Dr Sanjeeva Balasuriya, 2006 J.H. Michell Medallist
Mathematics Department
Connecticut College

Born and bred in Sri Lanka, Sanjeeva Balasuriya earned his bachelors degree (in physics) from Lafayette College, Pennsylvania, USA, followed by two masters degrees (in applied mathematics and in engineering) and a PhD (in applied mathematics) from Brown University, Rhode Island, USA. His mathematical wanderings have led him to academic positions at the University of Peradeniya (Sri Lanka), Oberlin College (Ohio, USA), the University of Sydney (Australia) and Connecticut College (USA), where he is now an assistant professor in mathematics.

Sanjeeva's work is in applied analysis, in which theoretical dynamical systems techniques are applied to, and developed for, physical problems. He has made analytical contributions towards understanding manifold intersections, quantifying chaotic flux, enhancing chaotic flux, extending Melnikov theory to discontinuous and finite-time flows, obtaining wavespeed corrections to singularly perturbed reaction-diffusion systems, and vanishing viscosity. He has studied applications in geophysical fluid mechanics (Gulf Stream rings), fluid mechanics (micro-fluidic devices) and combustion waves.