Prof. Hema Karunadasa at Stanford University_Team Interview_Interviewing Eminent Scientists

Prof. Hema Karunadasa is an Associate Professor of Chemistry at Stanford University. She is also a Principal Investigator at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and a Junior Fellow at the Precourt Institute for Energy. Hailing from Colombo, Sri Lanka she is a renowned scientist known for her research on Materials for Energy applications. Please find her detailed profile here (https://web.stanford.edu/group/karuna....

In this interview she discusses her early childhood, the advice she received from her father Prof. Yakupitiyage Karunadasa who is a Professor of Buddhist studies, her decision to not attend the Med School and instead do Science, her time at Princeton, her training under Prof. Cava as a Materials Chemist, her inspirations to become a scientist, the meaningless hierarchies in Sri Lanka, most exciting aspects of her day, what perovskites are, the recent rise of interest on perovskites for photovoltaics applications, her ongoing projects, her role as an editorial advisory board member, her serendipitous findings and breakthrough work, her work and time with Harry Gray, her awards as a rising star in Chemistry, the point of doing a PhD, her times as a grad (PhD) student, her mentoring style, importance of interdisciplinary research, the importance of collaborative environments, challenges and excitement in a crowded field, the proudest moment in her professional career, the importance of giving a good talk, and some great advice for young/budding scientists.

"I had no results for the first four years of my PhD !"

"I decided not to go home until I run every possible control"

"I think the people who choose these careers truly enjoy Science"

"I think it is a great life!"

"[in your PhD] There's no answer key"

"[Molybdenum complex that generate Hydrogen by splitting water] It was a complete accident"

"We are the first people on the planet to see the material we synthesize"

"I get to recruit the very best students around the world"

"It was very nice to be recognized early in my career"

"He [Harry] is fearless"

"It's a good life"

"I always liked Science"

"What could be more exciting than making the materials that will be the next step [of our] civilization; probably in terms of saving ourselves and the planet?"

"You make them [perovskites] in water"

"There are high school students who make perovskite solar cells"

Department of Chemistry, University of Colombo acknowledges the AHEAD ELTA-ELSE Department grant for the support given for this interviewing activity.

Disclaimer: Views and opinions expressed are solely of the speakers and the Department of Chemistry does not endorse or deny them.