Erandi Hene Kankanamge

Erandi Hene Kankanamge is a Senior Lecturer in Computer Science at the University of New South Wales, Canberra (UNSW Canberra), working within the School of Systems & Computing. Her academic career spans over a decade with significant contributions to artificial intelligence research and education.

Her educational background includes:

• BSc (hons) in Computer Science at the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka (First Class)
• PhD in Computer Science at UNSW Canberra (2014)

Dr. Kankanamge's research focuses on the intersection of artificial intelligence and human-computer interaction, with expertise in multi-agent systems, computational intelligence, multi-objective optimization, human-computer interfaces, and games for health. Her work bridges theoretical AI advancements with practical applications in defense, healthcare, and gaming contexts. She employs computational intelligence approaches to model complex behaviors and develop systems that enhance human performance and wellbeing through digital interactions.

Her publication record shows a clear evolution from foundational work on behavior modeling to sophisticated applications in human-swarm interaction, trust architectures, and exergaming interfaces. The research demonstrates consistent emphasis on practical implementations of AI techniques in real-world scenarios, particularly in board games, military applications, and health-focused digital experiences, with strong interdisciplinary connections between computer science, psychology, and health sciences.

Dr. Kankanamge has secured significant research funding through multiple competitive grants:

• Model Abstractions for Military Wargaming ($220,000, DSTG)
• Actionable Cyber Security Intelligence from Big Data ($75,000, Industry Grant)
• Simulation and Visualisation Using Data Farming ($350,000, DSTG)
• Game Master: Improved player mental and physical wellbeing ($50,000, Rector's Start-up Grant)

As an academic advisor, Dr. Kankanamge supervises multiple PhD candidates across diverse research topics including human-swarm interaction, motive profile compositions for cooperative teams, stress detection during gameplay, and reinforcement learning for complex board games. Her professional service includes roles as Secretary of IEEE CIS ACT Chapter, conference organization roles, and journal reviewing activities across multiple prestigious publications in AI and gaming.

Dr. Kankanamge's research contributes to multiple interdisciplinary teams focusing on AI-enabled analysis, human-machine teaming, and serious games development. Her work with the Defence Science and Technology Group demonstrates strong connections between academic research and defense applications, while her interest in games for health shows commitment to societal impact through technology.