Shiwanka Vidarshi Wanasinghe Wanasinghe Mudiyanselage
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Contact
WANASINGHEMS@ORNL.GOVBio
Shiwanka V. Wanasinghe joined ORNL’s Building Envelope Materials Research Group as a Postdoctoral Research Associate on February 19, 2024. Shiwanka completed her Ph.D. in Chemistry from Miami University in Ohio, in 2023. During her Ph.D. studies, she was part of the Konkolewicz Group, focusing her research on synthetic organic polymer materials. She studied self-healing polymers and their potential applications in adhesives and soft robotics. In addition, Shiwanka conducted research to identify similarities and differences between materials synthesized via controlled polymerization techniques; that is, Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (ATRP) and Reversible Addition Fragmentation Chain Transfer Polymerization (RAFT). Moreover, she worked to enhance the properties of interpenetrated networks by introducing dynamic bonds.
In her role at ORNL, she applies her polymer chemistry expertise to lead experimental efforts on next‑generation foam insulation materials, including systems targeting R‑10 per inch performance and advanced barrier facers that slow thermal aging. She also works on bio‑based insulation, fire‑resistant materials for building envelopes, and phase‑change materials. Her contributions have earned significant recognition, including two patents, an R&D 100 Award (2025), and the ORNL Best Postdoc in Research award (2025).
Awards
Best Postdoc in Research- ORPA Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 2025
R&D 100 Award, (Next-Gen High-Performance Polyiso Foam Insulation), 2025
Best Paper Award, Rigid Foam Session, Polyurethane Technical Conference, 2024
Your Science in a Nutshell, finalist, 2024
Dissertation Scholarship Award - Miami University,2023
3MT winner and People's Choice Award (Tie), 2022
Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools, Regional 3MT competition semi finalist, 2022
Graduate Student Achievement Award, 2021
Dean's award for the academic excellence, 2014
Education
Ph.D in Chemistry, Miami University, 2023
B.Sc. in Chemistry, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2017
Professional Affiliations
American Chemical Society
Trademarks and Patents
- S Shrestha, S Wanasinghe, Z Demchuk, A Tamraparni, C Gainaru, T Feng, J Tiwari, T Saito, D Hun. Fabrication of High-Performance Polyisocyanurate-Based Foams. US non-provisional patent filed-12/10/2025
- S Shrestha, B Park, T Saito, D Howard, D Hun, A Desjarlais, Z Demchuk, S Wanasinghe. Facers to Increase Initial Thermal Resistivity and Reduce Aging of Foam Insulations. US provisional patent no: 63/863,602.
Other Publications
- Wanasinghe, S.V., Demchuk, Z., Tamraparni, A., Tiwari, J., Feng, T., Gainaru, C.P., Park, B.K., Kim, S., Hun, D., Saito, T. and Shrestha, S.S., 2025. Design and Fabrication of Polyisocyanurate Foams toward Significantly Enhanced Thermal Resistivity. ACS Applied Engineering Materials, 3(7), pp.2087-2098.
- Wanasinghe Mudiyanselage, S.V.W., Shrestha, S., Demchuk, Z., Saito, T., Gainaru, C., Tamraparni, A., Hun, D.E., Feng, T. and Tiwari, J., 2024. Opacification of PIR Foams to enhance Thermal Resistivity, Polyurethane Technical Conference. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/2462875
- Weerasinghe, M. S. N., Dodo, O. J., Rajawasam, C. W., Raji, I. O., Wanasinghe, S. V., Konkolewicz, D., & Watuthanthrige, N. D. A. (2023). Educational series: turning monomers into crosslinked polymer networks. Polymer Chemistry, 14(39), 4503-4514.
- Rajawasam, C. W., Dodo, O. J., Weerasinghe, M. S. N., Raji, I., Wanasinghe, S., Konkolewicz, D., & Watuthanthrige, N. D. A. (2023). Educational series: characterizing crosslinked polymer networks. Polymer Chemistry.
- Wanasinghe, S. V., et al., 2023.3D printable adhesive elastomers with dynamic covalent bond
Rearrangement. Soft Matter 19.26 (2023): 4964-4971 - Wanasinghe, S. V., Dodo, O. J., and Konkolewicz, D.,2022. Dynamic Bonds: Adaptable Timescales for Responsive Materials. Angewandte Chemie, e202206938
- Wanasinghe, S.V., Sun M., Yehl, K., Cuthbert, J., Matyjaszewski, K. and Konkolewicz, D., 2022. PET-
RAFT Increases Uniformity in Polymer Networks. ACS Macro Letters, 11, pp.1156-1161 - Wanasinghe, S.V., Watuthanthrige, N.D.A. and Konkolewicz, D., 2022. Interpenetrated Triple Network Polymers: Synergies of Three Different Dynamic Bonds. Polymer Chemistry, 13, pp.3705-3712
- Bennett, C., Hayes, P.J., Thrasher, C.J., Chakma, P., Wanasinghe, S.V., Zhang, B., Petit, L.M., Varshney, V., Nepal, D., Sarvestani, A. and Picu, C.R., 2022. Modeling Approach to Capture Hyperelasticity and Temporary Bonds in Soft Polymer Networks. Macromolecules, 55(9), pp.3573-3587
- Zhang, B., De Alwis Watuthanthrige, N., Wanasinghe, S.V., Averick, S. and Konkolewicz, D., 2022. Complementary dynamic chemistries for multifunctional polymeric materials. Advanced Functional Materials, 32(8), p.2108431
- Cuthbert, J., Wanasinghe, S.V., Matyjaszewski, K. and Konkolewicz, D., 2021. Are RAFT and ATRP Universally Interchangeable Polymerization Methods in Network Formation?. Macromolecules, 54(18), pp.8331-8340.
- Gomez, E.F., Wanasinghe, S.V., Flynn, A.E., Dodo, O.J., Sparks, J.L., Baldwin, L.A., Tabor, C.E., Durstock, M.F., Konkolewicz, D. and Thrasher, C.J., 2021. 3D-Printed Self-Healing Elastomers for Modular Soft Robotics. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 13(24), pp.28870-28877.
- Wanasinghe, S.V., Schreiber, E.M., Thompson, A.M., Sparks, J.L. and Konkolewicz, D., 2021. Dynamic covalent chemistry for architecture changing interpenetrated and single networks. Polymer Chemistry, 12(13), pp.1975-1982.
- Chakma, P., Wanasinghe, S.V., Morley, C.N., Francesconi, S.C., Saito, K., Sparks, J.L. and Konkolewicz, D., 2021. Heat‐and-Light‐Responsive Materials Through Pairing Dynamic Thiol–Michael and Coumarin Chemistry. Macromolecular Rapid Communications, 42(18), p.2100070.