Sirani M. Perera graduated with aB.Sc. (First Class Honors) degreein Mathematics from theUniversity of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka, in 2004. She becamethe first Sri Lankanundergraduate in mathematicsto be selected by theCenter for Mathematical Sciences at the University of Cambridge, UK, and receivedafull scholarshipfrom the Cambridge Commonwealth Trust. In 2006, she graduated witha Master of Advanced Studies (the Part III Tripos) in Mathematics (with Honors)at theUniversity of Cambridge, UK, and earned aPh.D. in Mathematicsfrom theUniversity of Connecticutin 2012. She will be a fullProfessor of Mathematics at ݮƵ starting in the fall of 2026.
Dr. Perera was awarded theILAS Olga Taussky and John Todd Prizefor outstanding mid-career achievement by theInternational Linear Algebra Society (ILAS)in 2026. In 2024, she was honored asa Rising Star in Scienceby theAcademy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine in Florida (ASEMFL).In 2023, Perera was selected asAConvergence Research (CORE) Fellowat the CORE Institute: The University of California, San Diego, under theNational Science Foundation (NSF)Convergence Accelerator Program. Dr. Perera'sresearch is fundedby theNSF, specifically by the divisions of Mathematical Sciences (DMS), Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems (ECCS), Computer and Network Systems (CNS)and Undergraduate Education (DUE).
Dr. Perera is an applied mathematician with expertise inapplied linear algebra and low-complexity algorithms, including both classical and machine learning (ML) approaches. Her research spanscomputational mathematics,scientific computing,fast Fourier transform (FFT)-like algorithms, ML algorithms, algorithm generalization andnumerical accuracy and reliability. She also specializes instructured matrix theory, with work involving Vandermonde matrices,Delay Vandermonde matrix (DVM), quasiseparable and semiseparable matrices, Bezoutians, Toeplitz, Hankel, circulantand banded matrices, as well as discrete cosine transform (DCT), discrete sine transform (DST)and discrete Fourier transform (DFT) matrices. She appliesstructured neural networksto solve problems inwireless communication, dynamical systems, digital signal processing, image processingand unmanned autonomous aerial systems.
Dr. Perera is passionate about proposing novel theories and developing low-complexity classical or ML algorithms that advance convergence across applied mathematics, engineering, celestial mechanicsand theoretical computer science, thereby fostering scientific discoveries.
Ph.D. - Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics, University of Connecticut
Aug 2026 -Professor of Mathematics, ݮƵ, USA
Aug 2021 - July 2026,Associate Professor of Mathematics, ݮƵ, USA
Jan 2023 - May 2023, Junior Consultant, Faculty of Engineering, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka
Oct 2022,Visiting Scholar, Department of Mathematics, University of Northern Iowa, USA
Oct 2022, Visiting Scholar, Department of Physics and Computer Science, Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada
Aug 2015 - July 2021, Assistant Professor of Mathematics, ݮƵ, USA
Aug 2012 - July 2015, Associate Professor of Mathematics, Daytona State College, USA
Aug 2008 - May 2012, Teaching Assistant in Mathematics, University of Connecticut, USA
Feb 2007 - Jul 2008, Lecturer in Mathematics, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
Nov 2007 - Jul 2008, Visiting Lecturer in Mathematics, Asia Pacific Institute of Information Technology (APIIT), Sri Lanka
Feb 2005 - Sep 2005, Lecturer in Mathematics, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka
Feb 2004 - Jan 2005, Instructor in Mathematics, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka
Plenary Speaker at the 27thInternational Linear Algebra Society (ILAS) Conference, Virginia Tech, USA, May 2026.
Chair of the mini symposiums on Low-complexity Data-driven or Classical Algorithms and Applicationsatthe 27thConference of the International Linear Algebra Society, Virginia Tech, USA, 2026 (with James Nagy and Ilias Kotsireas).
Speaker for the Graduation and Hooding Ceremony at ݮƵ, USA, December 2025.
Chair of the Data Science and Machine Learning sessions at the NSF Division of Mathematical Sciences (DMS) Computational Mathematics Meeting held at the University of Utah, USA, 2025.
Chair of the mini symposiums on Utilizing Structure to Achieve Low-complexity Algorithms for Data Science, Engineering, and Physics at the 26th Conference of the International Linear Algebra Society, National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan, 2025 (with Natalia Bebianos).
Chair of the mini symposiums on Low-complexity Algorithmic and Data-driven Approaches in Scientific Computing and Engineering at the SIAM Conference on Computational Science and Engineering, USA, 2025 (with Xianqi Li).
