Background

Ph.D in Computer Science (12/2011), Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Stockholm, SWEDEN

Technical Licentiate Degree in Computer Science (04/2008), Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, SWEDEN

B.Sc.Eng (Hons) Degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering (11/2002), University of Peradeniya (UOP), SRI LANKA

High school education (G.C.E. (A/L), 1996 and G.C.E. (O/L), 1993): Kingswood College, Kandy, SRI LANKA

Primary education (Year 6 Scholarship, 1988): K/Mahawala Primary School, Uduwahinna, Udadumbara, SRI LANKA

2016-To date: Senior Lecturer/ Researcher, Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering, University of Peradeniya, SRI LANKA.

2014-2016: Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Biological Cybernetics & CITEC Graduate School, University of Bielefeld, GERMANY.

2011-2014: Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Biological Cybernetics, University of Bielefeld, GERMANY. Embodied Motion Intelligence for Cognitive, Autonomous Robots (EMICAB).  

2006-2011: Doctoral Student, Department of Computational Biology, KTH, SWEDEN. Building computer simulators for the study of neural control mechanisms in locomotion of the cat and of the salamander. Study of neuro-musculo-skeletal system related to locomotion in detail.

2003-2005: Research Assistant, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, UOP, SRI LANKA. Devised an apparatus to implement Digital filters and Signal conditioners using a PIC Micro-controller, and a laboratory experimental module for the understanding of Sensors and Transducers (Path-Tracking device).

2002-2003: Instructor-in-charge, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, UOP, SRI LANKA.

1998-2002: Undergraduate, Faculty of Engineering, UOP, SRI LANKA; Final year project: "PC based Fetus heart rate monitoring system".

1997-1998: Junior Research Assistant, Postgraduate Institute of Science (PGIS), Faculty of Science, UOP, SRI LANKA.

• Senior Lecturer (Grade I), DEEE, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka (09/2017 To date)

  • EE697 - Industrial Robotics (Postgraduate Course)

  • EE657 - Postgraduate Project

  • EE656 - Research Methods in Electrical Engineering (Postgraduate Course)

  • EE595 - Machine Intelligence and Smart Systems 

  • EE594 - Industrial Robotics and Automation

  • EE580 - Introduction to Biomedical Engineering

  • EE501/402- Advanced Control Systems/System Identification

  • EE405/406 - Undergraduate Project I/II

  • EE322 - Embedded Systems Design

  • EE387 - Signal Processing 

  • EE251 - Principals of Electrical Measurements

  • Soft Skills Development Program for First Year students - 2018, ITCGU, Faculty of Engineering

  • Successful completion of the Induction Program for Academic Staff, SDC, University of Peradeniya (10-12/2017). The program (150 hrs) consisted of the following modules:

    • • Orientation as a University Teacher

      • Personal Development and Counseling

      • Teaching and Learning Methods

      • Assessment and Evaluation

      • Curriculum Design and Revision

      • ICT Skills in Higher Education

      • Teaching Practice

      • Research in Higher Education

      • University Administrative Procedures

      • Strategic Planning and Management for Universities

• Senior Lecturer (Grade II), DEEE, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka (10/2016-08/2017)

  • EE697 - Industrial Robotics (Postgraduate Course)

  • EE559 - Integrated Analog Electronic Circuits 

  • EE594, EE402/501, EE322

• Temporary Senior Lecturer, DEEE, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka (01/2009-04/2009)

  • EE384 - Communication Engineering

  • EE385 - Digital Signals and Systems

• Temporary Assistant Lecturer, DEEE, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka (07/2003-05/2005)

  • EE203 - Electrical Measurements and Instrumentation (2004-2005)

  • EE205 - Logic circuits and Digital systems (Handled the laboratory classes) (2004-2005) 

Winner, Gunasekara SR, Kaldera HNTK, Harischandra N and Samaranayake L "METABOT: A metal tactile robot based on active sensing", Robotic Competition - Open category; In 6th IEEE Region 10 Humanitarian Technology Conference, Colombo, 06-08 December (2018)

Best Student Paper, Krause, A.F., Hoinville, T., Harischandra, N., and Dürr, V., "Contour-Net - A Model for Tactile Contour-tracing and Shape-recognition", ICAART2014-International Conference on Agents and Artificial Intelligence (2014)

SIDA- Full scholarship to conduct a research leading to Doctoral Degree in Computer Science at KTH, Sweden in collaboration with the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, UOP, Sri Lanka (2005)

University Prize for the Academic Excellence in General Convocation, UOP, Sri Lanka (2003)

The Prof. E.O.E. Pereira Prize for the Best Performance in Final examination in Engineering-part II (2002)

