Hi there! I'm Shakib - a researcher exploring the wonderful world of multi-functional materials 

Hello! I am Mahmudul Alam Shakib. I am a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Iowa. My research works are focused on multifunctional materials for energy harvesting, neuromorphic computing, soft robotics, and aerospace applications. 

I work with geopolymer, a multifunctional ceramic material, that can be devised as memristors for use in brain-inspired computing applications, in an effort to solve the the limitations of Moore's law. I have worked extensively on manufacturing, metallurgy and failure analysis of a wide selection of materials, starting from 2D PdSe2 for flexible electronics, to Titainum alloy (Ti-TiB nanocomposites), and dental samples too. I start with nanomechanical characterization using nano-indentation, nano-scratch, profilometry, laser confocal microscopy, SEM, TEM, EDX, XRD, AFM, X-ray Microtomography (µ-CT), BET analysis, Mass spectroscopy. At macro-scale I use Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer (DMA) and Thermo-mechanical characterization tool to increase analyze the failure properties (Fatigue, young's modulus, viscoelastic properties) at a veriety of environmental conditions. 

I have been trained on using clean room facilities including photo-lithography and related protocols (spin coating, PVD, CVD, etching, patterning, etc.) for top-down microfluidic device fabrication process. As a semiconductor enthusiast, I have completed courses on semiconductor manufacturing and packaging technologies.

As a mechanical engineer, I have earned the certification of 'Six Sigma Green Belt' by completing a series of 10 courses offered on linkedin, as approved by Project Management Institute (PMI), National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA), and International Insitute of Business Analysis (IIBA). 

I did my bachelors in Mechanical Engineering from Islamic University of Technology in 2017, where I led the college robotics team consisting of 63 members at the University Rover Challenge 2017 that took place in the Mars Dessert Research Station, Utah. My robotics teams secured several national championships in 2016 and 2017 along with becoming 2nd among asian teams in European Rover Challenge 2015 in Poland.