Pollinator decline: US Agro-Socio-Economic Impacts and Responses
Sinnathamby, S., Y. Assefa, A. Granger, L. Tabor, K. Douglas Mankin. (2013). "Pollinator decline: US Agro-Socio-Economic Impacts and Responses." J.Natural Environ.Sciences. 4(1).
CV
Education
- Data Foundations Nanodegree, Udacity, 2018
- Ph.D., Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 2014
- Graduate Certificate, Geographic Information Science, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 2012
- M.E., Civil Engineering, Boise State University, Boise, ID, 2010
- M.S., Aquatic Tropical Ecology, University of Bremen, Germany, 2007
- B.S., Agriculture, University of Jaffna, Faculty of Agriculture, Sri Lanka,2003
Professional Experience
- Oct.2016-Present: ORISE Postdoctoral Fellow
- US EPA/ORD-NERL-CED-Watershed Exposure Branch
- Research activities:
- Use EPA’s aquatic models to estimate pesticide concentrations in aquatic ecosystems.
- Use deterministic and probabilistic approaches to simulate fate and exposure of pesticides.
- Identify the exposure and effects of pesticides on listed species under the Endangered Species Act and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act.
- Use probabilistic approaches to characterize variability and uncertainty related to model parameters and variables (developed a MC shell wrapper to execute PRZM5 and VVWM models, sample input parameters and to characterize parameter sensitivity, using R)
- Support other project teams (used SWAT model to support Hydrologic Micro Services infrastructure (HMS) team)
- Aug. 2015 – Feb. 2016: Engineering Associate
- Kansas Department of Agriculture,Division of Water Resources, Manhattan, KS.
- Duties included:
- Support the division’s mission to develop and analyze water management strategies on basin and regional scales.
- Use a variety of water rights and hydrologic information from different sources to produce decision support products including, maps, charts, tables, and narratives to help explain the causes of water resource challenges and to help understand the effects of proposed management strategies.
- Assemble water use data, water quality data, and any other relevant data, and aid in drafting the report on the performance of the Intensive Groundwater Use Control Areas (IGUCA).
- Review Water Conservation Plan (WCP) and send it to Chief Engineer’s for his approval.
- Assist Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) report production.
- Use ArcGIS, MODFLOW, Microsoft Excel, and other computer software tools as needed.
- Collaborate with a variety of project team members and partners including: division headquarters and field office staff, and USGS.
- Process the municipal water use reports and follow up with municipal staff as needed to ensure that the water use data is correct and complete.
- May.2015 –Aug. 2015: Residential Adviser and Lead Teacher
- Flint Hills Job Corps, Manhattan, KS
- Duties included:
- Built relationships with the residents in the community; assisted residents in developing relationships with each other and accountability for their behavior; served as a resource; provided helping skills for residents in need; and supported other staff.
- Aug. 2010-Sep. 2014: Graduate Research Assistant
- Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Kansas State University
- Research activities:
- Collaborated with Department of Agronomy and Department of Agricultural Economics staff of the Kansas State University on various watershed modeling projects including: Kansas National Science Foundation (NSF) EPSCoR, USDA Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP), and South Central Region Sun Grant Program.
- Collaborated with engineering student and multidisciplinary staff at University of Kansas to develop watershed models.
- Worked on projects related to surface water resource modeling; multi-objective calibration and validation for better simulation of flow (both low and high), crop yield, nutrients and sediment; processing and analyzing historical climate and hydrology data; watershed level ecohydrological characterization; linking ecohydrological changes and biotic variables (fish species) at watershed scale; landuse impact and crop price based crop rotation on water quality; ecosystem quantifications; best management practices effectiveness; biofuel and climate change impacts; and chemometric determination of top soil organic carbon and total nitrogen.
- Co-authored in Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy (WRAPS) Project Final Reports. Kansas Dept. of Health and Environment, Bureau of Water. Topeka, KS.
- Jan. 2008- May. 2010: Graduate Research Assistant
- Department of Civil Engineering, Boise State University
- Research activities:
- Conducted watershed scale research related to land use impacts, climates change on water quality and quantity; modeled hydrological projections using downscaled precipitation and temperature outputs from a suite of global climate models and the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT); and used GIS and remote sensing products (AMSR-E) to model soil moisture at state level (Nebraska).
- Oct. 2007- Dec. 2007: Research Assistant
- Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft, University of Technology, Netherlands
- Research activities:
- Conducted research on observation of groundwater storage by gravity measurements.
