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Dr

Ravindi Nanayakkara

Casual Academic

Mathematics & Statistics

Orcid identifier0000-0001-7141-6917
  • Casual Academic
    Mathematics & Statistics
  • La Trobe University, Department of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Melbourne, VIC, 3083, Australia

BIO

Ravindi completed her PhD in Statistics from the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at La Trobe University, Australia, in 2022. Her PhD thesis focused on stochastic modelling and statistical analysis of spatial and long-range dependent data. The research findings were applied to analyze cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation data from the Planck mission. These findings will provide novel tools for a better understanding of the Universe during its early stages. Ravindi received the Nancy Millis Medal for her PhD thesis, a prestigious award presented to outstanding PhD candidates for the exceptionally high quality of their theses. She has given several talks at international and Australian seminars and conferences. Her research interests include Spatial Statistics, Applied Statistics, Stochastic Analysis and Modelling, Astrostatistics, Data Science, and Mathematics/Statistics Education.

Ravindi served as the Academic Skills Advisor (Maths/Coding) and the Manager and Coordinator of the Maths, Science, and Coding Hubs at La Trobe University from February 2024 to February 2026. She led the strategic and operational management of the Maths Hub-a multi-campus, university-wide, multidisciplinary Mathematics and Statistics support centre with a team of 15-20 staff. In addition to the Maths Hub, she also managed the Coding Hub and Science Hub, ensuring effective and tailored academic support was provided across disciplines. Currently, she is a Sessional Lecturer/Academic in the Department of Mathematical and Physical Sciences at La Trobe University, where she teaches Mathematics and Statistics to students from diverse disciplines, including both mathematical and non-mathematical backgrounds.

Ravindi's contributions to learning and teaching have been recognised through numerous prestigious awards at institutional, national, and international levels. In 2018, she was awarded the title of Customer Service Champion by La Trobe University for making a positive difference to students and their studies. She received four consecutive Tutors as Partners scholarships during 2019 and 2020 from the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at La Trobe University, in recognition of her exceptional teaching and tutoring skills. In 2021, she was honoured as an Associate Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy. In 2024, Ravindi received the Vice-Chancellor’s Education Award for Sessional Teaching Excellence, with the citation: “For creating welcoming, innovative, and engaging learning environments using effective teaching and learning strategies that positively influenced, encouraged, and inspired statistics students and their studies.” Also in 2024, the Maths Hub team, managed by Ravindi, was highly commended for the Vice-Chancellor’s Cultural Qualities Award for Care.

 

In 2025, Ravindi was honoured with the Australian Mathematical Society Annual Award for Teaching Excellence (Early Career). Also in 2025, the Maths Hub team, managed by Ravindi since 2024 and previously by Dr Deborah Jackson (2018-2023), received the Vice-Chancellor’s Education Award for Best Education Program. Ravindi was further highly commended in 2025 for the Vice-Chancellor’s Professional Excellence Award for Professional Rising Star, recognising her work in transforming the Maths, Science, and Coding Hubs into inclusive, blended learning models that significantly improved student engagement and achievement across multiple campuses.

LA TROBE UNIVERSITY APPOINTMENTS

  • Maths Hub, Science Hub, & Coding Hub Manager & Coordinator
    La Trobe University, Library Learning Services, Melbourne, Australia3 Feb 2025 - 7 Feb 2026
  • Maths Hub & Coding Hub Manager & Coordinator
    La Trobe University, Library Learning Services, Melbourne, Australia7 Feb 2024 - 7 Feb 2026
  • Academic Skills Advisor (Maths/Coding)
    La Trobe University, Library Learning Services, Melbourne, Australia7 Feb 2024 - 7 Feb 2026
  • Sessional Lecturer/Academic
    La Trobe University, Department of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Melbourne, Australia5 Mar 2018 - present

ACADEMIC POSITIONS

  • Sessional Lecturer/Academic
    La Trobe University, Department of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Bundoora, Australia5 Mar 2018 - present
  • Lecturer/Consultant
    National Institute of Business Management (NIBM), Sri Lanka6 Feb 2017 - 6 Oct 2017
  • Graduate Teaching Assistant
    University of Colombo, Department of Statistics, Colombo, Sri Lanka14 Mar 2016 - 5 Feb 2017

DEGREES

  • PhD, Statistics
    La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia6 Nov 2017 - 27 Sep 2021
  • Professional Graduate Diploma in IT
    BCS — The Chartered Institute for IT, Swindon, United Kingdom1 Apr 2013 - 31 Mar 2017
  • B.Sc. (Hons.) in Statistics with Computer Science (Special) Degree
    University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka3 Oct 2011 - 31 Jan 2016

CERTIFICATIONS

  • Advanced Sessional Teacher Summit
    La Trobe University, Melbourne, AustraliaJul 2021 - present
  • Teaching in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics
    La Trobe University, Melbourne, AustraliaMar 2020 - present
  • Effective Teaching and Effective Learning in Quantitative Disciplines
    Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute, Parkville, AustraliaJan 2020 - present
  • College of Science, Health, and Engineering Sessional Staff Professional Development Course
    La Trobe University, Melbourne, AustraliaMar 2018 - present

LANGUAGES

  • English
    Can read, write, speak, understand and peer review
  • Sinhala; Sinhalese
    Can read, write, speak, understand and peer review

EXPERTISE