Assia Aboubakar Mahamat
- Country of Origin: Chad
- Home University: Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Travaux Publics (ENSTP)
- Host University & Country: Institut Universitaire de Technologie (IUT) - France
- PhD Title: Revolutionizing sustainable construction: Integrating AI and 3D printing for eco-friendly building practices
- Year of Completion: 2027
PhD Overview
Earth-based materials, incorporating agricultural and plastic waste streams, present a compelling solution to modern construction’s environmental impact due to their resource conservation, low embodied carbon, and cost-efficiency. However, their widespread adoption is severely constrained by traditional testing methods that are slow, costly, and destructive, as well as conventional building standards that fail to account for the complex, coupled hygro-thermal, mechanical, and rheological interactions inherent to unconventional materials.
This research project bridges these gaps by combining Artificial Intelligence (AI) and 3D Printing technology to create a predictive, standardized, and scalable framework for upcycled, earth-based structural composites
Sustainability Goals
- Climate Action
- Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- Responsible Consumption and Production
About Me
I am a Civil Engineering lecturer, materials scientist, and researcher at the École Nationale Supérieure des Travaux Publics (ENSTP) in N’Djamena, Chad, and the African University of Science and Technology (AUST) in Abuja, Nigeria. Driven by a passion for sustainable development and environmental stewardship, my research focuses on transforming local agricultural waste and industrial by-products into high-performance, eco-friendly building composites and alkali-activated binders. By integrating machine learning with materials engineering, I develop and optimize low-carbon construction solutions tailored to the infrastructure needs of developing nations.
Beyond my research, I am a dedicated advocate for gender equity in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). As the founder of community empowerment initiatives and an active mentor, I lead outreach programs that equip women and youth with practical digital skills, foster critical thinking, and inspire the next generation of female scientists across Africa.
Through the Schlumberger Foundation Faculty for the Future Fellowship, I aim to advance sustainable materials research, help bridge the digital divide, and empower women leaders to drive meaningful, technology-enabled change in their communities.