Iheanyichukwu Ajoku | Advanced Materials Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Popular Engineer

Mr. Iheanyichukwu Ajoku | Advanced Materials Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Missouri University of Science and Technology | United States

Iheanyichukwu C. Ajoku, P.E., is a distinguished metallurgical engineer and doctoral student in Materials Science and Engineering (Ceramic Engineering) at Missouri University of Science and Technology, United States. His research focuses on sustainable materials for nuclear waste management, MXene synthesis, energy storage, metallurgy, and biomaterials processing. Ajoku holds a B.Sc. in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering from the University of Lagos, Nigeria, and possesses a Certified Management Specialist credential from the London Graduate School. He is a licensed Senior Engineer with COREN and a Fellow of ISDS, IMC-Nigeria, and IOASD. His academic and research contributions include publications in prestigious journals such as the American Chemical Society and Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, with 3 citations and an h-index of 1. Professionally, he has served as a Risk Engineer and Graduate Research Assistant in both Nigeria and the U.S., participating in projects supported by the U.S. Department of Energy and NSF. Recognized for excellence, he has received multiple honors, including the Graduate Council Outstanding Service Award and Fellowship distinctions. His work contributes to advancing sustainable nuclear waste immobilization and fostering global STEM outreach through the Ceramic and Glass Industry Foundation.

Profile : Google Scholar 

Featured Publications

Evarts, J. S., Riley, B. J., Lonergan, C. E., Harris, M. S., Bai, J., Bohannan, E., Ajoku, I., & others. (2025). Synergy in materials: Leveraging phosphosilicate waste forms for electrochemical salt waste. ACS Sustainable Resource Management, 2(3), 514–523.

Ajoku, I., & Ani, P. C. (2025). Phosphate-based vitrification strategies for electrorefiner salt waste management. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 1–14.

Baba, A. A., Balogun, A. F., Tripathy, B. C., Okeola, F. O., Owolabi, A. O., Olaoluwa, D. T., Jacob, S. O., & Ajoku, I. (2025). Preparation of an indigenous bismutite ore for improved bismuth-based alloys production. In TMS 2026 Conference Proceedings.

Esra Kilavuz | Chemistry and Materials Science | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Esra Kilavuz | Chemistry and Materials Science | Best Researcher Award

Central Research Lab | Turkey

Dr. Esra Kilavuz holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Nigde Omer Halisdemir University, Turkey, having earlier earned an M.S. in Organic Chemistry from Marmara University and a B.S. in Chemistry from Canakkale 18 Mart University. Her doctoral thesis involved the synthesis, characterization, and investigation of electrochemical and antibacterial properties of novel BODIPY-based conducting polymer-nanoparticle nanocomposite films. She has since worked as a postdoctoral researcher and associate researcher in materials science and engineering, notably at Drexel University, focusing on energy storage materials including solid electrolytes (Li₇La₃Zr₂O₁₂), MXenes, and Li-ion battery/electrolyte interfaces. Her earlier research includes electrochromic conducting polymer films, solid oxide fuel cells, and singlet oxygen yield studies in macromolecular systems. She is experienced with a wide range of characterization methods (electrochemistry, spectroscopy, microscopy), nanomaterials, conducting polymers, energy storage. Among her awards: the TUBITAK 2219 International Postdoctoral Scholarship (2022-2025) for high originality, a Scientific Research Project grant from NOHU, undergraduate researcher awards, and other recognitions. Her current research interests lie at the intersection of nanomaterials, electrochemical energy storage, solid electrolytes, conducting polymer-nanocomposites, and applications to batteries and supercapacitors.

Profile : Orcid

Featured Publications

Kilavuz, E. (2025). Polymer electrolytes for all‐solid‐state lithium batteries: Materials, mechanisms, and manufacturing. ChemistrySelect.

Kilavuz, E. (2025). Sustainable lithium-ion battery recycling: Challenges, innovations, and pathways to a circular economy. ACS Sustainable Resource Management.

Kilavuz, E. (2025). Polymer electrolytes for all-solid-state lithium batteries: Materials, mechanisms, and manufacturing [Preprint]. Authorea.

Kilavuz, E., Turac, E., Ilk, S., & Sahmetlioglu, E. (2021). Electropolymerizations of two novel EDOT-BODIPY zinc oxide nanocomposites and evaluation of their in vitro antibacterial activities. Polymers for Advanced Technologies, 32(3), 1086–1100.

Kaya, İ., Kilavuz, E., & Temizkan, K. (2020). Synthesis, characterization and quantum yields of multichromic poly(azomethine)s containing carbazole unit. Arabian Journal of Chemistry, 13(1), 1335–1344.