Sr. Research Computing Engagement Specialist
Uthpala joined Duke OIT last September as an Engagement Specialist with the Research Computing Team where he helps researchers across disciplines leverage research computing to advance their work. He has a background in computational condensed matter physics where he integrated physics, chemistry, engineering, and high-performance computing to design, discover, and characterize materials for semiconductor and energy applications. He earned a B.Sc. in Physics from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka and a Ph.D. in Condensed Matter Physics from West Virginia University, and most recently completed a postdoctoral appointment at Duke’s Ab Initio Materials Simulations (AIMS) lab. Uthpala is passionate about teaching and has taught various courses and mentored undergraduate and graduate students throughout his academic career.