CURRENT PROJECT
I am involved with the microbial degradation of herbicides as well as their sorption to soils (environmental fate). Additionally, I am evaluating the potential of carbon sequestration in soils and the role that black carbon (charcoal) plays in the process, if any.
EDUCATION
University of California at Davis, CA (2002 - Present)
Doctor of Philosophy; advanced to candidacy – Environmental Chemistry
Department of Environmental Toxicology
University of Massachusetts at Amherst, MA (1999 - 2002)
Master of Science – Soil Chemistry
Department of Plant, Soil, and Insect Sciences
University of Massachusetts at Amherst, MA (1993 - 1998)
Bachelor of Science - Environmental Sciences
Department of Environmental Sciences
Bachelor of Arts – Anthropology
Department of Anthropology
EXPERIENCE
Department of Environmental Toxicology, UC, Davis, CA (2003-Present)
Scientific researcher involved with examining the environmental fate of pesticides. Also involved with studying carbon sequestration in soils.
Department of Pesticide Regulation, Cal/EPA, Sacramento, CA (2003-Present)
Responsible for writing technical chemical fate reviews (herbicides and pesticides), assist with field soil and water sampling and analytical instrumental operation and maintenance.
Center for the Health and the Environment, Davis, CA (2002-2003)
Scientific researcher involved with the examination of the mobility and immobilization of contaminants by humic materials in soil.
Laboratory Technician, UMass, Amherst, MA (1998 - 2002)
Duties include conducting research in environmental chemistry, summarizing and processing research results, conducting statistical analyzes, developing technical reports, securing library references, operating and maintaining the analytical instruments and assist with student teaching.
Summer Internship, Toxikon, Bedford, MA (June - August 1997)
Scientist in Wet Chemistry Department. Successfully completed EPA approved tests such as TPH by IR and titration experiments. Gained considerable experience with isolation of contaminants from soil/water matrix and report compilation.
PUBLICATIONS
(JOURNALS)
Gunasekara, A., et al. 2007. Chemistry and fate of simazine. Rev. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.189: 1-23.
Gunasekara, A., et al. 2005. Influence of phosphate and copper on reductive dechlorination of thiobencarb in California rice field soils. J. Agric. Food Chem. 53: 10113-10119.
Gunasekara, A. et al. 2003. Identification and characterization of sorption domains in soil organic matter using structurally modified humic acids. Environ. Sci. Tech. 37: 852-858.
Gunasekara, A. and B. Xing. 2003. Sorption and desorption of naphthalene by soil organic matter: importance of aromatic and aliphatic components. J. Environ. Qual. 32; 240-246.
Gunasekara, A., et al. 2001. Spectroscopic evidence for multiple domains in humic substances. In ‘Humic Substances: Structures, Models and Functions’, G. Davies and E. A. Ghabbour (eds.), International Humic Substances Society, Northeastern University, Boston, 2001, pp 63-71.
Gunasekara, A., et al. 2000. Ground discarded tires remove naphthalene, toluene, and mercury from water. Chemosphere, 41; 1155-1160.
PUBLICATIONS
(OTHER)
Gunasekara, A., et al. 2006. Fipronil; chemical fate review. Cal/EPA. Department of Pesticide Regulation. Sacramento, CA. http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/empm/pubs/fatememo/ fipronil_efate.pdf
Gunasekara, A., et al. 2004. Simazine; chemical fate review. Cal/EPA. Department of Pesticide Regulation. Sacramento, CA. http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/empm/pubs/fatememo/ simazine.pdf.
Gunasekara, A., et al. 2004. Pyrethrins; chemical fate review. Cal/EPA. Department of Pesticide Regulation. Sacramento, CA. http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/empm/pubs/fatememo/ pyrethrin_ efate2.pdf.
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
Gunasekara A., et al. “Sorption of thiobencarb to soil; mechanistic findings”. 232nd American Chemical Society Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA. 2006.
Gunasekara A., et al. “The microbial dechlorination of thiobencarb in rice field soils”. 26th Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MD. 2005.
Gunasekara, A., et al. “Phenanthrene sorption in chemically modified humic acids”. Soil Science Society Annual Meeting, Charlotte, NC. 2002.
Gunasekara, A., et al. “Observation of multiple sorption domains in humic substances using NMR spectroscopy and sorption studies; application to structure configuration”. 11th IHSS Conference, Boston, MA. 2002.
Gunasekara, A., et al. “Effects of chemical treatments on sorption of organic compounds byorganic matter”. Soil Science Society Annual Meeting, Charlotte, NC. 2001.
Gunasekara, A., et al. “Domain heterogeneity and distribution of soil humic substances”. Soil Science Society Annual Meeting, Charlotte, NC. 2001.
Gunasekara, A., et al. “Sorption and desorption of organic compounds by soil and its organic fractions”. Soil Science Society Annual Meeting, Charlotte, NC. 2001.
Gunasekara, A., et al. “NMR evidence for multiple domains in humic substances”. International Humic Substances Society Seminar V, Boston, MA. 2001.
Braida, W., Gunasekara, A., et al. “Sorption of aromatic hydrocarbons to wood charcoal particles”. Soil Science Society of America, Annual Conference. Minneapolis, MI. October, 2000.
Gunasekara, A., et al. “Removal of naphthalene, toluene, and mercury from water by ground tires”. 15th Annual Contaminated Soil and Water Conference, Amherst, MA. October, 1999.
Gunasekara, A., et al. “The retention and release of naphthalene in soils”. Society of Soil Scientists of Southern New England Conference, Sturbridge, MA. November, 1999.
REVIEWER
Journal of Contaminant Hydrology
Journal of Environmental Pollution
Journal of Environmental Quality
AWARDS
American Chemical Society Agro Division – Travel Award, UC Davis, CA (Fall, 2006)
Jastro-Shields - Graduate Research Scholarship, UC Davis, CA (2005-2006)
Kearney Foundation - Graduate Fellowships, UC Davis, CA (Fall 2003-Fall 2005)
Land, Air, Water Resources - Graduate Fellowship, UC Davis, CA (Fall 2002-Spring, 2003)
UMass Graduate School - Travel Award, UMass Amherst, MA (Fall 2001)
UMass - Deans List, UMass Amherst, MA (Spring 1997, Fall 1997)
ALANA Honor Society - Academic Recognition, UMass Amherst, MA (1997, 1998)
ANALYTICAL INSTRUMENTS
Considerable experience with advanced analytical instruments; theoretical and hands-on training on solid-state and solution-state NMR, UV-Visible, ICP, MS, FT-IR (including ATR), PCR, TOC, GC, AAS, IC, and radiochemical experiments.
COURSE HIGHLIGHTS
Chemistry CoursesCivil and Environmental Engineering Courses
Contaminated Soil and Groundwater, Instrumental Analysis, Applied Environmental Chemistry
Soil Science Courses
Environmental Soil Chemistry, Inorganic Contaminants, Advanced Soil Microbiology, Biometry
Environmental Toxicology Courses
Analysis of Toxicants
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
ETX10 – TA for Introduction to Environmental Toxicology, UC Davis, CA (Fall 2005)
SSC 111 – TA for Soil Microbiology with Lab, UC Davis, CA (Winter 2003)
INTERESTS
Computers, travel, reading, rowing, golf, and basketball.