Teaching Strengths
Dr Amal Senevirathne
Int Grant-Funded Researcher A
School of Agriculture, Food and Wine
College of Sciences
Dr. Amal Senevirathne is a multidisciplinary engineer and researcher with over seventeen years of experience spanning biomedical engineering, mechanical design, microfluidics, and advanced materials. He holds a PhD in engineering, with his doctoral and postdoctoral research focused on the development of rapid bacterial detection technologies using microfluidic systems, nanowire structures, and sensor-based platforms for in-situ biomedical applications.
His research work has contributed to innovative approaches in point-of-care diagnostics, integrating nanotechnology with fluid dynamics to achieve high-sensitivity and fast-response detection systems. Amal has presented his work at international conferences, and has extensive experience in experimental design, data analysis, device fabrication, and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
Alongside his academic career, Amal brings strong practical engineering expertise over a decade. He has a solid background in mechanical engineering, product development, and quality engineering, with experience across manufacturing-related industries, and applied engineering roles. His hands-on capabilities include mechanical assembly, electrical installation, automotive systems, and troubleshooting complex technical systems — developed both professionally and through personal projects as a hobby mechanic and autoelectrician.
Amal is highly skilled in engineering analysis, CAD design, prototyping, and compliance with industry standards, and has successfully applied his technical knowledge across research, teaching, and industrial environments. His unique combination of advanced research capability and practical engineering experience enables him to bridge the gap between innovation and real-world implementation.
Driven by problem-solving and continuous improvement, Amal is passionate about developing efficient, reliable engineering solutions, whether in biomedical technologies, mechanical systems, or industrial applications.
As an Agricultural Machinery Research Engineer at Adelaide University, my research interests focus on the development of intelligent, efficient, and robust agricultural machinery to improve productivity, sustainability, and reliability in modern farming systems. Building on my background in mechanical engineering, microfluidics, and biomedical engineering, my work aims to integrate advanced and smart mechanical design into agricultural equipment for real-time monitoring, early fault detection, and precision operation. I am particularly interested in applying cross-disciplinary approaches—combining mechanics, fluid dynamics, instrumentation, and applied engineering—to address challenges in grain production, machinery performance, and on-farm decision support, translating research outcomes into practical, field-deployable solutions.
| Date | Position | Institution name |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 - 2026 | Lecturer | Nova Anglia College |
| 2022 - 2025 | Post doctoral research engineer | Queensland University of Technology |
| 2010 - 2019 | Mechanical engineer | Die and Mould Facilitation and Development Centre |
| 2008 - 2022 | Lecturer | University of Moratuwa |
| 2008 - 2019 | Mechanical engineer | DEMAG |
| Date | Institution name | Country | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Queensland University of Technology | Australia | PhD |
| 2015 | University of Moratuwa | Sri Lanka | MEng |
| 2008 | University of Moratuwa | Sri Lanka | BEng Hons |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Ebenezer, P., Kumara, S. P. S. N. B. S., Senevirathne, S. W. M. A. I., Bray, L. J., Wangchuk, P., Mathew, A., & Yarlagadda, P. K. D. V. (2025). Advancements in Antimicrobial Surface Coatings Using Metal/Metaloxide Nanoparticles, Antibiotics, and Phytochemicals. Nanomaterials, 15(13), 1023. Scopus6 |
| 2025 | Kumara, S. P. S. N. B. S., Ebenezer, P., Senevirathne, S. W. M. A. I., Mirkhalaf, M., Yarlagadda, P. K. D. V., Bray, L. J., & Mathew, A. (2025). A low-temperature hydrothermal approach to fabricate bactericidal nanostructures on 3D-printed polylactic acid surfaces against Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria. Results in Engineering, 28, 107992. |
| 2025 | Ishantha Senevirathne, S. W. M. A., & Yarlagadda, P. K. D. V. (2025). The effect of the dual scale surface topography of a surface-modified titanium alloy on its bactericidal activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Rsc Advances, 15(9), 7209-7223. Scopus1 |
| 2025 | Kumara, S. P. S. N. B. S., Senevirathn, S. W. M. A. I., Mathew, A., Ebenezer, P., Yarlagadda, T., Bray, L., . . . Yarlagadda, P. K. D. V. (2025). Nano-roughness Modification Of 3D Printed Poly (Lactic Acid) Polymer Via Alkaline Wet Etching Towards Biomedical Applications. Journal of Applied Science and Engineering, 28(6), 1331-1340. Scopus2 |
