Ange-Therese, Akono, PhD

Assistant Professor
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Theoretical and Applied Mechanics

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

Awards

2020            NIH Diversity Grant
2019             Speaker Invitation, 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
2016-2017  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

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: environment-friendly and high-performance structural materials, natural and nano-engineered biomaterials, and geological materials such as shale or rock. Dr. Akono’s areas of expertise include nano-mechanics, fracture analysis, nanotechnology, advanced experimental testing and multiscale modeling.

Jiaxin Chen, M.Sc.

Education

2017   MSc, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA
2015   BSc, Harbin Institute of Technology, China

Awards

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

2019  Walter P. Murphy Fellowship, Northwestern University

Yunzhi’s research interests include additive manufacturing, topology optimization, origami engineering, composite materials, and fracture mechanics.

Raymonde Council, Class of 2024

Awards

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.”.