Buddhi Wijesiri

2013 – 2016, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Water and Environmental Engineering, PhD

2007 – 2011, University of Moratuwa, Mining and Mineral Processing Engineering, BSc Engineering (First Class Honours)

2026 – present, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Assistant Professor

2024 – 2026, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Lecturer/Research Fellow

2022 – 2024, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Research Associate

2020 – 2021, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Postdoctoral Researcher

2018 – 2020, Shenzhen University, Postdoctoral Research Fellow

2017 – 2019, Beijing Normal University,  Adjunct Research Fellow

2017 – 2018, Shenzhen University, Adjunct Professor

2016 – 2018, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Postdoctoral Researcher

Associate Editor of the journal Frontiers in Environmental Science

Dr Wijesiri focuses on mitigating urban water pollution and transforming underutilised sources such as stormwater as an alternative water resource, addressing issues of water scarcity and quality. His current projects include developing AI-powered airborne multispectral and hyperspectral remote monitoring tools for real-time data collection from urban catchments (advancing technologies for monitoring and detecting of pollutants including heavy metals, hydrocarbons and PFAS), creating robust stormwater quality models using ensemble prediction methods, and advancing nature-based solutions such as Anammox-based biofilters (addressing innovative treatment technologies and enhancing resilience of urban water systems).

Dr Wijesiri has published in leading high-impact journals, including multiple papers in Water Research and the Journal of Hazardous Materials. He has authored more than 40 peer-reviewed papers and three books and three book chapters covering stormwater, river and groundwater pollution, water-related human and environmental risks, and the social and economic dimensions of urban water management. His research has attracted over RMB 7 million in competitive funding through international collaborations spanning Australia, China, and Brazil.

Research Tab: IUWT Lab (https://www.iuwtlab.com/)

(1) Passive biofiltration processes for nitrogen removal from polluted waters, Australian Research Council, AUD 454,074 (~RMB 2.19 million), external participant, 2022 – present

(2) Luggage Point innovation precinct expansion: pioneering sustainable water solutions for green industries, Advance Queensland SEQ Innovation Economy Fund, AUD 7.67 million (~RMB 36 million), external participant, 2025 – present

(3) Evaluating natural greening outcomes of an institutional building in Brisbane – pilot project, Queensland University of Technology QUT), AUD 9,636 (~RMB 45,000), Co-PI, 2024 – 2025

(4) Preliminary design of an AI-powered pollution detector, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), AUD 10,000 (~RMB 48,000), PI, 2024 – 2025

(5) Design of a dual-mode bioretention system, Queensland Urban Utilities, AUD 96,914 (~RMB 467,000), Co-PI, 2022 – 2023

(6) Generation characteristics and human health risk prediction of high-risk pollutants in urban road stormwater runoff, Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation, RMB 100,000, PI, 2020 – 2022

(7) Investigation of the water pollution implications on urban liveability in China and Australia, Shenzhen University and Shenzhen Government, Guangdong Province – RMB 636,760, China Postdoctoral Science Foundation – RMB 50,000, Queensland University of Technology (QUT) – AUD 27,509, PI, 2018 – 2020

[1]. *Wijesiri, B., Bratanov, D., Deletic, A., Gonzalez, F., *McCarthy, D. The next frontier in stormwater management and models: Multispectral and hyperspectral imaging of build-up and wash-off. Journal of Environmental Management, 2026, 398: 128416.

[2]. He, B., *Liu, A., Duodu, G. O., Wijesiri, B., Ayoko, G. A., Goonetilleke, A. Distribution and variation of metals in urban river sediments in response to microplastics presence, catchment characteristics and sediment properties. Science of The Total Environment, 2023, 856: 159139.

[3]. *Dan, S. F., Udoh, E. C., *Zhou, J., Wijesiri, B., Ding, S., Yang, B., Lu, D., Wang, Q. Heavy metals speciation in surface sediments of the Cross River Estuary, Gulf of Guinea, South East Nigeria. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2022, 185: 114257.

[4]. Wijesiri, B., *Liu, A., Miguntanna, N., He, B., Goonetilleke, A. Understanding nutrient dynamics for effective stormwater treatment design. Science of The Total Environment, 2022, 850: 157962.

[5]. He, B., *Liu, A., Duan, H., Wijesiri, B., Goonetilleke, A. Risk associated with microplastics in urban aquatic environments: A critical review. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2022, 439: 129587.

[6]. Pathirana, C., Ziyath, A. M., Egodawatta, P., Bandara, N., Jinadasa, K. B. S. N., Bandala, E. R., *Wijesiri, B., Goonetilleke, A. Biosorption of heavy metals: Transferability between batch and column studies. Chemosphere, 2022, 294: 133659.

[7]. Hong, N., Cheng, Q., Wijesiri, B., Bandala, E. R., Goonetilleke, A., *Liu, A.  Integrating  Tank Model and adsorption/desorption characteristics of filter media to simulate outflow water quantity and quality of a bioretention basin: A case study of biochar-based bioretention basin. Journal of Environmental Management, 2022, 304: 114282.

