ChemistSpectroscopistBiophysicist

Kobiny
Antony Rex

I study molecules with light — using spectroscopy to ask how biological systems hold themselves together.

PhD student in Chemistry at The University of Texas at AustinAustin, Texas
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Kobiny Antony Rex
01

About

I am pursuing a PhD in Chemistry at The University of Texas at Austin, where I work as a Graduate Research Assistant on experimental research, scientific analysis, and presentation.

My published work runs along two threads: near-infrared spectroscopy paired with machine learning to identify microplastics in messy, real-world samples, and atomistic and density functional theory simulations of lithium-ion battery materials such as Li₂ZrO₃ and LiGe₂(PO₄)₃.

My academic journey began with a BSc (Hons) in Chemistry from the University of Jaffna, where I graduated with First Class honours and received gold medals for the best performance in physical, inorganic, and organic chemistry.

Alongside research, I have taught as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at UT Austin and as an Assistant Lecturer in Sri Lanka. Teaching keeps my own understanding honest, and I care about making chemistry legible to the people learning it.

Focus

  • Vibrational & NIR spectroscopy
  • Biophysical chemistry
  • Machine learning for spectra
  • DFT & atomistic simulation
  • Li-ion battery materials
  • Microplastics detection
02

Education

2023 — 2028

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Chemistry

The University of Texas at Austin

Apr 2017 — Aug 2021

BSc (Hons), Chemistry

University of Jaffna

First Class

  • Pioneer President, UoJ English Speakers Club (2020–2022)
  • Student Representative, Gender Equality and Equity Center (2019–2020)
  • Student member, The Royal Society of Chemistry
03

Experience

5 roles

  1. Jan 2025 — Present

    Graduate Research Assistant

    The University of Texas at AustinAustin, Texas

    Experimental research, scientific analysis, and writing within the Department of Chemistry.

  2. Sep 2023 — Dec 2024

    Graduate Teaching Assistant

    The University of Texas at AustinAustin, Texas

    Led laboratory and discussion sections for undergraduate chemistry courses.

  3. Dec 2022 — Jul 2023

    Assistant Lecturer

    University of JaffnaJaffna, Sri Lanka

    Taught chemistry lectures and laboratory sessions.

  4. Sep 2022 — Dec 2022

    Temporary Demonstrator

    The Open University of Sri LankaWestern Province, Sri Lanka

  5. Oct 2021 — Sep 2022

    Temporary Demonstrator

    University of JaffnaJaffna, Sri Lanka

04

Publications

3 papers
  1. RSC Sustainability, 3, 1886–18992025

    Microplastics in the rough: using data augmentation to identify plastics contaminated by water and plant matter

    J. C. Shirley, K. Antony Rex, H. Iqbal, C. G. Claudel, C. R. Baiz

    A fibre-based near-infrared instrument and machine-learning classifier that identifies nine common polymers in particles as small as 500 μm. Training on spectra augmented with water and plant matter raised accuracy on real contaminated samples from 40.7% to 86.4%, making field surveys of microplastics practical.

  2. Sustainable Chemistry, 3, 404–4142022

    Computational investigation of a NASICON-type solid electrolyte material LiGe₂(PO₄)₃

    N. Kuganathan, K. Antony Rex, P. Iyngaran

    Classical and DFT simulations of defects, dopants, and lithium transport in a NASICON solid electrolyte. Li Frenkel is the dominant defect, and a 0.44 eV migration barrier indicates fast three-dimensional Li-ion conduction that gallium doping improves further.

  3. Energies, 14, 39632021

    Defect properties and lithium incorporation in Li₂ZrO₃

    K. Antony Rex, P. Iyngaran, N. Kuganathan, A. Chroneos

    First-author study of lithium zirconate, a candidate for battery electrodes and tritium breeding blankets. Li-ion diffusion along the c axis carries an activation energy of 0.55 eV, matching NMR measurements, and Ga doping on the Zr site creates the extra lithium that raises capacity.

All papers and citations on Google Scholar
05

Honors & awards

5 awards
Oct 2022

Sir Arunachalam Mahadeva Memorial Prize

University of Jaffna

For the best performance in the Honours Degree Examination in Science (Chemistry).

Oct 2022

Mr Sithamparapillai Kandiah Gold Medal

University of Jaffna

For the best performance in Physical Chemistry at the Honours Degree Examination in Science (Chemistry).

Oct 2022

Prof. Rajeswary Mageswaran Gold Medal

University of Jaffna

For the best performance in Inorganic Chemistry at the Honours Degree Examination in Science (Chemistry).

Oct 2022

Prof. S. Mageswaran Gold Medal

University of Jaffna

For the best performance in Organic Chemistry at the Honours Degree Examination in Science (Chemistry).

2016 — 2019

Dean's List

Faculty of Science, University of Jaffna

Awarded in each of the four years of the undergraduate programme for a GPA above 3.70.