DEpartment of physics

EDUCATION EMPLOYMENT RESEARCH EXPERIENCE & INTERESTS PUBLICATIONS CONFERENCES (Oral Presentations) CONFERENCES (Poster Presentations) AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS SEMINARS TEACHING COURSES TAUGHT COMPUTER SKILLS WORKSHOPS ATTENDED SPECIAL TRAINING SERVICES

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EDUCATION:

• December 2005:

Ph.D. (Physics) -University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK

Thesis Advisors: Prof. Kieran Mullen and Prof. Michael A. Morrison

• January 2002:

M. Sc. (Physics) GPA 4.0/4.0 - University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK

• April 1998:

B. Sc. (First Class - Honors) - University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

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EMPLOYMENT:

• August 2011 - Present:

Assistant Professor, Department of Physics, Southern Illinois University Carbondale

• February 2009 - August 2011:

Postdoctoral Research Associate to Prof. Marco Buongiorno Nardelli (Department of Physics) and Prof. K. W. Kim (Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering), North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC.

• September 2005 to February 2009:
  

            Postdoctoral Research Associate to Prof. J. W. Mintmire, (Department of Physics), Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma.

• August 1999- September 2005:

           Graduate Research/Teaching Assistant, Department of Physics, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK.

• April 1998 - August 1999

            Assistant Lecturer, Department of Physics, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.

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RESEARCH EXPERIENCE & INTERESTS:

           My work is primarily focused in the field of computational/theoretical condensed matter and materials physics with a special interest on applications in Two-Dimensional Materials. I have experience in the following techniques. Once I aevaluate the properties of materials by those techniques, I carefully analyze them to identify trends and relations between the physical properties and atomic configurations. Such an in-depth understanding is extremely useful for modeling materials with prescribed physical properties.
                Techniques:
                    - First Principles Electronic Structure Calculations
                    - Electron Transport Calculations
                    - Thermal Transport and Thermal Management in nanoscale devices
                    - Analysis of Optical Constants

                    - Molecular Dynamics simulations
                    - R-Matrix Theory for investigating the Electron Scattering
                Applications:
                    - Graphene and Graphene based nanostuctures
                    - Epitaxial Graphene on SiC
                    - Beyond Graphene: Other 2D Materials - Transition Metal Dichalcogenides such as MoS2, Group III and IV-mono-chalcogenides such as InSe/SnSe

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PUBLICATIONS:

27. 26. 25. Hansika I. Sirikumara, T. Jayasekera, "Buffer-eliminated, charge-neutral epitaxial graphene on 4H-SiC (0001) surface", Journal of Applied Physicss., 119, 215305, (2016).

24. Hansika I. Sirikumara, E. Putz, M. Alabboodi, T. Jayasekera, "Symmetry induced semimetal-semiconductor transition in doped graphene", Scientific Reports., 6, 19115, (2016).

23. Jaime Bohorquez-Ballen, Hansika I. Sirikumara, S. Ahmed, T. Jayasekera, "Lattice vibrational properties of Si/Ge core-shell nanowires for thermoelectric applications", International Workshop in Computational Electronics (IWCE)., (2015).

22. M. Z. Rashid, S. Sundaresan, S. Ahmed, T. Jayasekera, "VFF-Monte Carlo framework for phonon transport in nanostructures", International Workshop on Computational Electronics (IWCE),(2015).

21. Hansika Sirikumara, Jaime Bohorquez, T. Jayasekera, "Ge cages at the SiC/graphene interface: A first principles calculation", Journal of Crystal Growth., 393, 145, (2014).

20. B. Muchcharla, A. Pathak, A. Liu, L. Song, Thushari Jayasekera, S. Kar, R. Vajtai, L. Balicas, P. M. Ajayan, S. Talapatra, N. Ali, "Tunable electronic properties in large area atomic layers of Boron-nitrogen-carbon", Nano Letters., 13, 3476, (2013).

19. R. Mao, B. D. Kong, C. Gong, S. Xu, T. Jayasekera, K. Cho, K. W. Kim, "First-principles calculation of thermal transport in metal/graphene systems", Phys. Rev. B., 87, 165410, (2013).

18. A. Calzolari, T. Jayasekera, K. W. Kim, M. B. Nardelli, "Ab initio thermal transport properties of nanostructures from density functional perturbation theory", J. Phys: Condens Matter, 24, 492204, (2012).

