Dr. Poornima Jayasinghe
Positions
Assistant Professor (Teaching)
Schulich School of Engineering, Sustainable Systems Engineering
Assistant Professor (Teaching)
Schulich School of Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering
Contact information
Location
Office: ENB404
Background
Educational Background
PhD Chemical Engineering (Environmental Engineering), University of Calgary,
MSc Chemical Engineering (Energy and Environmental Engineering), University of Calgary,
BSc Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka,
Biography
Dr. Poornima Jayasinghe is an Assistant Professor (Teaching) in the Department of Civil Engineering/ Sustainable Systems Engineering at the University of Calgary. She obtained her masters’ and doctoral degrees from the University of Calgary and her bachelor’s degree from the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. Previously, she served as the Program Manager in the CREATE-IISC (Collaborative Research and Training Experience - Integrated Infrastructure for Sustainable Cities) graduate training program and held a MITACS Elevate Postdoctoral fellowship. Dr. Jayasinghe’s current research interests span the areas of integrated teaching and learning; developing innovative, interactive, and inclusive teaching strategies; adopting project-based learning; and integrated and sustainable systems of solid waste management. She is seeking to utilize her years of academic and collaborative research experience in real-world projects to advance both graduate and undergraduate teaching at the Schulich School of Engineering.
Research
Areas of Research
I explore pedagogical strategies that shift engineering education from a traditional, theory-heavy model to a learner-centered, real-world focused approach. This work investigates how context-based teaching enhances students’ ability to apply theoretical knowledge to complex, real-world problems. Using a mixed-methods research design, our team assess how these strategies foster critical thinking, problem-solving, and deeper engagement in engineering education.
This research focuses on developing a cohesive, scaffolded design spine throughout the four-year engineering program. The goal is to integrate technical knowledge with professional skills such as teamwork, communication, sustainability, and project management. By creating a progressive framework, our team aim to strengthen students’ design abilities and prepare them for interdisciplinary engineering practice.
To equip future engineers for today’s global challenges, our team investigate how to embed systems thinking, design justice, and sustainability into the engineering curriculum. This work seeks to develop transformative learning experiences that prepare students to approach complex, “wicked” problems with a holistic mindset and a commitment to equity and environmental stewardship.
Participation in university strategic initiatives
Courses
| Course number | Course title | Semester |
|---|---|---|
| ENCI 602 | Sustainability Concepts for Civil Engineering | Fall 2025 |
| SUSE 400 | Sustainable Systems Design | Winter 2025 |
| SUSE 300 | Introduction to Sustainable Systems Design | Winter 2024 |
| SUSE 311 | Engineering Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics | Winter 2024 |
| SEDV 699 | Pollution Assessment, Control and Mitigation | Winter 2024 |
| ENCI 622 | Integrated Infrastructure for Sustainable Cities | Fall 2023 |
| SUSE 307 | Numerical Methods and Computing Tools for Sustainable Systems Engineering | Fall 2023 |
| ENCH 405 | Separation Processes I | Winter 2023 |
| SEDV 611 | Land Pollution and Waste Management in The Energy Sector | Winter 2023 |
| ENCI 619 | Special Topics in ‘Integrated Infrastructure for Sustainable Cities' | Winter 2022 |
| ENGG 319 | Probability and Statistics for Engineers | Summer 2021 |
| ENCH 405 | Separation Processes I | Winter 2021 |
| ENER 480 | Energy Engineering Fluid Mechanics | Fall 2017 |
| ENER 480 | Energy Engineering Fluid Mechanics | Fall 2016 |
| ENCI 502 | Civil Engineering Aspects of Sustainable Communities | Winter 2016 |
| ENME 341 | Fundamentals of Fluid Mechanics | WInter 2016 |
Awards
- Undergraduate Teaching Excellence Award, SSE. 2025
- Graduate Teaching Excellence Award, SSE. 2024
- Teaching Achievement Award, SSE.
- Mitacs Elevate Post-Doctoral Fellowship, Mitacs and CCEMC.
- Teaching Assistant Excellence Award, SSE.
Publications
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