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Biography

Rasika Dias received his B.Sc. (first class honors) degree in chemistry from University of Peradeniya and Ph.D. in chemistry from University of California, Davis. His graduate research under the direction of Professor Philip Power was mainly focused on the low-valent and low-coordinate compounds of Group 13-15 elements. The boron-phosphorous analogs of benzene were uncovered during that period.  He then spent close to three years at the DuPont Central Research & Development, Delaware as a Visiting Research Scientist and worked with Dr. Arduengo. That work led to the discovery of the first “bottle-able” N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs).  The NHCs known as IMes, ITol, IMe(Me)₂, work on electron distribution of NHCs, and first direct routes to their main-group and d-block element adducts (e.g., Cu, Ag, Zn, Na, Li, Mg, B, Al, Si, Ge, P) are the results of Rasika’s work at DuPont with Dr. Arduengo.

Rasika joined the University of Texas at Arlington faculty in 1992, where he is presently a Distinguished University Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. He also served as the department chair. His first report from UT Arlington concerns the isolation of bottle-able, multi-dentate carbene ligands. This finding has been highlighted in a book titled “World Records in Chemistry”, Ed. H.-J. Quadbeck-Seeger.  His current research activities concern homogeneous catalysis, ethylene chemistry (olefin-paraffin separation, sensing, and effects on plants), metal carbonyl chemistry, luminescent materials, isolable models for reaction intermediates, and the study of bonding in metal complexes.

Rasika has been the author or co-author of several patents, reviews and over 250 papers in leading, peer-reviewed journals. A number of his research findings have been highlighted on journal cover pages, Chemical & Engineering News, and as hot-papers. He has won awards for all key categories (i.e., research, teaching, and service) including the Outstanding Research Achievement Award at UT Arlington and was inducted to UT Arlington Academy of Distinguished Scholars in 2012. Rasika also received the Jenkins Garrett Professorship, 2009 Southwest Regional American Chemical Society Award, 2009 Wilfred T. Doherty Award of the Dallas-Fort Worth Section of the American Chemical Society, 2004-2005 The Robert A. Welch Foundation Lectureship, and was selected to the Editorial Advisory Boards of Inorganic Chemistry, Dalton Transactions and Polyhedron.

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Honors, Awards

• Jenkins Garrett Professorship, 2020-2023
• Inducted to the UTA Academy of Distinguished Scholars, 2012
• Editorial Board of Polyhedron, 2021-present
• Editorial Advisory Board of Current Inorganic Chemistry, 2010-2018
• Southwest Regional American Chemical Society Award, 2009
• Wilfred T. Doherty Award of the Dallas-Fort Worth Section of the American Chemical Society, 2009
• Advisory Board of Dalton Transactions, 2009-present
• Editorial Advisory Board of Inorganic Chemistry, 2007-2009
• The University of Texas at Arlington Outstanding Research Achievement Award, 2007
• Outstanding Research Achievement, College of Science, The University of Texas at Arlington, 2006
• The Robert A. Welch Foundation Lectureship, 2004-2005
• UTA Research Excellence Award, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
• Outstanding Academic Advisor, The University of Texas at Arlington, 2003
• Outstanding Teacher, College of Science, The University of Texas at Arlington, 2000-2001
• Clorox Award for Outstanding Ph.D. in Chemistry, 1988, UC Davis
• Dow Award for Outstanding Graduate Accomplishment, 1987, UC Davis
• UC Davis Distinguished Scholar Award, 1985, 1986 and 1987
• Bhikaji Framji Khan Gold Medal for Chemistry, 1983, U of Peradeniya; Best student in chemistry

Other honors

• Nominee from the College of Science for the Academy of Distinguished Teachers, 2016
• Nominee from the College of Science for the President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, 2012