IESNYC Congratulates the
2026 IESNYC Merit Scholarship Recipients

The IESNYC is thrilled to introduce Harithra Navaratnam and Daniel Pachman, the 2026 recipients of the prestigious Merit Scholarship. This $25,000 award—split between the two recipients—supports first-year graduate students in architectural lighting at New York State institutions, helping to shape the next generation of leaders in lighting design.

Distinct Paths, Shared Impact

Harithra Navaratnam
Graduate student in Master of Science in the Lighting program and a Research Assistant at the Lighting Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Harithra Navaratnam’s work blends research, human experience, and energy efficiency. From her early architecture studies in Sri Lanka to her current role as a Research Assistant at the Lighting Research Center, she explores ways to improve visual comfort and well-being through lighting design. Her graduate research focuses on reducing glare in linear LED luminaires—an effort to make interior lighting not just functional, but comfortable for everyone.

“Receiving the IESNYC Merit Scholarship is both an honor and an encouragement to continue pursuing research that improves lighting quality, health and well-being, and visual comfort. I am grateful to be supported by a community that values education, innovation, and the future of the lighting profession.”

Harithra currently serves as the Graduate Representative on the Rensselaer Student Union Executive Board for the 2025–2026 academic year and is an Associate Professional of the Green Building Council of Sri Lanka. She previously earned a Bachelor of Architecture (Honours) from the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, where she received the Sri Lanka Institute of Architects Award for Best Overall Academic Performance in 2023. Following her undergraduate studies, she practiced for two years as a project architect at Palinda Kannangara Architects, Sri Lanka. Her undergraduate research on thermal performance and energy use in government office buildings in Sri Lanka received the Best Paper Award at the 16th FARU International Research Conference and was later published in the FARU Journal (2023). Her current research focuses on mitigating discomfort glare in linear LED luminaires through optical design to improve visual comfort in interior environments.

Daniel Pachman
Multidisciplinary artist and lighting design student at NYSID.

Daniel Pachman takes a creative, multidisciplinary approach to lighting. Originally from Omaha and Detroit, he uses colored light in innovative “spectral art” projects, exploring movement and layered compositions. His work also focuses on bringing thoughtful lighting to underlit communities, such as Highland Park, Michigan, where he seeks to restore visibility without disrupting the night.

“Many places struggle with too much light. Highland Park, Michigan faces the opposite challenge. I’m interested in exploring how carefully designed lighting can restore visibility while still respecting the night. Receiving the IESNYC Merit Scholarship shows that the lighting community values this kind of work and gives me the opportunity to further develop these ideas and connections.”

Daniel's artistic journey began with hitchhiking trips across the United States, where he documented his travels through experimental video and web-based storytelling. His interest in animation and audiovisual coordination led him to develop “spectral art,” a technique using colored light to reveal layered compositions. This work led to lighting installations for events, landscapes, and creative environments. With a background in engineering, computer science, and business, Daniel takes an interdisciplinary approach to lighting design. He is particularly interested in addressing lighting inequities and exploring thoughtful relighting strategies in underlit communities.

Supporting Tomorrow’s Lighting Leaders

Mike Barr, IESNYC Board Member and Scholarship Committee Chair, emphasizes, “Harithra and Daniel exemplify curiosity, creativity, and dedication—qualities that will define the future of our profession.”

ABOUT THE SCHOLARSHIP

To recognize and support potential future leaders in the field of architectural lighting, a merit-based, single-year scholarship with a monetary value of $25,000 is awarded annually to a full-time, first-year, graduate degree candidate in the field of architectural lighting enrolled at an accredited college or university in New York State.

Eligibility