Amila De Silva (PhD '08) is the inaugural winner of the Environment Division Early Career Research Award from the Chemical Institute of Canada. This award recognizes an outstanding early career researcher who has made distinguished contributions in the fields of environmental chemistry or environmental chemical engineering, while working in any sector in Canada.
De Silva completed her graduate studies in the Mabury Group where she studied isomers of a now well-known class of organic pollutants called PFAS.
"The cohesion amongst the environmental chemistry professors contributed to my deep respect for other areas of environmental chemistry, who encouraged collaboration and comradery," says De Silva. "I cherish the time I spent there."
"Scott [Mabury] also provided me with the mentorship I so needed to find self-confidence and discover leadership. This is so important to all emerging scientists but especially intersectional women like myself."
De Silva has been a research scientist at Environment & Climate Change Canada (ECCC) in the government of Canada since 2009. She's also an adjunct professor at Memorial University of Newfoundland and University of Toronto Scarborough.