Dr Pradeep Dewapriya

Research Fellow

Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences
Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences
p.dewapriya@uq.edu.au
+61 7 334 61897

Overview

Pradeep earned his Bachelor of Food Science and Technology from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, in 2008 and later pursued a Master of Science in Biochemistry at Pukyong National University, South Korea, graduating in 2013. He completed his PhD at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB), the University of Queensland, in 2019. His doctoral research focused on developing strategies to investigate novel and bioactive microbial secondary metabolites, showcasing his proficiency in detecting, isolating, and characterising small molecules using high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS).

After completing his PhD, Pradeep joined the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research in Kiel, Germany, as a postdoctoral research fellow in analytical chemistry. At GEOMAR, his research focused on detecting and identifying small organic molecules in complex matrices using state-of-the-art mass spectrometry-based analytical techniques and non-targeted metabolomic approaches.

In 2020, Pradeep joined the Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS). His current research focuses on understanding the chemical landscape covered by non-target analysis and pioneering methods to enhance the monitoring of human exposure to emerging environmental contaminants.

Research Impacts

Dr. Dewapriya has significantly advanced the field of analytical chemistry through his distinguished contributions. Recognised both nationally and internationally, his expertise lies in the detection and identification of small organic molecules within intricate matrices. Armed with a unique skill set acquired during his postdoctoral research at the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Germany, and his PhD from UQ, he has successfully applied his knowledge to unveil emerging contaminants in the Australian environment. Dr. Dewapriya's impact is underscored by his discovery of over 25 novel compounds, some of which are rare in nature and hold considerable value in the realm of chemistry. His development of a high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS)-based workflow has been instrumental in uncovering hidden contaminants in Australia. Notable findings include novel PFAS compounds in Australian farm animals, tyre-related toxic compounds in surface water, and new metabolites of psychoactive compounds in wastewater.

In pursuit of his long-term vision to innovate analytical approaches for exposure monitoring, Dr. Dewapriya has fostered collaborations with world-leading researchers. This collaborative effort has been instrumental in transferring knowledge and expertise to Australian academia, contributing to the advancement of analytical chemistry in the region.

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy of Natural Products Chemistry, The University of Queensland
  • Masters (Research) of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Pukyong National University
  • Bachelor (Honours) of Food Technology, University of Peradeniya

Publications

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Grants

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Supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

  • Doctor Philosophy

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Publications

Book Chapter

Journal Article

Conference Publication

Other Outputs

Grants (Administered at UQ)

PhD and MPhil Supervision

Current Supervision