Nicole Bakker Email & Phone Number

Climate change hits us all. To manage this for current and future generations, we need to rethink how we make things (materials), power them (energy), and do this in an inclusive way to peoples and ecosystems. My professional goal is to advance the global transition to a sustainable and circular (bio)economy, in particular for structural and high-performance materials. It feels most rewarding to me to develop theoretical knowledge 𝘢𝘯𝘥 make immediate impact with practical solutions. 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙝At MIT, I study the recycling potential of materials used in solar PV panels. My thesis combines predictive modeling with materials characterization to identify the potential for materials recovery after panels break down or become obsolete. You can find me behind a microscope in the Infinite Corridor, operate an X-Ray instrument at MIT.nano, crush the numbers for a Material Flow Analysis, or visualize data in interactive code-based diagrams. Yay, science! Previously, during my Master in Design Engineering (MDE) at Harvard I developed bio-based materials, worked on topology optimization, and applied computational fluid dynamics to the building sector. This is also where I was exposed to (and fell in love with) the field of metrology. I totally geek out on measuring materials properties and performance, as this aligns well with my precise working style and attention to detail. 𝙀𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥After graduating from MDE I founded Circular Engine and collaborated with various industrial organizations in waste treatment, mobility, renewable energy/fuels production and infrastructure, construction, aviation and manufacturing to help achieve their circular economy ambitions. I strongly believe in the power of open source data. Since 2021, I'm also co-founder of Circular Statistics, an open database with key figures for sustainable and circular performance of materials. This is a non-profit initiative to help accelerate circular economy implementation. 𝙋𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨Recent work includes scientific publications on additive manufacturing, materials science, and the circular economy. In 2013 I published a book titled 'Photovoltaics in Historical Built Environments'. This focuses on an aesthetically responsible integration of solar technology in buildings. The aim of this publication is to inspire and provide tools for architects and policymakers to design with PV and look beyond conventional rectangular panels. Feel free to reach out if you have ideas for collaboration. We can get this climate thing done together!

Listed skills include Smart Design, Sustainability, Solar Pv, Circular Economy, and 22 others.