Dashboard – I'm a Scientist 2024

About Me:

I’m currently living in Dublin, doing my PhD studies at University College Dublin. I’m a sports enthusiast and love playing football, cricket, baseball, and badminton.
Read more

I love playing any sports and learning new ones as well. I enjoy playing football with my friends in the evenings. If there’s one thing I love other than playing football, badminton, or baseball, it’s eating. I love trying different kinds of food.
My Work:

My work is related to studying how people travel from one place to another and learning what we can do to convince them to use environmentally friendly transport modes. Let’s go Greeen!!!
Read more

I use survey data (go around and ask people so many questions about how they travel, why they travel, who they travel with, how many days, and so on). Using this information, I learn how they travel ( going to school, going shopping, going to work, or going to the movies or playground). Then, i try to inform them about how good walking, cycling, or public transport are, hoping they will use cars less. I write about what i studied so that people who make decisions about the country can read it and make it better.
My Typical Day:

A typical day involve me getting up around 7.30 am to go to my workplace ( this is my lab at the university) after getting breakfast ( Coffee and some snack). Then i do a lot of reading and writing work ( any urgent work) in the morning. After having lunch in the dining area (we have our own kitchen), i do a lot computer programming work and experiments in the computer. Around 5.oo pm, i leave the lab and go home or to the city to hang out with friends. I go to sleep around 10.30 pm.
Read more

Well, my reading and writing work is really important. This involves lot of thinking and focus, which is why i do that work in the morning. Reading involves reading what other scientists/ and engineers have done up to date and what i can learn from them. Writing work is all about writing technical reports, papers and emails. ( this is what i like the most). Computer programing and experiments include playing around with a software (most of the time), learning how to get useful information from the travel information i have. This is fun too.
What I'd do with the prize money:

I want to create a small and simple computer game where students can learn different traffic management tools like traffic signals, road closers. I don’t have the programing skills to do it. i will use the money for developing it so i can use the tool encourage students about transportation engineering.

Curriculum Vitae

Education:

Kadugannawa primary school (Sri Lanka), Ranabima Royal College (Sri Lanka), University of Peradeniya (Sri Lanka), Thammasat University (Thailand), University College Dublin (Ireland)
Qualifications:

GCE ordinary level and advanced level, Bsc Engineering, Msc Engineering and Technology.
Work History:

Civil Engineering intern (Sierra construction limited, Sri Lanka),

Instructor, Research assistant (University of Peradeniya)

Teaching assistant, Research assistant (Thammasat University)

Teaching assistant (University college Dublin)
Current Job:

PhD researcher
Employer

University college Dublin

My Interview
- How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
  
  Curious sporty analyst
  
  What was your favourite subject at school?
  
  Maths ( no 2nd thoughts)
  
  What did you want to be after you left school?
  
  Train driver
  
  Were you ever in trouble at school?
  
  yes for skipping classes to play outside
  
  If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
  
  a train driver
  
  Who is your favourite singer or band?
  
  Linkin Park
  
  What's your favourite food?
  
  Tom Yum soup
  
  What is the most fun thing you've done?
  
  white water rafting
  
  If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
  
  I wish to have ability to speak with animals. Second wish to be a professional football (preferably playing alone side CR7. Third wish to ability to speak and understand any language in the world.
  
  Tell us a joke.
  
  Nasar (as i remember) was in the bedroom cleaning. His wife was in the kitchen preparing the lunch. She heard a loud noise which came from the bedroom. She was worried about it and ask Nasar " Honey, what was that loud noise?". Nasar from the bedroom yelled " oh it's just my shirt, it fell down". His wife asked again " what ??? why was it so loud?". Nasar replied " Oh yeah, i was inside the tshirt when it fell. so .... ( i loved this joke as a kid).