Outstanding Advisor for Student Involvement Award, Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers, ݮƵ, USA, 2024-2025.
Local Organizer of the Annual Joint Mathematical Association of America-Florida Section and FTYCMA, ݮƵ, USA, 2024-2025.
Member of the College of Arts and Sciences Research Council, ݮƵ, 2024 - To date.
Chair of the Minisymposium: Structured Matrices Approach in Low-complexity Algorithms and Applications at the SIAM Conference on Applied Linear Algebra, Sorbonne University, France, 2024 (with Natalia Bebianos).
Organizer of the Ninth Exchange of Mathematical Ideas Conference, University of Northern Iowa, 2023.
Organizer of the Math Colloquium Series, ݮƵ, 2023 – To date.
Scientific Committee Member of the Symposium on Interlacing Engineering Research, Faculty of Engineering, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka, 2023.
Co-Chair of the Minisymposium: Numerical Linear Algebra Applications in Data Science at the 25th Conference of the International Linear Algebra Society, Madrid, Spain, 2023 (with James G. Nagy)
Co-Chairof theMinisymposium: State-of-the-art in Algorithms and Applicationsat the 25th Conference of the International Linear Algebra Society,Madrid, Spain, 2023 (with Natalia Bebiano)
Co-Adviserof theSociety of Asian Scientists and Engineers, ݮƵ, USA, 2021 - To date
Course Monitor of MA532:Numerical Linear Algebra for Engineers subject,ݮƵ, USA, 2020 - To date
Plenary Speaker of the Special Eventon Analysis of Experimental Algorithms, Kalamata, Greece, 2019
Member of the Research Committee,ݮƵ, USA, 2019 - 2022
Initiator in designing a curriculum for the courseNumerical Linear Algebra for Engineers, ݮƵ, USA, 2019
Initiatorin designing a curriculum for the courseData Compression for Image and Signal Processing, ݮƵ, USA, 2019
Moderator of the Plenary Talk entitled Modeling Zika at the 39th Southeastern Atlantic Regional Conference on Differential Equations, ݮƵ, USA, 2019
Chair of Sessions IV/V at the 39th Southeastern Atlantic Regional Conference on Differential Equations, ݮƵ, USA, 2019
Member of the Organizing Committee at the 39th Southeastern Atlantic Regional Conference on Differential Equations, ݮƵ, USA, 2019
Member of the Search Committee in Data Science, department of mathematics, ݮƵ, USA, 2018 - 2022
Member of the Curriculum Committee, department of mathematics, ݮƵ, USA, 2018 - 2022, 2023-2024
Memberof the Academic Computing Committee,ݮƵ, USA, 2018 - 2021
Memberof theInternational Linear Algebra Society,2017 – 2030
Adviser of theKappa Mu Epsilon (Mathematics Honor Society), ݮƵ, USA, 2017- To date
Co-Adviserof theSIAM Student Chapter, ݮƵ, USA, 2016 - 2018
Member of the Graduate Program Committee in Data Science, department of mathematics, ݮƵ, USA, 2017 - To date
Course MonitorofMA432:Linear Algebra subject,ݮƵ, USA, 2017- To date
Co-Adviser of theSeaPearch Competition, ݮƵ, USA, 2017
Chairof Session II-C at the36th South Eastern Atlantic Regional Conference on Differential Equations, Florida Gulf Coast University, USA, 2016
Co-ChairofThe International Industrial Mathematics Conference, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka, 2016
Chairof the Contributed Session III atthe39th Annual SIAM Southeastern Atlantic SectionConference, University of Alabama, USA, 2015
STEM Mentor for the Spring 2015 cohort of the STEM Community Scholars Program, NSF Award atDaytona State College, USA, 2015
Memberof theSociety of Industrial and Applied Mathematics,2015 - To date
Organizerof theMathematics Faculty Seminar, Daytona State College, USA,2014 - 2015
Faculty Representativeof theInstructional Program Review Committee, Daytona State College, USA, 2014 - 2015
In Charge of Creating Survey in Mathematics Course, Daytona State College, USA, 2014
Chairof the Numerical Methods Session, 37th Annual SIAM Southeastern Atlantic SectionConference, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, USA,2013
Teaching Assistant Mentorat the Department of Mathematics, University of Connecticut, USA, 2009 - 2012
Memberof theAmerican Mathematical Society, 2009 - To date
Chief Coordinatorof theSri Lankan Mathematics Olympiad Awards Ceremony, Sri Lanka, 2007
Coordinator of theSri Lankan Mathematics Olympiad Competition, Sri Lanka, 2007
The ILAS Olga Taussky and John Todd Prize award from the International Linear Algebra Society (ILAS), with the citation of “For substantial contributions to structured matrix computations, and for parlaying linear algebra insights into hardware implementationand signal processing”, May 2026. This honor ranks among the three prestigious milestones: the Hans Schneider Lifetime Prize, the Olga Taussky and John Todd Prize, and the Richard A. Brualdi Early Career Prize from the ILAS, representing the highest recognitions in the field of linear algebra.
