معرفی
Erika La Plante is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis), within the College of Engineering. Her research focuses on low-temperature aqueous processes at mineral-fluid interfaces, addressing climate, sustainability, built environment, and energy challenges. She previously held positions at the University of Texas at Arlington and the University of California, Los Angeles. She earned a B.S. in Geology from the University of the Philippines (2010) and a Ph.D. in Earth and Environmental Sciences (Geochemistry) from the University of Illinois at Chicago (2016).
Her research interests center on developing sustainable materials and processes, particularly CO2 mineralization using seawater electrolysis, cementitious magnesium silicate hydrates, and chemical additives to mitigate environmental degradation. She explores the intersection of materials science with energy and climate solutions, aiming to create scalable carbon capture and storage methods alongside eco-friendly construction materials.
Prof. La Plante has received prestigious awards, including the National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award (2022) and the Award for Research Initiative in Sustainable Minerals, Metals and Materials (2024). Her work bridges fundamental studies with applied engineering, leveraging atomic force microscopy and synchrotron X-ray techniques to understand material behavior at the nanoscale.
Her research also involves grants focused on decarbonizing cement production and optimizing industrial waste streams for carbon management. She collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to advance technologies like ZeroCAL and RECLAIM, which integrate carbon dioxide removal with resource recovery. Her lab emphasizes nanoscale observations and process simulations to address global-scale environmental challenges.
