Muditha Dias

803-***-****

acytzc@r.postjobfree.com

www.linkedin.com/in/muditha-dias-a6976a75

**** ****** ****** ** ** Columbia SC 29206 USA

Education

University of South Carolina

Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry – August 2017

Dissertation based on Method development and validation for the analysis of trace inorganic constituents and Reactive Oxygen Species in complex aquatic systems

GPA: 4.00/4.00

University of Colombo, Sri Lanka

Bachelor of Science in Chemistry – December 2011

GPA: 3.30/4.00

Expertise / Skills

Research

Analysis of Light and time-sensitive reactions

Multivariate Experimentation and Method Development

Trace Metal Cleaning and Analysis

Analysis of Fast Kinetic Reactions

Software Proficiency

Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint)

ChemDraw

Laboratory Techniques & Instrumentation

UV-Vis Spectroscopy

Fluorescence & Chemiluminescence Spectroscopy

Microplate/Plate Reader Assay

Flow Injection Analysis

Wet Chemistry Techniques

Radium and Thorium Isotope analysis

Environmental sample handling and Field work

Collection, storage, and analysis of natural samples for both water quality and reactive intermediates. Adept at sample analysis and data generation under harsh weather conditions. Able to work with and lead research teams

Scientific Communication

Original research publications

Research Experience

Graduate Research Assistant – University of South Carolina – Columbia, SC - August 2012 - Present

●Developed techniques for the analysis of short-lived reactive species in complex environmental systems

●Employed multivariate experimental methods and statistical modeling to simulate natural aquatic matrices to explore redox cycling of transition metals and the generation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) at groundwater-seawater mixing zones (oxic-anoxic interfaces)

●Designed and tested chemical kinetic models to characterize and predict the fate of ROS

●Utilized 224Ra/228Th disequilibrium based on Radium Delayed Coincidence Counting (RaDeCC) technique to assess the seawater-freshwater exchange in coastal sediments

●Served as laboratory safety officer and worked with the USC Environmental Health & Safety department to enforce lab safety and regulatory compliance of OSHA

Undergraduate Researcher – University of Colombo - August 2007 – December 2011

●Research project title - Use of sediment, water and biota as indicators of pollution in the Bellanwila-Attidiya sanctuary

●Instrumentation/Techniques: Double beam flame Atomic Absorbance Spectrometry (AAS), UV-Vis

●Analyzed water, sediment and plant samples for trace metal ion concentrations (Fe, Ni, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd, Cr)

●Followed ASTM protocols to carry out various analytical tests (nitrate/nitrite, DO, COD and BOD) to evaluate the level of pollution in an urban reservation

Teaching Experience

Graduate Teaching Assistant - University of South Carolina – Columbia, SC - August 2012 - Present

●Taught recitation and laboratory sessions in General Chemistry I and Quantitative Analysis

●Instructed and trained undergraduate students in general to advanced laboratory techniques (UV-Vis, Fluorescence, GC-MS, gravimetric techniques, extractions, titrations, etc.)

●Responsible for grading, exam proctoring, solution preparation and lab maintenance

●Served as Course Manager for General Chemistry I

●Conducted exam review sessions for Quantitative analysis for 80+ students

Publications

●Dias, D.M.C., Copland, J.M., Milliken, C.L., Shi, X., Ferry, J.L., Shaw, T.J. Production of reactive oxygen species in the rhizophere of Spartina dominated salt marsh systems. Aquat Geochem. 2016, 22(5), 573-591

●Murphy, S. A.; Solomon, B. M.; Meng, S.; Dias, D.M.C; Shaw, T. J.; Ferry, J. L. Hydrous ferric oxides in sediment catalyze formation of reactive oxygen species during sulfide oxidation. Front Mar Sci. 2016, 3:227, 1-12

●Copeland, J.M., Dias, D.M.C., Li, P., Ferry, J.L., Shaw, T.J. Kinetic Studies on Iron-Mediated ROS Generation: Resolving the Catalytic/Inhibitory Activity of Fe-DTPA Complexes. 2016 (Manuscript in Preparation)

●Copeland, J.M., Dias, D.M.C., Lively, R., Ferry, J.L., Shaw, T.J. Field Measurements of Biogeochemically-Produced Hydrogen Peroxide in Estuarine Sediments. 2016 (Manuscript in Preparation)

●Meng, S., Solomon, B. M., Dias, D.M.C; Shaw, T. J.; Ferry, J. L. The yield of the efficiency of hydroxyl radical production by Fe(II) oxidation. 2016 (Manuscript in preparation)

Professional Affiliation

●American Chemical Society

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