Hirushie Karunathilake

Hirushie Karunathilake is an Assistant Professor of Engineering in the Division of Physical and Computational Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh. She specializes in developing risk-based decision support systems for energy and sustainability applications, with a focus on renewable energy systems, building energy efficiency, and life cycle thinking.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, University of British Columbia (2018)
• B.Sc. Eng (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering, University of Moratuwa (2014)

Research Interests:

Her research spans several critical areas in sustainable energy and environmental systems. She has extensive expertise in renewable energy planning, particularly in developing decision support frameworks for energy transitions. Her work on building energy systems integrates advanced modeling techniques to optimize energy performance and reduce environmental impacts. She is deeply involved in carbon capture and utilization research, exploring both technological and economic feasibility of these systems at various scales. Additionally, her interests include energy storage technologies, especially thermal energy storage systems for concentrated solar power applications, and hydrogen energy systems for transportation and industrial applications.

Research Publications Overview:

Her recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on life cycle thinking methodologies applied to energy systems, from individual buildings to entire cities. The research covers a broad spectrum including urban resilience planning, hydrogen economy development, smart city frameworks, and sustainable transportation solutions. Notable contributions include frameworks for livable and resilient cities, feasibility assessments of hydrogen supply chains, and comprehensive life cycle assessments of emerging energy technologies.

Professional Networks:

She maintains active research profiles on both Google Scholar and ResearchGate, providing access to her extensive publication record and collaborative research activities.