- Nov. 2004- Nov. 2007: Lecturer (Probationary)
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka
- Dec. 2003- Oct. 2004: Assistant Lecturer (Temporary)
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka
- Jun. 2003-Nov. 2003: Demonstrator
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka
Skills
- Expert in data management: Data collection, data organization, data database development, data quality assessment, data analysis, pattern and trend identification, visualization of data insights and interpretation.
- Proficient in pesticide modeling. Expertise models: Pesticide Water Calculator (PWC), Pesticide Root Zone Model (PRZM) and Variable Volume Watershed Model (VVWM)
- Expert in water quality and quantity modeling. Expertise watershed/hydrologic models: Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), Better Assessment Science Integrating Point and Nonpoint Sources (BASINS), TR 55, AGricultural Non-Point Source Pollution Model (AGNPS), Hydrus 1-D], Spreadsheet Tool for Estimating Pollutant Loads (STEPL), Water Quality Analysis Simulation Program (WASP) and STELLA Modeling and Simulation Software
- Experience with remote sensing products (Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer- EOS [AMSR-E], Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer [MODIS] and Landsat) and image processing softwares (Environment for Visualizing Images [ENVI], and Analytical Spectral Devices, Inc. [ASD] Field Spec)
- Proficient in Geographic Information Systems and expertise in ArcGIS geospatial data analysis, database construction and management, cartographic mapping and building models
- Proficient in remote sensing products Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer- EOS (AMSR-E), Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Landsat data) and image processing software (Environment for Visualizing Images (ENVI), and Analytical Spectral Devices, Inc. (ASD) Field Spec]
- Computer Science: R, SQL, Matlab, Python, Advanced Microsoft Excel Functions, Tableau, ArcGIS, ArcGISPro, Jandel Scientific Sigma Stat and SAS
- Research: Detail Oriented, Data Science Research Methods and Data-Driven Decisions
Publications
The Environmental Effects of Crop Price Increases: Nitrogen Losses in the U.S. Corn Belt
Hendricks, N.P., S. Sinnathamby, K.R.Douglas-Mankin, A.Smith, D. A. Sumner, D.H. Earnhart. (2014). "The Environmental Effects of Crop Price Increases: Nitrogen Losses in the U.S. Corn Belt." Journal of Environmental Economics and Management. 68(3).
Pasture BMP effectiveness using an HRU-based subarea approach in SWAT
Sheshukov A.Y., K.R. Douglas-Mankin, S. Sinnathamby, P. Daggupati. (2015). "Pasture BMP effectiveness using an HRU-based subarea approach in SWAT." Journal of Environmental Management . 166(2016).
Impacts of biofuel-based land-use change on water quality and sustainability in a Kansas watershed
Yasarer L.W., S. Sinnathamby, B. Sturm. (2016). "Impacts of biofuel-based land-use change on water quality and sustainability in a Kansas watershed." Agricultural Water Management. 175(2016).
Field-scale calibration of crop-yield parameters in the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT)
Sinnathamby, S., K.R. Douglas-Mankin, C. Craige (2017). "Field-scale calibration of crop-yield parameters in the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT)." Agricultural Water Management. 180(2017).
Ecohydrological index, native fish, and climate trends and relationships in the Kansas River basin
Sinnathamby, S., K.R. Douglas-Mankin, M.E. Muche, S.L. Hutchinson and A. Aavudai. (2018). "Ecohydrological index, native fish, and climate trends and relationships in the Kansas River basin." Ecohydrology. 11(1).
A unified approach for protecting listed species and ecosystem services in isolated wetlands using community level protection goals
Raimondo,S., Sharpe,L., Oliver,L., McCaffrey,K.R., Purucker,S,T., Sinnathamby,S., and J. M. Minucci. (2019)." A unified approach for protecting listed species and ecosystem services in isolated wetlands using community-level protection goals." Science of The Total Environment. 11(1).
Talks
Sustainable environmental flow management in an agricultural watershed in northeast Kansas
Talk at Portland esa 2017, Portland, OR
Sensitivity analysis for pesticide transport in a vernal pool watershed using the Pesticide Water Calculator
Conference proceedings talk at 9th International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software, Fort Collins, CO
Teaching
Presentations/Posters
- Muche, M., Sinnathamby, S., Johnston, J, M., Cyterski, M.J. Endangered fish species distribution in relations to historic and contemporary water quality and quantity. AGU Fall Meeting, Washington, D.C. 10-14 Dec. 2018.
- Oliver, L., Raimondo, S., Sharpe, L.M., Purucker, T., Sinnathamby, S., McCaffrey, K., and Minucci, J.M. Saving Two Birds with One Stone: A Unified Approach for Protecting Listed Species and Ecosystem Services in Geographically Isolated Wetlands Using Community-Level Protection Goals. SETAC Conference. Sacramento, CA. 2018.