17. R. Mao, B.D. Kong, K W. Kim, T. Jayasekera, A. Calzolari, M. B. Nardelli, “Phonon engineering in   nanostructures: Controlling interfacial thermal resistance in multilayer-graphene/dielectric     heterojunctions, App. Phys. Lett., 101, 113111, (2012).

16. N. Sidorov, D. K. Gaskill, M. B. Nardelli, J. L. Tedesco, R. L. Myers-Ward, C. R. Eddy, T. Jayasekera, W. Kim, R. Jayasinghe, A. Sherehiy, R. Stallard, G. U. Sumanasekera, “Charge transfer         equilibria in ambient-exposed epitaxial grapheme on (000-1) 6H-SiC” Jou. of App. Phys. 11,113706, (2012).

15.  T. Jayasekera, K. W. Kim, M. B. Nardelli, “Electronic properties of turbostratic epitaxial graphene on 6H-SiC surface”, Material Science Forum, 717, 595, (2012).

14. A. Sandin, Thushari Jayasekera, J. Rowe, K. W. Kim, M. B. Nardelli, D. B. Dougherty, “Multiple co-existing intercalation structures of Sodium in epitaxial graphene-SiC interfaces” Phys. Rev. B., 85,      125410, (2012).

13. Thushari Jayasekera, S. Xu, K. W. Kim, M. Buongiorno Nardelli,  “Electronic properties of the graphene/6H-SiC(000-1) interface, A first principles study”, Phys. Rev. B, 84, 035442 (2011)

12. Y. F. Chen, Thushari Jayasekera, A. Clazolari, K. W. Kim and M. Buongiorno-Nardelli, “Thermoelectric properties of graphene nanoribbons, junctions and superlattices”,  J. Phys. Condens.        Matter, Fast Track Communication, 22, 372202, (2010)

11. Thushari Jayasekera, B. D. Kong, K. W. Kim, and M. Buongiorno-Nardelli, “Band Engineering and Magnetic Doping of Epitaxial Graphene on SiC”, Phys. Rev. Lett . 104, 146801 (2010)

10. J. W. Li, Thushari Jayasekera, V. Meunier, and J. W. Mintmire, “Electronic Transport of Silicon Nanowire with Surface Defects”, International Journal of Quantum Chemistry, 109, 3705, (2009)

9. Thushari Jayasekera, B. A. Landis, and J. W. Mintmire, “First-principles simulations of chiral double-wall carbon nanotubes”, International Journal of Quantum Chemistry, 108, 2943, (2008)

8. Thushari Jayasekera, Pavan Pillalamarri, V. Meunier, and J. W. Mintmire, “Effect of phase breaking events on electron transport in mesoscopic and nanoscale devices”, International Journal of Quantum     Chemistry, 108, 2896, (2008)

7. Thushari Jayasekera, M. S. Monigold, S. L. Elizondo and J. W. Mintmire,“First principle properties of  organic photovoltaic materials”, International Journal of Quantum Chemistry, 107, 3120 (2007)

6. Thushari Jayasekera, and J. W. Mintmire, “Lattice vacancy effects on electron transport in multi- terminal graphene nanodevices”, International Journal of Quantum Chemistry, 107, 3071 (2007)

5. Thushari Jayasekera, and J.W.Mintmire, “Transport in multi-terminal graphene nanodevices” Nanotechnology, 18, 424033 (2007)

4. Thushari Jayasekera, Kieran Mullen, and Michael A. Morrison, “Cooling electrons in semiconductor devices: A model of evaporative emission”, Phys. Rev. B, 75, 35316 (2007)

3. Thushari Jayasekera, Michael A. Morrison, and Kieran Mullen, “R- matrix theory for magneto-transport properties in semiconductor devices”, Phys. Rev. B, 74, 235308 (2006)

2. Thushari Jayasekera, Niti Goel, Michael A. Morrison, and Kieran Mullen, “Theoretical calculation of magneto transport properties in semiconductor devices and comparison to experimental data”, Physica     E, 34, 584, (2006)

1. Thushari Jayasekera, Michael A. Morrison, and Kieran Mullen, “Evaporative cooling of electrons in semiconductor devices”, AIP Conference Proceedings, 772, 1279, (2005).

