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Biography

Rasika Dias is a Distinguished Research Professor, Chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Texas at Arlington, a productive scientist, and a prolific writer.

Rasika was born in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and raised in the hill country and suburbs of Colombo. After earning his B.Sc. (Honors) degree in Chemistry from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, he joined the University of California, Davis, where he conducted his doctoral research under the guidance of Professor Philip Power, focusing on low-valent and low-coordinate compounds of Group 13–15 elements, including the pioneering discovery of boron–phosphorus analogs of benzene.

Following his doctoral work, Dr. Dias spent nearly three years as a Visiting Research Scientist at DuPont Central Research & Development in Delaware, where he collaborated with Dr. Anthony Arduengo. Their work led to the groundbreaking discovery of the first “bottle-able” N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs), including well-known variants such as IMes, ITol, and IMe(Me)₂. His contributions at DuPont extended to fundamental insights into electron distribution in NHCs and the development of direct synthetic routes to their adducts with main-group and transition metal elements—including copper, silver, zinc, magnesium, aluminum, germanium, and phosphorus.

Since joining UTA in 1992, Dr. Dias has played an important role in advancing the university’s mission. He previously served as the department chair from 2010 to 2015 and currently leads the department again as Chair. His research covers a wide range of topics, including homogeneous catalysis, ethylene chemistry (focusing on olefin-paraffin separation and effects on plants), luminescent materials, isolable models for reactive intermediates, and fluorinated ligand design.  Notable findings include isolable ethylene, acetylene, and carbon monoxide complexes of coinage metal ions, tris(ethylene) gold cation, photo-luminescent copper pyrazolates, pi-acidic silver trimers, silver-mediated C-H and C-Cl bond functionalization, and non-porous materials for olefin-paraffin separation.

He has authored or co-authored over 275 peer-reviewed publications, in addition to several patents and review articles.  He has received several prestigious honors for his contributions to science, education, and mentorship. These include the American Chemical Society’s Southwest Regional Award, the Doherty Award from the DFW Section of the ACS, election as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, and recognition as a Senior Member of the National Academy of Inventors. He has also been honored with UTA’s Excellence in Doctoral Student Mentoring Award and the College of Science Outstanding Teacher Award, reflecting his dedication to student success at all levels. Dr. Dias has served on the editorial advisory boards of several leading journals, including ACS Inorganic Chemistry, Dalton Transactions (Royal Society of Chemistry), and Polyhedron (Elsevier).

Outside his academic work, Dr. Dias is an avid nature enthusiast who enjoys bird watching, gardening, traveling, morning walks, cycling, and just about any sport, including international cricket.

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Honors, Awards

• Excellence in Doctoral Mentoring Award, The University of Texas at Arlington, 2025
• Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, 2025
• Senior Member of the National Academy of Inventors, 2025
• Jenkins Garrett Professorship, 2020-2023
• Inducted to the UTA Academy of Distinguished Scholars, 2012
• Editorial Board of the Ceylon Journal of Science, 2022-present
• 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