- Purucker, T., W. Eckel, J. Flaishans, T. Hong, T. Hook, A. Kanarek ,J. Minucci, N. Pope, D. Smith, S. Sinnathamby, N. Thurman, K. Wolfe. 2018. Software testing a library and RESTful application programming interface for ecological pesticide risk assessment models. International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software (iEMSs) 2018.
- Sinnathamby, S., Denton, D.,Oliver, L., Raimondo, S., Pitchford, A., Eric, W., Purucker, S.T. 2018. Sensitivity analysis for pesticide transport in a vernal pool watershed using the Pesticide Water Calculator. International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software (iEMSs) 2018.
- Purucker, S.T., Cyterski, M.J., Minucci, J.M., S. Sinnathamby. 2018. Approximate Bayesian Computation for Chemical Screening Model Selection. International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software. International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software (iEMSs) 2018.
- Muluken E. Muche, S. Sinnathamby, R. Parmar, C. D. Knightes, D. Smith, K. Wolfe, T. Purucker, J. M. Johnston. 2018. Effects of precipitation data source selection on SWAT hydrologic simulation. International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software. International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software (iEMSs) 2018.
- Sinnathamby, S., Muche, M., and T. Purucker. 2017. Sustainable environmental flow management in an agricultural watershed in northeast Kansas. Portland ESA 2017. August 6-11. https://eco.confex.com/eco/2017/webprogram/Paper67932.html
- Purucker, T., Ignatius, A.R., Kuan, A.C., Sinnathamby, S., and C. Stevens. 2017. Landscape analysis of pesticide use patterns and ecological exposure. Portland ESA 2017. August 6-11. https://eco.confex.com/eco/2017/webprogram/Paper68520.html
- Muche, M., Sinnathamby, S., and J, M. Johnston. 2017. Analysis of endangered Kansas fish species distribution during historical and contemporary periods (pre- and post-1969). Portland ESA 2017. August 6-11. https://eco.confex.com/eco/2017/webprogram/Paper67986.html
- Gao, J., A.Y. Sheshukov, and S. Sinnathamby. 2015. Impacts of Variability of Climate Datasets on Watershed Hydrology under Changing Climate. Proceedings of the ASABE 1st Climate Change Symposium: Adaptation and Mitigation. Chicago, IL, 3-5 May, 2015.
- Yasarer L.W., Sinnathamby,S., and Sturm, B. 2014. Investigating Impacts of Biofuel-Based Landscapes on Kansas Reservoir Water Quality Using the SWAT Model. EWRI World Environment and Water Resources Congress, Portland, Oregon.
- Sinnathamby, S., A. Anandhi, S.Hutchinson and K.R. Douglas-Mankin. 2013.Evaluating the ability of the SWAT to replicate hydro-ecologically relevant indicators. Governor’s Conference on the Future of Water in Kansas, Manhattan, KS.
- Sinnathamby, S., L. Witthaus, S.Hutchinson, A.Y.Sheshukovand K.R. Douglas-Mankin. 2013. Environmental Impacts of Biofuels Production: The Case of Northeast, West Central and Central Kansas Agricultural Districts. Biofuels, Climate Change and Mitigation: Annual Research Symposium, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS.
- Sinnathamby, S., L. Witthaus, S.Hutchinson, and K.R. Douglas-Mankin. 2013.Linking water quality and valuation of ecosystem services. Biofuels, Climate Change and Mitigation: Annual Research Symposium, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS.
- Yasarer L.W., Sturm, B., Sinnathamby, S., and White, S.S. 2013. Exploring Climate Change in Kansas Watersheds through Hydrologic Modeling and Social Surveys. Kansas NSF EPSCoR Conference, Lawrence, Kansas.
- Yasarer L.W., Sturm, B., Sinnathamby, S., and White, S.S. 2013. Exploring Climate Change in Kansas Watersheds through Hydrologic Modeling and Social Surveys. National NSF EPSCoR Conference, Nashville, Tennessee.
- Sinnathamby, S., L. Witthaus,L. Bejot, and K.R. Douglas-Mankin.2012. Environmental Impacts of Biofuels and Climate Change in Kansas: Stage 2 – Model Calibration and Future Application. Biofuels, Climate Change and Mitigation: Annual Research Symposium, University of Kansas in Lawrence, KS.
- Hendricks, N., S.Sinnathamby, A. Smith, L. Bejot, K.R. Douglas-Mankin, and D.A. Sumner. 2012.Effects of Increased Corn Prices on Water Quality. Biofuels, Climate Change and Mitigation: Annual Research Symposium, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS.