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PRESENTATIONS (ORAL)

• Thushari Jayasekera, Arrigo Calzolari, K. W. Kim, M. Buongiorno Nardelli, "Ab initio thermal transport properties of nanostructures from Density Functional Perturbation Theory", Annual APS Meeting, March 2013, Baltimore, MD
  

• (Invited) Thushari Jayasekera, "Electronic properties of epitaxial graphene with atomic intercalation", Gordon Research Conference on Defects of Semiconductors, August 2012, Biddeford, ME

• Thushari Jayasekera, A. Sandin, S. Xu, Virginia Wheeler, D. K. Gaskill, J. E. Rowe, Daniel B. Dougherty, M. B. Nardelli, "Electronic band engineering of epitaxial graphene by atomic intercalation" APS Annual Meeting, March 2012, Boston, MA

• Thushari Jayasekera, S. Xu, K. W. Kim, M. Buongiorno Nardelli, "Electronic properties of the graphene /6H-SiC(000-1) interface, A first principles study", APS Annual Meeting, March 2011, Dallas, TX

• Thushari Jayasekera, A. Calzolari, Y. F. Chen, K. W. Kim, M. Buongiorno Nardelli, "First principles calculations of thermal transport in nanostructures", Annual APS Meeting, March 2010, Portland, OR

• Y. F. Chen, Thushari Jayasekera, B. D. Kong, K. W. Kim, M. Buongiorno Nardelli, "Thermal transport in graphitic nanostructures: Analaytic force constant and first principles calculations, Annual APS Meeting, March 2010, Portland, OR
  

• B. D. Kong, Thushari Jayasekera, K. W. Kim, M. Buongiorno Nardelli, "Band engineering and magnetic doping of epitaxial graphene on SiC (0001) surface", Annual APS Meeting, March 2010, Portland, OR

• Thushari Jayasekera, J. W. Li, H. W. Mintmire, V. Meunier, "Electron transport in fluorinated single wall carbon nanotubes" Annual APS Meeting, March 2009, Pittsburgh, PA

• Thushari Jayasekera, Pavan Pillalamarri, J. W. Mintmire, V. Meunier, "Effect of phase breaking events on the electron transport in mesoscopic and nanodevices", Annual APS Meeting, March 2008, New Orleans, LA

• Thushari Jayasekera, J. W. Mintmire, "Applications of graphene nanodevices" Annual APS Meeting, March 2007, Denver, CO

• Thushari Jayasekera, J. W. Mintmire, "First principles properties of polymeric photovlataic materials" Annual APS Meeting, March 2006, Baltimore, MD

• Thushari Jayasekera, Niti Goel, Micheal Morrison, Kieran Mullen, "R-matrix theory and device modeling" Annual APS Meeting, March 2005, Los Angeles, CA

• Thushari Jayasekera, Micheal Morrison, Kieran Mullen, "R-matrix theory and device modeling" Annual APS Meeting, March 2004, Montreal, Canada

• Thushari Jayasekera, Micheal Morrison, Kieran Mullen, "R-matrix theory for quantum wire systems", Annual APS Meeting, March 2004, Austin,TX

• Thushari Jayasekera, P. W. S. K. Bandaranayake, "Construction of a smokemeter for measuring automobile emission", Annual Research Sessions, 1999, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
  

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PRESENTATIONS (POSTER)

• Jaime Bohorquez-Ballen and Thushari Jayasekera, "Phonon Engineering of ZnO nanowires with controlled chemical doping", APS Annual Meeting, March 2013, Baltimore MD

• (Invited) Thushari Jayasekera, K. W. Kim, M. Buongiorno Nardelli, "Electronic properties of epitaxial graphene on SiC", International Conference on SiC related Materials, September 2011, Cleveland OH

• Thushari Jayasekera, Pavan Pillalamarri, J. W. Mintmire, V. Meunier, "Effect of phase-breaking events on the electron transport in mesoscopic and nanoscale devices", 48th Sanibel Symposium February 2008, St. Simon's Island, GA

• Thushari Jayasekera, J. W. Mintmire, "Transport in graphene multi-terminal devices: effect of geometry and lattice defects", 47th Sanibel Symposium, February 2007, St. Simon;s Island, GA

