Dr. Manjula Silva

Biography

Manjula Silva is a Teaching Fellow in the Department of Materials at Imperial College London, having joined the department in 2012 after moving to the UK. She obtained her B.Sc. (Hons) in Chemistry from the Department of Chemistry at the University of Colombo. Following her undergraduate studies, she worked in the Department of Chemistry at the Open University of Sri Lanka before pursuing an MSc in Polymer Science Technology at the University of Moratuwa, where she was part of the Department of Chemical Engineering. Manjula's career also includes substantial experience at the Industrial Technology Institute (formerly the Ceylon Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research) as a research officer, where she developed an accredited testing facility, conducted research, and supervised undergraduate and postgraduate students. She held a lecturer position at the University of Moratuwa starting in 2006. Manjula completed her PhD in Polymer Engineering at Brunel University and joined Imperial College London's Department of Materials. Additionally, she earned an MEd in Learning and Teaching from Imperial College London. Her research interests focus on the properties and processing of natural rubber latex, characterization of polymers and composites, biodegradable and bio-based materials, sustainable development, and applications in food and cosmetic packaging, as well as recycling and upcycling of plastics in the construction industry. She is also interested in engineering education and assessment feedback.

Research Interests