Honor Society® member
Onyinyechukwu Ukagha
- chemical and biomolecular engineering
- Class of 2026
- USA
Member since December 2025
About
Doctoral researcher in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering specializing in zeolite catalysis, clean energy conversion, and advanced materials characterization. My work integrates synchrotron X-ray diffraction, catalyst synthesis, and reaction engineering to address emissions reduction and sustainable fuel production. I hold multiple national research scholarships, serve in senior leadership roles within NSBE, mentor undergraduate researchers, and collaborate with national laboratories and industry partners. My long-term goal is to translate fundamental materials research into scalable industrial technologies with global impact.
Education
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Tulane University
PhD Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
2021 – 2026
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Covenant university
chemical and biomolecular engineering
2011 – 2016
Honors and awards
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National Association for Surface Finishing (NASF) Research Scholarship (2024)
International professional society scholarship supporting high-impact graduate research in materials, surface science, and applied engineering. Awarded in recognition of advanced doctoral research with strong industrial relevance.
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agbami medical/engineering scholarship award (ames)
Flagship national scholarship established by Nigeria’s state energy corporation to develop top engineering talent for the energy sector. Awarded for sustained academic excellence in a rigorous undergraduate engineering program.
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Women’s Auxiliary to the American Institute of Mining Engineers (WAAIME) Research Scholarship (2024)
National organization dedicated to advancing excellence in engineering, mining, and materials sciences. Awarded to select graduate researchers demonstrating strong academic distinction and research potential.
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Graduate Studies Student Association Research Travel Grant (2024)
Competitive institutional grant supporting the dissemination of high-quality graduate research at professional conferences. Awarded based on research merit and scholarly impact.
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deans list
Competitive university research funding program supporting advanced experimental investigations by top-performing graduate researchers. Awarded in consecutive years for high-impact materials and catalytic research.
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National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) Retention Scholarship (2023, 2025)
National engineering scholarship supporting high-achieving students committed to persistence and leadership in engineering. Awarded for academic excellence and sustained professional engagement.
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National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) BCA Research Scholarship (2022)
Prestigious research scholarship supporting graduate engineers conducting rigorous, original research. Awarded based on technical depth and scholarly promise.
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American Association of Drilling Engineers (AADE) Academic Research Scholarship (2025)
Global professional organization scholarship supporting advanced research aligned with energy and applied engineering systems. Awarded for research relevance to industrial and energy-sector challenges.
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Epsilon Sigma Alpha (ESA) Foundation Scholarship Award (2025)
National philanthropic foundation scholarship recognizing academic excellence, leadership, and service. Awarded for demonstrated professional promise and community impact.
Goals and interests
- Career goal
My intended career path is to work across industry and applied research environments as a chemical engineer or technical specialist in energy, materials, and process development. I aim to contribute to the design, optimization, and scale-up of catalytic and chemical processes that improve efficiency, product quality, and environmental performance in industrial settings. Leveraging my background in catalysis, materials characterization, quality systems, and process engineering, I plan to take on roles that bridge research, manufacturing, and technology deployment, ultimately advancing sustainable and economically viable engineering solutions at scale.
- Graduate school interests
My graduate school interests center on advanced catalysis, materials engineering, and process development with applications in energy, sustainability, and industrial chemical systems. I am particularly interested in the design and characterization of functional materials, reaction engineering, and process intensification approaches that enable efficient and scalable technologies. Through graduate training, I seek to strengthen my ability to connect fundamental science with real-world engineering challenges, preparing for roles that span industrial innovation, applied research, and technology deployment.
- Outside the classroom
I enjoy mentoring and supporting students in STEM through science fairs, robotics programs, and outreach activities, as well as volunteering in academic and community initiatives. Outside of formal work, I enjoy reading and writing about science, leadership, and personal growth, playing the guitar as a creative outlet, and continuously learning new technical and non-technical skills that help me grow both professionally and personally.
