Pravini S. Fernando

Assistant Professor, Physics

Department of Physics & Astronomy
Union College
807 Union Street
Schenectady, NY 12308

Office: ISEC 0159
Email: fernandm[at]union[dot]edu

Professional Appointments

Assistant Professor
Department of Physics & Astronomy, Union College, Schenectady, NY, USA (2025–Present)

Postdoctoral Research Associate
Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA (2023–2025)
Advisor - Prof. Ying Diao

Education

Ph.D. in Physics, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, USA (2023)
Advisor: Prof. Jeffrey Mativetsky
Thesis: Probing Electrical Connectivity in Organic Photovoltaic Materials

B.Sc. (Hons.) in Physics, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka (2017)

Research Interests

Pravini’s research focuses on sustainable organic electronic materials with a focus on understanding local structure property relationships. Her group investigates how processing parameters affect nanoscale morphology, charge transport, and performance in organic thin films. Her work integrates materials physics with green processing strategies to advance environmentally conscious electronics.

Distinctions and Awards

• Recipient of Harpur first year graduate award, Binghamton University, State University of New York, USA (2017)
• Sigma Pi Sigma, National Physics Honor Society - Issued by Sigma Pi Sigma Honor Society · January 2018
• Recipient of Joseph Nalliah Arumugum memorial prize for the highest academic competence in Faculty of Science, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka (2017)
• Recipient of Gulamhusein A.J. Noorbhai prize for the best physics undergraduate research project, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka (2017)
• Recipient of Dr. C. A. Hewawitharana memorial prize for physics, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka (2017)
• Recipient of Mailvaganam memorial prize for physics, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka (2017)
• Recipient of the Academic Excellence Award and Scholarship for the best results of the first year examination in Science, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka (2014)
• Emerged as champions at the inter-school Mathematics Quiz competition organized by the Musaeus College Mathematics Society, Sri Lanka (2010)
• Emerged as champions at the inter-school annual Science Quiz competition organized by Anula Vidyalaya, Sri Lanka (2010)