The Ananda Amarasinghe Memorial Prize in Engineering for the Best Performance in First Examination in Engineering (1999)

The University Scholarship for the Best Performance in First Examination in Engineering (1999)

One week Study Tour to Bangkok in commemoration of Sri Lanka’s Golden Jubilee of Independence for the Best performance in G.C.E. (A/L) (1998)

Mahapola Scholarship for the meritorious performance in G.C.E. (A/L) (1998)

Dr. W.P. Jayasinghe Challenge Trophy for the Best Results in G.C.E. (A/L) [ District (Kandy) rank: 1st, Island rank:  3rd] at the annual college prize giving, Kingswood College, Kandy (1996)

Devadasan Memorial Trophy for the Best All-rounder of the year. Kingswood College, Kandy (1996)

Awarded for the Best results in G.C.E (O/L). Kingswood College, Kandy (1993) 

• Invitee:  Workshop on "Artificial Intelligence Readiness Assessment (AIRA)", Organized by the Presidential Secretariat, the National Committee (CFSAI), and the Ministry of Technology, with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka. BMICH, Colombo (18/10/2023)

• Participation: Workshop for Academic staff on "Examination Rules/Regulations and Good Practices", Organized by the IQAC, Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya (06/10/2023)

• Invitee: "Forum of Artificial Intelligence and Multidisciplinary Research" - Peradeniya University Research Excellence Showcase (PURES)-2023 at JRDC, Organized by the University Research Council, University of Peradeniya (29/08/2023)

• Participation: Awareness session on present and future plans in Air Quality monitoring in Sri Lanka, Conducted by the Central Environmental Authority-Sri Lanka, Battaramulla (09/08/2023)

• Harischandra N, Aththanayke G, "Spatial-Temporal Deep Learning Model for Improving Prediction Accuracy of Satellite Image based PM2.5", At Regional workshop on building capacity to improve air quality in South Asia, Organized by the UOP and Duke University, USA (06-08/08/2023)

• Invitee: "Round Table Discussion on Using AI for Developing Policy Measures" at AI4COVID-Impact Conference, Organized by the Ai4COVID Research Group. At Earls Regency, Kandy (24-25/07/2023)

• Participation:  Training Session on Motion Capturing, EMG and IMU system at Human Performance Laboratory in Institute of Sports Medicine, Colombo 7, Sri Lanka (25-27/01/2023)

• Harischandra N, "Associating PM2.5/Meteo Data with Satellite Images from PlanetScope", Seminar for Pakistan Team under the Project: Building Capacity to Improve Air Quality in South Asia: Reducing PM2.5 Through Low-Cost Sensor Network Driven Policy Decisions, Online (26/09/2022)

• Harishandra N, "Robot Design using Computer Aided Tools, Simulation and Control", Workshop on Robotics for Agricultural Undergraduates, Organized by AHEAD Project, Faulty of Agriculture, UOP and PASS asia (28/05/2022)

• Harischandra N, "Introduction to MATLAB for Biologists-Advanced Course", Webinar Organized by the University Research Council, UOP (14/02/2022)

• Harischandra N, "Introduction to MATLAB for Biologists", Webinar Organized by the University Research Council, UOP (28/09/2021)

• Certificate of Completion: International Training Workshop on "BeiDou Technologies and Its Applications in the Belt and Road Countries and Regions" (Online), Organized by China Satellite Navigation Office-Academic Exchange Center(CSNO-AEC) Aerospace Information Research Institute (AIR), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), (7-17/09/2021)

• Harischandra N, Keynote Speaker, "Robotricks 21/22- Robotics Webinar Series", Organized by IEEE Industry Application Society (IAS), Student Chapter, UOP (11/07/2021)

• Participation: Workshop on Humanitarian Robotics, IEEE International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems, IROS2020, (09/11/2020) 

• Harischandra N, "Shape  up the Future Professionals- First steps towards the Professional World", EEES (Electrical and Electronic Engineering Society) Public Seminar Series, UOP (05/11/2020)

• Harischandra N, “Decoding the Mechanisms of Motor Control in Animals by Combining Neurobiology, Modeling and Robotics”, In Tutorial on "Brain-inspired computing, neural control mechanisms and biomedical instrumentation with integrated electronics", ICIIS2019, UOP (19/12/2019)

• Harischandra N, "Introduction to Dynamic Simulation: Webots Tutorial",  Inspirational Workshop on Robot Design, Future P-BOTS 2019: School Robotic Challenge, Organized by DEEE, UOP (21/09/2019)

• Harischandra N, Workshop on "Introduction to Webots Dynamic Simulator", Organized by IEEE Industry Application Society (IAS), Student Chapter, UOP (05/09/2019)

