Under the guidance of Prof. Pulickel Ajayan, I contributed to a re-design of Li-ion batteries and supercapacitors, developing and optimizing components envisioning enhanced performances at temperatures beyond 120oC. I had the opportunity to engage in energy-storage-related research challenges posed by many industry partners, including Shell, Total and Schlumberger. I also exercised writing skills for scientific papers, grant proposals and patents, as well as my ability to convey technical information to diverse audiences. During the course of my Ph.D., I assisted in guiding the research activities of undergraduate and Master’s students, while also mentoring junior Ph.D. candidates. Immersed in a very diverse group of scientists, I learned how to communicate and work effectively in multicultural, multidisciplinary environments.

Working under the mentorship of Dr. Daniel Abraham, I utilized a unique cell design to monitor the performance decay of individual Li-ion battery electrodes at high voltages and at high power. Within this project, we contributed to the understanding of how independent processes occurring inside the battery can affect the cell as a whole.I also investigated issues arising when silicon is incorporated to graphite anodes, both under a performance and a fabrication perspective, raising awareness of unaccounted challenges introduced by the implementations of these materials.

My role was to enforce policies, resolve conflicts, organize social events and promote the well-being in a community of 224 residents. This experience allowed me to develop managerial and teamwork skills, and also to facilitate the transition of international students into the university environment in the United States

During my undergraduate studies and my Master’s, I had the opportunity to get acquainted with various aspects of materials science. Working under the guidance of Prof. Glaura Silva, I was responsible to initiate a project funded by Petrobras, focused on the development of mechanically-resilient polymer nanocomposites. I also developed a technique to produce transparent, conductive thin films of carbon nanoparticles, which were employed as electrodes in solid-state supercapacitors. My understanding of materials characterization was further complemented by working with Prof. Cristiano Fantini, a specialist in Raman spectroscopy, investigating the effect of chemical treatment on the vibrational and electronic properties of carbon nanotubes.