ProfessorThrishantha Nanayakkara
Professor in Robotics
Dyson School of Design Engineering - Faculty of Engineering
- Professor in RoboticsDyson School of Design Engineering - Faculty of Engineering
- 07902 396 681 (Work)
- RCS 1M07, Dyson Building, South Kensington Campus, United Kingdom
BIO
Director of Morph Lab
The lab investigates physical intelligence—how morphology, materials, mechanics, and interaction with the environment can simplify perception, control, and learning in robotic systems. Rather than relying solely on computation, Morphlab explores how intelligent behaviour can emerge from the physical properties of robots and their interaction with the world. Research spans soft robotics, bio-inspired locomotion and manipulation, tactile sensing, deformable mechanisms, robotic medical training simulators, precision agriculture, and autonomous systems operating in complex environments. By integrating engineering, biology, neuroscience, and materials science, Morphlab develops robotic technologies that are more adaptable, efficient, and capable of operating safely alongside people and in challenging real-world settings.
ACADEMIC POSITIONS
- Professor of RoboticsImperial College London, Dyson School of Design Engineering, United Kingdom1 Sep 2021 - present
- Reader in Design Engineering and RoboticsImperial College London, Dyson School of Design Engineering, South Kensington, United Kingdom1 Jan 2017 - 31 Aug 2021
- Senior LecturerKings College London, Department of Informatics, Strand, London, United Kingdom1 Sep 2012 - 31 Dec 2016
- LecturerKing's College London, Department of Informatics, London, United Kingdom1 Sep 2009 - 31 Aug 2012
- Radcliffe FellowHarvard University, Cambridge, United States1 Feb 2008 - 31 Jul 2009
- Research AffiliateMassachusetts Institute of Technology, CSAIL, Cambridge, United States1 Feb 2008 - 31 Jul 2009
- Senior LecturerUniversity of Moratuwa, Mechanical Engineering, Moratuwa, Sri Lanka1 Sep 2003 - 31 Aug 2008
DEGREES
- PhDSaga University, Saga, Japan21 Sep 1998 - 21 Sep 2001
- MScSaga University, Saga, Japan20 Sep 1996 - 21 Sep 1998
- BScUniversity of Moratuwa, Moratuwa, Sri Lanka30 Apr 1992 - 16 Sep 1996
CERTIFICATIONS
- Senior memberInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Piscataway, United States30 Sep 2015 - presentAwarded for pioneering contributions to the field of robotics.
- Chartered EngineerInstitute of Engineering Technology15 May 2018 - presentAwarded for leadership, innovation, and design experience in Engineering.
- Fellow of Higher EducationHigher Education Academy, York, United Kingdom1 May 2014 - presentAwarded for the teaching portfolio.
POSTGRADUATE TRAINING
- Postdoctoral Research FellowJohns Hopkins University, Biomedical Engineering, Baltimore, United States30 Nov 2001 - 31 Jul 2003Computational Human Motor ControlPostdoctoral FellowshipSupervised by Shadmehr R
LANGUAGES
- EnglishCan read, write, speak, understand and peer review
- JapaneseCan read, speak and understand
- Sinhala; SinhaleseCan read, write, speak, understand and peer review
FACULTY
- Faculty of Engineering
POSITION NAME
- Professor in Robotics
MEDIA GUIDE
- Members of the media are welcome to contact me about my research and areas of expertise