Lead-PIof the award entitledCollaborative Research: Data-driven Realization of State-space Dynamical Systems via Low-complexity Algorithms,the Division ofMathematical Sciences (DMS),theNational Science Foundation(award number 2410676), USA, Aug 2024-July 2027 (Collaborative PIs: Kshitij Khareat UF with the award number 2410677, Aaron Welters and Xianqi Liat FIT, with the award number 2410678)
Inventorof thePatent(Number 19/382,463) entitledLow Complexity O(N) Algorithm for N-beam True Time Delay Beamformers Based on Sparse Factorization of the Delay Vandermonde Matrix (DVM)by theUSPTO, Nov 7, 2025 (a joint invention with Arjuna Madanayake)
Inventorof thePatent(Number 19/095,898) entitledSystems and Methods for Reducing the Complexity of a Delay Vandermonde Matrix of a Beamformerby theUSPTO, Mar 31, 2025 (a joint invention with Arjuna Madanayake)
ARising Star in Scienceaward from the Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine in Florida (ASEMFL) for 2024, I was the sole-selected presenter in the Science category by the ASEMFL. My presentation was on Efficient Solutions for Real-World Challenges: Low-Complexity Algorithms in Applied Linear Algebra for Engineering and Data Science.
Outstanding PublicationAward from the College of Arts and Sciences, ݮƵ, 2024-2025.
Co-PIof the award entitledChips Ahoy: Analog-Digital Chiplets for O(n) FFT Multi-Beam Apertures, awarded bythe Office of Naval Researchwith number GRANT14064684, USA, 2024-2025 (the lead PI is Arjuna Madanayake from FIU)
Research and Scholarly Excellence Award fromthe College of Arts and Sciences, ݮƵ, 2023-2024.
PI of the award entitledCollaborative Research: SWIFT: AI-based Sensing for Improved Resiliency via Spectral Adaptation with Lifelong Learning, the Division ofElectrical, Communications, and Cyber Systems(ECCS),theNational Science Foundation(award number 2229473), USA, Jan 2023-Dec 2025 (Co-PI: Houbing Song at UMBC, lead PI: Arjuna Madanayake at FIU with the award number 2229471, and PI:FrancescoRestuccia at NEU with the award number 2229472)
PIof theFaculty Innovative Research in Science and Technology GrantentitledLow-cost Encoding and Decoding ArchitectureatݮƵ, USA, 2023-2024 (Co-PI: Angelynn Alvarez)
Convergence Research (CORE) Fellowat theCOREInstitute,The University of California San Diego:Convergence Accelerator Program, theNational Science Foundation, 2023
Co-PI of the award entitled Distributed Learning for Undergraduate Programs in Data Science at Diverse Universities, the Division of Undergraduate Education,theNational Science Foundation(award number 2142514),USA, Oct 2022-Dec 2025, (the lead institution being ERAU with the lead PI: Hong Liu,and other two clusters at Florida A & M University with PI Dr. Clement G. Yedjou -NSF award number 2142465 and theUniversity of North Texas with PI:Dr. Michael J. Spector- NSF award number2142327)
Co-PIof the award entitledExchange of Mathematical Ideas Conference 2023, the Division of Mathematical Sciences(DMS),theNational Science Foundation(award number2322922), USA, May 2023-May 2024 (PI: Douglas Mupasiriat UNI,Co-PI:Michael Prophet at UNI, and Co-PI: HisayaTsutsui at ERAU)
Mentor and Senior Personnel of the award entitledREU Site: Swarms of Unmanned Aircraft Systems in the Age of AI/Machine Learning, theDivision of Computer and Network Systems(CNS),theNational Science Foundation(award number2150213), USA, 2022-2025 (PI: Houbing Song)
Inventorof thePatent(Number 10,904,573) entitled Reduced Multiplicative Complexity Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) Circuitryby theUSPTO, Jan 26, 2021
Co-PI of the award entitledCollaborative Research: Wideband Multi-Beam Antenna Arrays: Low-Complexity Algorithms and Analog-CMOS Implementations,the Division ofElectrical, Communications, and Cyber Systems(ECCS),theNational Science Foundation (award numbers 1902283,1711625, and1826632), USA, 2017-2023 (PI: Arjuna Madanayake)