• Harischandra N, "Planning for the Future- Keeping up with the Professional World", EEES (Electrical and Electronic Engineering Society) Public Seminar Series, UOP (03/09/2019)

• Participation: Half day workshop on "Internal Quality Assurance - Best Practices of Program Management", Staff Development Program I, Faculty of Engineering, UOP (10/05/2019)

• Participation: One day workshop on "Outcome Based Education towards enhancing the quality of Engineering Education" by Prof. Collin Kestell, Deputy Dean, Engineering, RMIT University, Australia; IQAU workshop, Faculty of Engineering, UOP (28/03/2019)

• Harischandra N,  “Decoding the Mechanisms of Motor Control in Animals by Combining Neurobiology, Modeling and Robotics”, Guest Lecture, Organized by IEEE Sri Lanka Central Region Subsection, DEEE, University of Peradeniya (06/07/2017)

• Participation: One day Workshop/Student seminars on Research and Development, Sri Lanka Telecom Plc, Lotus Road Colombo 01, Sri Lanka (17/10/2016) 

• Hoinville, T, Harischandra N, Dürr V, "Moving the senses:  from motion sensing to animals in motion", ZIF Workshop, Center for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Bielefeld, Germany (30/09-02/10/2015) 

• Harischandra N, "Sensory coupled CPG network for adaptive control of active touch" (17/06/2015), CITEC Club, Center of Excellence, Cognitive Interaction Technology, University of Bielefeld, Germany

• Participation: 3rd Symposium of Arthropod Neuroscience Network (ANN), 107th Annual Meeting of the German Zoological Society, DZG (11-14/09/2014), University of Göttingen, Germany

• Harischandra N, Hoinville, T, “VisualTactile integration and tactile attention module: Embodied Intelligence” (03-04/06/2013), EMICAB 2nd year review meeting, Bielefeld, Germany

• Harischandra N, Dürr V, "Prediction of self-induced mechanoreceptive sensor readings in an insect-inspired active tactile sensing system" (11-14/03/2013), 6th International Symposium on Adaptive Motion of Animals and Machines (AMAM-2013), Darmstadt, Germany

• Harischandra N, Dürr V, "A forward model for an active tactile sensor using Echo State Networks" (16-18/11/2012), 6th International Symposium on Robotics and Sensors Environments (ROSE-2012), Magdeburg, Germany

• Harischandra N, "A forward model for an active tactile sensor" (28/09/2012), EMICAB Consortium meeting, Catania, Sicily, Italy.

• Harischandra N, "Computer simulation of the neural control of locomotion in the cat and the salamander" (14/12/2011), Public defense of the Doctoral thesis, Stockholm; Opponent: Dr. Silvia Gruhn, Dept. of Animal Physiology, University of Cologne, Köln, Germany

• Harischandra N, "Forward models: time series prediction for an active tactile sensor" (08/12/2011), EMICAB Consortium meeting, Aachen, Germany

• Participation: ICIRA (06-08/12/2011), 4th International Conference on Intelligent Robotics and Applications, Aachen, Germany

• LAMPETRA (EU-FP7) Consortium meeting (10-11/02/2011), Stockholm, Sweden.  

• Harischandra N, "Neuro-mechanical simulations in the study of locomotion" (14/04/2010), Invited Speech, BIRG, EPFL, Laussane, Switzerland

• Research Collaboration Visit; LAMPETRA-project (12-19/04/2010), BIRG, EPFL, Switzerland

• Harischandra N, Ekeberg Ö, "Neuromechanical simulations in the study of cat and salamander locomotion" (23/10/2008), Poster presentation, Motor Network Meeting, Lund University, BMC, S-221 84 Lund, SWEDEN

• Participation: Workshop and Retreat (01-02/09/2008), Sandhamn. "Innovations and Industrial Collaboration", Stockholm Brain Institute, Karorinska Institute, Sweden

• Harischandra N, "Computer simulation of the neural control of locomotion in the cat" (28/04/2008). Technical Licentiate Thesis defending seminar, RB35, AlbaNova; Opponent: Prof. Jhon Hallam, The Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller Institute, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, DENMARK

• Participation: Workshop on Action-Perception (25/01/2008); Host .Prof. Sten Grillner, Stockholm Brain Institute (SBI). Vetenskapsakademien, Stockholm

• Harischandra N, "Neuro-mechanical simulations" (14-15/11/2007), Computational Biology workshop and retreat, KTH, Stockholm

• Participation: Workshop and Retreat (03-04/09/2007), Sandhamn. Stockholm Brain Institute, Karorinska Institute, Sweden

