Samarage Sameera Perera

Samarage Sameera Perera serves as Senior Research Scientist at Wayne State University's Lumigen Instrumentation Center within the Department of Chemistry. Since joining as a Postdoctoral Fellow in 2019, he has specialized in materials characterization using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS/UPS) and powder X-ray diffraction to analyze powders, alloys, and thin films.

His academic credentials include:

• Ph.D. in Chemistry, Wayne State University (2019)
• M.Sc. in Polymer Chemistry, University of Sri Jayewardenepura
• B.Sc., University of Sri Jayewardenepura

Dr. Perera's research spans Materials Chemistry and Solid-State Chemistry, with core expertise in structural characterization of inorganic materials via Rietveld refinement and pair distribution function analysis. His current work develops advanced XPS/UPS methodologies while investigating luminescent materials and electron transport phenomena. The instrumentation center under his stewardship provides critical training and analytical support for university researchers.

Analysis of his 15 most recent publications (2020-2025) reveals three dominant research trajectories: rare-earth activated phosphors for thermometry/upconversion, electron transport in metallosurfactants for molecular electronics, and sustainable materials for environmental remediation like phosphate removal. These intersect at the fundamental study of structure-property relationships in novel materials.

As a core facility leader, Dr. Perera directly enables cross-disciplinary research through user training and method development, positioning the Lumigen Center as a hub for advanced materials characterization at Wayne State University.