NDSU Provost Margaret Fitzgerald has announced Keerthi Nawarathna has accepted the position of faculty fellow for honors and scholarships in the Office of the Provost.

“Dr. Nawarathna’s appointment will include supporting current honors students’ progress and the Honors Council, coordinating the schedule of Honors Program offerings and assisting nominees with university-level scholarship applications,” Fitzgerald said. “Dr. Nawarathna will also explore sustainable models for colleges interested in continuing an Honors Program in the future.”

“I am very excited about the position,” Nawarathna said. “This will be another great opportunity to help NDSU students.”

Nawarathna joined the NDSU faculty in 2014. He previously was a research engineer at ApoCell Inc., Houston, Texas.

He earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, and his doctorate in engineering physics and applied physics at the University of Houston.

Among his honors are the NDSU Research and Creativity Researcher of the Month, College of Engineering Research Excellence Award, National Science Foundation CAREER Award, NDSU Impact Award and BD Cancer Research Award from Becton, Dickson and Company. He also is a member of the National Academy of Inventors.

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