• Harischandra N, "Biologically realistic computer simulations of walking patterns of the cat" (06-10/09/2006), Research collaborators meeting, Institute of Advanced Study. Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin, Germany

• Harischandra N, "Building a computer simulator for the study of walking patterns of the cat" (July 2006), Brain Interest Group (BIG), Faculty of Medicine, UOP, Sri Lanka

• Participation: Workshop and Research collaborators meeting (21-25/07/2005), Institute of Advanced Study. Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin, Germany

• Harischandra N, "Data acquisition and instrument control through GPIB using LabView" (February 2005), Undergraduates DEEE, Faculty of Engineering, UOP, Sri Lanka

• Harischandra N, "Brain-prosthetic and Brain-computer interfacing using EEG": (December 2004), DEEE, Faculty of Engineering, UOP, Sri Lanka

• Participation: Two day workshop on "Modern developments in industrial motion control systems" (August 2004), Faculty of Engineering, UOP, Sri Lanka

Webmaster: Peradeniya Engineering Faculty Alumni Association (PEFAA), University of Peradeniya (11/2023- to date) 

Member of the Local Organizing Committee of the  Regional two-day workshop on building capacity to improve Air quality in South Asia, Organized by the University of Peradeniya and Duke University, USA (06-08/08/2023)

Member: Committee to Formulate a Strategy for Artificial intelligence of Sri Lanka 2023-2028, Presidential Secretariat and Ministry of Technology, Government of Sri Lanka (06/2023- ) 

Postgraduate Coordinator, PG Program at Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, UOP (2023-2025)

General Co-chair/Conference Secretary, ICIIS2023, Faculty of Engineering, UOP (08/2023)

Webmaster: Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Peradeniya (2022- to date) 

Laboratory Coordinator:  Robotics, Control and Automation Lab, DEEE, Faculty of Engineering, UOP (Sep/2022-  to date)

Member of the Faculty E-Learning and Web Development Committee, Faculty of Engineering, UOP (2019-2023)

Financial Chair, ICIIS 2021, Faculty of Engineering, UOP (12/2021)

Treasurer: Central Region Subsection (CRSS) of IEEE Sri Lanka Section, (2019/2020/2021/2022)

Senior Treasurer, Robotics Society, University of Peradeniya (2020/2021/2022)

Chairman, Organizing Committee for Semester 4 Exams, E16 Batch (03-04/2020)

Financial Chair, ICIIS 2019, Faculty of Engineering, UOP (18-20/12/2019)

Member of the Organizing Committee of Future P-Bots, School Robotic Challenge, DEEE, Faculty of Engineering, UOP (Sep-Dec/2019)

TEC (Technical Evaluation Committee) member for the year 2019, DEEE, Faculty of Engineering, UOP (2019)

Committee member of the Faculty Quality Assurance Cell (FQAC), Faculty of Engineering, UOP (2019)

Co-chair: Electrical and Electronic Engineering Research and Project Symposium (EEERaPS-2019), DEEE, Faculty of Engineering, UOP (2019)

Temporary Senior Student Counselor, Faculty of Engineering, UOP (01/01-31/03/2018)

Member of the local conference management team, ICIIS 2017, Faculty of Engineering, UOP (15-16/12/2017)

Member of the Logistic Committee, Orientation program for E16 Students, Faculty of Engineering, UOP (05/12/2017)

Member of the Organizing Committee of Career Fair 2017, Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya (09/09/2017)

Participation: Training of Outbound Trainer (TOBT) Program for Faculty of Engineering, Organized by GTCC (Global Talent Coach and Consultants, Sri Lanka) and ITCGU (Industrial Training and Career Guidance Unit, UOP), Kothmale International Training Institute for Irrigation, Sri Lanka (01-02/06/2017)

Member of the Organizing Committee of CITEC-Graduate School Retreat and Research Symposia 2014 and 2015, Cluster of Excellence Cognitive Interaction Technology (CITEC), University of Bielefeld, Germany

Member of the International Advisory Panel of ICIIS2013/2015 (8th & 10th IEEE International Conference on Industrial and Information Systems), Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, www.iciis.org/

Member of the local conference management team, Computational Neuroscience Meeting-CNS 2011, Royal institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden (23-28/07/2011)

Member of the local conference management team, ICIIS 2006, Faculty of Engineering, UOP (08-11/08/2006)

System administrator, Postgraduate Laboratory, DEEE, UOP (2004-2005)

Coordinator of the Electronics and Instrumentation lab on E-Techno and Industrial Day, Dept. of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Peradeniya (2003)

Participation:  One day workshop on “Productivity and 5S Good House Keeping Practices” organized by Project SMED & PESS, Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya (2001)

Active participation in Engineering Jubilee Exhibition, UOP (2000)