Kavindu PasanJayathilaka

About

I’m a mechanical engineer who has spent the last five years running teaching laboratories: the engineering mechanics, thermodynamics and fluid dynamics labs at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, and the physics and chemistry labs at ADNOC Schools in Abu Dhabi.

The work sits where engineering meets education. I keep equipment calibrated and safe, design experiments that fit the curriculum and the resources on hand, and help students and teachers get real results at the bench.

In 2025 I completed an MSc in Project Management at the University of Bedfordshire, researching how agile methods shape learning management system rollouts in Middle Eastern universities.

Based in

Al Dhannah City, Abu Dhabi

Currently

Lab Technician, ADNOC Schools

Languages

English (IELTS Academic 6.5), Sinhala (native)

Memberships

IESL, IMechE, APM

Experience

1. Aug 2023 – Present

   Full-time

   Lab Technician, Physics & Chemistry

   ADNOC Schools, Ruwais Branch, Abu Dhabi, UAE

   Run the physics and chemistry laboratories for an American-curriculum school in the ADNOC group, from lab preparation and student safety to inventory and a digital lab management system.

   Responsibilities (11)

   • Prepare equipment, chemicals and materials for every lab session.
   • Supervise students during practicals, with safety and correct procedure first.
   • Assist teachers with experiments, equipment handling and planning lab activities.
   • Guide students through experiments so they learn by doing.
   • Cover science classes during teacher absences, delivering prepared lessons.
   • Create or adapt experiments to match curriculum objectives and available resources.
   • Advise on methods, equipment and materials for student projects.
   • Ensure health and safety compliance, from material handling to chemical disposal.
   • Inspect and maintain equipment, arranging or carrying out repairs and replacements.
   • Manage lab inventory, keeping stock at the right level and reordering on time.
   • Implement and manage a digital Laboratory Management System for efficient, reliable operations.

2. Sep 2020 – Jul 2022

   Full-time

   Lab Instructor, Mechanical Engineering

   University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Colombo, Sri Lanka

   Taught and ran three undergraduate engineering laboratories at one of Sri Lanka’s leading state universities.

   Labs run: Thermodynamics, Engineering Mechanics, Fluid Dynamics

   Responsibilities (10)

   • Conducted lab sessions, assessed submissions and gave students feedback.
   • Prepared materials and equipment so every experiment was ready to run.
   • Maintained, calibrated and troubleshot laboratory equipment.
   • Monitored inventory and placed orders for supplies on time.
   • Planned experiments, writing detailed protocols and procedures.
   • Trained faculty, students and staff to use lab equipment and materials.
   • Ran review sessions to deepen students’ understanding of each experiment.
   • Collected, analysed and recorded experimental data; prepared reports and presentations.
   • Kept accurate records in line with safety and regulatory standards.
   • Carried out routine safety inspections of lab facilities.

3. Jan 2019 – Apr 2019

   4 months

   Maintenance Engineer, Internship

   Cable Solutions (Pvt) Ltd, Kadawatha, Sri Lanka

   Maintenance department of an export-quality cable and wire manufacturer.

   Responsibilities (3)

   • Preventive, corrective and breakdown maintenance.
   • Basic energy auditing, tool auditing, 5S methodology and documentation.
   • Wire and cable manufacturing processes and their machinery.

4. Nov 2017 – Feb 2018

   4 months

   Mechanical Engineer, Internship

   Hitech Solutions (Pvt) Ltd, Kadawatha, Sri Lanka

   Engineering design and fabrication at an engineering and research organisation.

   Responsibilities (5)

   • Machine design, fabrication and modification.
   • 3D modelling and 2D drawings in SolidWorks.
   • Installation, operation and maintenance of mechanical products.
   • Hands-on work with electrical, pneumatic and hydraulic systems.
   • General supervision of minor staff and basic documentation.

Education

1. 2024 – 2025

   MSc Project Management

   University of Bedfordshire, United Kingdom

   • APM accredited, recognised in the UAE

   Project management, supply chain management, risk management, project strategy.

2. 2022 – 2024

   Postgraduate Diploma in Manufacturing Systems Engineering

   University of Moratuwa, Faculty of Engineering, Sri Lanka

   Manufacturing processes, CAD/CAM, industrial management, product design, production and operations management, sustainable manufacturing, quality management, human factors engineering.

3. 2016 – 2020

   BSc (Hons) Engineering, Mechanical & Manufacturing

   University of Ruhuna, Faculty of Engineering, Sri Lanka

   • GPA 3.21
   • Washington Accord accredited, recognised in the UAE

   Thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, materials science, machine design, control systems and mechatronics, energy technology, CAD/CAM, automobile engineering, refrigeration and air conditioning, engineering economics.

Research & publications

1. 2022

   15th International Research Conference, KDU

   Publication ID 262

   Design of Hybrid Blade Profile for Stand-alone Wind Turbine Systems

   Developed and optimised a hybrid blade profile for vertical-axis wind turbines, harnessing both lift and drag to overcome their low starting torque.

   • Analysed existing hybrid profiles and modified the geometry to use lift and drag forces more effectively.
   • Modelled in SolidWorks and evaluated flow in ANSYS Fluent CFD simulations.
   • Fabricated the optimised blade and validated the simulations on a custom-built turbine rig.

   Methods and tools: SolidWorks, ANSYS Fluent, prototype testing

2. 2025

   MSc thesis, University of Bedfordshire

   Evaluating Agile Project Management Practices in Implementing Modern Learning Management Systems within Middle East Higher Education

   A qualitative multiple-case study of how agile practices are applied in LMS implementation projects across Middle Eastern universities after the pandemic (2020–2025).

   • Identified adoption patterns, outcomes and the cultural and organisational constraints on agile use.
   • Developed the concept of “Hybrid Agility”: how agile methods adapt inside hierarchical, accreditation-driven institutions.
   • Made region-specific recommendations for stakeholder engagement and LMS deployment.

   Methods and tools: Qualitative research, multiple-case study

3. 2022

   15th International Research Conference, KDU

   Publication ID 152

   Identification of the Comfortable Zone in an Air-Conditioned Room Based on Room Dimensions and A/C Unit Position

   An experimental and simulation study mapping the psychrometric comfort zone of an air-conditioned room against room geometry and A/C unit placement.

   • Collected temperature and humidity measurements in the field.
   • Visualised the distribution in 3D with MATLAB.
   • Simulated airflow and thermal behaviour in SolidWorks SimulationXpress.

   Methods and tools: MATLAB, SolidWorks SimulationXpress

Skills

Memberships & awards

Contact