Janitha Jeewantha

Dr. Janitha Jeewantha is a Research Fellow at the University of Southern Queensland's Centre for Future Materials, specializing in composite materials and functional polymers. He holds a PhD from USQ (2023), PGDip in Manufacturing Systems Engineering from Moratuwa University (2013), and a BScEng from Ruhuna University (2009). His work focuses on shape memory polymers for biomedical applications, including the development of Ortho+, a next-generation orthopedic plaster. He has secured over $2.3M in research funding and received the First Runner-Up Best Research Engineer of Queensland (2023).

Education:

• BScEng in Mechanical Engineering, Ruhuna University, 2009
• PGDip in Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Moratuwa University, 2013
• PhD in Materials Engineering, University of Southern Queensland, 2023

Research Interests: Dr. Jeewantha’s research spans composite materials, additive manufacturing, and biomedical applications of polymers. His innovations in shape memory polymers address unmet clinical needs in fracture fixation and vascular stents. He also explores sustainable manufacturing processes and smart materials for aerospace and construction sectors.

Awards & Funding:

• $2.3M in competitive research grants
• First Runner-Up: Best Research Engineer of Queensland (2023)
• Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship (2020–2023)

Teaching & Supervision: Teaches courses in computational mechanics and mechanical design. Currently co-supervising a doctoral student on bio-based epoxy composites for aerospace applications.

Labs & Collaborations: Affiliated with the Centre for Future Materials and the Institute for Advanced Engineering and Space Sciences. Active in multidisciplinary projects involving distributed sensing and smart manufacturing systems.