| 2023 | Kumara, S. P. S. N. B. S., Senevirathne, S. W. M. A. I., Mathew, A., Bray, L., Mirkhalaf, M., & Yarlagadda, P. K. D. V. (2023). Progress in Nanostructured Mechano-Bactericidal Polymeric Surfaces for Biomedical Applications. Nanomaterials, 13(20), 2799. Scopus12 Europe PMC5 |
| 2023 | Senevirathne, S. W. M. A. I., Mathew, A., Toh, Y. C., & Yarlagadda, P. K. D. V. (2023). Preferential adhesion of bacterial cells onto top- and bottom-mounted nanostructured surfaces under flow conditions. Nanoscale Advances, 5(23), 6458-6472. Scopus4 Europe PMC2 |
| 2022 | Senevirathne, S. W. M. A. I., Mathew, A., Toh, Y. C., & Yarlagadda, P. K. D. V. (2022). Bactericidal Efficacy of Nanostructured Surfaces Increases under Flow Conditions. ACS Omega, 7(45), 41711-41722. Scopus10 Europe PMC4 |
| 2022 | Jaggessar, A., Senevirathne, S. W. M. A. I., Velic, A., & Yarlagadda, P. K. D. V. (2022). Antibacterial activity of 3D versus 2D TiO2 nanostructured surfaces to investigate curvature and orientation effects. Current Opinion in Biomedical Engineering, 23, 100404. Scopus10 |
| 2022 | Senevirathne, S. W. M. A. I., Toh, Y. C., & Yarlagadda, P. K. D. V. (2022). Fluid Flow Induces Differential Detachment of Live and Dead Bacterial Cells from Nanostructured Surfaces. ACS Omega, 7(27), 23201-23212. Scopus10 Europe PMC6 |
| 2021 | Senevirathne, S. W. M. A. I., Hasan, J., Mathew, A., Jaggessar, A., & Yarlagadda, P. K. D. V. (2021). Trends in bactericidal nanostructured surfaces: an analytical perspective. ACS Applied Bio Materials, 4(10), 7626-7642. Europe PMC11 |
| 2021 | Senevirathne, S. W. M. A. I., Hasan, J., Mathew, A., Woodruff, M., & Yarlagadda, P. K. D. V. (2021). Bactericidal efficiency of micro- and nanostructured surfaces: a critical perspective. RSC Advances, 11(3), 1883-1900. Scopus32 Europe PMC18 |
| 2020 | Velic, A., Jaggessar, A., Wickramasooriya Mudiyanselage Amal Ishantha, S., Mathew, A., Kumari Paritala, P., Islam, M., . . . KDV Yarlagadda, P. (2020). Adaptations and Lessons from COVID-19: A Perspective on How some Industries will be Impacted. Advanced Materials Letters, 11(7), 1-7. |
| 2019 | Wickramasinghe, K. C., Perera, G. I. P., Senevirathne, S. W. M. A. I., Punchihewa, H. K., & Sasahara, H. (2019). Surface quality evaluation of 0.2 % C and AISI 304 steels in turning with sustainable lubricating condition. Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology, 33(12), 5753-5759. Scopus6 |
| 2018 | Senevirathne, S. W. M. A. I., & Punchihewa, H. K. G. (2018). Reducing surface roughness by varying aerosol temperature with minimum quantity lubrication in machining AISI P20 and D2 steels. International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 94(1-4), 1009-1019. Scopus8 |
| 2017 | Senevirathne, S. W. M. A. I., & Punchihewa, H. K. G. (2017). Comparison of tool life and surface roughness with MQL, flood cooling, and dry cutting conditions with P20 and D2 steel. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 244, 012006. |
| - | Effects of cutting speed on tool nose wear with ACE-MQL aerosol at optimum-temperature (2018). Journal of Advances in Technology and Engineering Research, 4(1). |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2022 | Senevirathne, S. W. M. A. I., Hasan, J., Mathew, A., Woodruff, M., & Yarlagadda, P. K. D. V. (2022). Simulation of Bacterial Motion Under Flow Inside Micro Channel Using CFD and DPM. In Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems (Vol. 335 LNNS, pp. 95-108). Springer International Publishing. DOI Scopus1 |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2016 | Senevirathne, S. W. M. A. I., & Punchihewa, H. K. G. (2016). Effect of minimum quantity lubrication aerosol temperature on tool life in machining AISI P20 and D2 steels using coated tungsten carbide tool inserts. In 2nd International Moratuwa Engineering Research Conference Mercon 2016 (pp. 186-191). IEEE. DOI Scopus4 |
| 2016 | Senevirathne, S. W. M. A. I., Punchihewa, H. K. G., Kosgahakumbura, K. N. M. D. S. K., Dissanayake, D. M. P. P., & Sahathevan, T. (2016). Tool wear in machining AISI D2 steel with minimum quantity lubrication using alternative cutting fluids. In 2016 Manufacturing and Industrial Engineering Symposium Innovative Applications for Industry Mies 2016 (pp. 1-6). IEEE. DOI Scopus5 |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| - | Senevirathne, S. W. M. A. I. (n.d.). Effect of fluid flow on bacterial attachment, detachment, and viability on nanostructured surfaces.. |
| Date | Role | Research Topic | Location | Program | Supervision Type | Student Load | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 - ongoing | Co-Supervisor | Method for Development of Bactericidal Nanostructured Polymer Surfaces | QUT | - | Doctorate | Full Time | Buddhika Sampath Kumara Sinhasana Pattale Siriwedi Naidelage |
| 2022 - ongoing | Co-Supervisor | Enhancing the antibacterial properties of biomaterial surfaces against Gram-positive bacteria using phytochemicals extracted from Australian native plants | QUT | - | Doctorate | Full Time | Preetha Ebenezer |