PI of theFaculty Innovative Research in Science and Technology GrantentitledNovel Efficient and Stable Algorithms for Ionospheric Simulations atݮƵ, USA, 2020-2021 (Co-PI: Matthew Zettergren)
PI of the Faculty Innovative Research in Science and Technology Grant entitledFast, Exact, Amalgam, and Stable Transforms to Convert Analog to Digital Signals atݮƵ, USA, 2019-2020
Co-PI of the Faculty Innovative Research in Science and Technology Grant entitled Transformations Preserving Entangled States atݮƵ, USA, 2017-2018 (PI: Edward Poon)
Awardee of the Early Career Travel Grant, the20th Conference of the International Linear Algebra Society, Belgium,2016
PIof theFaculty Innovative Research in Science and Technology Grant entitledSignal and Image Novel Exploration on Fast and Stable TransformsatݮƵ, USA, 2016-2017 (Co-PI: Jianhua Liu)
Awardeeof theFaculty Research Development Awards,ݮƵ, USA, 2015-2016 and 2016-2017
Nominee of the Outstanding Junior Research Facultyat Daytona State College, USA, 2013-2015
Awardeeof Travel Grant,theLaurier Center for Women in Science, Canada, 2013
Awardeeof theAdvanced Doctoral Fellowship in Mathematics, the University of Connecticut, USA, 2012
Awardeeof theDoctoral Dissertation Fellowship in Mathematics, the University of Connecticut, USA, 2012
Awardeeof theDoctoral Travel Grant,the University of Connecticut, USA, 2012
Awardeeof theSummer Predoctoral Fellowship in Mathematics,the University of Connecticut, USA, 2010
Awardeeof the Industrial Research Scholarship,City University London, UK, 2008
Awardeeof theShell Centenary Scholarship,Cambridge Commonwealth Trust,the University of Cambridge, UK, 2005-2006
Awardeeof theChevening Colors for Outstanding Undergraduate in Mathematics,British Council, Sri Lanka, 2005
Recognition for the Top Most Number of A's in Mathematics in 98/99 batch,Faculty of Applied Sciences,University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka, 1999 - 2004
Recognition for the Highest GPA in Chemistry in 98/99 batch,Faculty of Applied Sciences,University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka,1999 - 2003
ċResearch Students' Achievements
Adam Kuzmicki graduated with a Master's degree in Data Science at Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University, USA, in 2026. The thesis title isLow-complexity Structured Neural Networks and Their Usage in Image and Signal Processing.
Adam Kuzmicki was selected as the Outstanding Graduate Student in the Data Science Master’s Degree Program,Department of Mathematics, ݮƵ, USA, 2025-2026.
Sarath Murarisettywas selected as the Outstanding Graduate Student Poster Presenter at the Student Research Symposium, ݮƵ, USA, 2026.
Andrew Murphywas selected as the Outstanding Undergraduate Student of the Year at the Student Research Symposium, ݮƵ, USA, 2026.
Eric Rodarte was selected as theOutstanding Undergraduate Student in the Computational Mathematics Program, Department of Mathematics, ݮƵ, USA, 2025-2026.
Eric Rodarte receivedHonorable Mention in presentingLow-rank Spectral Analysis for the Reddening of the Seven Sisters Star Clusteratthe Florida Section of the Mathematical Association of America (FL-MAA) Conference, 2026.
Sarath Murarisettyand Kaitlyn Cavanaughpresented atthe 2026 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)SciTech Conferenceon “A Comparison of Data-driven Learning Algorithms to PredictTrajectories in the DRO Family”and “A Fast Forward Algorithm to Learn the Classification ofObjects iN Space (AF:FALCONS)”, respectively.
Oshani Jayawardane was selected as the Outstanding Graduate Student Poster Presenterat the Student Research Symposium, ݮƵ, USA, 2025.
Hansaka Aluviharegraduated with aMaster's degree in Data ScienceatEmbry‑Riddle Aeronautical University, USA, in 2025. Theresearch concentrationisStructured Neural Networks for Wireless Communication Systems.
Hansaka Aluvihare was selected as the Outstanding Graduate Student in the Data Science Master’s Degree Program,Department of Mathematics, ݮƵ, USA, 2024-2025.