- Witthaus, L., Sinnathamby, S., Sturm, B., Brunsell, N., and Douglas-Mankin K. 2012. Using Predictive Modeling Tools to Better Understand Water Quality Impacts from Extreme Precipitation Events. Governor’s Conference on the Future of Water in Kansas, Manhattan, Kansas.
- Witthaus,L., Sinnathamby,S., L. Bejot, B.S.M. Sturm, and K.R. Douglas-Mankin (2012).Environmental Impacts of Biofuels and Climate Change in Kansas: Stage 1 – Model setup and Inputs,Biofuels, Climate Change and Mitigation: Annual Research Symposium,University of Kansas,Lawrence, KS.
- Sinnathamby, S.(2012).Chemometric Determination of Top Soil Organic Carbon and Total Nitrogen, Chemometric Analysis Seminar, Kansas State University, May 8, 2012.
- Sinnathamby, S. and V.Sridhar (2010).Land Use Impacts on Water Quality in the BoiseRiver System. 20th Annual Water Quality Conference, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality http://www.deq.state.id.us/water/assist_business/workshops/water_quality_workshop_10_agenda.cfm
- Sinnathamby, S. and V.Sridhar (2010) The non-point source pollution in the Portneuf Watershed: Modeling with SWAT, Annual Water Resources Conference
- Sinnathamby, S. and V.Sridhar (2010) Incorporating Root Zone Soil Moisture Using Two Modeling Approaches and a Data Assimilation Technique in Different Climatic Divisions of Nebraska(co-author) November 2008 Annual Water Resources Conference (Presented by Dr. Venkat Sridhar)
- Soil Moisture Retrieval from AMSR-E: A Statewide Application and Verification Using Observations and the SWAT Model: 2008 Joint Meeting of The Geological Society of America (Presented by Dr. Venkat Sridhar) http://acs.confex.com/crops/2008am/techprogram/P50936.HTM
- Hoekema,D.J., Sinnathamby,S.,Jin,X., Sridhar,V.R.(2009) Vulnerability of the Snake River Basin and subbasins to climatic change; Poster Presentation. American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2009, abstract #U13B-0053
- Sinnathamby, S.Observation of water storage by gravity measurements: Research colloquia, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft, University of Technology, Netherlands. http://www.citg.tudelft.nl/live/pagina.jsp?id=d657193f-6584-492e-a2b9-d46d574bca60&lang=en
Reports
- Basin Management Team. McPherson IGUCA Review. Oct. 2016, Kansas Department of Agriculture, Division of Water Resources (DWR)
- Basin Management Team. Burrton IGUCA Review.Mar.2016, Kansas Department of Agriculture, Division of Water Resources (DWR)
- Douglas-Mankin, K.R., A.Y. Sheshukov, A.P.Nejadhashemi, J. Roe, S. Sinnathamby, C.M. Smith, R.M. Wilson, S.P. Brown, J.C. Leatherman, W. Hargrove. 2011. Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy (WRAPS) Project, Final Reports. Kansas Dept. of Health and Environment, Bureau of Water. Topeka, KS.
- Milford Lake Watershed Assessment. KDHE Project No. 2004-0027.
- Neosho River Watershed Assessment. KDHE Project No. 2004-0029.
- Toronto Lake Watershed Assessment. KDHE Project No. 2007-0063.
- Tuttle Creek Lake Watershed Assessment. KDHE Project No. 2004-0032.
- Douglas-Mankin, K.R., S.P. Brown, R. Frisbie, S. Sinnathamby, W. Hargrove. 2011. Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy (WRAPS) Project, Final Report. Kansas Dept. of Health and Environment, Bureau of Water. Topeka, KS.
- Upper Arkansas River Basin Watershed Assessment. KDHE Project No. 2006-0076.
Programming
- Languages: R, Python, Matlab, SAS
- IDEs: PyCharm, RStudio
Honor/ Membership
- Member of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, K-State Chapter Member
- Member of Golden Key, International Honor Society
- The National Society of Leadership and Success: A Community of Leaders
- Idaho State Section of the American Water Resources Association
Academic Achievements
- Won University prize (Thambaiah Mudaliyar Chatram Trust) for the best performance in the First Examination in Agriculture-1999 for the academic year 1998/99
- Won University prize for the best performance in the Fourth Examination in Agriculture -2002 for the academic year 2001/2002
- Broke the record during first year Examination in Agriculture (3.95/4.00)
Scholarships
- DAAD Scholarship
- Bertelsmann Data Science Challenge Scholarship 2018/2019