
Principal Investigator

Ange-Therese, Akono, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Theoretical and Applied Mechanics
CV
Education
2013 PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
2011 MSc, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
2011 Diplome d’Ingenieur, Ecole Polytechnique, Palaiseau, France
2009 MSc, Ecole Polytechnique, Palaiseau, France
2008 BSc, Ecole Polytechnique, Palaiseau, France
Honors and Awards
2021 Stories from the NNI podcast, National Nanotechnology Initiative
2021 Leonardo da Vinci Award, ASCE EMI
2021 Invited Symposium Participant, The Royal Society, UK
2020 NIH Diversity Grant
2019 Invited Symposium Participant, The Royal Society, UK
2019 International Exchange Scheme Award, The Royal Society, UK
2019 Searle Faculty Fellow, Northwestern University
2017 IGEN Keynote speaker, Northwestern University
2017 Education Teaching Technology Fellow, Northwestern University
2016 National Center for Supercomputing Applications Faculty Fellowship
2016 ASCE New Faces of Civil Engineering Professionals Award
2014-2015 Collins Scholar, Academy for Excellence in Engineering Education, UIUC
2009-2011 MIT Energy Initiative Fellowship
Press Coverage
Urbana High School Outreach | Intrinsic High School Outreach
Geopolymer research | Geopolymer MD simulations | NCSA Fellowship| ASCE New Faces Award
Scratch Test model | NIH Diversity Grant | ASCE Leonardo da Vinci Award| Nano-reinforced Cement
Dr. Akono’s laboratory investigates fracture and failure mechanisms in complex materials systems from the molecular level up to the macroscopic scale. This research is articulated over three main thrusts: sustainable construction materials, sustainable energy systems, and bone tissue regeneration engineering. Dr. Akono’s areas of expertise include nano-mechanics, fracture analysis, and nanomaterials.
Current Graduate Students

Jiaxin Chen, M.Sc.
Education
2017 MSc, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA
2015 BSc, Harbin Institute of Technology, China
Awards
2021 USNC/TAM Early Career Attendee Fellowship
2017 Walter P. Murphy Fellowship, Northwestern University
2016 Travel Grant to attend the 2016 ASCE Engineering Mechanics Institute Conference, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Jiaxin ‘s research interests include geopolymer composites, crumbed-rubber reinforced concrete, and alkali silicate gels.

Yunzhi Xu, M. E.
Education
2018 ME, University of Michigan, MI, USA
2015 BSc, Tsinghua University, China
Awards
2021 PS&ED Cluster Fellowship
2021 USNC/TAM Early Career Attendee Fellowship
2021 NAMRC 49/MSEC 2021 NSF Student Support, National Science Foundation
2019 Walter P. Murphy Fellowship, Northwestern University
Yunzhi’s research interests include additive manufacturing, topology optimization, origami engineering, composite materials, and fracture mechanics.
Current Undergraduate Students

Raymonde Council, Class of 2024
Awards
2021 DAAD RISE Germany Internship
2019 Melville and Jane Hodge EXCEL Scholar
2019 NCSSM Golden Cupola
Raymonde’s research interests include tissue regenerative engineering, biomaterials design, and additive manufacturing processes.

Mairi Glynn, Class of 2024
Awards
2018 Illinois State Scholar
2017 Young Playwrights Festival Winner
Mairi’s research interests include design and additive manufacturing to develop sustainable solutions to systemic problems in the developing world.”.
Alumni
Pooyan Kabir, PhD 2018,Finite Element Analyst, McDermott International Inc.
Radhika Pavgi, MSc 2017,
Orieka Okeoghene, MSc 2016, Structural Engineer,Dudley Dunham Engineering
Caroline Johnson, MSc 2017, Structural Engineer, Strand Associates
Kevin Anderson, MSc 2016, Engineer, STV
Gregory Bouche, MSc 2015, Reliability Engineer, CITGO Petroleum
Hebert Elyse, Summer 2018 Research Intern,
Jasmine Puthuvelil, Spring 2016-Spring 2017 Research Intern, Structural Engineer, MCveigh & Mangum Engineering
Anleen Cao, Summer 2017 Research Intern,
James C Myers, Summer 2014 Research Intern,
Matthew Figus, Spring 2017 Research Intern, Structural Engineer, Walker Restoration Consultants
Luis W Chavez, Summer 2016 Research Intern, PhD Candidate, UIUC
Kathleen Hawkins, Summer 2014 Research Intern, PhD Candidate, UIUC
Wenjing Li, Summer 2014 Research Intern,
Ye Liu, Summer 2014 Research Intern,