Dulanga Jayawardena

Education

Doing my exchange semester at Dartmouth College

During my exchange at Dartmouth College, I studied at the intersection of health technology, materials science, and engineering design — working in advanced labs and alongside some of the brightest mi...

1 December 2018 | 4 min read

Doing my exchange semester at Dartmouth College

During my exchange at Dartmouth College, I studied at the intersection of health technology, materials science, and engineering design — working in advanced labs and alongside some of the brightest minds in the world.

My coursework combined the technical and human aspects of engineering, with a strong focus on designing technology to improve health, safety, and real-world outcomes.


Coursework

  • Health Technology — strategy, evaluation, and deployment of healthcare solutions, learning from foremost experts in the field.
  • Engineering Design — building prototypes and working on multidisciplinary projects that combined user-centered design with technical problem solving.
  • Materials Engineering — practical lab experience with varied manufacturing processes and testing equipment.

South House

Beyond academics, I participated in Dartmouth’s South House Residential Community Executive Committee, contributing to campus life through student-led events.

Canoeing along the Connecticut


LitPak Backpack

The biggest project of my exchange was the LitPak Backpack — a safety-focused wearable that integrated LED lighting, conductive thread, and reflective materials to improve nighttime pedestrian visibility.

  • Iterative user testing and material studies to optimize usability and safety performance.
  • Working prototypes using embedded electronics, sensors, and stitched circuit designs.
  • Cross-functional teams blending design, engineering, and real-world testing.

Full write-up on LitPak Backpack here


The exchange gave me invaluable exposure to international academic environments, cutting-edge labs, and interdisciplinary collaboration — all of which continue to influence my approach to problem-solving and product design.