in the atom economical polymerization of terpenoids with sulfur to yield durable composites. Materials Advances, 1(6), 1665-1674.
- Maladeniya, C. P., Smith, R. C. (2021). Influence of component ratio on thermal and mechanical properties of terpenoid-sulfur composites. Journal of Composites Science, 5(10), 257.
- Maladeniya, C. P., Darshani, T., Samarakoon, S. R., Fronczek, F. R., Sameera, W. M. C., Perera, I. C., & Perera, T. (2022). Biological evaluation of platinum (II) sulfonamido complexes: Synthesis, characterization, cytotoxicity, and biological imaging. Bioinorganic Chemistry and Applications, 2022, Article ID 7821284.
- Lopez, C. V., Maladeniya, C. P., & Smith, R. C. (2020). Lithium-sulfur batteries: Advances and trends. Electrochem, 1(3), 226-259.
- Karunarathna, M. S., Maladeniya, C. P., Lauer, M. K., Tennyson, A. G., & Smith, R. C. (2023). Durable composites by vulcanization of oleyl-esterified lignin. RSC Advances.
- Graham, M. J., Lopez, C. V., Maladeniya, C. P., Tennyson, A. G., & Smith, R. C. (2023). Influence of pozzolans on plant oil-sulfur polymer cements: More sustainable and chemically resistant alternatives to Portland cement. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 140(13), e53684.
- Tisdale, K. A., Maladeniya, C. P., Lopez, C. V., Tennyson, A. G., & Smith, R. C. (2023). Sustainable composites from waste sulfur, terpenoids, and pozzolan cements. Journal of Composites Science.
- Derr, K. M., Lopez, C. V., Maladeniya, C. P., Tennyson, A. G., & Smith, R. C. (2023). Transesterification-vulcanization route to durable composites from post-consumer poly(ethylene terephthalate), terpenoids, and industrial waste sulfur. Journal of Polymer Science, accepted for publication.
- Lopez, C. V., Karunarathna, M. S., Lauer, M. K., Maladeniya, C. P., Thiounn, T., Ackley, E. D., & Smith, R. C. (2020). High strength, acid-resistant composites from canola, sunflower, or linseed oils: Influence of triglyceride unsaturation on material properties. Journal of Polymer Science, 58(16), 2259-2266.