Brian Baker-McEvilly was selected as the Outstanding Graduate Student in Aerospace Engineering, Department of Aerospace Engineering, ݮƵ,2024-2025 (with David Canales).
Kaitlyn Cavanaugh was selected for anExcellence Performance in theUndergraduateComputationalMathematics Program,Department of Mathematics, ݮƵ,2024-2025.
Hansaka Aluvihare presented at the International Linear Algebra Society (ILAS) Conference titled A Low-complexity LSTM Network to Realize Multibeam Beamforming, National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan, 2025 (with full travel funds).
Kaitlyn Cavanaugh and Krystian Stefanov presented at the Undergraduate Research Council titled An Efficient and Data-driven Learning Algorithm to Evaluate Facial Recognition, USA, 2025 (with full travel funds).
Hansaka Aluvihare, Oshani Jayawardane, and Brady Heddonpresented at the Annual Joint Mathematical Association of America-Florida Section and FTYCMA, ERAU, USA, 2025 (talks are given on “A Low-complexity Structured Neural Networks Approach in Multibeam Beamforming”, “A Low-complexity Hybrid Learning to Decode Algebraic Codes Over a Finite Field”, and “A Low-complexity Image Recognition and Classification Algorithms”).
Hansaka Aluvihare presented a talk on A Low-Complexity LSTM Network to Realize Multibeam Beamforming at the IEEE Wireless for Space and Extreme Environments (WiSEE)Conference, Daytona Beach, USA, 2024.
BrianBaker-McEvilly graduated with a Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering atݮƵ, USA, in 2024. The thesis title isA Low-complexity Algorithm for Trajectory Generation in the Three-body Problem.(joint supervision with David Canales).
Atahan Kurttisi graduated with a PhD in Aerospace EngineeringfromݮƵ, USA, in 2024. The thesis title isTrustable Adaptive Controllers for Multi-Agent Systems with Actuator Dynamics.(joint supervision with Merve Dorgan)
Christopher Haysgraduated with aPhD in Aerospace EngineeringfromݮƵ, USA, in 2024. The thesis title isState Omniscience for Cooperative Local Catalog Maintenance of Close Proximity Satellite Systems.(joint supervision with Troy Henderson)
Daniel Posadagraduated with aPhD in Aerospace EngineeringfromݮƵ, USA, in 2024. The thesis title isA Set of Machine Learning Tools for Hazard-Relative Navigation, Mapping, and Planetary Landing.(joint supervision with Troy Henderson)
Matthew Gillette graduated with a Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering at ݮƵ, USA, in 2023. The thesis title isOptical Orbit Tracking and Estimation.(joint supervision with Troy Henderson)
Jose Gonzalez and Kelly LaRose were selected to present on Low-complexity Algorithms to Solve Partial Differential Equations at theMathematical Association of America (MAA),Berry College, USA, 2022
Jose Gonzalez and Kelly LaRose obtained theInternal Student Research Award,ݮƵ, USA, 2021-2022
Mason Gawler was selected as an Outstanding Student in Computational Mathematics with the Shiv Aggarwal Award, Department of Mathematics,ݮƵ, USA, 2020-2021
Levi Lingsch is a graduate student in computational mathematics and engineering at ETH Zurich, Switzerland, from fall 2021
Levi Lingsch was selected as a system engineering intern at Sierra Nevada Corp, USA, 2021
Austin Ogle was selected as the ResearchFulbright Scholarat the Space Technology Research Group in Kazakhstan, 2021
Austin Ogle graduated with aMaster's degree in Engineering PhysicsatݮƵ, USA, in 2020. The thesis title isPython Implementation of Batch Least-Squares Filter for Satellite Orbit Determination.(joint supervision with Stephen Gillam)
Austin Ogle was selected as the 2019Research Scholar,ݮƵ, USA, 2019
Daniel Silverio and Austin Ogle obtained theInternal Student Research Award,ݮƵ, USA, 2018-2019
Austin Ogle and Daniel Silverio obtained theInternal Student Research Award,ݮƵ, USA, 2017-2018
Genesis Vargas was selected to present onQuasiseparable Approach to Evaluate Cubic Splines via A Fast and Stable Algorithmat the COAS Industry Advisory Board Meeting,ݮƵ, USA, 2017 and 2018
Austin Ogle obtainedFirst Place at theDiscovery Day Award,ݮƵ, USA, 2017
Austin Ogle obtainedASPiRE Conference Funds,Florida Gulf Coast University, USA, 2017
Patrick Rupp, Genesis Vargas, and Dylan English obtainedSpark Funds,ݮƵ, USA, 2017