Sachini Piyoni Ekanayake, PhD

Research Scientist - Artificial Intelligence

GE Vernova Advanced Research Center

1 Research Circle, Niskayuna, NY, USA, 12309

Sachini earned her PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University at Albany SUNY, NY, USA, in August 2024. She earned her BSc in Electrical and Electronic Engineering (Honors) from the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, in 2017. Currently, she is working as a postdoctoral researcher in AI and Machine Learning at GE Vernova, Niskayuna, NY, USA. Before that, she worked as a research specialist at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA. In the summer of 2022, she was a machine learning fellow intern at GE Research, Niskayuna, NY, USA. Also, she worked at the NYS Department of Health, Menands, NY, USA. Sachini was recognized as a 2023 Rising Star in Cyber-Physical Systems by the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA, and also nominated as a 2024 Rising Star in Machine Learning & Systems by MLCommons at NVIDIA HQ, CA, USA. Her research interests include machine learning, statistical signal processing, optimization, and cyber-physical systems.

Most of her work involves but is not limited to instance-wise decision-making, multidimensional classification, dynamic classifier selection, dynamic feature selection, ensemble learning, Bayesian networks, optimization, and explainable algorithms. Currently, she is applying her expertise in AI/ML in electrical energy systems applications, focusing on developing inverse predictive models, conducting post-fault analysis and classification in power systems, and building AI frameworks to automate business processes at GE Vernova.

News 📰

Oct 2025: 🏆Exciting news! My first patent issued! Check it out from here.
Oct 2025: 🔊 I spoke as a panelist at the STEM Connect 2025 Collegiate Conference, speaking on “When AI Thinks, Do We Stop Learning?
Sep 2025: Manuscript submitted to IEEE Transactions on Artificial Intelligence (TAI) on my last PhD work got accepted.
June 2025: 🔊I participated and presented our paper at the American Nuclear Society Conference.
May 2025: 🎯 Exciting news! I officially graduated!
April 2025: 🔊I participated and presented my paper at ICASSP 2025, Hyderabad, India.
Mar 2025: I attended ARPA-E Innovation Summit, DC and presented a demo.
Oct 2024: I started working at GE Vernova Advanced Research Center (ARC), Niskayuna, NY, USA.
Sep 2024: I gave an invited talk at School of Engineering & Applied Science, University of Virginia, VA, USA
Jul 2024: 🏆Exciting news! My first patent has been published! Check it out from here.
Jul 2024: I started working as a research specialist at the Lighting Research Center, Rensselaer Polytechnique Institute in Troy, NY, USA.
Jul 2024: 🔊I participated and presented my research in the ML & Systems Rising Stars Workshop at NVIDIA HQ, CA, USA.
Jun 2024: 🎯I passed my Doctoral Dissertation Defense (DDD)!
May 2024: 🏆Exciting news! I have been nominated as a Rising Star in Machine Learning & Systems MLCommons, NVIDIA HQ, CA, USA.
May 2024: I gave an invited talk at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, NY, USA.
Feb 2024: Some of my work from the Summer 2022 Internship at GE Research has been published in Physica D: Nonlinear Phenomena.
Jan 2024: 🎯I passed my Doctoral Candidacy Exam (DCE)!
Dec 2023: I started working part-time as a data engineering project assistant at the NYS Department of Health in Menands, NY, USA.
Dec 2023: My paper has been accepted for the IEEE International Conference on Acoustics, Speech, and Signal Processing (ICASSP 2024).
Oct 2023: Manuscript submitted to IEEE Transactions on Artificial Intelligence (TAI) got accepted.
Oct 2023: Poster presented at the 2023 Inaugural SUNY AI Symposium hosted by the University at Albany SUNY.
Oct 2023: Invited to be a reviewer for IEEE Transactions on Artificial Intelligence (TAI) journal.
Aug 2023: 🔊Invited to speak on a panel for the State of Grace symposium, Initiatives for Women session, University at Albany, SUNY.
Aug 2023: Manuscript submitted to IEEE Transactions on Artificial Intelligence (TAI) received major revision.
July 2023: 🏆I have been awarded a Graduate Student Fees scholarship for Fall 2023, University at Albany, SUNY.
May 2023: 🔊I participated and presented my research in the CPS Rising Stars Workshop, at the University of Virginia, VA, USA.
Apr 2023: 🏆Exciting news! I have been nominated as a Rising Star in Cyber-Phisical-Systems and invited to attend CPS Rising Stars Workshop.
Apr 2023: Manuscript submitted to IEEE Transactions on Artificial Intelligence (TAI) got accepted.
Apr 2023: 🏆My IEEE WIE Travel Grant application to attend and present my paper at ICASSP 2023 was approved by the WIE Committee.
Apr 2023: Manuscript submitted to IEEE Transactions on Artificial Intelligence (TAI) received minor revision.
Feb 2023: My paper has been accepted for the IEEE International Conference on Acoustics, Speech, and Signal Processing (ICASSP 2023).
Dec 2022: My work from the Summer 2022 Internship at GE Research has been accepted for the IEEE Conference on Technologies for Sustainability (SusTech 2023).
Dec 2022: 🏆Exciting news! I've signed my first patent application on the project I worked on during my Summer 2022 internship at GE Research. I'm grateful to my mentor, Dr. Scott C. Evans, for the great opportunity, as well as to all the project team members for their support and guidance. Thank you to Machine Learning Team Manager Dr. Paul Ardis, all the ML team members, and GE Research for an incredible summer experience!
Aug 2022: I've completed my Summer 2022 internship at GE Research, Niskayuna, NY, USA. I'm grateful to my mentor, Dr. Scott C. Evans, for the great opportunity, as well as to all the project team members for their support and guidance. Thank you to Machine Learning Team Manager Dr. Paul Ardis, all the ML team members, and GE Research for an incredible summer experience!
Aug 2022: My paper has been accepted for the IEEE 56th Asilomar Conference on Signals, Systems, and Computers (Asilomar 2022).
May 2022: I have started my summer 2022 internship at GE Research, Niskayuna, NY, USA. I'm grateful to my mentor, Dr. Scott C. Evans, for the great opportunity!
May 2022: 🎯I passed my Doctoral Qualifying Exam (DQE)!
May 2020: I started working as a Research Assistant at the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department of the University at Albany, SUNY.
Aug 2019: I started working as a Teaching Assistant at the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department of the University at Albany, SUNY.
Aug 2019: Exciting news! I have started my PhD program at the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department of the University at Albany, SUNY.
Apr 2019: 🏆I received a tuition scholarship from the University at Albany, SUNY to pursue the PhD program.
Apr 2019: I have been admitted to the Electrical and Computer Engineering - PhD program at University at Albany, SUNY.

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