• Thushari Jayasekera, Niti Goel, Micheal A. Morrison, Kieran Mullen, "Theoretical calculation of magneto-transport properties in two-dimensional device", 16th International Conference on Electronic Properties inTwo-Dimensional Devices, July 2005, Albuquerque, NM

• Thushari Jayasekera, Kieran Mullen and Micheal Morrison, "Evaporative cooling of electrons in semiconductor devices", 27th International Conference on the Physics of Semiconductors, July 2004, Falgstaff, AZ

• Thushari Jayasekera, Micheal Morrison, and Kiran Mullen, "R-Matrix Theory and Device Modeling", The Graduate Research and Creative Endeavors Poster Session, May 2004, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK

• Thushari Jayasekera, Micheal Morrison, and Kieran Mullen, "Evaporative cooling of electrons in semiconductor devices", Oklahoma NSF EPSCoR Annual State Conference, May 2004, Stillwater, OK

• Thushari Jayasekera, Micheal Morrison, and Kieran Mullen, "R-matrix theory for quantum wire systems", Oklahoma NSF EPSCoR Annual State Conference, May 2003, Stillwater, OK

• Thushari Jayasekera, Micheal Morrison, and Kieran Mullen, "R-Matrix theory for quantum wire systems", NTT-BRL Summer Camp, August 200, Hakone, Kanagawa, Japan

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AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

• Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, 2012.
• Second Place in the Poster Competition, Research Town Meeting, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, 2012.   
  
• IBM Lowdin Fellowship for Postdoctoral Research Associates, Sanibel Symposium, 2008.
• Travel Award to participate the 27th International Conference on Defects of Semiconductors, (ICPS-27) Flagstaff, AZ (2005).
• Sooner Heritage Scholarship, University of Oklahoma, 2003-2004.
• Ronnie Iranie International Leadership Scholarship, University of Oklahoma, 2003-2004.
• Robberson Travel Grant, University of Oklahoma, Spring 2004.
• Robberson Research Grant, University of Oklahoma, Fall 2003.
• Lin Graduate Research Fellowship (Outstanding First Year Graduate Student), University of Oklahoma, 2000-2001.
• Dr. C. A. Hewavitharana Memorial Prize for Physics, (Best Performance in Physics), University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
• University Scholarship (Best Performance), University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
• Prof. V. Appapillai Prize for Physucs (Best Performance in Physics), University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.

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SEMINARS:

• Chemistry Department Seminar, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, January 2013.
  
• Invited Talk, Gordon Research Conference on Defects in Semiconductors, Biddeford, ME, August 2012
  
• Seminar, Electronics, Science and Technology Division, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington DC, July 2011.
• Physics Department Seminar, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, April 2011.
  
• Physics Department Seminar, North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC, June 2010.
  
• Physics Department Seminar, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka January 2009.
• Computer Science and Mathematics Division Seminar, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN., November 2007.
• Physics Department Seminar, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, June 2005.

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TEACHING:

• Dr. Jayasekera maintains a teaching wepbage: "Physics and Fun with Clicks". This page is frequently updated as she develops new teaching materials. Currently, computer animations are embedded in these materials which are mainly downloaded from pHeT and Compadre, while she, herself also is engaged in developing such computational tools for education.

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COURSES TAUGHT

• Undergraduate Classical Mechanics (PHYS 310) Fall 2011/Fall 2013/Fall 2013
  
• Graduate Solid State Physics (PHYS 565) Spring 2012
• Graduate Quantum Mechanics II (PHYS 530 B) Fall 2012
• Undergraduate Solid State Physics (PHYS 425) Spring 2013

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COMPUTER SKILLS

• Numerical computation for sceintific investigations using Fortran and Mathematica in UNIX workstations and on PC
• High Performance computer simulations using largely paralleized codes
• LATEX, MS Office etc.
• Basic knowledge in JAVA: Currently working on a self-motivated project on "Using computers in Physics Education". I am basically working on creating course matreials using animations created by JAVA applets.
  
• Basic working knowledge in PERL, HTML etc.
  

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WORKSHOPS ATTENDED

• "Building a Thriving Undergraduate Physics Program", College Park, MD, June 2012 
• "NTT-BRL Summer Camp on Quantum Computation", Hakone, Kanagawa, Japan, August 2002
• Summer School on "Introduction to Computational Nanotechnology", University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, July 2004