Team - Akono Lab
Fostering Sustainability Through Nanomechanics.
Principal Investigator - Dr. Ange-Therese Akono
Education
Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA
M. Sc., Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA
Diplome d'Ingenieur, Ecole Polytechnique, France
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Select Major Awards
2021-Present Stanford/Elsevier Top 2% Scientists List
2022 Women in STEM2D Scholar, Johnson & Johnson, USA.
2021 Leonardo da Vinci Award, American Society of Civil Engineers, Engineering Mechanics Institute,
2016 New Faces of Civil Engineering- Professionals Honoree, American Society of Civil Engineers, USA.
Research Interests
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Nanomechanics: bottom-up modeling, and machine learning
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Smart materials: nanostructured ceramics, geopolymers, and green concrete
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Energy: unconventional resources, geothermal energy, CO2 geological storage, nuclear energy
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Biomaterials: cortical bone, hard biomineralized tissues, and bone scaffolds
Current Team Members
Alumni
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Nathaniel Buettner, Ph. D., 2024, Northwestern University, Nanoscale characterization of cement nanocomposites.
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Yunzhi Xu, Ph. D. 2023, Northwestern University, Electrospinning of tough and nature-inspired inorganic polymer composites (Co-advised). Placement at General Motors.
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Jiaxin Chen, Ph. D. 2021, Northwestern University, Nanomechanical studies of geopolymer materials, Currently Research Scientist for Apple Shanghai R&D.
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Pooyan Kabir, Ph. D. 2018, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Geo-Chemo-Mechanical Modeling of Sedimentary Rocks: Application to Unconventional Reservoirs and Geological CO2 sequestration, Currently Senior Engineer at San Diego Gas & Electric.
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Radhika Pavghi, M. Sc. 2017, Synthesis of potassium-based geopolymer materials, Currently Structural Engineer at Baldridge & Associates Structural Engineering.
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Jiaxin Chen, M. Sc. 2017, Rubber-reinforced concrete for railway applications.
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Caroline Johnson, M. Sc. 2017, Multiscale characterization of alkali silicate gel for improved cement Durability, Currently Structural Engineer at Strand Associates.
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Okeoghene Orieka, M. Sc. 2016, Characterization of compact bone toughness via statistical nanoindentation, Currently Project Manager at DUDLEY.
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Kevin Anderson, M. Sc. 2016, Nanoscale characterization of the behavior of calcium aluminate cements–polyvinyl alcohol composites, Currently Structural Engineer at Primera Engineers.
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Gregory A. Bouche, M. Sc. 2015, Investigation of the fracture toughness of sphere-reinforced polymer composites via scratch testing, Currently Supervisor at CITGO Petroleum.