[8]. Wijesiri, B., *Liu, A., Jayarathne, A., Yang, B., Zhao, X., Ayoko, G., Chen, L., Goonetilleke, A. Influence of the hierarchical structure of land use on metals, nutrients and organochlorine pesticides in urban river sediments. Ecological Engineering, 2021, 159: 106123.

[9]. *Wijesiri, B., Hettiarachchi, A. How gender disparities in urban and rural areas influence access to safe drinking water. Utilities Policy, 2021, 68: 101141.

[10]. Miranda, L. S., Wijesiri, B., Ayoko, G. A., Egodawatta, P., *Goonetilleke, A. Water-sediment interactions and mobility of heavy metals in aquatic environments. Water Research, 2021, 202: 117386.

[11]. Ma, Y., Mummullage, S., *Wijesiri, B., Egodawatta, P., McGree, J., Goonetilleke, A. Source quantification and risk assessment as a foundation for risk management of metals in urban road deposited solids. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2021, 408: 124912.

[12]. *Bandala, E. R., Liu, A., Wijesiri, B., Zeidman, A. B., Goonetilleke, A.  Emerging materials and technologies for landfill leachate treatment: A critical review. Environmental Pollution, 2021, 291: 118133.

[13]. *Bandala, E. R., Kruger, B. R., Cesarino, I., Leao, A. L., Wijesiri, B., Goonetilleke, A. Impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on the wastewater pathway into surface water: A review. Science of the Total Environment, 2021, 774: 145586.

[14]. Wijesiri, B., *Liu, A., Goonetilleke, A. Impact of global warming on urban stormwater quality: From the perspective of an alternative water resource. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2020, 262: 121330.

[15]. Wijesiri, B., Bandala, E., Liu, A., *Goonetilleke, A. A framework for stormwater quality modelling under the effects of climate change to enhance reuse. Sustainability, 2020, 12 (24): 10463.

[16]. He, B., Wijesiri, B., Ayoko, G. A., Egodawatta, P., Rintoul, L., *Goonetilleke, A. Influential factors on microplastics occurrence in river sediments. Science of the Total Environment, 2020, 738: 139901.

[17]. Wei, T., *Wijesiri, B., Li, Y., Goonetilleke, A. Particulate matter exchange between atmosphere and roads surfaces in urban areas. Journal of Environmental Sciences, 2020, 98: 118-123.

[18]. Weerakoon, G.M.P.R., Jinadasa, K.B.S.N., Manatunge, J., *Wijesiri, B., Goonetilleke, A. Kinetic modelling and performance evaluation of vertical subsurface flow constructed wetlands in tropics. Journal of Water Process Engineering, 2020, 38: 101539.

[19]. Elwakeel, K. Z., Shahat, A., Al-Bogami, A. S., *Wijesiri, B., Goonetilleke, A. The synergistic effect of ultrasound power and magnetite incorporation on the sorption/desorption behavior of Cr(VI) and As(V) oxoanions in an aqueous system. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 2020, 569: 76-88.

Books

1. He, B., Liu, A., Ayoko, G., Egodawatta, P., Wijesiri, B., Goonetilleke, A. Environmental Risks Posed by Microplastics in Urban Waterways. SpringerBriefs in Water Science and Technology. 2023, Springer Singapore, (Springer Nature Singapore, ISBN 978-981-99-0627-7).

2. Jayarathne, A., Wijesiri, B., Egodawatta, P., Ayoko, G. A., Goonetilleke, A. Transformation processes of metals in urban road dust – Implications for stormwater reuse. SpringerBriefs in Water Science and Technology. 2020, Springer Singapore (Springer Nature Singapore, ISBN 978-981-15-2077-8).

3. Wijesiri, B., Liu, A., Egodawatta, P., McGree, J., Goonetilleke, A. Decision making with uncertainty in stormwater pollutant Processes – A perspective on urban stormwater pollution mitigation. SpringerBriefs in Water Science and Technology. 2019, Springer Singapore (Springer Nature Singapore, ISBN 978-981-13-3506-8).

Book Chapters

1. Wiejsiri, B. Alternatives for Urban Stormwater Treatment. In E. R. Bandala (Ed.), Circular Economy Applications for Water Security (1 ed.). Boca Raton: 2024, CRC Press (ISBN 9781003441007).

2. Wijesiri, B., Goonetilleke, A. Urban water quality. In V. Jegatheesan, A. Goonetilleke, J. v. Leeuwan, J. Kandasamy, D. Warner, B. Myers, M. Bhuiyan, K. Spence G. Parker (Eds.), Urban Stormwater and Flood Management - Enhancing the Liveability of Cities (1 ed.): 2019, Springer International Publishing  (Springer Nature Switzerland AG, ISBN 978-3-030-11817-4).

3. Goonetilleke, A., Wijesiri, B., Bandala, E. R. Water and soil pollution implications of road traffic. In R.E. Hester and R.M. Harrison (Eds.), Environmental Impacts of Road Vehicles: Past, Present and Future: 2017, The Royal Society of Chemistry (ISBN 978-1-78262-892-7).

1. Fellow of the Higher Education Academy of the United Kingdom

2. Outstanding Doctoral Thesis Award, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), 2016