Howard University Engineering Graduate Student Chinwe Kamma Receives 2024 STEMNoire Outstanding Research Poster Presentation Award
Howard University chemical engineering graduate student Chinwe Kamma received the 2024 Outstanding Research Poster Presentation Award at the STEMNoire 2024: Black Women Leading the STEM Renaissance Conference.
Kamma was awarded for her research paper on the Life Cycle Assessment of End-of-Life Electric Vehicle Batteries: The African Perspective.
"I am truly humbled to be recognized by this esteemed gathering of peers and mentors. This award is a testament to the dedication and hard work that went into this research, and I hope it inspires others to pursue their scientific passions with equal fervor," said Kamma.
Kamma’s research explores the environmental impact of electric vehicle (EV) battery waste and how to minimize this harmful impact with sustainable practices for effective EV battery waste management. When not properly disposed of, batteries can cause environmental risks. Higher concentrations of the chemicals used when released into the environment can cause neurological and endocrine problems among local residents.
While studies in Africa often emphasize the economic impact of EVs, there's a lack of attention to the End-of-Life (EOL) phase of EV batteries. Bridging this gap, Kamma and her research team conducted a life cycle assessment using the greenhouse gases, regulated emissions, and energy use in transportation (GREET) model to evaluate the environmental impact of EOL electric vehicle batteries in Africa, with a focus on recycling options.
A graduate student from Nigeria, Kamma has traveled widely to continue her education. Currently pursuing a master’s degree in chemical engineering at Howard University, the degree will be her second master’s degree. She earned a master’s degree in sustainable environment and energy systems at the Middle East Technical University in Cyprus.
At Howard, Kamma serves as a research assistant in the Biomolecular Assemblies and Nanomechanics Lab, directed by chemical engineering associate professor Preethi Chandran, and was awarded the prestigious Amgen Program Fellowship to conduct graduate research on the mechanism of drug transport in the body. At Middle East Technical, Kamma served as a teaching assistant, providing regular tutorial sessions in core chemical engineering courses and other teaching services for almost 30 students.
Passionate about teaching from an early age, Kamma plans to pursue her Ph.D. in chemical engineering focusing on drug development and delivery to enhance her expertise and to teach. Her mother, a high school chemistry teacher, instilled in her a great passion for teaching and science. Kamma’s goal is to help increase the number of women in science, technology and engineering in Nigeria.
Facing difficulties as a woman in engineering, Kamma is dedicated to mentoring and empowering young women interested in careers in engineering. “As a woman, if you want to pursue engineering, do it with all your passion, with all your strength, with all you have. Just give it all it takes, and you will be successful,” she advises.
About STEMNoire
STEMNoire is a first-of-its-kind, nonprofit research conference and holistic wellness retreat for women of the African diaspora in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The STEMNoire conference continues to be a shining example of support and celebration for women of the African diaspora in STEM fields, fostering a vibrant community of scholars committed to excellence and well-being.