Experience
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research assistant
Doctoral Research Assistant, Prof. Shantz Lab - Tulane University • Lead synchrotron-based structural investigations of Cu-SSZ-39 zeolites using high-resolution XRD at Argonne National Laboratory (APS 11-BM); apply advanced Rietveld refinement (GSAS-II) to resolve copper siting, lattice distortions, and dehydration-induced structural evolution. • Developed a stereochemistry-guided OSDA design framework that accelerates SSZ-39 crystallization by 75%, reduces energy use by 20%, and enables controlled nanoparticle formation, validated via synchrotron PXRD, SEM/TEM, and ICP-OES. • Synthesized and engineered nanostructured SSZ-39 catalysts (40–50 nm) with isolated Cu²⁺ active sites achieving a 10% single-pass methanol yield at 150 °C in methane-to-methanol conversion. • Engineered nanostructured SSZ-39 catalysts (40–50 nm) with isolated Cu²⁺ active sites, achieving 10% single-pass methanol yield in low-temperature (150 °C) methane-to-methanol conversion; methodology showcased in internal and collaborative reviews for catalytic innovation. • Designed and executed NH₃-SCR, ethane oxidation, and MTM redox cycle protocols; optimized GC/GC-MS analytics for product quantification and mechanistic interpretation. • Authored laboratory SOPs and instrument recovery protocols leading to >$10,000 annual savings and improved instrument uptime for XRD, TGA, GC, SEM/TEM. • Mentored 8+ undergraduate researchers in zeolite synthesis, synchrotron data interpretation, computational modeling (MATLAB/Python), and scientific communication
May 2022 – Present
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student assistant
Teaching Assistant Numerical. Methods and Separation Process – Tulane University • Instructed a cohort of 25+ upper-level engineering students in applied process design and separation systems, delivering tutorials on mass transfer, process control, and unit operation modeling using MATLAB and Python. • Designed and led interactive problem-solving workshops that resulted in a 15% average increase in student performance, as documented through midterm and final exam improvements. • Developed custom simulation modules in Aspen HYSYS, enabling students to model distillation columns, absorption towers, and flow systems under varying process conditions.
Jul 2021 – Mar 2022
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management
Quality Control & Engineering Management PEWCAT Limited, Lagos, Nigeria. • Implemented enterprise-wide quality management system aligning ISO 9001/14001/17020 standards with SPC methodology; improved quality metrics by 20% and cut inspection time by 15%. • Optimized Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT) for pipeline coating failure analysis, increasing defect sensitivity by 25% and ensuring 100% ASME/API compliance across $40K+ pipeline projects; root cause analysis reduced failures by 25%. • Conducted root cause analyses reducing recurrent failures by 25% and supporting multi-million-naira infrastructure integrity programs.
Jun 2019 – Jun 2021
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quality control
Forensics Chemist Trainee (QC/QA Laboratory) • Performed non-destructive forensic characterization of petroleum products using FT-IR and GC–MS, applying chromatographic data processing, multivariate analysis, outlier detection, and uncertainty evaluation to ensure evidence integrity and reproducibility. • Applied chemical and materials engineering principles to forensic sample handling, including evaluation of nanoparticle-based approaches for trace and polymeric residue characterization and improvement of existing analytical protocols. • Supported quality assurance, technical documentation, and reporting for forensic analyses used in enforcement actions, operating within strict chain-of-custody and governance requirements.
Jan 2017 – Nov 2017
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process engineer
ExxonMobil, Mobil Oil Nigeria (MON), Lagos Nigeria • Conducted fuel and lubricant QA testing using XRF and HPLC with 0.1 ppm precision; ensured 100% compliance with ASTM/API standards across 250+ distribution points. • Eliminated 15% yield loss in lubricant blending by implementing automated, PLC-driven dosing systems with integrated SPC monitoring, enhancing process control and batch consistency.
Jun 2015 – Aug 2015
Volunteering
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Judge, Ohio Science, Technology, and Entrepreneurship Program (Ohio STEP), The Ohio Academy of Science (2025): Selected to serve as an external judge for a statewide STEM competition organized by The Ohio Academy of Science. • Evaluated middle and high school student research and innovation projects across science, technology, and engineering disciplines, focusing on experimental design, data analysis, and technical rigor. • Assessed project originality, feasibility, and clarity of scientific communication, contributing to fair scoring and award determinations.
Ohio Academy of Science
Jan 2025 – Dec 2025
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2025 Greater New Orleans Science and Engineering Fair Judge • Judge, Greater New Orleans Science and Engineering Fair (2025): Selected to serve as an external judge for a regional STEM research competition. • Evaluated student science and engineering projects based on experimental design, data analysis, scientific rigor, and originality. • Assessed clarity of technical communication and real-world relevance, contributing to scoring and award determinations.
Greater New Orleans Science and Engineering Fair
Jan 2025 – Dec 2025
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Innovation Project & Robotics Design Judge, FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) – Bayou Regional: Served as a judge for a major international robotics competition evaluating student-led engineering and innovation projects. • Reviewed team innovation projects and robot designs, assessing engineering design process, functionality, creativity, systems integration, and problem-solving approach. • Evaluated teams’ technical communication, design justification, and real-world applicability, contributing to award deliberations and final scoring decisions.
FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC)
Jan 2023 – Present
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Girls in STEM at Tulane (GiST) | 2023–Present • Mentored 50+ students in robotics and renewable energy projects
Tulane University K-12
Jan 2022 – Present
Languages
- English (US) Advanced
Additional information
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